This looks like a creamy heart attack on a plate doesn’t it? Oh, but it’s soooo not. Which means you can shovel forkful after forkful of delicious pasta into your mouth without that nagging feeling in the back of your mind about how bad of a decision it is.
Alfredo sauce is that restaurant dish that haunts you. It’s the thing you know is absolutely horrible for you when you’re staring at the menu but your brain refuses to let go of the idea of the delicious creamy sauce. So, you throw caution to the wind, order the butter and cream laden dish and then before you know it you’re shoving half the contents of the bread basket down your throat and ordering tiramisu for dessert since you’ve completely thrown any attempts of healthy eating out the window for the night anyway.
It happens. Right?
Please say it’s not just me?
The alfredo bug bit me hard yesterday and before I knew it, things were coming out of the pantry and fridge and I was determined to show the sauce who’s boss.
See that measly 1 1/2 tablespoon of butter? That’s it for the bad stuff in this recipe. Total creaminess achieved and barely a dent in my butter stash. Good for the wallet and for your heart.
The rest of the creaminess comes from a combination of low fat milk, cream cheese, goat cheese and parmesan. Needing heavy cream or half and half for that alfredo taste is a total myth, don’t be fooled!
From prep to roux to finished product this whole thing takes about 15 minutes.
Beats the restaurant wait and there’s no bread basket or dessert menu to tempt you.
- ½ pound whole wheat spaghetti, or similar noodle
- 1 crown broccoli, cut into florets
- 1½ tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1¼ cup 1% milk
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ounce goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons low fat cream cheese
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add spaghetti. Cook until 2 minutes before al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet with raised sides over medium heat.
- Add garlic and shallots once butter is melted and saute for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add flour and whisk together.
- Slowly add milk, whisking constantly.
- Add salt, pepper and nutmeg and continue to whisk until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Once thickened, add cheeses and stir until melted and incorporated.
- At this point, add broccoli to the pasta pot and cook for remaining 2 minutes.
- Drain pasta and broccoli in a colander and pour into skillet with alfredo sauce.
- Toss to fully coat pasta with sauce and garnish with parsley.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
You are absolutely not alone in indulging once in awhile.
Your alfredo looks amazing… I usually prefer tomato, but my husband is a fan of alredo sauce so we’ll have to try this!
“alfredo”
Yum, this looks amazing!
I love how easy it is to lighten up alfredo – love the broccoli in this recipe, too!
too funny — i have a post going on Monday that’s definitely NOT the lightened up version of alfredo. the pictures here are gorgeous and it looks absolutely creamy and delicious even if it’s healthy! that means I can eat more of it!
We serve a dreamy alfredo sauce where I work and every time I’m wrapping up leftovers for someone the temptation to sneak a bite (or 10) kills me. Obviously I’d never do that but its so decadent looking. This sounds wonderful!
I make a similar recipe with low-fat boursin. I LOVE it. I also make one on the opposite end of the spectrum for the skinny minnie, made with bacon fat, heavy cream, parmesan, and creamy, creamy tallegio.
Thanks for dinner tonight!
I love when I have all the ingredients at the house!
woohoo
WOW!!! That looks absolutely incredible!! I love cream sauces but usually stay away. The last one I made was a vegan version made with cashews and nooch
I thought about going crazy with all vegan substitutions but decided to keep it simple this time
I’ve always wanted to try the cashew cream thing though…next time 
Yum! This looks wonderful! I love the recipe! I’ve been craving pasta lately and this would satisfy that craving!!
Holy moly, that looks more sinful than it is!! I can’t wait to try! Also wanted to thank you for the inspiration
. Just launched my own healthy living blog, partly thanks to your inspiration!! You can find your blog on our list of favorites 
http://www.bellaspire.com/ourfavorites/
This is my kind of spaghetti… creamed with low fat milk and cream cheese and full of broccoli! I would eat a plateful and more without feeling guilty. Hope the foot is feeling better.
I’m bookmarking this to try – soon! You are totally not the only one, I can’t get that alfredo sauce out of my head once it’s in there and this looks awesome. And the fact that you added broccoli makes me want to try this even more, I’m a huge fan of mixing veggies into my mac and cheese and other creamy noodley dishes
yum, looks seriously amazing. not a super huge broccoli fan, but would love to throw some thick marinated, grilled garlic portobello mushrooms on here. thanks!
on your note on cashew cream above: you must try it!! it’s ridiculously rich, creamy and has such a subtle sweet flavor. i made it in this *skinny + rich delicata squash bisque*. it literally looks like custard. it’s pretty magical stuff. http://channingosity.com/2011/10/29/delicata-squash-bisque/
Love portobello mushrooms, they would be sooo good! Definitely going to check out your cashew sauce. Thanks!
Wowzers! I can’t wait to make this!
: ))
Jen
Mmmm….looks awesome. And cream-based sauces always intimidate me anyway, so I’d be all over making this as opposed to regular alfredo!
Your not the only one. Alfredo always catches my eye on menus but I never get it cause it’s so unhealthy. I’m loving this homemade, lightened up version
I’ve never been much of an alfredo person…but this makes me want to be one.
You post some of the best recipes! I didn’t really ever use recipes until stumbling upon your blog. Now I want to try them all! I am not much of a spaghetti person, as it’s not my favorite… but when I do get the rare craving for spaghetti, I will be sure to make this recipe my go-to! Thank you
Thanks Paige
I love alfredo too but I never order it because I know how bad it is for me when I make it at home…it can only be worse in a restaurant. Besides my throwing calories out the window pasta dish is carbonara. Thinking about it makes me drool.
Oh, how I love carbonara! I came ridiculously close to adding bacon to this ala carbonara
This looks like the best alfredo! I’m all of a sudden starving, looks delicious!
I can’t wait to try this! I love me some alfredo on occasion and this looks like a great recipe!
You have just make a hard-to-photograph food look sooooo amazing ! I want to reach thru the screen and gobble it up. Now.
I WANT!
The newest issue of Rachael Ray (I know, I know, everyone either loves her or hates her, but mag has some good recipes!), and they had a lightened up Alfredo that didn’t have any butter, just a few tablespoons of olive oil and flour to makes a roux and then 2% milk (I used skim), chicken stock, and fresh Parmesan cheese to make the sauce. It was creamy and delicious and I totally had my family fooled!
And wow, I’m completely stealing your thunder on an awesome recipe you developed! Your Alfredo looks so yummy, and I love the addition of shallots and broccoli, they must be such a yummy flavor boost. Plus, there’s cream cheese in this, and, duh, I’ll eat that stuff all by itself. I’m gonna try this one next and see what the fam thinks!
haha no worries. I used to get her magazine but stopped it b/c I was too overwhelmed with all the recipes and things I ended up dog earring! can’t stand her or her voice but love her mag
I’m glad you told me about that version b/c I’d love to try one without any butter!
No its not just you and thank you so much for this. i love Alfredo with all my heart and soul but always feel so GUILTY for eating it. Now I am free. Thank you for setting me free.
Oh it’s totally not just you. Every Saturday night is my cheat meal night and when I actually allow myself to shove stuff like this down my throat and then dessert, too. Awwww yeah.
Anyway. This looks seriously delicious and I love that there’s broccoli in it, too– fav veggie! Need to try this delectable wonder.
Looks so good, and it your’re right light is the way to indulge:)
I’m so going to make this next week – we found out P is kinda allergic to tomatoes (hopefully she will grow out of it asap) – and she LOVES spaghetti with sauce on it.