This Lightened Up Spaghetti Alfredo with broccoli is creamy, cheesy and decadent but much healthier than the original so you can feel good about eating it.
*This post was originally published on 2/28/2012. The pictures and recipe have been updated but the text below remains original. This Lightened Up Spaghetti Alfredo is restaurant quality without the guilt (or stupidly high price you’re stuck paying for pasta dishes when you eat out!). It’s ready in just 20 minutes and sure to be a comfort food crowd pleaser. Hope you enjoy!
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 with this healthy spaghetti alfredo.
See that measly 1 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 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 under 20 minutes.
Beats the restaurant wait and there’s no bread basket or dessert menu to tempt you.
Swap out a gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten friendly. This post on the best brands of gluten-free spaghetti is a great resource!
Love this healthier spaghetti alfredo recipe?
Try these other decadent but healthy pasta recipes: garlic shrimp bucatini, creamy tomato farfalle with peas and prosciutto, creamy butternut squash pasta with sage and mushrooms or pasta checca with burrata.
Lightened Up Spaghetti Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/4 cup 1% or 2% milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese or neufchatel
- 2.5 cups broccoli florets
Instructions
- 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 shallots and garlic once butter is melted and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add flour and whisk together, cook about 30 seconds.
- 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 (2 minutes before pasta is done cooking), add broccoli to the pot with the pasta 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 additional parmesan, parsley, red pepper flakes and/or toasted panko breadcrumbs.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Love this lightened up version Gina!
Literally want to dive into that sauce!
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.
Looks so good, and it your’re right light is the way to indulge:)
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. :D
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.
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!
I WANT!
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 can’t wait to try this! I love me some alfredo on occasion and this looks like a great recipe!