Homemade Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce (Dairy-Free Option)

What is Alfredo Sauce?

A creamy and rich white sauce made from butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, this is a sauce with a smooth, velvety texture and delicate, savory flavor. Seasonings such as garlic are often added to enhance the flavor.

It is a classic sauce that can be eaten in different ways, and is commonly used to top pasta dishes, particularly fettuccine alfredo.

But apart from being mixed with pasta, you can also serve this sauce as a base for other dishes, such as chicken or seafood, and it is a popular topping for vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus.

Is Alfredo Sauce Gluten-Free?

Depending on how the sauce is made, and whether flour is used as a thickener or not, will determine whether it is gluten-free.

Most alfredo sauces sold in supermarkets or offered in restaurants may use wheat flour or other gluten-containing ingredients as a thickener, which means that they are generally not safe for Celiacs or those with gluten intolerances.

Today, we’ll be making a gluten-free version of alfredo sauce that you’re going to love (plus, there are options for making it dairy-free and vegan too!)

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: With just a handful of simple ingredients required for this recipe, all of which are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required)!
• Easy to Make: Ready from scratch in just 15 minutes, this easy alfredo sauce comes together easily and quickly. Perfect for when you’re in a hurry, and when you want an easy but delicious dinner, pronto!
• Amazing Texture: With a smooth, creamy texture, this delicious sauce is perfect with your favorite gluten-free pasta, on veggies, or with other dishes!
• Totally Gluten-Free with Dairy-Free Option: The best part is that this homemade alfredo sauce recipe is 100% gluten-free, and there are options to make it dairy-free too. This means that those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerances can still enjoy this creamy sauce without worries!

Make Your Own Gluten-Free Fettuccine Alfredo

Perhaps the most popular way to eat alfredo sauce is fettuccine alfredo, a comfort food dish in which flat, ribbon-like pasta noodles are coated in alfredo sauce.

The funny thing is, although fettuccine alfredo is technically pasta, this favorite dish that is hugely popular in the United States is almost never seen in Italian restaurants in Italy (we lived in Rome for almost a year and I did not see it served in any restaurant there).

To make gluten-free fettucine alfredo at home, simply cook the gluten-free fettuccine noodles until al dente according to package instructions, and then mix the cooked fettuccine with the hot alfredo sauce. That’s it!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this homemade gluten-free alfredo sauce recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions

• Butter: I used unsalted butter as the parmesan cheese is already salty, and you can always add more salt to taste after that. If you are lactose-intolerant, you can use dairy-free butter instead.
• Garlic: I love the taste of garlic, and adding in fresh minced garlic imparts a delightful savory flavor to this homemade gluten-free alfredo sauce. Alternatively, you may also use granulated garlic or garlic powder, but I honestly think fresh garlic is best.
• Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a good quality gluten-free all-purpose flour that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch or potato starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made of heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour). If you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use normal flour instead.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is one of the main ingredients in alfredo sauce, so definitely don’t leave this out. If you are lactose-intolerant, you can use dairy-free heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk instead.
• Milk: I used whole milk, but if you are lactose-intolerant, you can use unsweetened non-dairy milk (I recommend either unsweetened cashew milk or almond milk).
• Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese is a key component of alfredo sauce, so make sure you add it in. To make a dairy-free alfredo sauce, you can use dairy-free parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast instead.
• Salt and Pepper: Once the sauce is done, season it with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Parsley: Once I’ve mixed the sauce with cooked gluten-free fettuccine noodles (or veggies), I like garnishing the dish with fresh parsley for a nice pop of color against the creamy white sauce.

How to Make Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce (Step by Step)

1. Melt Butter

Heat up a large nonstick pan over medium heat and melt the butter.

2. Sauté Garlic

Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

3. Whisk Flour

Once you start to smell the aroma of the garlic cooking add in the flour and whisk together. The mixture will begin to thicken slightly.

4. Add Heavy Cream

Add the heavy cream to the mixture.

5. Whisk Heavy Cream Until Mixture Thickens

Whisk together over medium heat as the cream thickens to basically a paste.

6. Add Milk

Add the milk. It will be clumpy at first, but whisk everything over the heat until it becomes one thick and homogeneous mixture.

7. Add Parmesan

Add the grated parmesan cheese before letting the mixture come to a low simmering boil.

8. Whisk in Cheese

Mix in the parmesan cheese and continue to whisk over the heat until the mixture thickens and starts bubbling up.

9. Season with Salt and Pepper

Add in salt and pepper to taste and mix together.

10. Toss with Pasta

Add your cooked gluten-free fettuccine pasta to the gf alfredo sauce, and drizzle on some olive if you wish, and enjoy!

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks

• For Gluten-Free Alfredo Pasta: To make gluten free fettuccine alfredo, simply cook the gluten-free fettuccine pasta or your favorite pasta until al dente according to package instructions, and then mix the cooked fettuccine with the hot alfredo sauce. That’s it!
• Make Chicken Alfredo: If you want to add some chicken to your meal, simply add grilled chicken (or even rotisserie chicken) to the sauce!
• Optional Condiments: If you wish to add in other seasonings apart from salt and pepper, feel free to add them in (onion powder, chili powder etc).

Recipe FAQs:

Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes to Love:

• Garlic Eggplant Penne Pasta (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Creamy Pesto Gnocchi (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Other Homemade Sauces to Enjoy: