VEGAN ALFREDO SAUCE
Vegan Alfredo Sauce is creamy and garlicky, and so easy to make from scratch with just a handful of pantry staples! It’s comfort food made 100% dairy-free, oil-free, and ready in minutes!
I have been making this vegan recipe for cashew Alfredo Sauce for the last 8 years, and it never disappoints. It’s rich, indulgent, and simply the best!
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Healthy. Made with cashews instead of dairy, this creamy alfredo contains zero cholesterol but still contains plenty of protein and essential vitamins and minerals. See the nutrition card below!
- Easy to customize. I love including ways for you to customize the umami flavor. I’ve tried all the recommended ingredients, and each is equally delicious. Keep reading!
- Simple and quick. Seriously, this is such an easy recipe! You can have dinner on the table in 20 minutes.
Ingredient Notes
- Raw Cashews – This amazing nut blends into the best creamy alfredo! For the most neutral flavor, you’ll want to use raw, not toasted, cashews. You can find raw cashews at most health-conscious grocery stores or online (affiliate link). I like to buy them in bulk to have handy when making vegan cheese-style recipes.
- Garlic – Feel free to add an extra clove or two for a more garlicky flavor.
- Onion + Garlic Powder – Both are flavor boosters and are added for good measure.
- Miso – This paste adds umami flavor but can be substituted with nutritional yeast or dijon if you don’t have it on hand. All are healthy choices!
- Lemon – Used as an acid, this zesty ingredient adds just the right amount of zing.
- Liquids. I use warm water in this recipe, and really that is all you need since the cashews do all the work on their own to become a creamy sauce. If you prefer, non-dairy milk is great, too, when using unsweetened, plain plant milk such as almond, cashew, oat, or soy milk.
How To Make Vegan Alfredo Sauce
Making alfredo sauce vegan and dairy-free is as easy as 1…2…3!
- Soak the cashews. This helps soften the cashews and can aid in digestion.
- Add the cashews, garlic, miso, onion and garlic powder, salt, and warm water to the cup of a standing or personal blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour over cooked pasta and enjoy!
Tips For Success!
- Time it right when making Alfredo and pasta together. To avoid having to reheat the sauce and/or pasta while the pasta is heating, soak the cashews and while the pasta is boiling, blend the sauce. This way, everything is ready and warm at once.
- Equipment. I love my NutriBullet personal blender (affiliate link) for these small jobs. It’s powerful, compact, and easy to clean. But a regular standing blender will do the job, too, and it doesn’t have to be a Vitamix.
Commonly Asked Questions
How Long Do Leftovers Last?
Leftovers will last up to 7 days in the refrigerator. I like to keep mine in mason jars, but any airtight container will do. After chilling, the sauce will thicken so when you go to reheat, add a little extra water or non-dairy milk to bring it back to a slightly thinner consistency.
Can You Freeze Alfredo Sauce?
Yes, vegan Alfredo sauce can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, allow to cool completely and store in freezer-safe jars leaving a little headspace for expansion. Let thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Can you make vegan Alfredo without cashews?
Absolutely! I am quite partial to this Creamy White Bean and Cauliflower Alfredo. It’s loaded with protein and fiber, and is a delicious option when for those with nut allergies or who just don’t want to use cashews.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy pasta sauce goes with just about any noodle, although alfredo is usually served with fettuccini or other thick noodles. And to round out your meal, here are a few delicious options:
- Salad: Pair your meal with a delicious crisp and fresh salad, like this Classic House Salad or Vegan Caesar Salad.
- Bread: Serve with a slice of homemade Artisan Bread or vegan garlic bread.
- Vegetable: It would be so good with a side of warm Savory Sauteed Kale.
More Easy Pasta Recipes!
- Baked Vegan Mac + Cheese
- Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
- Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
- Mushroom + Lentil Ragu with Linguini
- See all vegan pasta recipes on TSV!
I hope you love this dairy-free alfredo recipe! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think or any changes you make.
PrintVegan Alfredo Sauce
The Best Vegan Alfredo Sauce is creamy, garlicky, and so easy to make from scratch with just a handful of pantry staples! It’s rich and indulgent comfort food made 100% dairy-free and oil-free!
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: blender
- Cuisine: American, Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 3 – 4 garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons white miso (or 1 – 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast or 1 Tsp dijon)
- 1 teaspoon EACH garlic + onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt, + more to taste
- juice of 1 small lemon (about 1 tablespoon) or 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 – 1 cup warm water
- 12 ounces long pasta (fettuccini or linguine)
Instructions
Soak cashews: Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with very warm, not boiling, water. Let soak for 10 minutes. Alternatively, soak the cashews in cool water for 2 hours. Drain water before using.
Alfredo Sauce: In a blender, add the cashews, garlic, miso, onion and garlic powder, salt, lemon juice, and water, and blend until thick can creamy, stopping as needed to scrape down the sides. Taste for flavor and add more liquids to thin to desired consistency. Tastes will vary – if you find it’s too bland, add more salt to taste.
Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Combine: With the pasta freshly cooked and drained, you can toss the pasta and alfredo sauce in the pot the pasta was cooked in. Alternatively, serve the warm pasta in individual bowls, top with alfredo sauce, and toss.
Serve: Top with chopped parsley and fresh cracked pepper. It’s great with a slice of homemade Artisan Bread or garlic bread.
Serves 6
Store: Leftover sauce and/or pasta can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat, adding a splash or two of water.
Notes
In place of water, if you prefer to use almond milk or any other type of plant milk. Just be sure to use unsweetened, plain non-dairy milk. Other types that work well are oat, soy, and cashew milk.
Soy-Free: Use brown rice or chickpea miso.
For a change, try this cashew-free Creamy White Bean & Cauliflower Alfredo!
Nutrition Information is calculated with the pasta.
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This was amazing!! So good and so easy.I’m gluten-free/dairy free,so I did add organic chicken& broccoli.
Topped off with fresh cracked pepper & crushed red peppers .
Delicious ❤️
why does the recipe call for fresh garlic AND garlic powder???
The garlic powder adds an extra boost of garlicky flavor (I like adding it for good measure). If you prefer, you can omit it or add more fresh garlic or garlic powder to taste.
This vegan Alfredo sauce is delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
This is the best Vegan Alfredo Sauce I’ve ever made.
What brand of miso do you use? (:
Miso Master is our preferred brand for miso. Enjoy the alfredo!
This was a 5 star restaurant quality dish! The best vegan alfredo sauce I’ve tried ♥️. No one would know it’s not dairy based. I used the dijon substitute. Flavor was spot on! Thanks so much for sharing it!
So glad you enjoyed the alfredo! Thanks for sharing, Cheri!
Can I omit the miso? I’m also allergic to mustard and yeast, so I can’t use those substitutions.
Great question, Alexandra! Yes, you can omit the miso. You may like to add a little nutritional yeast for savoriness to replace the miso. Enjoy!
Of all the vegan alfredo recipes (and store bought ones) I’ve made/had, this is my favorite! It tastes so much like the non-vegan version, which used to be my favorite pasta sauce, so I’m happy to be able to replicate it sans animal products! I used both miso and nooch in mine and it was delicious!
I made this last night and it was a huge hit. I’ve tried other WFPB alfredo sauces but this one is as close to the cream and cheese version as you can get.
Very good and will be a go to for a quick dinner.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! It’s one of our favorites, especially with extra garlic. Thanks for sharing, Brad!
I just made this and it will be one of my future ‘go tos!’ So full of flavor! An easy, yummy recipe!