White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (2024)

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This white bean Alfredo sauce is wonderfully creamy pasta sauce for those who are dairy free, like me!

If you love creamy pasta sauces, but can’t have the cheese, I sympathize. A while back I did a recipe for a cashew based Alfredo sauce (vegan) that quite a few of you raved about. But some folks can’t do the nuts, so I thought I’d give this popular sauce a whirl with white beans. It worked!

White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (1)

What Is White Bean Alfredo Sauce?

White bean Alfredo sauce is a bean-based pasta sauce that can be enjoyed warm or cold. It’s easily made in a blender in just minutes and has a nice nutritional profile to boot, thanks so all that fiber in the beans.

Does It Taste Like Alfredo Sauce?

There will obviously be a difference in flavor and even texture when you go from dairy-based to non-dairy. That goes without saying. But that aspect aside, this is about as close as you will get with a non-dairy Alfredo sauce.

You can always adjust the seasoning to your liking, but where the base is concerned, it’s pretty creamy and close to being Alfredo sauce, considering it’s all beans.

White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (2)

Alfredo Sauce Alternatives

If you aren’t sure about beans, and don’t have a nut allergy, the next step up is a cashew based Alfredo sauce. You can find the cashew Alfredo sauce recipe here.

How To Store White Bean Alfredo Sauce

This sauce keeps well in a jar with a lid for up to 3 to 4 days. Make sure whatever you store it in is air-tight and food-safe. If you leave it loosely covered, this sauce will take on the aromas of anything else in the fridge, leaving it with not-so-great flavor. So close it up tight.

Can You Freeze White Bean Alfredo Sauce?

Technically, yes. But when you thaw it again, you’ll most likely need to give it a quick whizz in the blender again. And if the texture isn’t right, you may have to blend in a few more beans just to get the consistency back to normal. If you freeze it, it will freeze for up to 2 months.

White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (3)

What You’ll Need

15oz.can Cannellini beans– These beans do the best job of coming out creamy from the blender. But you could potentially use any white bean for this recipe. Make sure there is not sugar added though, and use the water the beans are packed in. Don’t drain the beans or rinse them. Use everything in the can.

1tbsp.garlic powder– Garlic granules work well here too. Use whichever one you have. The only thing I would avoid here is garlic salt. But if that’s all you have, omit the salt listed in the recipe until you can taste the sauce to see how salty it is.

2tsp.onion powder – As with garlic, onion granules work too.

2tsp.nutritional yeast– This adds a bit of actual cheese flavor to the sauce. Not enough to make it taste like cheese, but enough to give the finished flavor some umami-like depth.

1tsp.salt – I used Himalayan pink salt. But use what you have on hand. A full teaspoon might seem like a lot, but it’s needed in this sauce. If you are nervous about it or have to have less salt in your eating plan, start with less and add more as needed for flavor.

¼cupchicken broth– If you want this to be vegan, you can certainly use vegetable broth. Chicken broth is simply what I had handy. But vegetable broth would be delicious here as well. Just make sure that no matter what broth you use, there is no sugar (usually in the form of dextrose) in it. Low sodium is also a good option as well just to keep the sodium in this from going overboard. If you are using fully salted broth, cut back on the salt called for by about half. You can alway add more, but you can’t take any out. So use caution and adjust salt to taste.

How To Re-Warm White Bean Alfredo Sauce

This isn’t the warmest sauce, just out of the blender. You are making this with room temperature ingredients, so room temperature sauce is what you’ll end up with. You’ll either need to chill it in the fridge for a cold dish, or you’ll want to simply warm it over low heat on the stove top. You can also microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.

How To Make White Bean Alfredo Sauce

White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (4)

Place all the ingredients in a blender.

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Blend for several minutes, until the sauce is completely smooth.

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Transfer to a storage container and store in the fridge until ready to use.

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White Bean Alfredo Sauce Recipe

White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (10)

White Bean Alfredo Sauce

Delicious, Alfredo sauce without the dairy!

4.47 from 15 votes

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Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 91kcal

CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 15 oz. can Cannellini beans (do not drain. Use the liquid in the can)
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder (or granules)
  • 2 tsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. nutritional yeast (or grated parmesan)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ cup chicken broth (no sugar added, low sodium is best)

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients in a blender.

    White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (11)

  • Blend for several minutes, until the sauce is completely smooth.

    White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (12)

  • Transfer to a storage container and store in the fridge until ready to use.

    White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (13)

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3mg

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White Bean Alfredo Recipe - | Healthy Pasta Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to a jar of Alfredo sauce to make it better? ›

Seasonings, spices, and fresh herbs: this is definitely a great way to give your Alfredo sauce a more personal flavor. The most obvious choice is black pepper, but you can also add parsley and thyme, or dried herbs like oregano.

Is white pasta sauce the same as Alfredo? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

What is the secret to thick Alfredo sauce? ›

Add Cheese

The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

What can white beans be used for? ›

Due to their mild flavor, white beans are a versatile ingredient that can be added to numerous recipes, including stews, soups, chilis, and casseroles. They're available dry or canned. If you're using dry beans, you should soak them in water for approximately 6–8 hours before cooking.

How to make jar Alfredo taste homemade? ›

A few tablespoons of leftover wine, a splash of balsamic vinegar, or even a few drops of lemon juice can really brighten the sauce. This is especially true with jarred Alfredo or pesto which both benefit from a squeeze of lemon.

What vegetables to add to Alfredo sauce? ›

Stir in big handfuls of spinach, Kale mushrooms, zucchini, onions, broccoli, spinach, squash, or grape tomatoes after the pasta is cooked. You can also substitute zucchini (zoodles) for the pasta.

What are the 3 types of white sauces? ›

It's easy to get lost when it comes to the creamy sauces of French cuisine. Learn the difference between a classic roux, béchamel, and mornay.

What do Italians call alfredo sauce? ›

Did you know that the term “Alfredo” is not used often in Italy? There are many different combinations of butter and parmesan similar to what we define using the name we recognize, but Italians call all of these combinations “al burro”.

Which is healthier marinara or Alfredo? ›

Marinara sauce is lower in calories and fat, making it a preferable sauce choice for those that are counting calories or on a low-fat diet. It also has more fiber than Alfredo sauce as it contains mostly vegetables. Conversely, high-fat diets are on the rise, making Alfredo an ideal sauce for many consumers.

Should I add pasta water to Alfredo sauce? ›

Alfredo should never have anything but pasta water, butter, and cheese in it. Make sure the cooking water has salt in it but remember part is salty.

Will cream cheese thicken Alfredo sauce? ›

Cream Cheese

Keep in mind, it is best to use the full fat version of cream cheese as this melts the best and incorporates into the sauce. You can cut the brick of cream cheese into smaller cubes and then add it to your sauce and it will melt and create a thick cheesy and tangy alfredo.

How do you thicken Alfredo sauce without heavy cream? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

Should you rinse canned white beans? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

What happens if you don't soak white beans? ›

Here's the thing: Beans that have not been soaked ahead of time will always take longer to cook, but they will, indeed, cook.

Why do you rinse canned white beans? ›

How To Rinse Canned Beans. In order to properly reduce the sodium from canned beans, it is important to rinse them correctly. "Draining and rinsing canned beans can reduce their sodium content by more than 40 percent.

What can you add to Alfredo? ›

10 Unexpected Ways To Upgrade Your Next Alfredo Sauce
  1. Roast some black garlic. Joe_mcubed/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add a dash of pesto. Nitrub/Getty Images. ...
  3. Stir in caramelized onions. ...
  4. Place some prosciutto on top. ...
  5. Sprinkle in fresh herbs and greens. ...
  6. Include chopped pancetta. ...
  7. Splurge on adding truffles. ...
  8. Mix in tricolor cherry tomatoes.
Feb 1, 2023

How do I fix my Alfredo sauce? ›

The Fix Is Simple—Add Water Back.

Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

How to make jar sauce better pasta? ›

Here are my favorite ways to make canned spaghetti sauce more exciting!
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

How do you make jarred Alfredo sauce thicker? ›

Thicken Alfredo sauce by:
  1. Adding More Cheese: Extra Parmesan or cream cheese for richness. 🧀🥄
  2. Simmering: Let it simmer to reduce and thicken naturally. 🍲🔥
  3. Cornstarch Slurry: Mix cornstarch with water and stir into the sauce. 🌽💧
Aug 17, 2015

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