A creamy blend of canned coconut milk and seasonings to make the best dairy-free alfredo sauce! Use it on your favorite gluten-free pasta, in a casserole, or as the base for a fun homemade pizza.
This coconut milk alfredo sauce is made without cashews and comes together in just 15 minutes!
Everyone needs a coconut milk alfredo sauce recipe in their repertoire. Mainly, because alfredo pasta makes the easiest weeknight dinner (and is always kid-approved!).
However, most non-dairy recipes call for soaking cashews or using tofu. This homemade alfredo sauce does neither of those!
Instead, it’s made with a coconut milk base (one of the best dairy-free swaps!), easy seasonings you already have, and cauliflower to not only thicken it up but sneak in some extra veggies!
As a Certified Nutrition Coach and mom to three, I am all about coming up with new ways to sneak veggies into kids!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick: This vegan alfredo sauce comes together in just 15 minutes.
No kitchen skills: There's no need to soak nuts or anything else out of the norm.
Allergy-friendly: This sauce is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, paleo, and vegan.
Versatile: The alfredo sauce works on top of your favorite pasta, in a casserole, or as the base of a pizza.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This alfredo sauce with coconut milk is a bit different than most because there isn't a base of vegan butter!
No need for browning or anything specific which is why this recipe whips up in just fifteen minutes.
Full fat coconut milk: a swap in place of cream. Coconut milk (from a can not the carton) is what makes this recipe ultra-creamy. Learn everything you need to know about coconut milk.
Seasonings: you can’t have alfredo without garlic, salt, and onion powder. And for this dairy-free version, you also need nutritional yeast to give it that cheesy flavor without the cheese!
And while minced garlic is delicious, this recipe uses the granules to make prep time non-existent.
Cauliflower: sounds wacky but don’t skip this ingredient! The cauliflower helps make the alfredo sauce creamy.
Make sure to chop the cauliflower into super small pieces so it cooks quickly.
Arrowroot powder: a little bit goes a long way, this is what binds the creamy alfredo sauce and thickens it. Too much will make it goopy.
Important Teaching Tips
- As the dairy-free alfredo sits, it will thicken up. Thus, it is best used immediately after making. Especially, if you plan to pour it over gluten-free noodles.
- Make sure the cauliflower is chopped into fine pieces or even grated. This helps it cook quickly and blend smoothly. Alfredo chunks are not delicious.
- Make sure to continue to whisk as you add in the arrowroot starch as it tends to clump. At it slowly and whisk the entire time.
- The coconut alfredo is also delicious with some vegan parmesan cheese sprinkled in if you have it on hand- or just on top of the dish you use this with!
- Use it on top of pasta or pizza, similar to this pesto recipe without pine nuts.
How To Store It
Store the coconut cream sauce in the fridge for up to 3 days. However, know that it will thicken up immensely and kind of resemble glue. When you need it, heat it up over low heat and add a dash more coconut milk or dairy-free milk to thin it out.
I don't recommend freezing this coconut alfredo sauce as it doesn't thaw well.
How To Make Coconut Milk Alfredo Sauce
How To Use It
We eat this sauce mostly just poured over gluten-free noodles and leftover Dutch oven chicken for a speedy dinner. Add in some mushrooms to jazz it up. However, here are a few other tasty ways to use it up!
- Chicken and potato casserole
- The base of a homemade pizza
- Dairy-free chicken alfredo casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
Coconut cream (the white in canned coconut milk) and thinner milks like almond milk are what replace traditional milk when making dairy-free alfredo. From there you’ll also need a thickening agent like arrowroot powder.
Both shredded dairy-free cheese and non-dairy cream cheese will help give this alfredo sauce a more indulgent feel. However, it will also tweak the texture of the sauce which may come out too thick. If you want to melt cheese into the sauce, you may need to add a bit of extra almond milk.
Other Dairy-Free Dinner Ideas You’ll love
- Slow cooker chicken alfredo
- Gluten-free teriyaki sauce
- Dairy-free Tuscan chicken
- The BEST recipes for busy moms
- Dairy-free gluten-free dinner recipes
- Stovetop venison stew
- Baked teriyaki chicken thighs
- 30 minute teriyaki meatballs
- One pot chicken alfredo
- Slow cooker teriyaki chicken
- Easy cauliflower rice
- One pot sausage and tomato pasta
- 45 dinner ideas for busy nights
- 30-minute chicken fajita bowl
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Easy Coconut Milk Alfredo Sauce
Video
Equipment
- 1 Small cooking pot
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Coconut Milk
- 1.5 cup Almond Milk
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ tbs Garlic Granules
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ cup Nutritional Yeast
- ½ cup Cauliflower finely chopped
- 1 tbs Arrowroot Powder
Instructions
- Combine the milks, garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt in a small pot just over medium heat.
- Mix and bring to a rolling boil. Add in the cauliflower and cook for 4 minutes at a rolling boil to soften the cauliflower. Stir occasionally.
- Transfer to a high powdered blender and process until ultra smooth.
- Place it back in the pot and bring it back to a rolling boil.
- Add in the arrowroot powder and whisk immediately for one full minute so that no clumps remain. Cook for 1 one more minute then turn off and let sit.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Giangi Townsend says
I'm in love with your coconut milk alfredo sauce!
fitasamamabear says
You rock! So happy you love it!
Angela says
My family loved this!
Gwen says
This was so easy and so healthy!
Sage says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Gigi says
This was a lifesaver for a last-minute meal and it was so easy to whip up!
Glenda says
We loved that we got traditional Alfredo flavor from this dish while still eating healthy. Your homemade cauliflower and coconut milk sauce was so much more creamy than I expected and the additional veggies were definitely welcome. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks so much for the kind words! Happy you liked it!
Dawn says
This was perfect paired with some pasta, I didn't even miss the dairy. The kids didn't even pick up on the cauliflower 🙂
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear it!
Genevieve says
We love alfredo sauce but have been trying to eat healthier. This was exactly what I was looking for! It had all the delicious taste and comfort of regular alfredo without a ton of heavy dairy. Loved it!
fitasamamabear says
Yay!
Tara says
I've been looking for a dairy-free version. This was so yummy! Thank you so much!
fitasamamabear says
Happy to help!