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
- 30-minute dinner ideas
- Easy, healthy dinners
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"
Sara says
Omg this was *chef's kiss!* Sooo good! Served it over some miracle noodles and we LOVED it.
fitasamamabear says
Eeeek, best compliment ever, thanks!!
Liz says
My husband was shocked this was dairy free! So creamy and delicious!
fitasamamabear says
Haha that's the BEST feeling
Megan says
Yum, I love the earthiness that the cauliflower adds to the sauce's flavor, and the spices. Super good and versatile; thank you!
fitasamamabear says
Yes! it's such a creamy, yummy one.
jennifer says
THIS!!!! I love it so much, way better than other alt alfredo sauces I've made - thank you!
fitasamamabear says
Life win, glad you like it!
Nancy says
Thanks for sharing this sauce! I never would’ve thought to use coconut milk as an Alfredo base. Brilliant
fitasamamabear says
Coconut milk is literally the best dairy-free ingredient!
Stacey says
This turned out so good & I was so surprised that it is dairy-free and still tastes like Alfredo sauce. Thanks.
fitasamamabear says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Donny says
I always have these ingredients on hand and I hate having to soak nuts first so this was perfect for me! Really good over salmon, too.
fitasamamabear says
Ohh it would be super yummy over salmon, nice idea!
Kristen says
Ok I was a little skeptical because of the coconut milk and thought it might be a little strange. BUT, it was SO good. It was savoury and creamy and the perfect dairy free alfredo sauce. I will make this again in a heart beat.
fitasamamabear says
Haha coconut milk is the secret to all things creamy in the dairy-free world, glad I have converted you!
ChihYu says
There's nothing better than alfredo sauce, and this is perfect! Creamy, delicious and so easy to make!
fitasamamabear says
Alfredo anything is just comforting!
Katie says
This Alfredo sauce is incredible! It's so creamy and easy to make. Definitely a new dairy-free staple!
fitasamamabear says
Glad you love it!
Leigh says
Who knew you could make a delicious creamy alfredo sauce with a can of coconut milk! This sauce is so delicious. I didn't have almond milk so I used cashew milk and it worked great!
fitasamamabear says
Coconut is pretty much my secret ingredient to everything haha
Jennifer says
This is an amazing recipe! I have to eat dairy free and this was so good, so rich, and so flavorful that nobody knew there was no milk or cream in it! Delish!
fitasamamabear says
Yay! And it's simple to make, mega win!
Genevieve says
We’ve been told to stay off of dairy for a little while and this recipe was exactly what I needed - thank you!
fitasamamabear says
This way you can still have some comfort foods I hope!
Kate says
I'm always in the lookout for good dairy-free sauces sine my daughter is lactose sensitive and this recipe was a hit, with not just her, but everyone who ate it. Thanks!
fitasamamabear says
That's the best news! My hubby eats regular dairy and he gave it an approval as well lol
Michele says
Thank you for this recipe. I was looking for a healthier Alfredo sauce and this one was perfect and was delicious! This will be one of my go to recipes from now on.
fitasamamabear says
Glad you love it! It can make so much!