The Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce (2024)

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

Learn how to make absolutely #1 The Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce as rated by readers! So easy, dairy-free, oil-free, just 6 ingredients (+salt & pepper) and so incredibly creamy and full of flavor!

*This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.

VEGAN GARLIC ALFREDO SAUCE

One of most people’s indulgent comfort foods is alfredo sauce. I admit, I used to love it too, but I didn’t love how after just a few bites, I felt sick. There is such a thing as foods being too rich. Feeling nauseated and in a nasty food coma for hours after eating something isn’t really worth it to me.Enter the best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce you’ll ever have.

HOW DO YOU MAKE VEGAN ALFREDO SAUCE?

Easy, you just need 6 simple ingredients:

raw cashews
onion
garlic
lemon juice
nutritional yeast
low sodium vegetable broth

First, you will cook your onions low and slow until really tender.

Add the garlic and cook until soft. Add the onion and garlic to a blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend until completely smooth.

Serve over pasta and enjoy the decadent, but healthy, vegan alfredo sauce!

No need to try any further anymore. This one is dairy-free and oil-free. Most vegan versions contain vegan butter or oil, not healthy. This one is made from cashews which make it exceptionally creamy. I wanted a whole food version and oil-free.

WHY VEGAN ALFREDO IS BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL

Traditional garlic alfredo sauce has butter, milk, cream, parmesan cheese (or other cheeses) and garlic in it. Major dairy overload!Bloated, icky feeling.It also does not have onion in it. However, I wanted to give myalfredo sauce that slightly, sweet richness typically reached by cream and butter, so I added cooked onions, lots of them.

Here’s a little side by side nutrition for my alfredo sauce in comparison to Olive Garden’s version:

DOES IT REALLY TASTE LIKE ALFREDO?

I know what you are thinking….does it really taste like garlic alfredo sauce?? Well, my hubby said, “spot on” and then “it really tastes exactly like garlic alfredo sauce”. I was shocked. I’ll let you be the judge. I’d say it is pretty darn close, especially considering it doesn’t have any of the typical ingredients!

Regardless, it is delicious and very creamy and you can eat this alfredo sauce without tons of guilt.

Other Vegan Alfredo Recipes to try:

20 Minute Vegan Alfredo
Nut-Free Garlic Alfredo
Vegan Cream Cheese Alfredo
Garlic Alfredo Pizza

Sadly, this recipe is my MOST popular weekly and is continuing to be stolen and copied and posted by other sites/blogs without ANY credit. It is very upsetting, so please know that I worked hard to create this recipe years back and it is my original creation. If you like this recipe, please give credit where credit is due.

the Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce

Brandi Doming

Ingredients

1 medium white onion, diced (200g) (MAKE SURE to measure out 1 1/2 cups b/c this is where lots of flavor comes)
1-2 cups (240-480g) low sodium vegetable broth, divided
1/2-3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 x-large (15g) minced garlic cloves
1/2 heaping cup (75g) raw unsalted cashews (see NOTE)
1/2-1 tablespoon lemon juice (start with just 1/2 and taste after blended!)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (I highly recommend this Sari brand, it is non-fortified with much better taste.)

NOTE

It is not recommended to sub or eliminate any of these ingredients, as I cannot vouch for the results if any are changed. The lemon juice is crucial, as it eliminates any cashew flavor.

NOTE

If you are using raw cashews and you don't have a high-powered blender, then you must soak them overnight in a bowl of water, drain and rinse. Otherwise, your result will be gritty and NOT creamy. A food processor usually works better with soaked cashews versus a blender that isn't very powerful.

Instructions

Add the onion and ONLY 1 cup of the broth to a large pan over medium to medium-high heat. Cook for about 8 minutes until the onion is very tender. (Add a tiny bit more broth if it is cooking too fast or turn the heat down, so the onions don't burn) After 8 minutes, add the garlic and cook a couple of minutes more, stirring often. All of the broth should have evaporated by now. If not, keep letting it cook until the broth is GONE. You don't want any more liquid once it's done cooking, so the end result is thick and creamy.
Add the cooked veggies (the onion and garlic) to a blender. Start out by adding JUST 1/2 cup more of the remaining broth and add the remaining ingredients (salt, pepper, cashews, starting with JUST 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, nutritional yeast-starting with just 2 tablespoons yeast). Blend on high for a couple of minutes until very creamy and smooth. Add any more broth to reach desired consistency, if necessary. I did not. If you don't add more broth, you would likely not need any more yeast. Taste and add any more salt & pepper or lemon, if desired.
Serve over preferred pasta. Note: When preparing your pasta, make sure to salt your water well, so your pasta has flavor and isn't bland, which can affect the end flavor result of the dish. I add around a tablespoon to a large pot of boiling water. Garnish with parsley, lemon zest and salt & pepper, if desired. Add any veggies you like. I like to add broccoli or even peas. Store leftovers in the fridge. The sauce will thicken up even more overnight, which you can thin out a little with a touch of broth when reheating, if necessary.

Tried this recipe?Tag @thevegan8brandi on Instagram and use tag #thevegan8!

Keyword best vegan alfredo, garlic alfredo, vegan alfredo