Zucchini Noodle Fettuccine Alfredo
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Published Jan 15, 2021, Updated Sep 23, 2022
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This zucchini noodle fettuccine alfredo recipe features zoodles tossed in a creamy cauliflower alfredo sauce. It’s packed with veggies and much lighter than regular fettuccine alfredo.
Both zucchini and cauliflower are changing the game when it comes to making healthy comfort food. It’s actually insane how versatile these veggies are.
They are power-houses on their own, but when combined… omg, bring on the veggie goodness!
As soon as I created this cauliflower alfredo sauce I knew it had to be used as a sauce over zucchini noodles and this healthy fettuccine alfredo was born!
Creamy Pasta, but Lightened Up
If you’re craving a big bowl of creamy pasta but want to keep your meal on the lighter side, this recipe is for you. It’s super rich and flavorful yet dairy-free and vegan and is sure to be a family favorite.
Zucchini Noodle Alfredo Ingredients
This recipe is very simple! Once you make the healthy alfredo sauce, you only need a handful of ingredients for the pasta:
- zucchini – we’re using fresh zucchini to make the zoodles
- red onion
- baby bella mushrooms – you can use whatever mushrooms you prefer, but I like baby portobellas for this dish.
- fresh parsley – I highly recommend topping the alfredo with fresh parsley
- extra cauliflower – the alfredo sauce is made from cauliflower, but i like adding a few florets in with the pasta for flavor and texture!
- olive or avocado oil
- sea salt and pepper
Substitutions & Notes
Protein – This pasta would be delicious with any added protein as well. I’m thinking about adding cooked shrimp next time for an added protein boost!
Dairy-free milk – If you’re allergic to nuts or have a different dairy-free milk on hand, I’m sure that would work well! Just make sure it’s unsweetened and plain.
How to Make Zucchini Noodles
My favorite veggie to turn into noodles is zucchini! They’re the perfect texture, plus they have a mild flavor that takes on whatever sauce you’re using… similar to regular pasta. Zucchini noodles are also super easy to make. There are a few different methods depending on what kitchen tools you on hand:
- Spiralizer: The easiest way (and my preferred method) is to use a spiralizer to make your zucchini noodles. You can make them whatever size you like, but for fettuccine noodles I would use blade A with the Inspiralizer or the straight blade with the Paderno.
- Vegetable peeler: If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can use a vegetable peeler to peel the zucchini into thin ribbons by sliding the peeler down the zucchini lengthwise.
- Mandoline slicer: Another option is to use a mandoline with the julienne blade. I feel like I’m always seeing people cut themselves when they use this slicer so be super careful!
If you don’t have any of these tools or just want to take a shortcut, you can buy prepared zucchini noodles from the store. Look for them in the produce section with other pre-chopped veggies/fruits.
How to Make Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Roast garlic – If you haven’t already, you’ll need to roast the garlic. It’s really easy and makes the sauce so flavorful.
Steam cauliflower – While the garlic is roasting, steam your cauliflower. Place cauliflower florets in a steam basket or colander within a pot. Cover the bottom of the pot with about 1/2 inch of water. Bring the water to a simmer, cover the pot and steam the cauliflower until soft.
Mix – Place steamed cauliflower, almond milk, roasted garlic cloves, nutritional yeast, oil, salt and pepper into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. You want the sauce to be the same consistency as traditional alfredo sauce so add more almond milk to thin if needed.
Assembling the Pasta
Once the noodles are prepped and the sauce is made, it’s go time!
Cook vegetables – In an extra-large skillet over medium heat, add the oil, onions and mushrooms. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until the onions are fragrant and the mushrooms have softened.
Cook zoodles – Add the zucchini noodles to the pan with the vegetables and cook until the noodles are hot and al dente – about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from the pan as needed.
Mix in sauce – Add the cauliflower sauce and any remaining cauliflower florets to the pan and mix well to combine. Heat until pasta is warm.
Serve – Top the pasta with a sprinkle of extra chopped onion and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
More Zoodle Recipes to Try:
- 20 Healthy Zucchini Noodle Recipes
- Pesto Zucchini Noodles with Chicken
- Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus with Zucchini Noodles
- Coconut Curry Mussels with Zucchini Noodles
- Zucchini Noodle Spaghetti Salad
- Shrimp and Zucchini Noodle Lo Mein
Be sure to check out the full collection of dinner recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Zucchini Noodle Fettuccine
Ingredients
Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
- 1 ½ cups steamed cauliflower florets
- ⅓ – ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 cloves roasted garlic or 1 clove raw garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Zucchini Pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive or avocado oil
- ¼ cup red onion, chopped
- 4 baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
- 2 medium-large zucchini squash
- ½ cup steamed cauliflower florets
- fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Steam cauliflower: Steam cauliflower if you haven’t already. Steam 2 cups, 1 1/2 cups for the sauce and 1/2 cup for the pasta.
- Make zoodles: While cauliflower is steaming, make fettuccine noodles by spiralizing your zucchini using the correct blade (Paderno = straight blade, Inspiralizer = blade A). Set noodles aside.
- Make sauce: Prepare cauliflower alfredo sauce by placing 1 1/2 cups steamed cauliflower, 1/3 cup almond milk, roasted garlic, nutritional yeast, oil, salt and pepper into a blender. Blend until smooth. You want the sauce to be kind of thick (like regular alfredo sauce) but not too thick so add a bit more almond milk, if needed. Set aside.
- Sauté veggies: In an extra-large skillet over medium heat, add a little oil, onions and mushrooms. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until onions are fragrant and mushrooms has softened.
- Add zoodles: Add zucchini noodles to the pan and cook until noodles are hot and al dente, about 1-5 minutes more. Drain any excess liquid from the pan if needed. Add cauliflower sauce and remaining cauliflower florets to pan and mix well to combine. Toss well until all noodles are coated with sauce. Heat until pasta is just warm and ready to serve.
- Serve: Garnish pasta with chopped parsley, season with salt and pepper and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Amazing!! Easy to make and hard to mess up. My husband loved it, despite being initially skeptical of zoodles 😉 definitely a new favorite and will make again and again.
Ah yay! So happy to hear this recipe was a hit! Thanks for the review, Megan. I really appreciate it!