Description
Dairy-Free Chicken Alfredo offers a rich, creamy pasta experience without any dairy. Featuring tender grilled chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a silky smooth sauce made from coconut milk or cashew cream, this recipe is a wholesome, easy-to-make dinner that suits dairy-sensitive and gluten-free diets. Ready in under 30 minutes, it brings a comforting classic to your table with simple ingredients and customizable flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper
Pasta
- 8 oz gluten-free or regular pasta of your choice
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for sautéing
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season boneless chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Cook chicken for about 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from heat, slice into strips, and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve a small amount of pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- Create the creamy sauce: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil and sauté the finely chopped garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk or cashew cream. Stir in nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat all noodles evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until you get desired consistency.
- Add chicken and garnish: Fold the sliced chicken into the pasta and heat through briefly. Remove from heat. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or basil on top for a fresh flavor and vibrant color before serving.
Notes
- Use full-fat coconut milk for a creamier sauce texture.
- Lightly toast nutritional yeast before adding to enhance umami flavor.
- Do not overcook chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency naturally without diluting flavor.
- Add fresh herbs at the end to brighten the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: dairy-free, chicken alfredo, gluten-free pasta, creamy pasta, vegan-curious, easy dinner, healthy comfort food
