Ordinarily-heavy fettuccine alfredo made lighter with a SUPER-creamy and flavorful spinach alfredo sauce for an easy and healthy dinner under 300 calories!
There IS a method to my green madness, guys. It’s affectionately known as fettuccine alfredo healthy-style.
A big pot ‘o the healthy green stuff because it’s totally the season and I swear my heart just skipped a beat writing that. ♥
Man oh, MAN, is it ever time for all the green things to finally come back, friends! I will admit though, that this is a work in progress. I’ve been going on a minimal green bender the past few weeks in my little kitchen with lots of avocado, tons of pesto, and obviously obscure amounts of spinach alfredo.
However..
The only thing is that the weather isn’t cooperating with the whole green theme. My view out the living room window right now is…brown. Lots of brown with the occasional pile of muddy white slush piles. I kinda thought I was being blatantly obvious with my green bender there, Mother Nature…you need to take hints.
So I invite you to join my Green Cause and protest the stubborn bits of winter that are still hanging on. All this involves is eating staggering amounts of green fettuccine alfredo. I KNOW you’re game for this.
Okay, so I’m hoping all of us around here are familiar with this recipe that started it all? This is my tried-and-true alfredo sauce that I use practically daily. It’s super-creamy, surprisingly lighter in calories, and seriously the EASIEST alfredo you’ll ever make! The best, guys. PROMISE.
Today, we invite green to join the alfredo party. Oodles of fresh baby spinach to be precise and the end result is nothing short of glorious.
I mean for real, gaze upon that gorgeous GREEN, guys!
I can’t. Because my face is currently in the green. I can’t even this fettuccine alfredo. *squeaaaaaal*
Be still my rapidly beating green-lurving HEART. ♥
Goodbye forever, all sense of reason. ♥
Lighter Creamy Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo
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Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon white whole wheat flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb whole wheat fettuccine pasta cooked according to package instructions and 1/2 cup cooking water reserved
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, saute garlic in hot butter until garlic is just fragrant. Reduce heat to medium and whisk in flour. Slowly whisk in milk and cream until sauce is smooth. Bring sauce to a simmer, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg, spinach, and Parmesan cheese until spinach is wilted and cheese is melted.
- Transfer sauce to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend several seconds until sauce is completely smooth. Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour hot alfredo sauce over cooked fettuccine and gradually stir in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water until noodles are evenly coated. Season fettuccine with salt and pepper to taste and serve hot with additional Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Join the green party, guys!
30-Minute Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta Skillet
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
What a pretty pasta, Sarah! I love that you added spinach into this classic dish. I can never say no to fettuccine alfredo, so I know I would devour this all in no time!
Sarah says
It’s seriously so hard to stop at only one bowl of this fettuccine! So good. 😉
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
I absolutely love this pasta! Spinach and alfredo go so well together and the fact that you lightened it up makes it so much better.
Sarah says
Aww thank you Jen!! xoxo
Michelle says
could this be made gluten free?
Sarah says
You could likely sub in a gluten-free flour for the white whole wheat, Michelle!
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
Wow Sarah you really know how to find your way to my heart. LOVE the look of this pasta! SPRING in a bowl!
Sarah says
Totally spring in a bowl! 😉 Thanks Jessica!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love that you lightened up fettuccine alfredo! Spinach is such a great addition!
Sarah says
Thank you Jessica!
SaraLily says
Mmmm this looks delicious! I bet it’s good with chicken added or even subbing the pasta for Zucchini noodles!! =D
Sarah says
I love the sound of zucchini noodles in place of regular pasta in this alfredo!
Lorrie Roa says
This looks fantastic. I love that you added spinach into this classic dish. I can never say no to fettuccine alfredo, so I know I would devour this all in no time!
Spinach and alfredo go so well together and the fact that you lightened it up makes it so much better. Fettuccine Alfredo is a favorite of my children! I love how you used greek yoghurt in your alfredo sauce! Beats the stuff in a jar with ingredients ten fold! I love the fact that your fettuccine alfredo has spinach. This looks so easy to make!
Homerenovates.Com says
While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a separate large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped garlic and saute until fragrant and cooked through, about 2 minutes.
Stacy says
So amazing! I used zoodles instead of pasta for even fewer calories and it was incredible! I’ll be making this often. Thank you so much!
Sarah says
So glad to hear that, Stacy! 🙂
Melissa says
Can I do whole wheat flour instead of white ?
Sarah says
Yes, you can! 🙂
Jillian Caruso says
Is this a sauce that can be refrigerated and used the next day?
Sarah says
Yes, it can be refrigerated up to 3 days!