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Dairy Free Chicken Alfredo served with cauliflower sauce on a plate

Dairy Free Chicken Alfredo with Cauliflower Sauce

A creamy and comforting dairy-free pasta dish featuring a silky cauliflower sauce and juicy chicken, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Cauliflower Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil for the sauce
  • ½ yellow onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed or finely minced
  • 3 cups chopped cauliflower (about 12 ounces)
  • 1 cup chicken stock use low-sodium if preferred
  • 1–2 tablespoons nutritional yeast adds savory, cheesy flavor
  • ½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1–2 teaspoons sea salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
For the Pasta and Chicken
  • 12 ounces uncooked pasta fettuccine or linguini recommended
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil divided for tossing pasta and cooking chicken
  • 3 ounces baby spinach
  • 2 chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt to season chicken
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper to season chicken
Optional Add-ons
  • Red pepper flakes for a gentle heat
  • Fresh parsley or basil chopped, for garnish
  • Grated vegan Parmesan or extra nutritional yeast for topping
  • Sautéed mushrooms or roasted cherry tomatoes for extra veggies
  • Garlic powder or onion powder for extra flavor in the sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Chop the onion and cauliflower, crush or mince the garlic, and cut chicken into bite-sized pieces seasoning with sea salt and pepper.
  2. Measure out chicken stock and nutritional yeast.
Make the Cauliflower Alfredo Base
  1. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat.
  2. Add chopped onion and crushed garlic, sauté for about 3 minutes until the onion is soft.
  3. Add chopped cauliflower and chicken stock, bring to a gentle boil.
  4. Cover the pot, reduce to simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes until fork-tender.
  5. Transfer the mixture to a blender once cooled slightly.
Blend the Sauce
  1. Add nutritional yeast, lemon juice, sea salt, and soy sauce to the blender.
  2. Blend on high until smooth, adjusting the thickness with stock or water as needed.
Cook the Pasta
  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to package instructions.
  2. Drain pasta, return it to the pot and drizzle with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, tossing lightly.
  3. Add baby spinach to the warm pasta to wilt gently.
Cook the Chicken
  1. Season chicken and heat remaining olive oil in a frying pan.
  2. Cook chicken in a single layer until golden, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. For pre-cooked chicken, warm it gently with stock or oil.
Bring It All Together
  1. Add cooked chicken to pasta and spinach.
  2. Pour cauliflower alfredo sauce over and toss gently. Adjust texture with reserved pasta water if necessary.
  3. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or nutritional yeast before serving.

Notes

Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining to use for thinning sauces. Avoid overcooking the cauliflower to preserve flavor.