I think I have an underlying love hate relationship with pasta. I’ll go week, or sometimes even months (!!!) without having it, and then for some reason I’ll dream up some good recipe or Tony will request an Italian meal and then we’re off on a pasta eating binge for days.
Typically I’m a fan of red sauces, but this easy 30 minute skinny alfredo ziti was so creamy, satisfying and easy to make that I envision us having it a few times a month. I actually made it two nights in a row last week! We enjoyed it while sitting at our new vintage mid-century modern dinner table (I’m obsessed) with the lights dimmed and big glasses of cabernet. An easy date night in for us two romantics.
But enough with the sappy stuff — I want to convince you that you MUST absolutely devour this creamy, lightened up skinny alfredo ziti. It’s comfort food I’ve been wanting to recreate into a healthier version for quite sometime and IT IS PERFECT.
As many of you know, traditional alfredo sauces are made with LOTS of butter and heavy cream. That’s cool and all, but sometimes you want to have a big bowl of pasta without it feeling like a giant brick in your stomach. Cue this version made with almond milk instead of cream, only 1 tablespoon of (vegan) butter, broccoli and whole wheat ziti (or any pasta you like).
The parmesan I used in this particular meal is from Go Veggie, a plant based vegan/vegetarian parmesan that tastes very similar to the real deal. I love it very much.
For those of you who aren’t aware, most regular parmesans are not vegetarian because they contain an ingredient known as animal rennet, an enzyme that helps the milk separate into curds & whey. I recently learned this and was very surprised, but I also haven’t followed a strict vegetarian diet, so perhaps that’s why I was unaware!
Why I LOVE this skinny alfredo ziti:
It’s lightened up! We talked about that above. But basically we’re using less butter and almond milk instead of cream.
It only takes 30 minutes to make from start to finish. Just boil the noodles + broccoli, make the sauce, then combine everything into one pot.
The pasta makes a wonderful, easy weeknight meal or for meal prep. Throw it into containers and reheat with a little extra water or milk!
It’s kid-friendly! Feel free to switch out the broccoli for peas. For additional protein (and if not vegetarian) add cooked chicken!
I hope you enjoy this one-pot vegetarian 30 minute meal as much as I did. Best topped with lots of black pepper & a little extra sprinkle of parm. Enjoy!
30 Minute Skinny Alfredo Ziti with Broccoli
Recipe type: Pasta, Dinner, Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Vegan
Recipe type: Pasta, Dinner, Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Vegan
Prep time:
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Cook time:
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Nutrition Information
- Serving size: 1/4th of recipe
- Calories: 440
- Fat: 9.7g
- Saturated fat: 5.5g
- Carbohydrates: 57.9g
- Sugar: 1g
- Fiber: 11.8g
- Protein: 20g
Ingredients
- 12 oz whole wheat ziti (or any pasta you like -- brown rice pasta is good)
- 3-4 cups broccoli florets (1 medium head)
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter (or reg butter if not vegan)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons white whole wheat (or regular whole wheat flour or all purpose gluten free flour)*
- 1/2 cup vegetarian broth
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup Go Veggie Vegan Grated Parmesan
- Optional: 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- To garnish: extra parmesan, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, if desired
Read More: 30 Minute Skinny Alfredo Ziti with Broccoli
