Healthy (High-Protein!) Lemon Garlic Alfredo Pasta

With a bowl of fresh lemons and a handful of unwanted plain greek yogurt cups sitting in the fridge, I sought out a healthier alfredo recipe.

Alfredo is one of my favorite comfort meals, yet my stomach never loves it. Heavy cream, butter and cheese isn’t always a great combination for me, and I know a lot of people who agree.

This yogurt-based alternative lived up to all my expectations. It was so surprisingly creamy! The tangy yogurt paired perfectly with the lemon flavor, balanced out with garlic and parmesan cheese (I played around with measurements of these for balance!)

What You Need

This recipe serves 6!

1. 1.5 lemons, juiced
2. 3 cloves of garlic, minced
3. 2 cups of greek yogurt
4. 1 cup parmesan cheese
5. 1.5 boxes of fettuccine pasta
6. Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste
7. Chicken, on the side or in the dish

Directions

Not only was this dinner cheap to make, but also so easy. You’ll make your sauce in a blender.

I first squeezed my lemon into the blender. The recipe I had been following called for 2 whole lemons, and I found that it was a bit too much. I balanced it with some extra garlic, but let’s just say that you don’t need that much lemon.

Mince your garlic, at least 3 cloves, and you can always add in some garlic powder if you need more flavor.

Add in the greek yogurt and finally some parmesan cheese, which will thicken the sauce a bit. Blend it all together and pour over cooked pasta.

Once it’s all mixed, I usually taste test to see if it needs anything else – garlic, lemon, salt, etc. Since we’re making an alfredo, you can’t forget the Italian seasonings. I sprinkled in dried parsley, oregano, basil and some extra garlic, along with salt and pepper.

That’s it! Enjoy your healthy, less rich version of a classic alfredo with a lemony twist. I added in cooked chicken breast for extra protein and flavor.

As a side, I used some extra white bread to make garlic toast – whipped together with melted butter, minced garlic, the Italian seasoning blend and a drizzle of olive olive, baked in the oven for 10 minutes!

Enjoy!