Alfredo sauce is a creamy pasta sauce made from butter, cream, and parmesan cheese. The rich, velvety texture comes from emulsifying butter into the cream and cheese. So traditional alfredo sauce contains dairy ingredients like milk, cream, butter, and cheese. This makes it off limits for people with dairy allergies or those following a vegan diet. However, some brands like Classico make dairy-free alfredo sauce options by swapping the dairy for plant-based alternatives.
The Main Ingredients in Classico Alfredo Sauce
Classico is a popular brand of jarred pasta sauces owned by McCormick & Company. They make a few different types of alfredo sauce products including:
- Classico Creamy Alfredo Pasta Sauce
- Classico Light Creamy Alfredo Pasta Sauce
- Classico Creamy Parmesan Alfredo Sauce
- Classico Organic Creamy Parmesan Alfredo Sauce
To determine if Classico alfredo sauces are dairy-free, we need to look at the ingredients list on the label. Here are the main ingredients typically found in Classico’s alfredo sauce products:
Dairy-Based Ingredients
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Romano cheese
- Cream
- Milk
- Butter
Non-Dairy Ingredients
- Water
- Soybean oil
- Garlic puree
- Modified food starch
- Sea salt
- Spices
- Yeast extract
- Natural flavors
As you can see, Classico’s traditional alfredo sauces contain cream, milk, butter, and cheese. So these products are not dairy-free.
Does Classico Make Any Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauces?
While Classico’s classic alfredo sauces rely on dairy ingredients for the signature creamy texture, they do offer some dairy-free alternatives:
Plant-Based Classico Creamy Alfredo Style Sauce
This alfredo-style sauce is made with a blend of cauliflower, tapioca starch, soy milk, canola oil, and natural flavors. It has a similar creamy, cheesy flavor as traditional alfredo but without any dairy products. The Plant-Based Alfredo Style Sauce is certified vegan and dairy-free.
Classico Organic Garlic Alfredo Sauce
Classico’s Organic Garlic Alfredo Sauce swaps the dairy for a plant-based blend of organic potatoes, onions, cauliflower, and cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. It has the creamy mouthfeel of regular alfredo with roasted garlic flavor. The Organic Garlic Alfredo Sauce is also certified dairy-free.
Spotting Dairy Ingredients on a Label
Reading the ingredients list is the best way to identify whether a product contains dairy or is dairy-free. Here are some common dairy-derived ingredients to look out for:
| Ingredient | Contains |
|---|---|
| Milk | Cow’s milk |
| Cream | Milk fat |
| Butter | Milk fat |
| Cheese | Milk curds |
| Whey | Milk protein |
| Casein | Milk protein |
| Lactose | Milk sugar |
| Ghee | Clarified butter |
| Yogurt | Milk fermented with bacteria |
Keep an eye out for these ingredients or the term “milk” within an ingredient name like milk solids or milk protein concentrate. Any of these indicate the presence of dairy.
Why Does It Matter If Alfredo Sauce Has Dairy?
There are a few reasons someone may need or want a dairy-free alfredo sauce option:
Dairy Allergies
Those with a dairy allergy or sensitivity like lactose intolerance cannot tolerate ingredients like milk, cheese, butter, cream, etc. A dairy allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies dairy proteins as harmful and triggers an allergic reaction. Common symptoms may include:
- Skin rash or hives
- Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- Runny nose
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
For those with a true dairy allergy, consuming any amount could cause a potentially life-threatening reaction. So it’s important to avoid all products containing milk-derived ingredients.
Health Preferences
Some people simply choose to avoid dairy for lifestyle reasons. For example, those following vegan or plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, or health motivations need to avoid all animal products including dairy. Paleo and low-carb dieters also often eliminate or limit dairy intake.
Intolerances
Lactose intolerance is a common non-allergic condition where people lack sufficient lactase enzyme to properly digest the milk sugar lactose. Consuming dairy products can cause undesirable symptoms like gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea though not life-threatening.
How to Make Traditional Alfredo Sauce Dairy-Free
For home cooks who want that classic alfredo sauce creaminess without the dairy, there are a few simple ingredient swaps you can try:
Use Plant-Based Milk
Substitute the heavy cream or milk called for in the recipe with an unsweetened dairy-free milk like almond, soy, oat, or cashew. The starch and fat in plant milks can replicate the creaminess of dairy milk. Just avoid thin milks like skim dairy milk or skim almond milk.
Swap Butter for Oil
Oils like olive, avocado, and coconut oil can mimic the richness of butter in alfredo sauce. Use them in equal amounts as the butter in the original recipe.
Nutritional Yeast for Cheese
Sprinkle in nutritional yeast to add nutty, cheesy umami flavor without actual cheese. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons per 1 cup of cream or milk in the recipe.
Thicken with Starches
Adding a starch helps thicken and stabilize dairy-free alfredo sauce. Good options include arrowroot, cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca starch. Use about 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of liquid in the recipe.
Blend in Cauliflower
For extra thickness reminiscent of heavy cream, puree cooked cauliflower florets in a blender until completely smooth. Add to the sauce 2 to 3 tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.
The Bottom Line
Traditional Classico alfredo sauces are made with milk, cream, butter, and parmesan cheese so they are not dairy-free. However, Classico does make a couple dairy-free alternatives using plant-based ingredients like cauliflower and soy milk. Those with dairy allergies, following plant-based diets, or who simply wish to avoid dairy can look for these dairy-free options or make their own version at home.
