15 Best Substitutes For Heavy Cream in Pasta

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Looking for substitutes for heavy cream in pasta?! Maybe you ran out and don’t want to the grocery store. Or maybe you want to lighten up your pasta dish. Are you looking for the best non-dairy substitute for heavy cream? I got you covered! No matter what your situation is, I will give you 15 of the best alternatives for heavy whipping cream in pasta dishes!

A collage showing the best substitutes for heavy cream in pasta.

There are so many delicious pasta dishes that include heavy cream! Like my Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta or this Creamy Spaghetti with Bacon!

Heavy cream turns a bowl of pasta into true comfort food!

But every so often you might run out or want to lighten up a pasta dish. Vegan? No problem! I have 15 heavy cream alternatives for ya right here! There’s an option for everyone!

1. Half and Half (+ optional butter and flour)

Half and half is a great option because it’s made from half cream and half milk (whole milk). Half and half still has decent fat content, so it will thicken once has been heated slowly. However, because of the lower fat content than heavy cream, it CAN tend to curdle if you’re not careful. When making your sauce, just be sure to keep the heat low.

To combat any curdling, add about a tablespoon of melted butter to the half-and-half to get the fat content up. If you are concerned about the extra fat content, skip the butter and simply whisk 1-2 teaspoons of flour in with one cup of COLD half and half and use it just as you would heavy cream. The mixture will thicken upon cooking.

Heavy cream or milk being poured into a glass.

2. Milk + Corn Starch

If you don’t have half and half, you can use whole milk as a substitute for heavy cream in pasta dishes.

To replace 1 cup of heavy cream, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1 cup of COLD milk until smooth. Use just as you would heavy cream.

3. Milk + Flour + Butter

This is basically a roux, right? Same concept as when you thicken pasta with half and half (#1 above), but this time we’re using whole milk, which has a much lower fat content than half and half.

In order to keep the sauce smooth, you’ll need to add more butter and more flour. There are two ways to do this:

Make a roux as noted here. Slowly whisk in 2-3 cups of milk until desired thickness is reached OR…

Whisk together 1 cup of whole milk (make sure it’s COLD), 2 tablespoons of flour, and 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter (cooled). Whisk until smooth. Once you heat this mixture it will begin to thicken like heavy cream. This is my favorite, fool-proof heavy cream substitute for pasta dishes!

4. Greek Yogurt + Milk

Plain Greek yogurt (full fat) is also a great substitute for heavy cream in pasta. If you are looking for a more healthy alternative to heavy cream in pasta, Greek yogurt is an excellent option.

Greek yogurt does not have the high-fat content like heavy cream, but it does have a creamy texture and it’s high in protein as well.

For best results, mix a bit of milk in with the Greek yogurt to mimic the heavy cream texture. Start with one cup of Greek yogurt and 1/4 cup of milk. Add more milk until you reach your desired consistency.

5. Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is one of my favorite ingredients to use in place of heavy cream in pasta dishes! It makes such delicious, creamy pasta sauce! Cream cheese is typically made from whole milk and, you guessed it–CREAM, so it works great as an alternative to heavy cream.

Use between 4-8oz. of cream cheese per pound of pasta. Bring cream cheese to room temperature and stir into pasta over medium heat until desired consistency is reached. Add a splash of milk or stock/broth if the sauce gets too thick.

6. Sour Cream

Sour cream works very similarly to Greek yogurt and is a good alternative to heavy cream. It has a slight tang which can be yummy in pasta dishes! Use full-fat sour cream, if you can. The higher fat content will help prevent curdling.

Mix a bit of milk in with the sour cream to mimic the heavy cream texture. Start with one cup of sour cream and 2 tablespoons of milk. Add more milk until you reach the desired consistency.

Sour cream in a small white dish.

7. Silken Tofu + Plant-Based Milk

If you don’t want to use dairy products or want a healthy option to heavy cream in pasta, try silken tofu! Silken tofu is nothing like the regular tofu you use for stir-fries! It has a creamy texture and is a good substitute for heavy cream in pasta dishes. It’s also a good vegan alternative for heavy cream.

To substitute silken tofu as a vegan alternative for heavy cream, simply blend equal parts of silken tofu with your favorite plant-based milk (soy milk or almond milk are great choices). A blender, food processor, or immersion blender will do the job! You can play around with the amount of milk you add if you want a thinner or thicker consistency. Use the creamy mixture just as you would heavy cream in your pasta dish.

8. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is another great non-dairy substitute for heavy cream. Yes, there is a slight coconut flavor, but it can be a delicious replacement in pasta dishes.

Use one can of full-fat coconut milk per pound of pasta. Be sure it’s canned coconut milk and not the kind in the carton! The kind in the carton has much more water in it and is not a great substitute for heavy cream unless you thicken it.

9. Créme Fraîche

Créme Fraîche is very similar to sour cream. The main difference is the higher fat content. Full fat sour cream typically has about a 20% fat content vs. creme fraiche with 30% or more. Higher fat content = SUPER DELICIOUS CREAMY PASTA!!!!

Use about one cup of créme fraîche for one pound of pasta. Add a little milk (if you want) to get a thinner consistency.

10. Marscapone Cheese

Mascarpone cheese is basically cream cheese with higher fat content. It’s made from heavy cream vs. cream cheese that is typically made with whole milk or a combination of milk and cream. Just like with créme fraîche, the higher fat from the heavy cream makes this super-rich and creamy to stir into pasta dishes as a replacement for heavy cream.

Use between 4-8oz. of cream cheese per pound of pasta. Like with cream cheese, bring mascarpone to room temperature and stir into pasta over medium heat until desired consistency is reached. Add a splash of milk or stock/broth if the sauce gets too thick.

11. Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is different from regular milk in that over half of the water has been removed–or “evaporated.” This results in a nice, creamy texture similar to heavy cream, but with much less fat.

Evaporated milk can be used as a replacement for heavy cream in a 1:1 ratio…so if the recipe calls for 1 cup of cream, use 1 cup of evaporated milk. Evaporated milk won’t curdle when heated, making it an ideal replacement for heavy cream.

12. Whole Milk + Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan cheese is a delicious way to thicken up creamy sauces without heavy cream! Whisk it in with some milk before adding it to your pasta dish.

Start with 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1-2 cups of milk, depending on your desired creaminess. If the sauce is too thin, add a bit more Parmesan.

13. Chicken or Vegetable Stock + Flour

Although this method won’t give you the super-rich, heavy, creaminess of heavy cream, it’s a great way to lighten up pasta dishes. Use veggie stock for a great vegan option!

Whisk 2-3 tablespoons of flour into 1 cup of COLD stock/broth. Add to pasta–it will thicken up as it heats.

14. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese might not be the first thing you think of when you need a replacement for heavy cream, but it works and thickens up pasta sauce well when used correctly.

Use cottage cheese in the same way you would silken tofu:

In a food processor or blender, blend equal parts of cottage cheese and milk of choice until smooth and add to your pasta dish.

15. Avocado

Ok, hear me out. It’s rich, it’s creamy, it has a high-fat content. Sounds like heavy cream, right?! Yup! Avocado is a great substitute, texture-wise for heavy cream. Yes, it has more flavor than cream and may not work exactly right in your particular recipe, but it’s worth a try!

Recipes like this Avocado Sauce Pasta use blended avocado for the base of the pasta sauce! Hello, yum!

In a food processor or blender, blend 2 ripe avocados, a drizzle of olive oil, and the juice from one lime. Process until smooth. Stir into your pasta.

THE BEST DAIRY-FREE/VEGAN SUBSTITUTE

The two best dairy-free substitutes or vegan substitutes for heavy cream in pasta dishes are:

  • Silken tofu (mixed with plant-based milk)
  • Full Fat Coconut milk

THE BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR HEAVY CREAM IN ALFREDO SAUCE

The two best substitutes for heavy cream in alfredo sauce are:

  • Milk + Flour + Butter: Whisk together 1 cup of whole milk (make sure it’s COLD), 2 tablespoons of flour, and 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter (cooled). Whisk until smooth. Once you heat this mixture it will begin to thicken like heavy cream. This is my favorite, fool-proof heavy cream substitute for pasta dishes!

  • Milk + Parmesan Cheese: Start with 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1-2 cups of milk, depending on your desired creaminess. If the sauce is too thin, add a bit more Parmesan.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can you substitute milk for heavy cream in pasta?

Yes, however, it won’t thicken in the same way as heavy cream. To get it thicker, whisk together 1 cup of whole milk (make sure it’s COLD), 2 tablespoons of flour, and 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter (cooled). Whisk until smooth. Once you heat this mixture it will begin to thicken like heavy cream.

What is a healthy substitute for heavy cream in pasta?

One of the healthiest substitutes is chicken/vegetable stock + flour. Although this method won’t give you the super-rich, heavy creaminess of heavy cream, it’s a great way to lighten up pasta dishes.

Whisk 2-3 tablespoons of flour into 1 cup of COLD stock/broth. Add to pasta–it will thicken up as it heats.

Can you substitute low-fat milk or skim milk for heavy cream a pasta dish?

Yes, but just like with whole milk, it won’t thicken in the same way as heavy cream–you will need to add some fat. 🙂 To get it thicker, whisk together 1 cup of whole milk (make sure it’s COLD), 2-3 tablespoons of flour, and 4 tablespoons of melted butter (cooled). Whisk until smooth. Once you heat this mixture it will begin to thicken like heavy cream.

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