Do you ever get in a recipe rut and you are on the hunt for something new and different? This gluten free pumpkin alfredo sauce is unique, flavorful, and perfect for cool, crisp autumn air. This alfredo sauce recipe is crowd-pleasing too and great for all occasions.
Let's just say when I set this on the table for dinner, the Fearless Dining household when crazy and ate every bite of it up. I knew it would be good, but I wasn't expecting that result.
Why this pumpkin alfredo sauce is great:
Every bite of this sauce is filled with pumpkin, sage, parmesan, and brown butter. You will be left begging for more of this homemade Alfredo sauce. Toss it with pasta or this yummy gluten free gnocchi. If you love pumpkin as much as we do, check out my gluten-free pumpkin recipes. You will find the best savory and sweet pumpkin recipes.
This gnocchi is so easy to cook, and there are several good gluten-free brands out there... add to your favorite recipes. There is no strong cauliflower taste...even my kids love it.
If you ever get tired of eating the same things, check out my gluten free dinner recipes. There is a ton of variety and different cuisines. I am sure you will find some great ideas to add spice to your dinner routine.
I tried it! It came out amazingly!" 🎃🎃🎃
Amber W., Pinterest comment
Ingredient notes:
- Canned Organic Pumpkin - You can also use freshly roasted pumpkin, but make sure it is pureed very finely.
- Gnocchi - Read the ingredients list because many brands contain gluten.
- Sage - I prefer fresh sage, but you can use dried.
- Heavy Cream - Do not use half and half
- Parmesan - You can use parmesan or another cheese like an Italian blend.
How to make gluten free pumpkin alfredo sauce:
Step 1: Add the heavy cream, pumpkin, sage, garlic, olive oil, and salt to a skillet and cook on medium heat.
Step 2: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the gnocchi according to package directions and then put it into a colander. I used Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi. You can also make your own gluten free gnocchi from scratch.
Step 4: Toss the cooked gnocchi into the gluten free pumpkin alfredo sauce and toss to coat the gnocchi.
Serve with my gluten free breadsticks or my gluten free dinner rolls. These are perfect for dipping in the sauce!!
Try this sauce on my homemade gluten free ravioli too. It makes an incredible meal.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
Most Alfredo sauce that you purchase at the store is gluten free. However, it may have come in contact with foods that do have gluten, so make sure always to read your labels. Of course, my homemade alfredo sauce is gluten free, and I prefer it much more to anything I could buy in a store. I figure why not make it at home when it's so easy!
If you want to substitute the parmesan for something else, go ahead. It might be a little stringier with different cheese and will have a slightly different flavor. It will still be flavorful and delicious. Mozzarella or Pepper Jack would be excellent options to try.
No, it's not typically a good idea to freeze this Alfredo recipe. The reason is due to the heavy cream. Many dairy products don't do well when frozen because they break down. If you freeze the Alfredo sauce, you will immediately notice it has a weird and almost gritty texture. The flavor will not be that great, either.
I recommend if you can't eat it all to refrigerate it for up to 4 days. Keep in a glass jar with a lid or airtight container for best results.
There are several great brands of gluten free gnocchi. My favorite is by DeLallo. Trader Joe's sells great cauliflower gnocchi. Capello's makes grain-free paleo gnocchi (in freezer sections of many grocery stores.)
Optional tips and substitutions:
This easy Alfredo sauce is super versatile and goes with many foods. Here are some ideas you can try out.
- Gluten Free Pasta - Of course, Alfredo sauce goes well with gluten free pasta. Don't forget to check out my guide on how to cook gluten free pasta to avoid mushy pasta
- Bacon - Adding some crumbled bacon is amazing no matter what you are serving the gluten-free pumpkin alfredo sauce on. It's salty and has an excellent flavor combination.
- Chicken - Serve the pumpkin alfredo sauce over some roasted chicken. So good!
- Cauliflower - You can never go wrong with pairing this alfredo sauce and roasted cauliflower.
More easy gluten free alfredo sauce recipes:
- Simple Alfredo Sauce
- Easy Whole Roasted Cauliflower - This tastes amazing with this pumpkin alfredo sauce too.
- Super Cheesy Zucchini Ribbon Lasagna Alfredo
- Easy Alaskan Cod Fettuccini Alfredo
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup pumpkin purée * see note
- 2 teaspoons fresh sage chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a skillet, add oil and garlic and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Add all remaining ingredients except parmesan cheese.
- Cook on medium until it just starts to boil. Whisk to stir.
- Reduce heat and simmer on low for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve over pasta, on a baked potato, over vegetables, seafood, etc.
Notes
- You can use any gluten free gnocchi or serve this alfredo over another gluten free pasta.
- You can use freshly roasted pumpkin or canned. I used canned in this recipe. Be sure to make sure it is not pumpkin pie filling!
- Gluten Free Pasta - Of course, alfredo sauce goes well with gluten free pasta. Don't forget to check out my guide on how to cook gluten free pasta to avoid mushy pasta
- Bacon - No matter what you are serving the gluten free pumpkin alfredo sauce on, adding in some crumbled bacon is amazing. It's salty and an excellent flavor combination.
- Chicken - Serve the pumpkin alfredo sauce over some roasted chicken. So good!
- Cauliflower - You can never go wrong with pairing this alfredo sauce and roasted cauliflower.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Janet Remy
Is there a way to make this dairy free?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Janet, I haven't tested a dairy-free heavy cream in this recipe yet. So Delicious makes one that I hear is good though.