Garlic parmesan sauce is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute sauce that is perfect for pizza, veggies, and potatoes. It’s delicious for dipping, drizzling, and adding to my famous garlic parmesan wings and garlic parmesan pasta.
I love parmesan and garlic. Turns out this recipe is made for me. It tasted delicious, I ate it with pasta and chicken pieces, yum!
★★★★★
– elle –
Garlic parmesan sauce is a simple sauce made with butter, garlic, salt, pepper and parmesan that is incredibly versatile. It is loaded with garlic flavor and coats everything beautifully. It’s truly amazing on almost everything!
I love to skip bottled dressings and sauces and mix up this homemade creamy garlic parmesan sauce! I can make it on a whim with ingredients I have on hand.
Ingredients
- Butter – Melted butter coats well and adds rich, buttery flavor.
- Minced Garlic – Fresh minced garlic offers the most robust flavor, but these garlic substitutions also work well.
- Salt – I always love thick flakes of sea salt from a grinder for added texture or use kosher salt in a pinch.
- Pepper – Thick flakes of fresh cracked pepper offer robust flavor, color and texture.
- Parmesan – I like to grate cheese from a block for the best flavor and texture.
Tips from my Test Kitchen
Medium Heat: Cook the sauce over low to medium heat to prevent burning and ensure even cooking.
Constant Stirring: Stir the sauce constantly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and to achieve a smooth texture.
Fresh Parmesan: It melts so much better. Store-bought grated parmesan tends to be dry and has a tendency to clump.
Serving Suggestions
- Chicken – Toss with wings, and drizzle or dip kabobs, skewers, spiedini, baked chicken breasts, chicken strips and all of your favorite chicken recipes!
- Seafood – It’s delicious on salmon and shrimp!
- Veggies – Drizzle on favorite vegetables; fresh, roasted or steamed. I love it on roasted cauliflower and asparagus.
- Pastas – Toss with your favorite noodles for an easy family friendly dinner.
- Pizza – In lieu of traditional pizza sauce spread garlic parmesan sauce on as a base.
- As a Dip – Dip foods like artichoke, toasted raviolis, cheese curds and breadsticks. For a healthier option, try crisp veggies like cauliflower, broccoli or carrots.
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 2 teaspoons garlic finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup parmesan grated
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt butter on medium heat.½ cup unsalted butter
- Add garlic and sauté, stirring continuously for approximately 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in salt and pepper and remove from heat.2 teaspoons garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Whisk in parmesan and toss with wings, pasta, veggies, top pizza, drizzle or enjoy as a dipping sauce!½ cup parmesan
Julie’s Tips
- Thickening: If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer gently until it reaches the desired consistency. Avoid boiling.
- Thinning: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a bit of milk, chicken broth, or a little cream.
Substitutions and Variations
- Garlic – 4 garlic cloves = 2 teaspoons of minced garlic.
- Make it Creamy – Add up to 1 cup heavy cream to achieve the desired consistency.
- Spice it Up – Add Italian sSeasoning, fresh parsley, basil or green onion for a variation.
- Fresh or dried herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme can also add a nice flavor.
- A little lemon zest can brighten the flavor of the sauce.
- A splash of white wine can add depth to the sauce. Add it after sautéing the garlic and let it reduce slightly.
Storage Notes
- Airtight Container: Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Reheat the sauce gently over low heat, stirring frequently. Add a splash of milk or cream to restore its creamy consistency.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
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Garlic is so flavorful it lends itself to so many amazing dishes. It’s one of my favorites! I can’t wait for you to try more of my easy garlic recipes!
I made this, but I used multiple cheeses. It tastes so good.
Thank you, Marsha!
Very tasty recipe. I suggest slowly pouring while rapidly beating this finished sauce right off the stove top into 2 egg yolks . Creamier and better noodle coverage.
Hi Sean,
Thanks so much for such a great review and suggestion!
Have a great weekend,
Julie
So good!! My only mistake was adding the parm in too quickly and it melted but great recipe despite my opsie
Can I use EVOO instead of butter?
I haven’t tested, but it should work well. Enjoy!