Best Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe – Learn how easy it is to make a deliciously rich and creamy Parmesan cheese and garlic sauce with a handful of pantry staples in under 20 minutes. It’s perfect as a dip for wings and snacks, toss with pasta, and more!

Plate of chicken wings with ramekin of garlic parmesan sauce.

Why We Love Garlic Parmesan Sauce

Savory garlic, nutty Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream all melted together in a smooth and luscious sauce… What’s not to love? This easy stovetop recipe makes the richest, creamiest, most irresistible Parmesan Garlic Sauce!

Our fabulous Garlic Parmesan Sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for buffalo wings or Parmesan wings, for warm breadsticks and sausage rolls, or as a pasta sauce for brilliant pasta creations!

Give this simple 20-minute recipe a try one time, and I’m sure you’ll keep a jar on hand at all times.

Top down view of a breadstick being dipped into a ramekin of creamy garlic sauce.

Ingredients You Need

  • Butter – unsalted is best for quality control
  • All-purpose flour – to make a thick roux
  • Garlic – finely minced garlic to release the fragrant oils
  • Italian seasoning – our easy homemade Italian seasoning recipe is a must-have
  • Onion powder – enhances the earthy, almost sweet flavor of the garlic
  • Chicken broth – I suggest low-sodium
  • Heavy cream – this makes the most rich and smooth Parmesan garlic sauce
  • Parmesan cheese – grated, to easily melt into the sauce
  • Salt and black pepper – a bit of each to taste
Large glass mason jar filled with homemade garlic and parmesan sauce.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Sauce

Set a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the butter and flour. Whisk as the butter melts creating a smooth foamy roux. Continue to stir and cook the roux for 3-4 minutes, until it is golden brown.

Be careful that it doesn’t get too dark!

Deep skillet with sauce roux.
Adding minced garlic from a cutting board into a skillet with sauce roux.

Add the garlic and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.

Once the garlic has softened, stir in the Italian seasoning, onion powder, and chicken broth. Raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream.

Pouring heavy cream from a glass measuring cup into a skillet of garlic sauce.

Add grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has completely melted into the sauce.

Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Adding grated parmesan cheese from a measuring cup into the skillet.
Blue spatula stirring sauce in a skillet.

Either serve warm, or cool and store in jars, in the refrigerator, for up to two weeks.

Get the Complete (Printable) Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe with Measurements and Serving Suggestions + Video Below. Enjoy!

Large glass mason jar filled with homemade garlic and parmesan sauce. A metal spoon is showing a scoop of sauce to camera.

Recipe Variations

  • Gluten-Free – Swap all-purpose flour with your favorite GF baking mix alternative.
  • Vegetarian – Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Dairy-Free – I have not tried any alternatives, but in theory, you can substitute the butter and heavy cream with your favorite non-dairy ingredients, such as plant-based vegan butter and cashew cream. If you give it a try, please leave a comment below!
  • Spices – Customize the flavor of this dipping sauce by adding other seasonings like taco seasoning, Cajun or Creole seasoning, or ranch dressing mix.
  • Spicy – Make the sauce spicy by including crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne.
Top down view of a breadstick being dipped into a ramekin of creamy garlic sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This sauce is so good you’ll want to eat it with a spoon! But if you *do* manage to save some, here are a few ideas for what to serve with rich and creamy Garlic Parmesan Dipping Sauce:

  • Chicken wings – Crispy baked buffalo wings or go big with garlic parmesan wings. Make sure to add a side of fresh-cut veggies!
  • Breadsticks – Warm homemade breadsticks are made for dipping.
  • Vegetables – Drizzle garlic-parmesan wing sauce over roasted potatoes, broccoli, or green beans for a kid-friendly side dish.
  • Pizza – I mean, pizza crust is basically a breadstick! Use the dipping sauce to dunk the slices, OR use it as pizza sauce instead of traditional tomato sauce.
  • Pasta – Toss the sauce with whatever cooked noodles you like for a simple and delicious meal.
  • Sausage balls – The creamy sauce tastes great with classic sausage balls, or try these spicy sausage rolls.
  • Chicken nuggets – Upgrade your dipping beyond ketchup and serve nuggets and tenders with this bold and flavorful garlic sauce.
Plate of chicken wings with ramekin of garlic parmesan sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is creamy garlic Parmesan the same as Alfredo?

These sauces are similar, but not exactly the same. Alfredo sauce is made with more broth and heavy cream so it’s not quite so thick as dipping sauce. This Parmesan garlic wing sauce includes lots of grated parm, and Alfredo sauces can include additional cheese like mozzarella and/or asiago cheese.

Why is Parmesan not melting in the sauce?

The broth mixture needs to be very hot… Not boiling, but the temperature of the sauce needs to come back up to hot after the heavy cream is added to melt the cheese properly.

How long do leftovers last?

Let it cool completely before transferring it to storage containers. Leftover Parmesan garlic dipping sauce will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Plate of chicken wings with ramekin of garlic parmesan sauce. A wing is being dipped in the sauce

Looking for More Scrumptious Sauce Recipes? Be Sure to Try:

Plate of chicken wings with ramekin of garlic parmesan sauce.
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Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Learn how easy it is to make a deliciously rich and creamy Parmesan cheese and garlic sauce with a handful of pantry staples in under 20 minutes. It's perfect as a dip for wings and snacks, toss with pasta, and more!
Servings: 16 servings (4 cups)

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the butter and flour. Whisk as the butter melts creating a smooth foamy roux. Continue to stir and cook the roux for 3-4 minutes, until it is golden brown. Add the garlic and simmer another 2-3 minutes.
  • Once the garlic has softened, stir in the Italian seasoning, onion powder, and chicken broth. Raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
  • Once boiling, lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has completely melted into the sauce. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Video

Notes

Either serve warm, or cool and store in jars, in the refrigerator, for up to two weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 366mg, Potassium: 52mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 437IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 103mg, Iron: 0.4mg
Course: Condiment, Main, Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine: American, Italian
Author: Sommer Collier
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