This garlic parmesan sauce is rich, creamy and ready in just 10 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it's an easy homemade sauce that's perfect for pasta, chicken, steak, vegetables or dipping. With plenty of garlic and Parmesan flavor, this creamy garlic parmesan sauce is an easy way to add extra flavor to family dinners.
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❤️ Why you will love this sauce
- Ready in 10 minutes – A quick homemade sauce that's perfect for busy weeknight meals.
- Made with simple everyday ingredients.
- Rich and creamy – Parmesan, garlic and cream create a smooth, cheesy sauce packed with flavor.
- Super versatile – Serve it with pasta, chicken, steak or vegetables, or use it as a creamy dipping sauce.
🧄 Easy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Similar to my Spicy Alfredo Sauce, this easy garlic parmesan sauce is creamy, cheesy and packed with garlic flavor. It comes together in just 10 minutes and works beautifully with pasta, chicken, vegetables or minute steak, making it a versatile sauce for quick family meals.
🧄 What is garlic parm sauce?
Garlic parmesan sauce is a rich, creamy sauce made with garlic, cream and Parmesan cheese. It has a smooth, cheesy texture and savory garlic flavor that pairs beautifully with pasta, chicken, steak and vegetables. Best of all, this homemade version comes together in just 10 minutes, making it an easy sauce for quick weeknight meals.
What to serve with garlic parm sauce?
Pasta: Toss the sauce with your favorite pasta or gnocchi for a quick and creamy meal.
Pizza: Use it as a creamy base for white pizza, especially with mushrooms, spinach or chicken.
Chicken: Spoon it over grilled chicken or use it as a creamy dipping sauce for chicken wings or meatballs.
Seafood: Drizzle it over shrimp, salmon or grilled fish.
Vegetables: Serve it with steamed broccoli, green beans, roasted mushrooms or asparagus.
Fries: Use it as a rich, cheesy dipping sauce for fries or crispy potato wedges.
Steak: Spoon this creamy garlic Parmesan sauce over grilled or pan-seared steak for an easy restaurant-style dinner. It pairs especially well with flank steak but if you don't have flank steak, here are few alternative ideas for flank steak.
🥄 Ingredients needed and substitutions
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives this garlic parmesan sauce its signature savory flavor.
- Heavy cream: Creates the rich, smooth texture of the sauce. Heavy cream works best because its higher fat content helps keep the sauce creamy.
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan if possible. It melts more smoothly into the sauce than pre-shredded cheese.
- Plain flour: Helps thicken the sauce. Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour if needed.
- Italian seasoning: Adds extra herb flavor. You can substitute your favorite dried Italian herbs.
- Salt and black pepper: Season to taste after adding the Parmesan, as Parmesan is naturally salty.
👩🏼🍳 HOW TO MAKE GARLIC PARMESAN SAUCE
1. Melt the butter: Melt the unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Sauté the garlic: Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic brown.
3. Add the flour: Sprinkle the flour over the garlic butter and whisk continuously until smooth. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
4. Add the cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking continuously. Keep whisking over medium-low heat until the sauce is smooth and begins to thicken.
5. Add the Parmesan: Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the grated Parmesan until completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
6. Season and serve: Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with pasta, chicken, steak or vegetables.
❓FAQS
Not exactly. Both sauces are rich and creamy, but this garlic parmesan sauce includes plenty of garlic and Italian seasoning and is thickened with a small amount of flour.
Use freshly grated Parmesan and add it gradually over low heat, stirring continuously until melted. Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the cheese, as high heat can make it grainy.
Replace the plain flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour suitable for thickening sauces. Check that your other ingredients are also labelled gluten-free if needed.
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently over low heat, stirring frequently. If the sauce has thickened in the fridge, stir in a small splash of cream or milk until it reaches your preferred consistency.
📝 Tips and tricks
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese and helps give the sauce its creamy texture.
Don't Overcook the Garlic: Sauté the garlic just until fragrant. If it starts to brown, it can give the sauce a bitter flavor.
Keep the Heat Low: Once you add the Parmesan, keep the sauce over low heat and stir continuously. Avoid boiling it, as high heat can cause the cheese to become grainy.
Adjust the Consistency: If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a splash of cream or milk. If it's too thin, let it gently simmer for another minute or two until it thickens.
Season at the End: Parmesan is naturally salty, so taste the finished sauce before adding extra salt.
Make-ahead, Storage, and Reheating
Make-Ahead
You can make garlic Parmesan sauce ahead of time. Prepare the sauce as directed, allow it to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate.
Storage
Fridge: Store leftover garlic Parmesan sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Freezing: I don't recommend freezing this sauce. Cream-based sauces can separate and become grainy after freezing and thawing.
Reheating
Stovetop: Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently.
Adjust the consistency: The sauce will thicken in the refrigerator. Add a small splash of milk or cream while reheating until it reaches your desired consistency.
Avoid high heat: Don't boil the sauce when reheating, as this can cause the cream and Parmesan to separate.
Pasta recipes to try next
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚
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Garlic Parmesan Sauce (Creamy & Easy)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
Description
This garlic parmesan sauce is rich, creamy and ready in just 10 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it's an easy homemade sauce that's perfect for pasta, chicken, steak, vegetables or dipping. With plenty of garlic and Parmesan flavor, this creamy garlic parmesan sauce is an easy way to add extra flavor to family dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- pinch of salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter.
- Sauté the Garlic: Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Add the Flour: Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously to form a smooth roux. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add the Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking continuously. Cook gently, whisking frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Add the Parmesan: Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan until completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Do not allow the sauce to boil.
- Season: Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
- Serve: Remove from the heat and serve immediately. For leftovers, allow the sauce to cool and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Notes
Don't overcook the garlic: Sauté the garlic just until fragrant. Browning the garlic can make the sauce bitter.
Use freshly grated Parmesan: It melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese and gives the sauce a creamier texture.
Too thick? Stir in a splash of cream or milk until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Too thin? Let the sauce gently simmer for another minute or two, stirring frequently, until it thickens.
Season carefully: Parmesan is naturally salty, so taste the sauce before adding additional salt.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Let me know if you have any questions! Nikki x