This creamy white garlic sauce is a garlic-lover’s dream come true. It’s a creamy white sauce packed with fresh garlic that’s balanced by parmesan or pecorino cheese.
There are only a few basic ingredients in this easy sauce, and it comes together quickly enough that you can make it in a snap on busy weeknights.
Use this sauce on anything from pasta dishes to meats and vegetables. Or trade out your traditional pizza sauce and slather this delectable sauce over top of homemade pizza dough.
No matter how you choose to use it, if you’re the kind of cook who measures garlic with your heart, you’re going to love this luscious garlic sauce.
What is White Garlic Sauce?
White garlic sauce is a creamy and fragrant sauce. Made with butter, milk, flour, and cheese, the sauce is creamy and dotted with studs of aromatic sauteed garlic.
It is truly an all-purpose sauce, can be made ahead of time and is also freezer friendly.
Why You’ll Love White Garlic Sauce
Garlic fans won’t be able to get enough of this simple sauce.
- Versatile – You can use this sauce on anything from veggies and proteins to pasta. You can even trade out the red sauce on your pizza and replace it with this to make a white sauce pizza.
- Easy – It only takes a little bit of time, and one saucepan, to make this super easy sauce.
- Customizable – There are nearly endless ways to transform this base recipe.
Ingredients
When combined, these simple ingredients create the most luxurious, rich sauce.
- Unsalted butter – Butter is the base of this creamy sauce. It gives the sauce its velvety consistency.
- Garlic cloves, minced or pressed – Aromatic garlic cloves are the star of the show, giving the sauce its signature flavor. Be sure to use fresh garlic for the best results — garlic powder will not give it as deep a flavor.
- Flour – All purpose flour helps to thicken the sauce.
- Whole milk or half and half – The dairy helps to make the sauce silky smooth.
- Parmesan cheese or pecorino cheese, freshly and finely grated – The nutty and slightly salty cheese complements the garlic and adds even more depth of flavor.
- Ground white pepper – White pepper imparts subtle spiciness in the sauce.
- Coarse kosher salt – Salt balances the sauce and brings out the best of all of the other ingredients.
- Fresh herbs, chopped (optional) – Chopped fresh herbs balance the sauce by providing a vibrant pop of color and fresh flavor. Consider using fresh basil or any other herbs from your garden.
What To Serve Garlic Parmesan Sauce With
White garlic sauce is perfect for pasta — use it in any dish you might use a cream sauce like steak alfredo or creamy seafood stuffed shells. It’s also a great way to upgrade any protein from grilled pork chops or steak to chicken or salmon.
This sauce can also take veggies to the next level — drizzle it over broccolini or cauliflower or toss steamed vegetables with it. It’s also a great dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks, french fries, or zucchini sticks.
How to Make This Garlic White Sauce Recipe
This simple recipe is a cinch to make — it only has a few easy steps. Just be sure to stay near the stove the entire time it’s cooking so that you can constantly whisk the ingredients together.
- Saute Garlic. Add the butter to a preheated medium saucepan. Once the butter melts, add the raw garlic and briefly saute.
- Make Roux. Add the flour and whisk until a paste forms.
- Thin. Pour the milk into the roux, and whisk until smooth.
- Add Flavors. After reducing the heat, add the cheese, pepper, salt, and fresh herbs, whisking to combine.
- Serve. Once the cheese has melted and all ingredients are completely combined, serve or set aside to store after the sauce reaches room temperature.
Variations
This sauce already has so much flavor, but there are lots of ways to change it up.
- Citrus – For a sauce with a refreshing, bright flavor, add a splash of lemon juice.
- Heat – To add a spicy kick, sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Garlic – Adjust the amount of garlic to suit your palate. Or, try roasting it first before adding it to the sauce.
- Vegetables – Add vegetables that are full of flavor, like vibrant sundried tomatoes or umami-laden mushrooms.
- Smokiness – For some smoky flavor, try adding chipotle powder or smoked paprika.
- Pepper – If you don’t have white pepper handy, you can use black pepper instead.
Storage and Freezing
You can easily store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.
Refrigerator: White garlic sauce can last for 3-4 days in a mason jar or other airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Store this sauce in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Common Questions About White Garlic Sauce
White garlic sauce is made with butter, flour, garlic, salt, pepper, cream or milk, and cheese. This recipe also offers the option of adding fresh herbs.
There are brands that produce and sell white garlic sauce. Of course, we always thinking a fresh sauce tastes better, though.
Garlic cream sauce is similar to alfredo sauce in that it uses many of the same ingredients. However, the ratios may differ.
Also, alfredo is typically made with heavy cream, while this recipe calls for milk or half and half.
Other Savory Sauces
White Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4-6 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup whole milk or half and half
- 1/3 cup parmesan or pecorino cheese freshly and finely grated
- ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs chopped, optional
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When melted, add the garlic, sauteing for 1 minute. Whisk in the flour to make a paste and then whisk in the milk until smooth (except for garlic bits).
- Reduce heat to low and whisk in the cheese, pepper, salt and fresh herbs. When cheese has melted, remove from the heat until ready to serve.
Used this to make some steak alfredo and also drizzled over a side of broccoli — SOO good, will definitely be making this again.
This looks so good! What I love the most about this is that I can see it on chicken, beef, pork, or seafood. I mean, anything.
This recipe is brilliant and so versatile. It was so delicious as the base layer for a white sauce pizza! I’m going to try it with pasta next.
Used this as a dipping sauce with dinner last night and it does not disappoint! Easy, quick and packed with flavor! Way better than any store-bought version; definitely, a new favorite sauce!