Description
A rich and velvety Creamy Garlic Sauce bursting with fragrant garlic and luscious cream, perfect for drizzling over pasta, chicken, vegetables, or using as a dip. Easy to make in under 15 minutes using simple, quality ingredients. Elevate your meals with this versatile and indulgent sauce that requires no special cooking skills.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3–4 fresh garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
- 2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil for a lighter fat)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Ingredients
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or reserved pasta water (to adjust sauce thickness)
- Fresh thyme, parsley, or basil (for herb infusion)
- Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (for spicy variation)
- Lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice (for brightness)
Instructions
- Prepare and Sauté the Garlic: Peel and finely mince 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, then add the garlic. Cook gently until fragrant and golden but not browned, about 1-2 minutes, to mellow the sharpness and build flavor.
- Add the Cream: Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream, stirring constantly to combine with the garlic butter mixture. Lower the heat to low and let the cream warm gently without boiling to slowly thicken the sauce while infusing it with garlic aroma.
- Stir in Parmesan Cheese: Gradually add ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese while stirring continuously. This thickens the sauce and adds rich, savory depth. Continue stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce is smooth.
- Season and Adjust: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of milk or reserved pasta water to loosen it. Simmer for an additional minute to combine all flavors smoothly.
- Serve Immediately: Remove from heat and pour over your favorite dishes while warm. Serve fresh to enjoy the creamy texture and vibrant garlic flavor at their best.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for the brightest, cleanest flavor.
- Cook garlic gently on low heat to avoid bitterness.
- Do not let the cream boil to prevent separation.
- Grate Parmesan cheese finely for quicker, even melting.
- Adjust sauce thickness with pasta water or milk without diluting the flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on low heat, adding a splash of cream or milk to restore smoothness.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with plant-based butter, heavy cream with coconut or cashew cream, and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: creamy garlic sauce, garlic sauce, easy garlic sauce, pasta sauce, creamy sauce, garlic cream sauce, quick sauce, versatile sauce
