Description
This creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce is a quick dinner hero: a rich, buttery, garlicky sauce that’s perfect for easy dinner ideas like tossing with pasta, spooning over chicken, or drizzling on veggies. It’s an easy recipe that comes together in about 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you still want a cozy, homemade meal. Use this flavorful sauce for quick breakfast-for-dinner plates, simple food ideas like baked potatoes or roasted vegetables, or anytime you need a comforting, crowd-pleasing sauce that fits right in with your favorite breakfast ideas, dinner ideas, and healthy snack-style veggie plates.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or dried parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley divided
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant but not browned.
3. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly for about 1 minute to form a smooth paste.
4. Slowly pour in about 1/2 cup of the milk while whisking until no lumps remain.
5. Gradually whisk in the remaining milk and cook for 4–6 minutes, whisking often, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
6. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
7. Stir in the salt, black pepper, dried Italian seasoning, 1/2 tablespoon of the chopped fresh parsley, and the lemon juice.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding a little more salt or pepper to taste.
9. Remove from the heat. If you prefer a thinner sauce, whisk in a splash of extra milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
10. Transfer the sauce to a serving dish or pour over pasta, chicken, vegetables, or potatoes, then garnish with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Avoid letting the sauce boil hard after you add the Parmesan cheese, or it can turn grainy and separate—instead, keep the heat low and whisk gently until everything is smooth and creamy.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1/4 cup
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 330
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 55
Keywords: garlic parmesan sauce, quick dinner, easy recipe, pasta sauce, chicken sauce, dipping sauce, food ideas, dinner ideas