Garlic Parmesan Sauce is a buttery, herby, and versatile sauce that adds flavor to so many dishes in minutes! Make it for tossing chicken wings, drizzling on veggies and protein, or add to sour cream to make a decadent dipping sauce.
We love this sauce to make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, basting Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin, or for drizzling on Roasted Asparagus. It adds the perfect buttery and fragrant flare and is surprisingly easy to make. Try it as a dipping sauce if you want a thick and creamy dip that goes well with chips, crudité, chicken tenders, and more!
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About Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- Taste - The combination of garlic, parmesan, and herbs is uniquely delicious.
- Texture - You can make it thinner for wing sauce or thicker for dipping.
- Effort - This easy sauce recipe requires minimal effort. Just warm the ingredients in a saucepan and stir.
- Time - It takes just a few minutes to warm and mix the ingredients.
Ingredients
- Butter - Butter is the rich base for the sauce.
- Garlic - Garlic adds the quintessential herby aroma.
- Lemon juice and zest - Lemon juice and zest add brightness.
- Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan - Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan cheese adds a sharp and nutty taste.
- Italian flat leaf parsley - Parsley has an earthy pepperiness.
- Sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayonnaise - Add sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayo to make the sauce thick for dipping.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions/Variations
- Garlic powder - Use garlic powder instead of minced garlic for lighter garlic flavor.
- Pepper - Add freshly cracked black pepper for a little spice.
- Onion powder - Add a little onion powder for a light oniony flavor.
- Spicy - Add smoked paprika or red pepper flakes to imbue heat to the sauce.
- Pecorino - Use pecorino or a mix of Parmigiano-Reggiano and pecorino for a tangier sauce.
Instructions
Tossing or Topping Sauce
- Make sauce - Add butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, 4 tablespoon Parigmiano-Reggiano, and ½ tablespoon parsley in a saucepan. Warm on low heat until the butter and cheese is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Stir until combined then remove from heat. Toss cooked wings in the sauce until coated and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan or Parmigiano-Reggiano and ½ tablespoon of chopped parsley on top. Transfer to a clean serving platter and serve immediately. This garlic parmesan wing sauce yields enough for 1½ lbs chicken wings. (Photo 1, 2, and 3)
Make Dipping Sauce
- Make dipping sauce - Add butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parigmiano-Reggiano, and parsley to a saucepan. Warm on low heat until the butter and cheese is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Stir until combined then remove from heat. In a mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream with the garlic butter sauce. You can also use greek yogurt or mayonnaise. Add a pinch of kosher or sea salt to taste. Whisk vigorously until the sauce comes together and transfer to a serving bowl or ramekin and top with chopped parsley for garnish. Serve with wings, crudité, chicken tenders, and more. (Photo 1, 2, and 4)
Pro tip - For the dipping sauce, make sure to pre-mix your Greek yogurt or sour cream before you add it so it has a smooth and silky consistency and isn't chunky.
What to Serve with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Our favorite way to enjoy this garlic parmesan sauce is tossed with oven baked wings. However, we also love it drizzled on pan fried potatoes and baked asparagus or as a dipping sauce for steamed artichokes and chicken tenders. Either way you can't go wrong!
Recipe FAQs
Garlic parmesan is versatile and robustly flavored sauce. Make it to toss with chicken wings and veggies or make it thick to be used as a dipping sauce.
No, this sauce is cheesy and herby, but not spicy.
In order to make the sauce thicker, add sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayonnaise.
Yes, but the sauce will not be as garlicky.
Yes, you can use olive oil or another non-butter substitute. But because the butter contributes to the richness and consistency of the sauce, the texture may be different.
Yes, all of the ingredients in this recipe are gluten-free.
Storage
This creamy garlic parmesan sauce is best enjoyed fresh or the same day. You can store leftover sauce in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Before using, stir it softly until it reaches its original consistency.
Top Tips
- Keep an eye on the sauce to ensure it doesn't burn.
- For the dipping sauce, refrigerate until ready to serve so the sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayo doesn't spoil.
Did You Like This Recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Sauce (For Tossing, Drizzling, and Dipping)
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
For Tossing or Topping
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 6 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan grated and divided
- 1 tablespoon Italian flat leaf parsley finely chopped and divided
For Dipping
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan grated
- 2 teaspoon Italian flat leaf parsley finely chopped
- ½ cup sour cream, greek yogurt, or mayonnaise
- â…› teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt or to taste
Instructions
Tossing or Topping Sauce
- Make sauce - Add butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, 4 tablespoon Parigmiano-Reggiano, and ½ tablespoon parsley in a saucepan. Warm on low heat until the butter and cheese is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Stir until combined then remove from heat. Toss cooked wings in the sauce until coated and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan and ½ tablespoon of chopped parsley on top. Transfer to a clean serving platter and serve immediately. This recipe yields enough for 1½ lbs chicken wings. You can also use this recipe to drizzle on top of chicken, fish, mashed potatoes, veggies, and more.4 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 6 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan, 1 tablespoon Italian flat leaf parsley, 6 cloves garlic
Make Dipping Sauce
- Make dipping sauce - Add butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parigmiano-Reggiano, and parsley to a saucepan. Warm on low heat until the butter and cheese is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Stir until combined then remove from heat. In a mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream with the garlic butter sauce. You can also use greek yogurt or mayonnaise. Add a pinch of kosher or sea salt to taste. Whisk vigorously until the sauce comes together and transfer to a serving bowl or ramekin and top with chopped parsley for garnish. Serve with wings, crudité, chicken tenders, and more.2 tablespoon butter, 3 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 teaspoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan, 2 teaspoon Italian flat leaf parsley, ½ cup sour cream, greek yogurt, or mayonnaise, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
Video
Notes
- This sauce is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can store leftover sauce in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Before using, stir it until it reaches its original consistency.
- Keep an eye on the butter mixture to ensure it doesn't burn.
- For the dipping sauce, make sure to pre-mix your Greek yogurt or sour cream before you add it so the sauce has a smooth and silky consistency and isn't chunky.
- For the dipping sauce, refrigerate until ready to serve so the sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayo doesn't spoil.
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