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With just 5 ingredients, you’ll see how simple this creamy garlic sauce is to make. Serve it once, and you’ll never go back to plain dry chicken again!

Best-Ever Garlic Cream Sauce for Chicken and Pasta
This garlic sauce is my family’s favorite creamy sidekick to otherwise plain chicken. It’s so delicious it guarantees clean plates!
What I love is that I’m able to whip up a whole meal in under 30 minutes -not just the sauce but also when I cook pasta on the side, steam veggies, or pan-sear chicken breasts.
While you can find creamy garlic sauces in the freezer aisle or ready-made in a jar, nothing compares to making it yourself with a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients
First, check your pantry and fridge for everything that you’ll need to make this simple garlic sauce, and then remember to grab the measurements from the printable recipe card below. The list:
- Butter: salted or unsalted butter will work just fine.
- Garlic cloves: a grated texture works best. If you don’t have garlic cloves, garlic powder can be used as well.
- Italian seasoning: perfect flavor profile to garlic anything.
- Chicken broth: you can use stock as well.
- Half and half or heavy cream: make sure that it’s warmed so that it has the right texture. Want an epic sauce without cream? Try my White wine sauce.

How to Make Creamy Garlic Sauce
Now that you have all the ingredients needed, it’s time for the simple steps to make this delicious homemade sauce.
- Saute the garlic
Melt the butter and add the garlic cloves to the pan. Sauté for about 2 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color but don’t burn. - Season
Add the Italian seasoning and toast for about 30 seconds. - Simmer
Now, add the chicken broth and let it simmer to incorporate the garlic. Add half and half or cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. After 3 to 4 minutes, you’ll see it’s visibly reduced. - Combine and serve
Chicken, pasta, or mashed potatoes? You choose! Combine the sauce with your favorite meal and enjoy!
First time making this incredible Garlic Sauce? Watch this video to see how it’s done, step-by-step.
How to Thicken the Sauce
If after simmering, this sauce has not reduced (thickened) enough for you; it can be thickened by adding a slurry made by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water in a small bowl, adding the mixture to the sauce and letting it simmer for 5 more minutes. This sauce is perfect for tossing it with pasta as is, however, some people prefer it thicker if serving it with seared chicken breasts.
Can You Make Garlic Cream Sauce Ahead?
Yes, you can make the garlic cream sauce up to 3 days ahead of time. Once cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. To reheat it, I recommend warming it up slowly over medium heat on the stovetop.
Can You Freeze Creamy Garlic Sauce?
The key to successfully freezing cream sauces is to allow the sauce to cool down completely and then transfer it inside an airtight container or freezer zip bag and remove as much air as possible.
I recommend freezing this sauce in smaller batches based on how you plan on using it. For example, 1 cup sauce for 2 people, ½ cup sauce for one person, etc.
The sauce can remain in the freezer for up to 2 months. To thaw, refrigerate it overnight or submerge it in water for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then heat it up on the stovetop.

What to Do with Creamy Garlic Sauce
Just like my Cottage Cheese Sauce recipe, when it comes to serving this creamy sauce recipe, you have some great options! I love adding it to dishes like this Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta – and the kids agree as well!
If you don’t want to pair it with pasta, no stress! You can easily make this homemade sauce and use it on top of Baked Split Chicken Breasts or even put it on top of Roasted Fingerling Potatoes as well.
5 Ingredient Creamy Garlic Sauce

Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup chicken broth, or stock
- 1 cup half and half or heavy cream, warmed
Instructions
- Over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the garlic cloves to the pan, and sauté them for about 2 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color, but don’t burn.
- Add the Italian seasoning to the garlic and toast it for about 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth or stock and the warmed cream or half and half to the pan. Stir and bring it all to a simmer, then cook it for 5 minutes to reduce it and give it a thicker texture.
- To thicken it further, make a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Add it to the sauce and simmer it for 5 minutes.
- Combine the sauce with chicken breasts, serve it over mashed potatoes, or toss it with pasta.
Franny says
Best sauce recipe I have had yet!!
Criss says
This creamy garlic sauce was super easy to make and turned out so good! Just five ingredients and it came together in no time—I’ll definitely make it again!
Swathi says
I agree with creamy garlic sauce is delicious I have made it twice so versatile.
Angela says
This turned out so amazing! I can’t wait to make it again…YUM!! My family loved it.
Catalina says
I can’t believe how easy and delicious this sauce is! Just five ingredients and it turns any pasta or veggies into something restaurant-quality!
Lora says
Creamy garlic sauce goes on every thing! So easy to make and so tasty!
Sonja says
Such a super easy and lovely creamy garlic sauce! I was stuck for some quick dinner last night and made it and it was so so good!
Andrea says
I was looking for a quick, creamy sauce to dress up a simple dinner, and this garlic sauce was perfect—super easy, full of flavor, and made our plain chicken feel like a special meal.
Maria says
I was going to make regular chicken alfredo last night before I found this recipe. I used this sauce instead. SO GOOD!
Beth says
I made this last night to go with my grilled shrimp. It was so good, and I loved how easy it was to make.
Steph says
Such delicious creamy garlic sauce!!
Kathryn says
This recipe is fantastic! I adore this sauce so much!
Claudia says
Made this 5-ingredient creamy garlic sauce and it’s so simple but packed with flavor! Perfect for drizzling over pasta, veggies, or even as a dip. Definitely a new favorite!
Nicole Kendrick says
I love this so much! I added a bit to my alfredo sauce, and it was a game-changer!
Nora says
This creamy garlic sauce is a total game-changer! Just 5 ingredients and so much flavor—it’s rich and silky. I tried it once and now I can’t imagine serving chicken without it!
Annie says
This creamy garlic sauce was wonderful!!
Cheryl says
My favorite sauce, love it only has 5 ingredients but is very flavorable. Very thin, might need a roux to thicken but very good as is on pasta.
Layla says
I loved this garlic sauce over chicken and potatoes!
Anne says
This was so good!
Jack says
Incredibly delicious
Kathy says
Lovely garlic sauce recipe!
Abby says
This garlic sauce is incredible!! Easy too!
Lilly says
This garlic sauce was incredible!!!
Gail says
This is so good!
Tara says
Soooo yummy
Beverly says
This sauce had 2 things I love: easy, and garlicky. And so yummy (thats 3!). Thanks for sharing!
Cara says
So so good!
Janna says
This creamy garlic sauce was epic!!
Faith says
Delicious creamy garlic sauce.
Rachel says
Best garlic sauce ever!!!
Lucy says
Obsessed with this creamy garlic sauce!
Dayna says
This was amazing!
Carla says
The kids loved this one!
Jackie says
Obsessed with this sauce!
Marie says
Wow this was incredible!
Susi says
I’ve made it twice with garlic shrimp! It’s great!
Karen says
Made this garlic sauce for chicken & mashed potatoes last night and it was so good. I had to come back and tell you how much my family loved it!
Tasha says
Creamy and delish. We have had it on chicken, pasta and rice and loved it every time!
Andrea says
Yummy and easy. While it did thicken slightly while simmering, it definitely needed a little corn starch. Based on another comment, I added a little parm cheese. Very good.
Jan says
Soooo flavorful and creamy
Kayla says
In love with this creamy garlic sauce!
Estella says
I’ve made this creamy garlic sauce several times. Twice I’ve poured it over chicken -I don’t like breasts but this sauce is really good and makes them tolerable and over pasta with veggies. My family loves it.
Michael says
This is a great recipe!!!!
It’s quick and easy to make. I also made the Italian seasoning because I did not have any. I feel so good and satisfied with this sauce. I will make it again.
Susy V says
Made this because I had leftover chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. This smells and taste so good, I also added Parmesan cheese. I did add “slurry” to thicken and it did not thicken but still good. Poured it on top of pasta and rotisserie chicken
Laura Fuentes says
Thank you for making this creamy garlic sauce! Glad you enjoyed it.
Sarah says
I made this garlic sauce for my chicken breasts and it was delicious!
Diane says
How do you thicken the sauce??
Laura Fuentes says
If after simmering this sauce has not reduced (thickened) enough for what you have planned on using it on, make a slurry by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water in a small bowl, adding the mixture to the sauce, and letting it simmer for 5 more minutes. This sauce is perfect for tossing it with pasta as is, however, some people prefer it thicker if serving it with seared chicken breasts, for example.
Jojo says
Tasted great although a bit thin for my liking.
Thelisa says
Can I use whole milk
Laura Fuentes says
Yes, you can use whole milk but the sauce won’t be as creamy/thick.