Laura Fuentes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Meet Laura
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Meet Laura
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
ร—
Home ยป Recipes ยป Sauces & Dressings

5 Ingredient Creamy Garlic Sauce

By Laura Fuentes on Oct 17, 2022 Updated Dec 20, 2024

4.95 from 19 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

You're going to love the easy of this creamy garlic sauce! It's a simple topping for chicken, pasta, and more!

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

creamy garlic sauce in a large pot with pepper on top

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email, and I’ll send this one straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll receive epic new recipes to try every single week.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Best-Ever Garlic Cream Sauce

    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.
    large pot of creamy garlic sauce with a wooden spoon

    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.

    1. Saute the garlic
      Melt the butter and add the garlic cloves to the pan. Sautรฉ for about 2 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color but donโ€™t burn.
    2. Season
      Add the Italian seasoning and toast for about 30 seconds.
    3. 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 itโ€™s visibly reduced.
    4. Combine and serve
      Chicken, pasta, or mashed potatoes? You choose! Combine the sauce with your favorite meal and enjoy!

    How to Thicken the Sauce

    If after simmering this sauce has not reduced (thickened) enough for what you have planned on using it on, you can 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.

    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, ยฝ 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.

    side by side photos of creamy garlic sauce in a pan. One with chicken breasts and one with pasta

    What to Do with Creamy Garlic Sauce

    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

    large pot of creamy garlic sauce
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    You’re going to love the easy of this creamy garlic sauce! It’s a simple topping for chicken, pasta, and more!
    4.95 from 19 votes
    Print Pin

    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 sautรฉ them for about 2 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color, but donโ€™t burn.
    • Add the Italian seasoning to the garlic and toast it for about 30 seconds.
    • Add the chicken broth or stock and let it simmer to incorporate the garlic. Once combined, add the warmed half and half or cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let the sauce cook down for 3 to 4 minutes until itโ€™s visibly reduced.
    • Combine the sauce with chicken breasts, serve it over mashed potatoes, or toss it with pasta.

    Notes

    Need this sauce to be a littler thicker? 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.
    ย 
    ย 
    ย 

    Equipment

    printed papers of weekly family meal plan
    Ad Free Weekly Meal Plan $1
    Large Skillet

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    More Sauces & Dressings

    • white wine sauce in a pan
      White Wine Sauce Without Cream
    • a jar of homemade dressing
      Best Dressing for Cobb Salad
    • fresh salsa with chips
      Blender Salsa
    • Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde

    Comments

      4.95 from 19 votes (15 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Michael says

      December 03, 2024 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe!!!!

      Itโ€™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.

      Reply
    2. Susy V says

      October 07, 2024 at 8:18 pm

      5 stars
      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 โ€œslurryโ€ to thicken and it did not thicken but still good. Poured it on top of pasta and rotisserie chicken

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes says

        October 08, 2024 at 4:27 pm

        Thank you for making this creamy garlic sauce! Glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    3. Sarah says

      August 14, 2024 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      I made this garlic sauce for my chicken breasts and it was delicious!

      Reply
    4. Diane says

      January 23, 2024 at 10:25 pm

      How do you thicken the sauce??

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes says

        January 25, 2024 at 12:33 pm

        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.

        Reply
    5. Jojo says

      December 26, 2023 at 7:02 pm

      4 stars
      Tasted great although a bit thin for my liking.

      Reply
    6. Thelisa says

      September 05, 2023 at 4:18 pm

      Can I use whole milk

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes says

        September 10, 2023 at 3:40 pm

        Yes, you can use whole milk but the sauce won’t be as creamy/thick.

        Reply

    Hi! I'm Laura.
    I help busy moms eat healthy(er) meals at home with easy-to-make recipes and practical advice.

    More about me โ†’

    Let's Be Social!

    Facebook Pinterest Instagram YouTube
    5 Secrets to Healthy(er) Family Meals

    Fresh Favorites

    • large stack of fluffy pancakes with slice of butter on top
      Best Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
    • christmas salad with apples, pecans, greens and onion
      Christmas Salad
    • round sugar cookies on a cooling rack
      Sugar Cookies Without Baking Powder or Soda
    • christmas side dishes
      Christmas Side Dishes

    Trending Now

    • overhead view of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows on top
      Homemade Hot Cocoa – The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe Ever!
    • an image collage of gift ideas for your mother-in-law for Christmas
      What to Get Your Mother-in-Law for Christmas
    • closeup on stack of pancakes topped with kiwi, pomegranate and blueberries
      Fluffy Eggnog Pancakes
    • paleo chili in a cast iron dish
      Paleo Chili Recipe | All Meat Veggie Chili

    Footer

    Browse

    • Start Here
    • Eat Healthy in 30 Days
    • Weekly Family Meal Plans
    • Recipe Index

    Useful Links

    • Contact
    • Permissions
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy

    COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2024 LAURA FUENTES ยท DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.