This creamy garlic butter sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes with butter, garlic, flour, and milk. It is rich, smooth, and versatile enough for pasta, ravioli, shrimp, seafood, chicken, steak, or vegetables.
It is similar to a light garlic cream sauce, but it does not require heavy cream or Parmesan cheese. The flour and warm milk create a smooth, creamy texture without making the sauce too heavy.
A great example is butternut squash ravioli, which pairs especially well with a sauce that adds richness without overwhelming its slightly sweet filling. While marinara often works for meat or cheese ravioli, butternut squash calls for something smoother and more balanced.
Butter, garlic, and cream come together here for a simple sauce that complements stuffed pasta beautifully.
Ingredients for Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
- Butter - Salted butter adds flavor, but unsalted works too.
- Garlic - Fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but jarred minced garlic works too. Garlic powder can also be used in a pinch.
- Flour - A small amount of flour helps thicken the sauce. White whole wheat or unbleached all-purpose flour both work well.
- Milk - Whole milk creates a creamy, smooth sauce. Lower-fat milk will also work, but the sauce may be a little thinner. Warm the milk before adding it to the saucepan to help the sauce come together smoothly.
- Spices - Oregano, basil, and parsley add extra flavor.
How to Make Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
This sauce comes together in about 10 minutes and only takes a few simple steps.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add the garlic. Avoid letting the butter boil or brown.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute over low heat to remove the raw flour taste.
- Whisk in the warmed milk, then add the spices.
- Let the sauce simmer gently until thickened and heated through.
FAQs
Is Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce the Same as Alfredo Sauce?
- No. Alfredo sauce is typically made with parmesan cheese and heavy cream, so it is usually richer and thicker. This sauce does not contain cheese and uses milk instead of cream.
Is This Similar to a Béchamel Sauce?
- Yes, it is similar. Béchamel is one of the classic mother sauces and serves as the base for many dishes, including lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and other creamy sauces.
How Long Will This Sauce last?
- Stored in an airtight container, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ways to use Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce:
- Ravioli or other stuffed pasta
- Broccoli and other vegetables
- Steak and shrimp
- Fish or other seafood
Looking for more easy sauce recipes?
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Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 ¼ cups sauce 1x
Description
Every cook needs a staple recipe and this one is it! A versatile creamy garlic butter cream sauce that uses few ingredients and comes together in minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 /3 cup butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon flour, 1 ½ tablespoons for thicker sauce
- 1 cup warm whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly so it does not brown.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to remove any raw flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, a little at a time.
- Add the spices and continue cooking over low heat for a few minutes, until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Keep warm until ready to serve.
- Serve over ravioli, steak, fish or chicken.
Notes
This makes about 1 ¼ cups of sauce, enough for about 8 ounces of pasta or ravioli. Double the recipe for 1 lb of pasta or for extra-saucy servings.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Dinner, Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
I attempted to make the recipe as given but found it didn't have enough milk but I had heavy whipping cream leftover from baking so I used that. It came out well but when I topped it with parmesan cheese (a little heavy) it went a different level of good.
Thank you for giving me a quick recipe for "I don't know what to make for supper).
It was soooo good! Everyone loved it. I used almond milk for those of us whoe have trouble with lactose and I did not add the pre made alfredo. It was great!
I’ve made this several times and it has never failed to taste delicious! I just have to tell myself to be patient when stirring for it to thicken. Thank you for sharing this.
This recipe comes out fantastic every time!
I was out of jarred pasta sauces and needed something quick for the angle hair I had already cooked, this was perfect!
Amazing! My kids love it and ask for it all the time. Easy to make and very versatile.
Can I use white flour? Thank you.
I did and it was fine