PrintUltimate 15-Minute Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce
Make this rich, velvety Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce in just 15 minutes. It is a versatile, simple white sauce base perfect for pasta, chicken, or vegetables on busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Pour in the heavy cream and broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low.
- Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly and thicken. Stir often to prevent scorching the bottom.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and fully incorporated.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg, if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve immediately over your favorite pasta, grilled chicken, or steamed vegetables.
Notes
- For a thinner sauce, add a splash more broth or milk while heating.
- To make this a Lemon Cream Sauce, add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with the Parmesan cheese.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting quality and flavor; pre-shredded cheese can make the sauce grainy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 33
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 110