Garlic Sauce for Pizza

I’ve got the inside scoop on those little plastic cups of garlic sauce that come with your pizza. Margarine, garlic powder and salt. Yep- that’s it, but my version of garlic sauce for pizza uses real butter… cause I margarine just doesn’t cut it for me.

If you'Garlic Butter Sauce in a white bowl with a pizza slice dipping in itve ever wondered how to make garlic butter sauce, wonder no more. This recipe is just like the Papa John's dipping sauce for pizza or breadsticks! #garlicbuttersauce #howtomakegarlicbuttersauce #papajohnsdippingsauce www.savoryexperiments.com


 

Some recipes also use a small amount of olive oil to help stabilize and prevent it from hardening, but that isn’t necessary in our case.

Ingredients at a Glance

The list is small, but mighty- just whisk these together with a little bit of heat and you’ll be good to go!

  • Butter– Use a good quality butter for best flavor. Clarified butter or ghee is an even better pick.
  • Garlic Powder– make sure it is powder and not granulated garlic for the smoothest texture.
  • Salt– Just a basic fine sea salt works best.
  • Variations– While the traditional is basic, feel free to add fresh or dried thyme, parsley, lemon zest, grated fresh garlic cloves, a touch of heavy cream, black pepper, fresh or dried rosemary, fresh or dried oregano or any fresh herbs.

It’s the perfect garlic pizza sauce and breadsticks or anything else that needs a buttery dipping sauce.

Uses for Garlic Sauce

Besides dipping, there are so many uses for this simple garlic sauce.

  • Baste on seafood or chicken
  • Drizzle on grilled veggies
  • Use to make garlic bread with a
    sprinkle of parmesan cheese
  • Baste onto pizza dough before baking
  • Garlic knots
  • Use on hot dogs
  • As a garlic sauce for pasta
  • Dipping for wings or boneless wings
  • Stir 1 tablespoons with red sauce
    or tomato sauce
  • Use for omelettes or eggs
butter dripping on a slice of pizza

So the next time you’re craving the garlic sauce from your favorite local pizza place, just take a few minutes to make your own. Your taste buds will thank you! Pizza also tastes great with homemade buffalo sauce or even ranch dressing.

You can also get super fancy and use my Truffle Butter or compound butter as the base!

If you'Garlic Butter Sauce in a white bowl with a pizza slice dipping in itve ever wondered how to make garlic butter sauce, wonder no more. This recipe is just like the Papa John's dipping sauce for pizza or breadsticks! #garlicbuttersauce #howtomakegarlicbuttersauce #papajohnsdippingsauce www.savoryexperiments.com

Garlic Sauce for Pizza

4.18 from 173 votes
If you've ever wondered how to make garlic butter sauce for pizza, wonder no more. This recipe is just like the Papa John's dipping sauce for pizza or breadsticks!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Instructions

  • Combine the butter, garlic powder and fine sea salt in a small saucepan.
  • Stir and heat until melted. Serve.
  • If you've tried this recipe, please come back and let us know in the comments or star ratings!

Video

Notes

*If you have the time, try using clarified butter instead of just a stick. It will give you the bright golden tone. Un-clarified butter might look a little more cloudy, but will taste the same. 
Also see my notes about how restaurants use margarine instead of butter, which is why your garlic butter dipping sauce might taste “off”. 

Nutrition

Calories: 205 kcal, Fat: 23 g, Saturated Fat: 14 g, Cholesterol: 61 mg, Sodium: 203 mg, Potassium: 8 mg, Vitamin A: 710 IU, Calcium: 7 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Formicola
Calories: 205
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dipping sauce for pizza, garlic butter sauce
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage & Freezing

How to store…

You can this sauce in an airtight container or covered tightly with a piece of plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but remember it will solidify so you’ll need to remelt it. Butter easily takes on other flavors of things around it, so make sure it is contained.

How to freeze…

You can freeze butter, but you want to make sure it is a high quality butter with little to no additional water. You’ll see they are graded on the packaging. Clarified butter freezes better than straight butter with milk solids. 

Some folks like to pour slightly cooked butter into ice cube trays, pop them out and then freeze them in airtight plastic bag. I like the silicone ones, they are easier to pop the cubes out. 

Homemade Pizza Ideas

We love doing pizza, flatbreads and calzones at home.

garlic sauce for pizza recipe for pinterest
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.18 from 173 votes (164 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I tried it and it turned out great!! You dont even need to use the stove I just popped it in the microwave 15 seconds twice stirring both times and it tastes great!! Perfect for if you’re in a hurry but still want something nice

  2. 4 stars
    Thanks for the recipe. Super easy and great for dipping pizza crust. Note – I halved the garlic powder and it was still a little strong for my liking. I suggest folks add 1/4 tsp at a time to taste.

  3. 5 stars
    Actually used this to baste on some grilled shrimp and it was amazing! Will definitely try it with pizza too. It’s finger-lickin’ good.

  4. 5 stars
    Every Friday we have a pizza night so this will be a quick, easy, and sooo tasty addition to our fun family night!

  5. 5 stars
    This tasted just like my favorite garlic sauce from Papa Johns…but WAY easier to make from home! So excited to have this recipe.