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posted by Katyaon Mar 9, 2021 (updated Apr 17, 2023) 69 comments »
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29 reviewsThis lemon garlic cream sauce recipe comes together with only 8-ingredients! It’s delicious with pasta or as a base for many other dishes.
If you love quick sauces, try our 3-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce.
Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
Lemony garlic cream sauce with half and half, fresh lemon, garlic, parmesan, and parsley could not be any easier to make.
This sauce is a twist on our Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe.
It comes together in a cinch and tastes so creamy and fresh! You’ll love it tossed with any pasta of choice but it’s also a great sauce for salmon, shrimp, or chicken. For a variation of this sauce, check out our pasta sauce with cream cheese..
Few Tips & Tricks
- For ultra-smooth sauce, I highly recommend using a microplane for the garlic.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of shredded, as grated incorporates better into the cream mixture. Use a microplane to grate the cheese or a box-grater.
- Keep an eye on the temperature while cooking and stir frequently so that the garlic and butter-flour mixture doesn’t burn.
- Finished sauce will thicken quickly upon standing so it is best enjoyed immediately. You can thin out the sauce with little white wine, reserved pasta water, milk, or half and half.
Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Ingredients
- Butter
- Garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Half and half
- Lemon juice and zest
- Parmesan cheese
- Parsley
Can I Use Milk?
You can use 2% or whole milk. Keep in mind though, that the higher the fat content, the richer the sauce will be.
Recipe Variations! Love spicy sauce? Turn this cream sauce into creamy cajun sauce. The contrast of creamy with spicy is always a delicious combo!
How to Make Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
Melt butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Stir in flour and cook for about 1 minute or until lightly golden, while stirring constantly. It will look like a paste. Make sure not to burn the flour.
Gradually pour in the half and half, stirring as you pour. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to a medium-low and cook until the sauce thickens about 1-2 minutes. If any lumps form, just whisk them out. Properly thickened sauce should coat the back of your spoon.
Whisk in lemon juice and zest. Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley. The cheese should immediately melt into the sauce. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Lemon garlic cream sauce recipe is very versatile and can be served with pasta or as a base for many other dishes, such as:
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Salmon
- Mac and cheese
- Bakes
Video: How to Make Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
More Easy Pasta Recipes
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells
- Shrimp Pasta Primavera
- Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
- Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce tossed with pasta of choice.
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Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 29 reviews
- Author: Katya
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Lemon garlic cream sauce recipe comes together with only 8-ingredients! It’s delicious with pasta or as a base for many other dishes.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 4 garlic cloves, grated with a microplane
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half (not fat free)
- Zest 1 lemon, about 1 tsp.
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
- Kosher salt and fresh black pepper
Instructions
- In a 12-inch non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant, while stirring constantly.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute or until lightly golden, stirring constantly. You want to cook off the raw flour taste. Make sure not to burn it.
- Gradually add in the half and half, stirring as you pour. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the sauce thickens about 1-2 minutes. If any lumps form, whisk them out. The sauce should easily coat the back of a spoon.
- Whisk in lemon juice and zest. Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley. The cheese should immediately melt into the sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a Smoother Sauce: Use a microplane for the garlic and for the Parmesan cheese. Grate the Parmesan yourself, it will taste and melt into the sauce better than the bagged cheese.
- Serving: This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce, which is enough for 8 ounces of dry pasta. Or use the sauce as a base for other dishes. See post for serving ideas.
- Leftovers: This sauce will thicken upon standing. You can thin out the sauce with white wine, reserved pasta water, milk, or half and half. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container for up 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5.3 g
- Sodium: 189 mg
- Fat: 20.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Protein: 7.1 g
- Cholesterol: 62.4 mg
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originally published on Mar 9, 2021 (last updated Apr 17, 2023)
69 comments Leave a comment »
About the author
Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
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69 comments on “Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce”
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Jan — Reply
I made this recipe for dinner tonight. It was very good. I did add it a little extra lemon to the sauce and zucchini that I sautéed on the side. I also added leftover shredded rotisserie chicken. I thinned out with a cup of pasta water. I would definitely make it again!! I think it would be great on top of sautéed chicken breasts with a side of rice or pasta and broccoli!!!
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Melissa — Reply
This was awesome, thanks! Tossed it over a frozen crab ravioli from Aldi for a quick last minute meal. Came out perfectly.
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Jenny — Reply
I made this because I tried a similar recipe that turned out so awful. I found this recipe and I cannot recommend it enough. I didn’t have half and half, so I used heavy whipping cream and thinned the sauce out with pasta water. It’s SO GOOD. I used it on tortellini and added some spinach to the sauce. I will be making this again and again.
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Katya — Reply
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Jenny! Thank you so much for feedback.
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Liza — Reply
Made this tonight for the first time and the flavor was out of this world. My husband kept thanking me! I will definitely make this again and I think the sauce would also be amazing in white lasagna. Thanks for the amazing (and easy) recipe!
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Robin S Costulas — Reply
I made this and tossed it with mini farfalle, peas and scallops. So good!
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Sheryl — Reply
I want to make this!! Do you think if I cook it a day before and use it in a crock pot meal that it would be ok?
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Katya — Reply
Hi Sheryl: it should be okay to cook the day before however I’m not sure how it will do in a crockpot meal. The cream can separate if cooked for a long time.
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