Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe

Bring the flavor of BWW to your own kitchen!

After experimenting with homemade wings, I wanted a rich, garlicky sauce like the Garlic Parmesan wings from Buffalo Wild Wings. This recipe recreates that flavor at home—fresher, more vibrant, and customizable. While it started as a wing sauce, I now use it on pasta, as a dip, a sandwich spread and even as a pizza base. It’s quick to make and consistently delicious.

Key ingredients

Below are the main ingredients and suggested substitutions to help you tailor the sauce to your pantry and taste. For exact measurements, see the recipe card further down.

• Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated Parmesan delivers the creamiest texture and best flavor. Pre-grated cheese will work if needed, but fresh is preferred.
• Garlic – Fresh crushed or minced garlic is recommended for a bright, punchy garlic flavor. Roasted garlic can be used for a sweeter, more mellow profile.
• Italian seasoning – A blend of dried herbs (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary) adds savory depth. If your seasoning lacks red pepper, add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes for a gentle lift.
• Lemon juice – Fresh-squeezed lemon brightens and balances the richness; bottled juice can be substituted in a pinch but fresh is best.

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender.
2. Blend until the mixture is smooth, creamy and fully combined. Scrape the sides once or twice to ensure even mixing.

That’s it—two simple steps and you have a versatile, flavorful sauce ready to use. If the sauce seems thick, add a small splash of water, milk or olive oil and blend again to reach your preferred consistency.

Storing the sauce

Refrigeration: Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Do not freeze: Because the sauce contains dairy, freezing and thawing may change the texture and separate the emulsion.

The sauce will thicken as it chills. To loosen it, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes and stir, or thin with a teaspoon or two of warm water, milk, or olive oil until it reaches the desired texture.

Ways to use the sauce

This sauce is highly versatile. Use it as a finishing sauce, dip, spread, or pasta sauce—here are some ideas to get the most out of it.

• Toss with wings: Toss cooked wings in the sauce for garlicky, cheesy wings. A good guideline is 1/4 cup sauce per pound of wings.
• Make a salad dressing: Thin with 1/4 cup milk or cream and toss with greens for a rich salad dressing.
• Dip for vegetables and fries: Serve chilled or room temperature with raw veggies, roasted vegetables, french fries, or mozzarella sticks.
• Sandwich spread: Use as a flavorful spread on hoagies, burgers, or grilled chicken sandwiches.
• Finish pasta: Toss with hot pasta and a bit of reserved pasta water until silky. Top with extra Parmesan for a quick weeknight dinner.
• Pizza base: Use in place of tomato sauce for white pizza or drizzle over finished pies for added richness.
• Coat chicken: Use as a sauce for Chicken Parmesan or baked chicken recipes for an Italian-inspired twist.

More sauce recipes

If you enjoy homemade sauces, try other simple sauces to broaden your flavor repertoire:

Stir Fry Sauce

Thai Peanut Sauce

Poblano Sauce

Korean BBQ Sauce

Garlic Parmesan Sauce