Best White Garlic Pizza Sauce Recipe for Homemade Pizza

Are you looking to elevate your homemade pizza night from good to truly exceptional? Have you ever savoured that indulgent, creamy, and deeply savoury sauce found in authentic pizzerias, assuming it was too difficult to replicate at home? We are delighted to confirm it’s not only achievable but remarkably straightforward. Let’s step away from the traditional tomato base for a moment and explore the wonders of a rich, velvety garlic sauce. This is our definitive guide to crafting the perfect white garlic pizza sauce recipe that is guaranteed to have everyone asking for another slice.
This sauce is nothing short of a revelation. It serves as a luscious alternative that complements a vast array of toppings, from classic spinach and ricotta to spicy chicken or smoky bacon. We will guide you through each stage, share our best advice for impeccable results, and demonstrate just how versatile this golden sauce truly is. Let’s head to the kitchen!
Table of Contents
Why We Adore This White Garlic Pizza Sauce
Before we get to the method, let’s pause to consider why this sauce is worthy of a permanent spot in your culinary repertoire. Unlike its tomato-based counterpart, a white sauce—often referred to as a *pizza bianca* sauce—provides an entirely different flavour journey. It is luxurious, comforting, and wonderfully sophisticated.
- Incredible Flavour: The harmony of butter, garlic, cream, and parmesan cheese creates a symphony of savoury notes. It is rich without being overpowering, allowing the flavours of your chosen toppings to shine through.
- Amazing Versatility: While it is the star of our pizza, this sauce is a genuine kitchen multi-tasker. We enjoy using it for pasta dishes, as a dip for breadsticks, or even as a creamy foundation for chicken bakes.
- Quick and Easy: You can prepare a batch of this sauce in around 15 minutes using just a few common cupboard ingredients. It is ideal for a spontaneous weeknight meal.
- A Welcome Change: Sometimes, we all fancy something a bit different. This sauce offers the perfect opportunity to break free from a pizza rut and delight family and friends with something fresh and exciting.
Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Sauce
The true charm of this creamy garlic sauce for pizza is its simplicity. There is no need for a lengthy list of obscure items, just a few quality staples to produce something genuinely special. Here is what we will require:

- Unsalted Butter: This provides the rich foundation for our sauce. Using unsalted butter gives us complete control over the final salt content.
- Garlic: The heart and soul of this recipe! We strongly recommend fresh garlic cloves for the most powerful and aromatic flavour.
- Plain Flour: This is our thickening agent. It combines with the butter to create a ‘roux’, which lends the sauce its body and structure.
- Whole Milk: To achieve a creamy yet light consistency. You may use semi-skimmed, but whole milk produces a richer outcome.
- Double Cream: This is our secret for an exceptionally luxurious, velvety texture. A small amount makes a big difference.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan contributes a salty, nutty, and savoury depth that is utterly irresistible.
- Seasoning: A little salt, some freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano or Italian herbs to complete the flavour profile.
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make White Garlic Pizza Sauce
Ready to work some culinary magic? This method is wonderfully simple and rewarding. Follow our steps for a flawless, smooth sauce on every occasion. It is essentially a classic Béchamel infused with the glorious taste of garlic.
- Melt the Butter and Sauté the Garlic: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over a medium-low heat. Once it has melted and is gently foaming, add your finely minced garlic. Sauté for one to two minutes until it becomes fragrant. Be vigilant to prevent the garlic from browning or burning, which would make it bitter. We are just aiming to soften it and release its beautiful aroma.
- Create the Roux: Sprinkle the plain flour over the garlic butter. Using a whisk, stir continuously for about a minute. This mixture will form a thick paste called a roux. Cooking the flour for a minute is key to removing any raw, starchy taste.
- Gradually Add the Liquids: While continuing to whisk, slowly pour in the milk. Add it in small amounts at first, whisking thoroughly after each addition to prevent any lumps from forming. Once all the milk is incorporated and the sauce is smooth, pour in the double cream and continue to whisk.
- Simmer and Thicken: Turn the heat up to medium and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Allow it to bubble for two to three minutes, stirring frequently, until it has thickened to your preferred consistency. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the Flavour: Take the saucepan off the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it has melted completely into the sauce. Season generously with salt, black pepper, and your chosen herbs. Have a final taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Cool and Use: Let the sauce cool for a few minutes before spreading it over your pizza base. It will thicken slightly more as it cools. And there you have it! Your delicious homemade garlic pizza sauce is ready to enjoy.
Pro Tips for the Best White Garlic Sauce
We have made this sauce more times than we can count, and we’ve learned a few things along the way. Here is our best advice for taking your sauce from great to truly exceptional.
- Use Fresh Garlic: For the finest flavour, this is non-negotiable. Jarred, pre-minced garlic can have a muted or slightly acidic taste due to preservatives. Taking a moment to mince fresh cloves yourself makes a significant difference. To discover more about garlic varieties, this guide from Bon Appétit is an excellent resource.
- Don’t Scorch the Garlic: We noted this in the instructions, but it is worth repeating. Burnt garlic is the quickest way to spoil your sauce. Keep the heat low and stay focused on the pan.
- Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking powders that can prevent it from melting properly, which may result in a gritty texture. Buying a block of Parmesan and grating it fresh ensures a silky-smooth finish.
- A Pinch of Nutmeg: This is a classic addition to a Béchamel, and for good reason. A tiny grating of fresh nutmeg enhances the creamy notes and adds a subtle, warm complexity.
- Add a Squeeze of Lemon: For a hint of brightness to cut through the richness, finish the sauce with a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
Customising Your Sauce
Please feel free to make this recipe your own! Add a pinch of red chilli flakes with the garlic for a spicy kick. Stir in finely chopped fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, or thyme at the end for a fresh, vibrant taste. You could even add a tablespoon of pesto for a creamy garlic-pesto hybrid.
Perfect Pairings: Toppings for Your White Pizza
Now we come to the creative part! This creamy pizza bianca sauce provides the perfect canvas for an extensive range of toppings. It’s a superb base for a homemade pizza sauce without tomatoes. Here are some of our favourite combinations:
- Classic Chicken and Spinach: Cooked chicken, fresh spinach, mushrooms, and a generous sprinkle of mozzarella.
- The Four Cheese (Quattro Formaggi): A simple yet elegant mix of mozzarella, ricotta, gorgonzola, and Parmesan.
- Prosciutto and Fig: A sophisticated pairing of salty prosciutto, sweet fig jam, and peppery rocket added after it comes out of the oven.
- Potato and Rosemary: Thinly sliced potatoes, fresh rosemary, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Mushroom and Truffle: Sautéed mushrooms (like cremini or shiitake) finished with a drizzle of truffle oil for an earthy, decadent pizza.
Beyond Pizza: Other Uses for Your Garlic Sauce
Don’t just save this glorious sauce for pizza night! Its creamy texture and rich flavour make it wonderfully versatile.
- Pasta Sauce: Toss it through your favourite pasta for an immediate, comforting meal. It works particularly well with fettuccine or penne. For a more substantial dish, it’s a great base for something like The Ultimate Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve it warm as a dip for garlic bread, crusty breadsticks, chicken wings, or crispy potato wedges.
- Casserole Base: Use it to create creamy bakes. It is a fantastic alternative to condensed soup in recipes such as a chicken and broccoli bake or Our Ultimate Easy Creamy Garlic Parmesan Beef Rotini Recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make this white garlic pizza sauce recipe vegan?
Of course! To create a vegan version, simply switch to your preferred plant-based butter, a neutral-tasting plant milk like oat or unsweetened soya, a plant-based double cream alternative, and a good-quality vegan Parmesan substitute. The method itself remains exactly the same.
How long can I store the sauce?
You can keep any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. It will thicken quite a bit once chilled. To reheat, warm it gently in a saucepan over a low heat, adding a splash of milk to loosen it to your preferred consistency.
Can I freeze this sauce?
Yes, this sauce freezes well. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. Please note that dairy-based sauces can sometimes separate slightly when thawed. To remedy this, reheat it slowly on the hob and whisk vigorously to bring it back to a smooth state.
What’s the difference between this and Alfredo sauce?
That is an excellent question! While they are similar, there are key distinctions. A traditional Alfredo sauce is simpler, made mainly with butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan. Our white pizza sauce is a Béchamel base, which means it’s thickened with a flour-and-butter roux, making it more stable for baking on a pizza. Our version is also intentionally more garlic-forward.
My sauce is too thin/thick. How do I fix it?
This is easily corrected! If your sauce is too thin, just let it simmer gently on the hob for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it has become too thick, simply whisk in a splash of milk or cream until it reaches the ideal consistency for you.
Your New Favourite Pizza Night Awaits
We are confident that once you have tried this rich, creamy, and deeply flavourful white garlic pizza sauce, it will become a firm favourite in your home. It is a simple recipe that yields impressive results, elevating your homemade pizzas from simple to sensational. It’s a wonderful reminder that you don’t always need tomatoes to create an unforgettable pizza.
So, what are you waiting for? Gather your ingredients, roll out your favourite pizza dough, and prepare to make the best white pizza you have ever tasted. We would love to see what you create! Please do try this recipe and share your thoughts with us in the comments below.