Easy Homemade Garlic Sauce Recipe

This easy homemade garlic sauce recipe is creamy, fresh, and packed with garlic flavor. Made with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh chives, and a little honey, it’s the perfect dipping sauce for fries, roasted potatoes, grilled chicken, or vegetables. You only need a handful of ingredients and about 5 minutes to make it!

I love making my own sauces, and this is one of those recipes that goes with just about everything. The Greek yogurt gives the sauce a slightly tangy flavor, while the mayonnaise makes it extra creamy. And don’t skip the honey! It helps balance the sharpness of the fresh garlic.

Ingredients for Homemade Garlic Sauce

You only need six ingredients to make this creamy garlic sauce:

• Fresh garlic: I use five cloves for a pronounced garlic flavor. If you prefer a milder sauce, start with two or three cloves and add more to taste.
• Greek yogurt: Full-fat Greek yogurt works best because it gives the sauce a thick, creamy texture without making it watery.
• Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Fresh chives: Give the sauce a mild onion flavor and a little freshness. You can substitute finely chopped parsley if you prefer.
• Honey: Just a little honey helps balance the sharpness of the garlic and the tanginess of the yogurt. You can leave it out if you prefer.
• Salt and pepper: Essential for bringing all the flavors together.

Tips for Making the Best Garlic Sauxe

• Grate or press the garlic. I recommend using a garlic press or a fine grater rather than chopping the garlic with a knife. This distributes the garlic evenly throughout the sauce, so you don’t end up biting into large pieces.
• Adjust the garlic to your taste. Five cloves make a fairly strong garlic sauce. If you’re not sure how much garlic you like, start with less. You can always add more, but it’s harder to make the sauce milder once you’ve added too much.
• Use thick Greek yogurt. Regular yogurt tends to be thinner and can make the garlic sauce runny. Full-fat Greek yogurt gives the best consistency.
• Let the sauce rest. You can serve it immediately, but I prefer to refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to develop. Keep in mind that the garlic flavor may become stronger as the sauce sits.
• Taste before serving. Depending on the strength of your garlic, you might want to add a little more honey, salt, or yogurt to balance the flavors.

What To Serve with Garlic Sauce

This easy garlic sauce recipe is perfect with a nice piece of meat. Think stuffed pork tenderloin, leg of lamb or a nice ham. But it is also perfect with baked potatoes. And for the barbecue, it goes with almost anything you put on it. Also try it with these beer battered mushrooms. So good!

Tips and Tricks

Now even while this easy garlic sauce is – as the name would suggest – really easy, you can make it more elaborate if you want to. I like adding some red pepper flakes to it. That not only looks good, but adds a bit of heat too. If you do not have fresh garlic cloves available you can also make this with garlic powder. Taste while adding it as the taste can be quite different. For an extra creamy garlic sauce recipe you can use only the mayonnaise. Totally an option. You can also spread the garlic sauce over a pizza crust and bake it in the oven. 

Adding some other fresh herbs is also delicious. I like my garlic sauce with the mentioned chives, but you can also add basil, oregano or fresh parsley. If you’re using minced garlic, make sure it is fine enough as you don’t want bit chunks.

How To Store Homemade Garlic Sauce

Store leftover garlic sauce in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days, provided you’ve used fresh ingredients and kept the sauce properly chilled.

Give it a good stir before serving, especially if the yogurt has released a little liquid.

I don’t recommend freezing this garlic sauce. Both the yogurt and the mayonnaise can separate when thawed, leaving you with a watery or grainy texture. And since it is so quick to make you can always whip up an extra batch.

FAQ Garlic Sauce

Can I make garlic sauce without mayonnaise?

Yes. You can replace the mayonnaise with additional full-fat Greek yogurt. The sauce will taste a little tangier and less rich, but it will still be delicious. You may want to add a little extra seasoning to balance the flavor.

Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?

You can, but regular yogurt is usually thinner. For the best creamy texture, use thick Greek yogurt or strain regular yogurt before adding it to the sauce.

Why is my garlic sauce too strong?

Raw garlic has a powerful flavor, especially when it’s finely grated or pressed. This recipe uses five cloves, so it’s meant to have a very noticeable garlic kick. For a milder sauce, reduce the amount of garlic or add more yogurt and mayonnaise.

Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?

Yes, although the flavor will be different. Start with about ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, let the sauce rest for a few minutes, and taste before adding more. Fresh garlic gives the sauce a sharper, more vibrant flavor.

Can I make this garlic sauce dairy-free?

Yes. Replace the Greek yogurt with a thick, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt and make sure your mayonnaise is dairy-free. Choose a neutral-flavored yogurt so it doesn’t overpower the garlic.

Is this garlic sauce the same as aioli?

Not quite. Traditional aioli is made by emulsifying garlic and olive oil. This garlic sauce uses Greek yogurt and mayonnaise, making it quicker to prepare and giving it a tangier, creamier flavor.