Creamy Tuscan Garlic Sauce: Elevate Your Meals with this Irresistible Recipe
This Creamy Tuscan Garlic Sauce is a rich and flavorful addition that elevates any meal. Made with butter, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and fresh spinach, it’s infused with Italian herbs and finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Ideal for pasta, chicken, or vegetables, this sauce delivers a luscious, aromatic experience in just 17 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Butter and Aromatics
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely diced
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Cheese
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare aromatics: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced shallot and sauté for 2 minutes until translucent, allowing the sweetness to develop.
- Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes: Stir in the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Combine liquids: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken or vegetable broth, stirring well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Season and thicken: Add Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, so it thickens slightly and the flavors meld.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach leaves, cooking until wilted, approximately 2 minutes.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Remove the skillet from heat. Gradually whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Finish with basil: Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil add the best flavor; if using dry sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrate them before use.
- This sauce pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, pasta, or steamed vegetables.
- To make the sauce lighter, substitute half and half for heavy cream, though the texture will be less rich.
- If you prefer a spicier sauce, increase red pepper flakes to taste.
Keywords: Tuscan garlic sauce, creamy sauce, sun-dried tomato sauce, Parmesan sauce, Italian sauce, easy sauce recipe, stovetop sauce