If you are like me, you love the garlic dipping sauce from Papa John’s. Their garlic sauce is the best part of Papa John’s Pizza. What is the best part of this Papa John’s copycat recipe? You can make it for your next homemade pizza night. Typically the only problem with this sauce, is that there is never enough, you won’t have this problem any longer, now that you have this copycat recipe.
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Table of Contents
What makes Papa Johns Creamy Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce So good?
You might wonder how to make garlicky dipping sauce pizza like Papa John’s. I have a recipe for you. Papa John’s buttery garlic sauce is a creamy garlic sauce perfect for dipping those pizza crusts into.
When you make it from scratch, you can use it for many more things. You can spread it on bread for simple garlic bread or even spread some on a steak just before serving. No matter how you use this, your taste buds will be delighted.
Why This is the Best Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe
There are a couple of reasons my copycat recipe is better than all the others:
- Liquid Margarine – It’s the real secret to this recipe. Papa John’s doesn’t use butter so margarine is the suitable ingredient to use.
- Simple recipe - you can make this creamy sauce in no time.
- Consistency – My copycat sauce has the same consistency as Papa John’s sauce. It’s thick and creamy and not melted.
Garlic Sauce Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you need:
- Garlic – use fresh garlic cloves
- Liquid Margarine
Yes, just two simple ingredients are all you need to create a yummy garlic sauce with classic Papa John’s flavor.
Ingredient Notes about Papa John’s Garlic Dipping Sauce
Fresh garlic is key, and grating the garlic cloves brings out the flavor and gives it the right texture. Chopped garlic will make the sauce lumpy, and you want the sauce to be smooth. Use a Microplane grater for best results.
I recommend using Parkay Squeeze Margarine because it is the closest match to the margarine Papa John’s uses in the sauce. If you will note, their sauce has a creamy consistency. This recipe will have the closest sauce consistency to any recipe you will try. Many recipes use garlic powder, but it does not dissolve. Because of this I do not recommend using it.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- Peel and grate the garlic.
- Place the grated garlic in a small bowl and add the margarine.
- Stir to combine.
- Let it rest for at least 20 minutes.
What to Serve with Garlic Sauce
Pizza and breadsticks are the perfect companions to this sauce. You can also use it for:
- Baked Potatoes – use it instead of plain butter.
- Mashed Potatoes – great for making garlic mashed potatoes.
- Pasta – for a simple garlic pasta dish. Top it with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Seafood – melt it for dipping lobster or shrimp into it.
- Steak – spread it on while the steak is hot.
- Vegetables – great for adding flavor to steamed or roasted veggies.
How to Store Garlic Dipping Sauce
Place the sauce in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will last for 4 to 5 days.
To Freeze: Place it in a freezer-safe container. Or in ice cube trays until frozen, then transfer the cubes to a plastic freezer bag. It will last frozen for up to 4 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
If you love garlic, you should make garlic aioli and garlic wings.
Try These Great Copycat Sauce Recipes
- Arby’s Sauce
- Big Mac Sauce
- Canes Sauce
- Chick Fil A Sauce
- Horsey Sauce
- Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Red Lobster Coconut Shrimp Sauce
- Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
- Taco Bell Taco Sauce
Popular Pizza Recipes
Be sure to check out more of my easy sauce recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Papa John’s Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup liquid margarine Parkay squeeze margarine recommended
- 2 to 3 teaspoons grated garlic about 4 garlic cloves
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the grated garlic and the liquid margarine, and stir well.
- Allow the garlic sauce to rest for about 20 minutes.
- Serve with pizza.
tommytoe
Hi good afternoon just read your recipe about PAPA John’s Garlic sauce (good stuff BTW). How can I get more body to your recipe? I thought about infusing EVOO or the other vegan spread you mentioned. Open to suggestions. I want to use it on grilled cauliflower steaks.
vizardknight
I just made this and ate it with Domino’s pizza…I’m soon confused but my taste buds are celebrating christmas in Sept.
Stephanie
I love combining different restaurant recipes in one meal!
Joe Estrada
Hi Stephanie, I stumble into your recipe on my quest to duplicate Dragos grilled oyster butter, in NEW ORLEANS there is a lot of them on line, but they never have that creamy look to it, I have made it many times, but I always get the oily melted butter look, and it doesn’t taste the same, any suggestions? Thanks Joe.
Joe Estrada
Stumbled.
Stephanie
Does that sauce you are talking about have wine or an alcohol in it? I would model a sauce after a Beure Blanc.
Karen Stevenson
Oh my goodness does it really taste like papa johns garlic dipping sauce.becasue the first time I tried it I was hooked on it and I can’t seem to find it anywhere near me either cause I don’t live in a major city
Todd
They also sell it at little cesars
Cassandra
Ok, here it goes. I’m gonna try this and spread it on artisan bread to side with lasagna. I have margarine, minced garlic and I’m going to add a little minced, roasted jalapeno. I like spicy, but just a bit. Hoping it turns out as good as some I have read about.
Scott
Is the picture showing what the recipe actually produces? I’m not understanding how this could come out yellow or how the garlic powder could actually mix with the butter oil. I’ve tried to mix it for 5 minutes and it still doesn’t mix the least bit.
Stephanie
Yes, that was my picture from the recipe. Mine mixed in just fine. I used either Penzeys or The Spice House garlic powder but I don’t think that would have made a difference.
Amy
Garlic powder didn’t mix in at all 🙁
SHANNON HARRIGAN
My garlic powder didn’t mix at all, then turned a brown color. So it tastes very garlicky. Not bad but not like Papa Johns
caasi
Im gunna make this and poor. It all over baked chicken and potatoes
fuckboi
Go kill urself
PenisMan
no u
Deb Morgan
Butter had froth on top but nothing on bottom. (Just two layers.) Also, garlic powder did not mix in very well. What went wrong?
Anna smith
I have the same problem?! Please tell me what I did wrong and how to fix it. I’m a loving garlic sauce addict!!
Matthew
Yes, I am addicted to everything garlic.
Steve Bakewell
Well that was surprisingly easy….
A natural born American
Sometimes, when I make toast, I spread Papa John’s garlic sauce on it in place of everything else. Then I eat it with a glass of my favorite wine cooler. Nice treat.
Stephanie Manley
This sounds awesome 😉 I miss the old Bartles and James commercials.
A natural born American
Me too! Too bad the two old guy got too old! 😀
YellowYam
You can re-create Papa Johns sauce without the trans fat by mixing light olive oil, garlic powder, and a little water. It tastes identical and is better for you.
Stephanie Manley
Thank you for the suggestion.
Lois Alvarez
Could you use ghee so you don’t need to clarify your butter?
Kathy
Ghee is clarified butter.
allen
Sucks, tastes like too much butter. Nothing like intended copy.
Kris
So you’re saying your garlic butter tastes too much like… butter? Hmmm I wonder what you think butter is supposed to taste like then?
Rochelle Bailey
Love it. Im eating papa johns with garlic sauce at this very moment lol
kevin1
When using salted butter you can omit the salt in this recipe. Also, the sauce will taste better if you infuse the butter with crushed garlic rather than powdered, and it won’t be gritty.
Stephanie Manley
I bet that would be a great way to make this sauce. Love how you think.
Betty
Don’t throw away the milk solids! Take a warm pizza crust or bread roll and dip it in it and you won’t be sorry. Plus, all the milk solids is casein, which is a great protein source.
Stephanie Manley
This is a great idea. I appreciate the suggestion.
Brandon Perdue
can you use margarine as well?
Budgie
Yes. It’s way easier with margarine. Just take 2 tablespoons of margarine, nuke in microwave for a few seconds, then add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and mix. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
Kisa Banks
Could you use ghee, and skip the clarifying all together?
stephaniemanley
Absolutely. I wanted to demonstrate how to clarify butter, not all stores carry ghee.
jonedevil
I just got paid ——————————————————-
Meg
Oh goodness….I would devour this with some warm breadsticks!
stephaniemanley
Who wouldn’t? This is a simple and delicious garlic sauce to make.
Food Done Light
This is an addictive sauce. So good it is hard to stop dipping away.
stephaniemanley
I totally know what you mean. I always ask for extra.
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
Papa John’s Garlic Butter has always been one of my faves – I can’t wait to make it at home 🙂
stephaniemanley
I hope you enjoy the sauce. It’s one of my favorites too.
Spock loves Pizza
Thankyou for this!!!! I always tried making my own by just mixing melted butter and garlic powder but now I can actually make the real thing. Thanx Stephanie!