Garlic parmesan wing sauce is buttery, salty and savory- the perfect sauce to take your crispy chicken wings to the next level. Just a few ingredients are needed to create a homemade sauce to make garlic parmesan chicken wings.
Plus, you can also use this sauce as a base for a super simple and delicious dip! I'm sharing both recipes so you're covered, whether you're tossing your wings or dipping them or both.
Parmesan garlic wings are so flavorful! They are my first pick for game day wings.
This delicious sauce is buttery and garlic-y, with a rich and salty parmesan flavor. It's also a personal favorite, partly because it's so versatile!
I first shared the recipe in my post for crispy keto chicken wings but it deserves its very own spot on the site, too.
why this recipe works
Homemade garlic parmesan sauce is irresistibly good.
Not only will it elevate your chicken wing game but it's also a wonderful sauce to have on hand for all kinds of snacking and dipping.
Homemade sauces not only taste better than store-bought sauces, but they're also much better for you.
Many of the pre-made stuff contains unnecessary thickeners, added sugars, preservatives and high inflammatory oils like corn and soybean oil.
The great thing about making your own sauce is that it's so simple to do. My garlic parmesan wing sauce recipe only calls for five ingredients!
It is:
- quick and easy to prepare
- versatile- use it for dipping, tossing, or as flavor add-in for other recipes
- made with clean ingredients and healthier than store-bought sauces
- low-carb, keto and gluten free.
the ingredients
While bold, fresh garlic cloves takes center stage, the natural flavor of each ingredient still shines in this buttery sauce.
To make it, you will need:
- salted butter or ghee, melted
- fresh garlic, minced
- garlic powder
- Parmesan cheese, shredded and finely chopped
- chopped parsley
- lemon zest (optional)
- salt and black pepper (optional)*
- avocado oil mayonnaise (if you choose to make the dipping sauce to go with it)
If using unsalted butter, your sauce might need a dash of salt. You will want to add it to taste. Since parmesan cheese has a natural saltiness to it, you may not need extra salt.
About the parmesan: I like to use shredded parmesan cheese, and then finely chop those pieces so they're small (see the image below).
This is a much different texture than store-bought grated parmesan, which is a lot more fine (sort of like a powdered cheese). I like the larger bits of cheese on the wings which is why I prefer shredded and chopped parmesan to the super fine grated parmesan.
However, if grated parm is all you have, feel free to use it! Just reduce the amount by about 1 tablespoon.
the recipe
Here's a look at the steps- it's so easy- but be sure to check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
In a small bowl, heat the butter in the microwave until just melted. You can also use a small saucepan on the stovetop.
Stir in the minced garlic, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest and garlic powder.
Reserve ¼ cup of the mixture to make the wing dipping sauce.
When the wings are done and ready to be tossed in the sauce, add the wing sauce to a large bowl and toss the baked wings until they are evenly coated.
The buttery garlic parmesan sauce should stick well to the wings, but there will be some reserve on the sides and bottom of the bowl.
You can dredge the wings through any reserve as you plate them up- don't leave that goodness behind!
Plate the wings and garnish with chopped parsley. DIG IN.
for the garlic parmesan dipping sauce
The garlic parmesan wing sauce also serves as an excellent base for a dipping sauce. Sure, you can use it as-is for dipping, but I like to mix in a little bit of avocado oil mayo to get it thick and creamy so it sticks well to the chicken wings.
When the wings are ready and it's time to serve, whisk together the reserved ¼ cup of the garlic parmesan sauce with ¼-1/3 cup avocado oil mayonnaise.
My only tip here is to use a small whisk to mix the mayo with the butter sauce well and create an emulsion. That's it!
how to use this sauce
When it comes to the wing recipe, there are countless ways to prep chicken wings. Any recipe for plain wings will work with this garlic parm wing sauce!
Here are a few recipes that you can pair it with:
- My crispy chicken wings recipe calls for extra dry chicken skin (preferably dried out in the fridge overnight or dabbed with paper towels) and baking the wings on a wire rack. The baking method calls for a low temperature at first to let the fat under the skin render. Increase it to a high temp and the skin gets beautifully crisp and crackly. Baking powder is another trick to getting crispy skin.
- These air fryer wings use a similar seasoning to my baked chicken wings. They turn out just as crispy and the cook time is reduced thanks to air fryer magic!
- You can even use this for chicken tenders (or these air fryer chicken bites!), chicken breast, as a simple pasta sauce or to make garlic bread. Garlic parmesan wings are also delicious dipped in this easy, homemade ranch dressing.
tips for the best results
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container for up to one week.
- For a spicier sauce, stir in red pepper flakes, a dash of cayenne pepper or or add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or hot sauce. It tastes just like a spicy chili garlic sauce!
- This wing sauce has bold garlic flavor but if you're worried about it being too garlic-y for you, feel free to start with a little bit less garlic and increase to your own taste preference.
- If your mayonnaise is cold when you mix up the dipping sauce, the sauce may "set" and almost stiffen up as it sits. You can easily fix this by simply giving it a quick stir again.
This garlic parmesan wing sauce is a must-try! No matter what happens on game day, these wings are at least a guaranteed WIN.
If you give this recipe a try and love it too, feel free to leave a star rating and/or comment below!
you might also love
- Low-carb Avocado Mango Salsa is great for dipping or topping! Enjoy it plain, in fish tacos or topped on chicken or salmon. The flavors are incredible!
- Keto Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers will disappear quickly! Each cheese-and-herb-stuffed pepper is wrapped in salty bacon for an irresistible medley of flavors.
- These Air Fryer Zucchini Tots are fun finger food that are perfect for snacking.
- This Grilled Steak Caesar Salad, which features tender sirloin strips served on top of a bed of crisp Romaine lettuce and a creamy, homemade Caesar salad dressing. The dressing is quick, easy and full of lemon-garlic flavor and this simple salad is a great 30-minute meal!
- Easy Homemade Truffle Aioli, a deliciously creamy, earthy dipping sauce and spread that boasts distinctive black truffle flavor.
Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce (for Tossing and Dipping)
Garlic parmesan wing sauce is buttery, salty and savory- the perfect sauce to take chicken wings to the next level! Five ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to prepare it. This sauce is also keto, low carb and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter or ghee (see notes if using unsalted)
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated and finely chopped (see notes)
- 1-½ tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- ¼-1/3 cup avocado oil mayonnaise (for the dipping sauce)
Instructions
- In a small, microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter or ghee in the microwave for 20 seconds or until it is warm-hot and completely melted. You can also do this in a small saucepan on the stovetop.
- Stir in the minced garlic and parmesan cheese. Mix in 1 tablespoon of the chopped parsley (reserve the remaining ½ tablespoon as a garnish for your chicken wings). Stir in the garlic powder and lemon zest.
- Taste the sauce and add salt, if desired.
- Measure out ¼ cup of the mixture and set it aside (this will be the base for your dipping sauce).
- In a large bowl, pour the rest of the sauce on top of cooked chicken wings. Toss the wings in the sauce until they are well coated.
- When the garlic parmesan chicken wings are ready, make the dipping sauce. Scoop ¼ cup avocado oil mayonnaise into a small bowl. Add the reserved ¼ cup of the garlic parmesan mixture. Combine well by whisking to emulsify the sauce. Taste and whisk in a bit more mayonnaise, if needed.
- Plate the chicken wings and top them with the remaining ½ tablespoon of chopped parsley. Serve with the dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- If using unsalted butter, I recommend adding about ½ teaspoon salt to the sauce mixture. It is best to add salt after all of the ingredients have come together since Parmesan cheese has a natural saltiness.
- I like to shred Parmesan, then roughly chop it so you get small bits of cheese in the sauce instead of longer shreds. I think it's better than grated Parmesan (the kind with a texture that's almost powdery). However, if you prefer to use grated parmesan, feel free.
- This recipe calls for garlic powder (you can also use garlic granules). Please do not substitute garlic salt since it could make your sauce too salty.
- If you make the dipping sauce, you will have enough to coat 3 to 3-½ pounds of chicken wings. If you skip the dipping sauce, this recipe will give you enough sauce to coat up to 4 pounds of chicken wings.
- For a spicy version, stir in red pepper flakes, a dash of cayenne pepper or or add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or hot sauce.
- If your mayonnaise is cold when you mix up the dipping sauce, the sauce may "set" and almost stiffen up as it sits. You can easily fix this by simply giving it a quick stir again.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 257Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 137mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g
This nutritional information is approximate and is provided for convenience as a courtesy.
Charle says
This was absolutely perfect!