• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Lovin Family
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Drinks
  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Sweets
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
    • Recipes
    • Cooking Tips
  • ×

    Home » Appetizers

    Papa Johns Garlic Sauce

    Published: Jun 28, 2021 by heather · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe

    Papa John’s garlic sauce is the perfect buttery dipping sauce for a slice of pizza. So simple to make, this garlic dipping sauce can be prepared in under 5 minutes.

    Bowl with melted butter.

    If you are familiar with Papa John’s pizza you probably have tasted their delicious, creamy garlic dipping sauce. This recipe is a little different from the pasta garlic butter sauce that uses real butter and garlic cloves. This sauce recipe actually uses margarine and garlic powder instead.

    The wonderful thing about making restaurant copycat recipes at home is that you can adjust to your own taste and make larger quantities. We sometimes fight over the little portions of sauce Papa John’s gives you so by making it at home, we can use as much as we want.

    Ingredients needed

    You only need three ingredients to make this yummy dipping sauce.

    Margarine – Did you know that Papa John’s sauce uses margarine? They use margarine so that the sauce doesn’t solidify.

    Garlic powder – This is what gives that wonderful garlic flavor. Make sure to use garlic powder, not granulated garlic. The amount of this can be adjusted to taste.

    Salt – Just a pinch is needed.

    How to make

    This recipe is so simple and can be made on the stove or in the microwave.

    1. Place margarine in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. You could also place it in a small saucepan and melt over medium low heat on the stove.
    2. Once completely melted, stir in garlic powder and salt until dissolved.
    3. It’s now ready to serve.
    Bowl of margarine, salt and garlic powder.

    Can I use butter instead of margarine?

    Yes, you can definitely use butter instead of margarine for this recipe. Butter will give you a rich, delicious flavor.

    If you decide to use butter I recommend using clarified butter. This helps prevent the butter from separating. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan. The milk solids will start to rise to the top. Remove the solids with a slotted spoon so that you are left with clear butter. Discard the solids and use only the clear butter for the recipe.

    What to serve with this garlic sauce

    This sauce is great for dipping pizza, breadsticks, or even using it to spread on garlic bread. You could also use it for:

    • Steak – Drizzle on top of your cooked steak for a punch of flavor.
    • Potatoes – Try mixing it into mashed potatoes for the best garlic mashed potatoes.
    • Pasta – Toss with your favorite cooked pasta for an easy meal.
    • Vegetables – Top roasted vegetables with a little drizzle of this sauce.
    • Seafood – This sauce is perfect for thing like crab cakes, shrimp and fish.

    How to store

    Let the sauce completely cool before storing. Pour it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

    This sauce can also be frozen. Once it’s cooled, store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. This sauce can also poured in ice cube trays or a silicone mold, frozen and then place the cubes in a freezer safe container for easy portions.

    Slice of pizza dunked in butter.

    Recipe variations

    Garlic – This calls for garlic powder but you can substitute with fresh garlic cloves. Minced garlic will add the most flavor. Try adding 2-3 minced cloves to replace the garlic powder.

    Hot sauce – Want to spice it up? Try adding a dash of your favorite hot sauce for a little added heat.

    Butter – If you decide to use butter, try using unsalted. If you do use salted, omit the salt from the recipe.

    More dipping sauce recipes

    • Zesty sauce
    • White sauce
    • Quesadilla sauce
    • Polynesian sauce
    • Duck sauce
    • Buffalo sauce
    Bowl of butter.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Papa John’s Garlic Sauce

    Copycat Papa John's garlic sauce.
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time1 min
    Total Time3 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: dipping sauce
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 209kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup margarine or butter
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Melt margarine in a microwave safe bowl for 20-30 seconds. You could also melt the margarine in a small saucepan over medium low heat on the stove.
    • Stir in garlic powder and salt. Serve.

    Video

    Notes

    You can replace margarine with butter. 
    If you decide to use butter I recommend using clarified butter. This helps prevent the butter from separating. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan. The milk solids will start to rise to the top. Remove the solids with a slotted spoon so that you are left with clear butter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @foodlovinfamily or tag #foodlovinfamily!

    More Appetizer Recipes

    • 25 Best Fondue Recipes
    • 28 Best Movie Snacks
    • 21 Best Loaded Fries Recipes
    • Chili Cheese Dip
    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and thank you for visiting Food Lovin’ Family! With 3 kids I know it can be hard getting food on the table. Here you will find easy and delicious recipes that the whole family will enjoy.

    More about me →

    Favorite Recipes

    • How Long To Bake Chicken Wings
    • 31 Delicious Crescent Roll Recipes
    • 35 Best Party Dip Recipes
    • Copycat Red Lobster Coconut Shrimp Sauce
    • Velveeta Sausage Dip
    • 27 Best Sour Cream Recipes

    Sweets

    31 Best Blueberry Desserts

    Slice of blueberry pie, blueberry ice cream, and piece of blueberry buckle.

    27 Best Brownie Mix Recipes

    Chocolate cookies, brownie sundae, and brownies.

    Brownie Sundae

    28 Best Movie Snacks

    Candy, popcorn, chicken nuggets, and soft pretzel.

    More Love →

    Drinks

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    25 Delicious Apple Cider Cocktails

    Glass filled with ice and apple juice.

    25 Spooky Halloween Cocktails

    Orange martini, bloody mary, and green martini.

    30 Festive Christmas Cocktails

    Copper much with cranberries, blue drink, green drink, and a milky drink.

    More Love →

    Lunch

    30 Best Fall Soup Recipes

    Four bowls of soup.

    30 Tortilla Wrap Recipes

    Chicken tortilla wrap, hap and cheese wrap, and chicken wrap.

    25 Bagel Sandwich Recipes

    Four different bagel sandwiches

    50 Cold Lunch Ideas

    Chicken wrap, chicken salad, tortilla roll up, and stacked sandwich.

    More Love →

    Breakfast

    Strawberry Muffins

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce Recipe

    Bowl of yellow sauce and a spoon.

    27 Best Bisquick Recipes

    Breakfast casserole, chicken tenders, pizza, and piece of quiche on plate.

    More Love →

    Appetizers

    25 Best Fondue Recipes

    Cheese fondue with bread, chocolate strawberry fondue, steak fondue.

    28 Best Movie Snacks

    Candy, popcorn, chicken nuggets, and soft pretzel.

    21 Best Loaded Fries Recipes

    Loaded cheese fries.

    Chili Cheese Dip

    Hand holding chip with cheese dip.

    More Love →

    Dinner

    Meatloaf Sandwich

    Meatloaf sandwich and bowl of chips.

    How To Cook Sizzle Steak

    Cooked steak on a plate with green beans.

    31 Breakfast For Dinner Ideas

    Breakfast casserole, steak bagel sandwich, egg and sausage bowl.

    Meatloaf With Brown Gravy

    Meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes on a plate.

    More Love →

    Footer

    Collage of logos.

    Copyright © 2022 foodlovinfamily.com. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY.