Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

Kristen Carli/Mashed Staff By Kristen Carli AND Mashed Staff/Updated: June 29, 2022 10:13 am EST

It’s entirely possible that Papa John’s Pizza rose to fame in large part due to the brand’s buttery, garlicky dipping sauce. This simple sauce is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts (not everyone does, you know), rather than throwing them away. So whether you’re the type to douse your entire slice of pizza in Papa John’s garlic sauce, or you prefer to save the sauce for dipping your crusts, chances are you can’t make it through a box of pizza without breaking open the provided containers. 

But guess what? You don’t have to order a whole pizza when you want some of that sauce. This Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe developed by registered dietitian Kristen Carli is quick and easy to make at home, can be doubled or tripled in size if you’re prepping for a crowd (everyone needs their own garlic sauce, after all), and frankly, is downright delicious. 

Gather your ingredients for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

Kristen Carli/Mashed Staff

The ingredients you need for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe are probably items you already have on hand — unsalted butter, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Seriously, you don’t need anything else. Carli says she prefers using unsalted butter to the salted version in everything she cooks, as this enables her to control the salt content (both the flavor and the sodium) in her meals. That said, if you don’t have unsalted butter on hand, salted will do just fine. 

Also, if you prefer to use fresh garlic and onion (assuming you’ve minced them well), Carli says that you can, but you’re really just making life harder on yourself. The powdered versions easily blend into the sauce, while minced garlic and onion will leave chunks in the finished version. You can always remove the chunks, but ultimately, the flavor won’t be that different, and the whole recipe will take longer to make. 

Melt the butter for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

Kristen Carli/Mashed Staff

Once your ingredients for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe are ready to go, simply place the butter in a small saucepan and heat to medium heat, allowing the butter to melt completely. It’s a good idea to stir the butter as it melts to prevent it from getting too hot. Butter has a low smoke point, and it can burn if you’re not careful. When in doubt, turn the heat level down to prevent this from happening.

Add seasonings, mix, and serve this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

Kristen Carli/Mashed Staff

When the butter is melted, pour it into a small serving bowl and add the salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to the butter and whisk. You want the seasonings to combine completely with the butter to give the sauce that perfect, Papa John’s flavor with a nice, smooth texture. Serve the sauce while it’s still warm for the best possible flavor.

And keep in mind, just because this sauce is made for pizza doesn’t mean you can’t use it in different ways. Carli suggests using it over pasta with Parmesan cheese, as a bread dip, or brushed on toast before making a grilled cheese sandwich (or any panini, really). You can even amp up the heat by adding a dash of red chili flakes to the sauce.

Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

5 from 241 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

This simple Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts.

Prep Time 0 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Total time: 5 minutes

					Ingredients

¼ cup unsalted butter ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon onion powder

					Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter and allow to melt. Once the butter is melted, add salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk to combine. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 414

Total Fat 46.0 g

Saturated Fat 29.2 g

Trans Fat 1.9 g

Cholesterol 122.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 1.6 g

Dietary Fiber 0.2 g

Total Sugars 0.1 g

Sodium 137.0 mg

Protein 0.8 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






											Rate this recipe

Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

Kristen Carli/Mashed Staff

By Kristen Carli AND Mashed Staff/Updated: June 29, 2022 10:13 am EST

It’s entirely possible that Papa John’s Pizza rose to fame in large part due to the brand’s buttery, garlicky dipping sauce. This simple sauce is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts (not everyone does, you know), rather than throwing them away. So whether you’re the type to douse your entire slice of pizza in Papa John’s garlic sauce, or you prefer to save the sauce for dipping your crusts, chances are you can’t make it through a box of pizza without breaking open the provided containers. 

But guess what? You don’t have to order a whole pizza when you want some of that sauce. This Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe developed by registered dietitian Kristen Carli is quick and easy to make at home, can be doubled or tripled in size if you’re prepping for a crowd (everyone needs their own garlic sauce, after all), and frankly, is downright delicious. 

But guess what? You don’t have to order a whole pizza when you want some of that sauce. This Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe developed by registered dietitian Kristen Carli is quick and easy to make at home, can be doubled or tripled in size if you’re prepping for a crowd (everyone needs their own garlic sauce, after all), and frankly, is downright delicious. 

Gather your ingredients for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

The ingredients you need for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe are probably items you already have on hand — unsalted butter, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Seriously, you don’t need anything else. Carli says she prefers using unsalted butter to the salted version in everything she cooks, as this enables her to control the salt content (both the flavor and the sodium) in her meals. That said, if you don’t have unsalted butter on hand, salted will do just fine. 

Also, if you prefer to use fresh garlic and onion (assuming you’ve minced them well), Carli says that you can, but you’re really just making life harder on yourself. The powdered versions easily blend into the sauce, while minced garlic and onion will leave chunks in the finished version. You can always remove the chunks, but ultimately, the flavor won’t be that different, and the whole recipe will take longer to make. 

Also, if you prefer to use fresh garlic and onion (assuming you’ve minced them well), Carli says that you can, but you’re really just making life harder on yourself. The powdered versions easily blend into the sauce, while minced garlic and onion will leave chunks in the finished version. You can always remove the chunks, but ultimately, the flavor won’t be that different, and the whole recipe will take longer to make. 

Melt the butter for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

Once your ingredients for this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe are ready to go, simply place the butter in a small saucepan and heat to medium heat, allowing the butter to melt completely. It’s a good idea to stir the butter as it melts to prevent it from getting too hot. Butter has a low smoke point, and it can burn if you’re not careful. When in doubt, turn the heat level down to prevent this from happening.

Add seasonings, mix, and serve this Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe

When the butter is melted, pour it into a small serving bowl and add the salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to the butter and whisk. You want the seasonings to combine completely with the butter to give the sauce that perfect, Papa John’s flavor with a nice, smooth texture. Serve the sauce while it’s still warm for the best possible flavor.

And keep in mind, just because this sauce is made for pizza doesn’t mean you can’t use it in different ways. Carli suggests using it over pasta with Parmesan cheese, as a bread dip, or brushed on toast before making a grilled cheese sandwich (or any panini, really). You can even amp up the heat by adding a dash of red chili flakes to the sauce.

And keep in mind, just because this sauce is made for pizza doesn’t mean you can’t use it in different ways. Carli suggests using it over pasta with Parmesan cheese, as a bread dip, or brushed on toast before making a grilled cheese sandwich (or any panini, really). You can even amp up the heat by adding a dash of red chili flakes to the sauce.

Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

5 from 241 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

This simple Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts.

Prep Time 0 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Total time: 5 minutes

					Ingredients

¼ cup unsalted butter ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon onion powder

					Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter and allow to melt. Once the butter is melted, add salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk to combine. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 414

Total Fat 46.0 g

Saturated Fat 29.2 g

Trans Fat 1.9 g

Cholesterol 122.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 1.6 g

Dietary Fiber 0.2 g

Total Sugars 0.1 g

Sodium 137.0 mg

Protein 0.8 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






											Rate this recipe

Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

5 from 241 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

This simple Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts.

Prep Time 0 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Total time: 5 minutes

					Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder

     				Directions

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter and allow to melt.

  • Once the butter is melted, add salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk to combine.

  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 414

Total Fat 46.0 g

Saturated Fat 29.2 g

Trans Fat 1.9 g

Cholesterol 122.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 1.6 g

Dietary Fiber 0.2 g

Total Sugars 0.1 g

Sodium 137.0 mg

Protein 0.8 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						







											Rate this recipe

Copycat Papa John’s Garlic Sauce Recipe

5 from 241 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

This simple Papa John’s garlic sauce copycat recipe is the type of indulgent extra side that makes people actually want to eat their pizza crusts.

Prep Time 0 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Total time: 5 minutes

5 from 241 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

Prep Time

0

minutes

Cook Time

5

Servings

1

serving

Total time: 5 minutes

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 414

Total Fat 46.0 g

Saturated Fat 29.2 g

Trans Fat 1.9 g

Cholesterol 122.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 1.6 g

Dietary Fiber 0.2 g

Total Sugars 0.1 g

Sodium 137.0 mg

Protein 0.8 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.