• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Browse Recipes
  • Resources
  • subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Life Currents
Home » Orange Basil Cream Sauce

Orange Basil Cream Sauce

March 25, 2019 by Debi 13 Comments

  • Share
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

An unforgettable buttery cream sauce with sweet tangy orange and fresh basil. This Orange Basil Cream Sauce works so well with pasta, fish, or chicken. It’ll definitely be a house favorite.

Looking for more great ideas to use up some oranges? Check out my post on What to do with Oranges and grab a delicious Orange Peel Tofu recipe!

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • We thank you for being here
  • FAQ
    • The sauce calls for alcohol, what else can I use?
    • Dry white wine
    • Want a sauce that’s lighter in calories?
    • Recipe notes
    • Cornstarch to thicken
    • Potato Starch to thicken
  • Orange Recipes
  • Useful kitchen tools
  • Let’s connect
  • Recipe
  • Orange Basil Cream Sauce
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - An unforgettable buttery cream sauce with sweet tangy orange and fresh basil. Here I've served it over pasta

We thank you for being here

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - An unforgettable buttery cream sauce with sweet tangy orange and fresh basil. This sauce works so well with pasta, fish, or chicken. It’ll be a house favorite.

FAQ

The sauce calls for alcohol, what else can I use?

The different ingredients will give different layers of complimentary flavors.

But, if for any reason you don’t want to cook with alcohol, I’d suggest substituting more orange juice or even apple juice for the Cointreau or Grand Marnier, and use broth instead of the dry white wine.

Making these swaps will change the flavor of the sauce, broth will be saltier and more savory than wine.

And, depending on what type of broth you use, you’ll impart different flavors. Chicken broth will taste different than vegetable broth, or so on.

And, although these changes are different, you may get flavors you will like more, if say, for instance you don’t like the flavor of alcohol, you may be happier with broth.

So, don’t be afraid to experiment a bit with a recipe.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - This sauce works so well with pasta, fish, or chicken.

Dry white wine

If you are going to cook with the alcohol in this recipe, please do choose a wine that you would drink. Something yummy.

My favorite white wine is Sauvignon blanc. And it works well in this dish!

Sauvignon blanc is often called grassy or crisp, which is because it typically has low levels of sugar and high acidity. Those flavors of grassy and crisp will go very well with the orange and basil of this sauce.

A dry Chardonnay with its buttery flavors will also work well in this recipe.

And, again, as with other flavors, if you have a favorite, that’s probably what you’ll like the most in any recipe.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - serve this sauce for a fancy romantic dinner

Want a sauce that’s lighter in calories?

You can lighten this sauce by using whole milk or half & half instead of heavy cream.

Yes, you lose a lot of the calories, but you will also lose some of the creamy, rich, thickness.

It’s still a yummy sauce, just maybe not quite as amazing.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - It’ll be a house favorite over pasta, chicken, fish, steak

Recipe notes

This is a thin sauce; it uses only heat, heavy cream, and butter to thicken it.

It works perfectly over freshly cooked pasta, because the pasta will absorb some of the sauce and thicken it.

If you’d like the sauce to be thicker from the start (my husband likes a thicker sauce), use a little cornstarch or potato starch to thicken it.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce – fresh and summery to remind you that spring is close, and summer isn’t far away

Cornstarch to thicken

Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl.

Add 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir until smooth paste forms. This is your slurry.

It’s important to make the slurry with cold water, and then add the slurry to the simmering sauce; otherwise, the cornstarch will not blend into the sauce well.

Whisk the slurry into the hot, simmering sauce, towards the end of cooking.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce recipe with fresh basil and sweet oranges simmer with delicious cream

Potato Starch to thicken

Potato starch will work in a similar fashion as cornstarch. Mix equal parts, I’d start with 1 tablespoon each, water and cornstarch into a slurry.

Whisk the slurry in with the hot sauce, continuously until thickened, taking care not to boil if you’re using the potato starch.

The large starch granules in potato starch can cause finished sauces to appear grainy, and it tends to thin out after prolonged cooking.

For best results, add potato starch late in the cooking process, and take the sauce off of the heat as soon as it thickens.

oranges and basil - so fresh - from my Orange Basil Cream Sauce Recipe

Orange Recipes

Looking for more great recipes featuring the fresh flavor of orange! Be sure to check out Orange Peel Tofu, Layered Jello Salad, and Orange Marmalade Bread.

Useful kitchen tools

Small saucepan (I recently bought this one and you’ll see it in the pictures)
Citrus squeezer (this is my favorite one)
Silicone whisk

Orange Basil Cream Sauce served over pasta - unforgettable!

Let’s connect

If you like seeing my recipes subscribe via email in the upper right.
Or, connect with me on your favorite social media channel for recipes, photos, & much more:
Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!
And find my shop on Amazon for recommendations on cool tools

If you try this recipe,
please come back & leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.
Share a picture & tag @lifecurrents on Instagram.
Or you can upload a “tried it” photo (I would love to see)
via the pin.

Orange Basil Cream Sauce Recipe
Don’t forget to pin this recipe!

It tasted amazing! Poured it over some chicken coated with flour and added pasta. Came out perfect! Thanks for sharing. ~ Lori & Rick on Facebook

Recipe

Orange Basil Cream Sauce - serve this sauce for a fancy romantic dinner

Orange Basil Cream Sauce

Debi
An unforgettable buttery cream sauce with sweet tangy orange and fresh basil. This sauce works so well with pasta, fish, or chicken. It’ll definitely be a house favorite.
4.92 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 148 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided use
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 ¼ cups freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Additional fresh basil and orange zest for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the garlic and the basil and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute; do not brown.
  • Add orange juice, Cointreau, and white wine. Bring to a boil, and lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer until reduced by half, about 15 minutes.
  • Add the cream, and simmer for 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat, and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Garnish with additional fresh basil and orange zest

Notes

Serve over 8 ounces cooked linguini or angel hair pasta with grilled fish or roasted chicken. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 9gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 9mgPotassium: 125mgSugar: 7gVitamin A: 455IUVitamin C: 26.2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword basil, orange
Tried this recipe?Mention @LifeCurrents or tag #LifeCurrents!
  • Share

Filed Under: Christmas, Easter, My Top Picks, Sauces, Condiments, & Preserves, Vegetarian Tagged With: basil, Cooking, cream, dinner, Food, gluten-free, oranges, recipe, sauce, vegetarian

You May Also Like

square crop of 3 cookies on a serving platter.
Brown Sugar Oatmeal Lace Cookies
square crop of biscuits piled up on a piece of parchment paper.
Chocolate Chip Biscuits
square crop of a blue bowl filled with pink strawberry cream cheese and some fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese
about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

Previous Post: « Easy Rice Pudding
Next Post: Cheesy Spanish Rice Casserole »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lindsay Cotter

    March 26, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    5 stars
    This Orange Basil Cream Sauce sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to try it!

  2. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    April 10, 2019 at 5:26 am

    5 stars
    I had a pasta years ago in a restaurant in Miami that was very similar. I can imagine how good your dish was.

  3. Philip Brannon

    August 25, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    5 stars
    Definitely Delicious! Followed the recipe to the tee. Gradma mini bottle was a great decision ($4). I can’t believe there is only one review. Maybe its too complicated for some. I did use 1/2 Tbl corn starch to give a little thickness. Only used 1Tbl butter to saute garlic and basil. Used the r3Tbl at the end. Left most of the basil to toss at the end as well to prevent it getting to dark. Have shared this qith 2 others already. Made with broiled wild caught Corvina (fake grouper $6/lb). Will do again!

  4. Philip Brannon

    August 26, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    5 stars
    Forgot to give the 5 star rating….see review above.

  5. Debi

    August 28, 2020 at 6:12 am

    Philip, I love sauces – they really make the meal. I have a couple others I think you’d love. If you’re a fan of blue cheese, this one is a must: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/blue-cheese-spinach-walnut-sauce/ And this Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce is so good!: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/garlic-parmesan-cream-sauce/ Enjoy! And I’m so glad you loved the Orange Basil Cream Sauce Recipe.

  6. Billie Mills

    February 17, 2021 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for this terrific recipe. First had this at a fabulous restaurant in Flower Mound, TX about 25 years ago. Served over red snapper and linguini.

  7. Patricia J Brainard

    November 6, 2021 at 6:30 am

    I am looking for a cream based sauce/gravy with pineapple to go with ham…do you have any suggestions?

  8. Debi

    November 6, 2021 at 6:40 am

    Patricia, I’m not familiar with a pineapple gravy like this. But, you could totally use my Orange Basil Cream Sauce as a starting point. Replace the OJ with pineapple juice. And, if the sauce you’re looking for is chunky with pineapple make sure you use only canned pineapple. Due to the canning process it has different enzymes which won’t make the cream curdle. Fresh pineapple will make the cream curdle.
    Otherwise, I might try just a simple white sauce with canned pineapple and see if that gets you close to the recipe you have in mind.
    Hope that helps! Let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear how it goes!

  9. Daisy

    January 7, 2022 at 3:59 pm

    Would this be ok to make the night before and then cook with the following evening?

  10. Debi

    January 7, 2022 at 4:10 pm

    Daisy, I haven’t tested making it the night before and reheating it. My guess would be that it’s best fresh, but I don’t think it would be bad if made ahead of time. Just gently reheat it on the stove over low heat. You could even split the work in half. Do up through step two. Then, the next night, rewarm it, and add the cream proceeding to step 3.
    Let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear how it goes.

  11. Mare

    January 26, 2023 at 6:29 am

    I would love to try this but have no alcohol in my home. What can I sub out for it?

  12. Debi

    January 26, 2023 at 6:55 am

    Mare, Hi! This is a question that I get a lot. Please feel free check out the post where I go into detail about what can be used instead. Happy eating!

  13. Lori & Rick

    May 8, 2023 at 6:32 am

    5 stars
    It tasted amazing! Poured it over some chicken coated with flour and added pasta. Came out perfect! Thanks for sharing.

4.92 from 12 votes (6 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

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

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents, where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes with some great desserts and other goodies mixed in! Read More >>>

Most Popular Recipes

square crop of a bowl of lemon cottage cheese pudding with a spoon on the side.
square crop looking down into a baking dish filled with pepper jelly topped cheese dip with crackers on the right.
square crop of creamy dressing in a glass jar with fresh cilantro and limes around it.
looking down on a bowl with two scoops of coconut sorbet in it.
square crop looking down on a small white bowl filled with ranch and surrounded by vegetables and a lemon wedge.
a Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes with a bite missing so you can see the filling.
A chip that's been dipped in cheese and the bowl of cheese is behind it.
looking fown in a cast iron skillet filled with White Bean Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi and a wooden spoon sticking out.
a white bowl filled with rice pudding that's topped witha s prinkle of cinnamon and there's a spoon in the pudding.

Footer

SEEN ON

as seen on

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

This month’s featured recipes: Bourbon Banana Bread, Crescent Roll Chicken Squares, Pecan Pie Muffins, and Flourless Chocolate Cookies.

Want to tip me? You can Buy Me a Coffee! And thanks!

© 2025 lifecurrentsblog.com. All rights reserved. Find my Privacy Policy Here.

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
  • Threads
  • X
  • Email

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.