My simple homemade Garlic Herb Butter is about to become your new secret weapon in the kitchen.
It’s a delicious condiment that dreams are made of and a compound butter with simple ingredients. Creamy butter, fresh garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemon juice give it tons of flavor and infuse it with a touch of sunshine.
Just a pat transforms anything from a humble baked potato to a sizzling filet mignon or blackened steak into an extraordinary dining experience. Trust me, you’ll never go back once you taste this easy garlic herb compound butter.
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Reasons you will love this recipe:
- It takes less than ten minutes to make, and you can use it immediately or refrigerate to serve later.
- This garlic herb butter recipe is versatile; you can use ingredients on hand or in your fridge.
- This simple recipe whips up a compound butter masterpiece with extra flavor from the garlicky goodness and fresh herbs.
Ingredient notes and substitutions:
- Butter: You need one stick of unsalted butter for this recipe. Make sure you use real butter, not a butter spread. The stick of butter should be room temperature or softened to the point that it is easy to stir but is not melted.
- Fresh chopped herbs: The sky is the limit for herbs to use in this butter. There are tons of different flavor combinations that would be delicious. I had fresh rosemary, oregano, and thyme growing in my garden, which I used, plus some parsley. Sage, basil, chives, dill, marjoram, and tarragon also work. You can even use dried herbs, but you won’t have the beautiful flecks of green in your butter.
- Garlic cloves: Use a garlic press to finely mince your garlic or grate it with a zester. Roasted garlic would also be delicious in this recipe.
- Fresh lemon juice: I recommend freshly squeezed lemon juice for this butter. You can also add a pinch of lemon zest for a stronger flavor.
- Kosher salt: If you use salted butter in the recipe, omit the salt or only add a tiny pinch of salt to taste.
Complete ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below.
How to make garlic herb butter:
- Place the softened butter in a small bowl. Add the chopped herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and salt.
- Combine and serve immediately.
- Or, if you prefer, pour the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and roll it up in a log shape. You can also use a piece of parchment paper.
- Twist the ends of the wax paper and smush all the butter into a smooth cylinder about an inch and a half wide.
- Place in the refrigerator and chill for an hour or so. Remove from the fridge and slice, and serve.
Serving suggestions:
Garlic herb compound butter is a versatile kitchen hero, adding flavor and richness to countless dishes.
- Top your pan-seared or smoked ribeye steak with a pat of garlic herb butter for an instant restaurant-worthy finish.
- Elevate your seafood game with a dollop on blackened grouper or roasted shrimp. The butter will infuse the seafood with a subtle garlicky aroma and keep it moist and tender.
- Garlic herb butter is a match made in heaven for chicken and turkey. Spread it on roasted chicken for crispy, flavorful skin, dot it over chicken breasts before baking, or on a smoked turkey for a juicy, herbaceous treat.
- Baked and mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes are a classic canvas for garlic herb butter. Just a pat can transform them from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Homemade garlic bread takes on a new level of luxury with homemade compound butter instead of regular butter. Also, try it on cornbread, hoe cakes, Irish soda bread, or sweet potato biscuits.
Get creative! Easy garlic herb butter can be used in countless other ways. Try it on popcorn, noodles, rice, cheese grits, or even as a spread for sandwiches. With a bit of imagination, the possibilities are endless!
Recipe variations:
This is a super versatile and easy recipe. Add whatever herbs and ingredients you love or have on hand. Here are just a few delicious compound butter recipes:
- Lemon pepper butter: Fresh lemon, lemon zest, parsley, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Lemon dill butter: Lemon juice, salt, and fresh dill.
- Garlic and chive butter: Fresh garlic, fresh chives, and salt or garlic salt.
- Tuscan butter: Fresh garlic, chopped sundried tomatoes, salt, pepper, and Italian herbs like basil, thyme, or rosemary.
- Orange butter: Mix butter with orange marmalade and confectioners’ sugar.
- Maple bourbon butter: Mix some maple syrup and bourbon with butter.
- Hot honey butter: Mix in some hot honey to make delicious, sweet, and spicy butter.
How to store it:
This homemade garlic herb butter can be covered and refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to three months.
Recipe FAQs:
You can use dried herbs in this recipe, but because dried herbs have a concentrated flavor, only use one and one-half tablespoons. Also, you will not have the beautiful green flecks in your butter.
If you use salted butter, do not add the salt listed. Also, remember this recipe calls for kosher salt, which is less concentrated than regular table salt. If you use regular table salt, use less than called for.
While it can, it is best to store it in the fridge for the best results.
Expert tips and tricks:
- I usually soften my butter in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. You want to be able to stir it easily, but you don’t want it to melt.
- Instead of chopping garlic, I like to grate it using a fine grater or zester for this recipe, or you could use a garlic press. Or, to save time chopping, pulse the herbs and garlic in a food processor a few times. You can also add the butter to your food processor and mix everything in it.
More condiment recipes:
If you like this recipe, you might also want to check out these easy and delicious condiments:
Here is a link if you would like to see all of my condiment recipes.
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Easy Garlic Herb Butter Recipe – A Compound Butter
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, one stick softened
- ¼ cup chopped mixed fresh herbs
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped or grated
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Place the softened butter in a small bowl. Add the chopped herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well. Can be served immediately.
- Or, pour the mixture onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper and roll it up like a log. Twist the ends of the paper and smush all the butter into a smooth cylinder about an inch and a half wide.
- Place in the refrigerator and chill for an hour or so. Remove from the fridge, slice, and serve.
Linger
Herbed butter is such a lovely addition to a wide variety of dishes. Or how could you go wrong with simply slathering on a piece (or two) of crusty bread? Makes me hungry especially looking at the juicy steak you show. Thanks so much for sharing.
Carolyn G Haley
I’m making this today and guess what? I am now craving a steak. I certainly see the many uses of this herb butter and I have lots of herbs. Had to move my herb bed, the pups decided they just loved hiking their legs on my herbs in the back yard.