Garlic Butter

This Garlic Butter recipe is creamy and delicious, perfect to serve with grilled steak, chicken, seafood, grilled or steamed vegetables and more. It makes the BEST garlic bread and can be turned into a creamy garlic butter sauce! Make this easy garlic herb butter recipe with only 4 basic ingredients!

 

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

If we had to name two of our favourite ingredients of all time they’d be butter and garlic. We’re definitely of the belief that everything is better with butter and that you can never have too much garlic!

This Garlic Butter recipe is one we make in The Busy Baker kitchen over and over again. It’s absolutely perfect for topping grilled steaks, grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp or grilled salmon, and we even love it on roasted veggies and fresh crusty bread alongside a big bowl of our favourite soup or chili. It can be enjoyed right after it’s made or it can be made ahead of time and store in the fridge or even the freezer to keep on hand and add to whatever you’re cooking. Trust us, this garlic herb butter is an absolute kitchen staple and we know you’re going to love it as much as we do!!

Garlic butter is a simple spread that has its roots in French cuisine. It’s rich, it’s savoury and it’s decadent. It’s called ‘Beurre d’Ail’ in French, and it’s been a popular addition to French dishes like escargot, steamed mussels, and it’s often served as an accompaniment to the popular French Steak Frites. It’s a creamy paste made of high-quality butter, mashed fresh garlic, and salt. For added flavour, ingredients like parsley, chives, lemon juice, and even Parmesan cheese can be incorporated. Besides its popularity in French cuisine, it’s now used in many dishes from all over the world.

It’s easy to make with a simple simple process, making this delicious spread an easy recipe to tailor to personal preferences or change slightly depending on what you’ll serve with it.

For the BEST garlic butter you’ve ever tried, be sure to follow our pro tips and tricks!

Be sure to choose butter that’s high-quality with at least 80% fat. Most European-style butters are 82% fat (think Irish butter or German butter) – these are good options. Anything with a fat content of lower than 80% won’t be as creamy as it contains more water and less fat.

Be sure to leave your butter out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before using to be sure it’s soft enough to incorporate with the other ingredients well.

We always recommend using unsalted butter for recipes like this one. It allows you to add salt on your own and ensure the it’s to your tastes.

Skip the minced garlic in the jar from the grocery store or garlic powder – fresh garlic will give the best flavour!

To avoid an overpowering flavour, mince the garlic as finely as possible. We use a garlic press for this job because it’s an easy way to crush the garlic into pieces the size of a fine mince.

Be sure to wash your parsley before chopping and adding it, but make absolutely sure it’s dry. Adding wet parsley can cause the mixture to separate because you’ve introduced excess moisture.

Mix by hand, whip with a hand or stand mixer, or whisk while melting to turn it into a sauce. Any way you do it, it’s delicious!

Be sure to store it in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap. This will help preserve its freshness and flavour.

Trouble in garlic butter paradise? Here are a few issues you might encounter when making this recipe and how to fix them!

If the butter is separating, whipping is the best way to combine it again. To solve all your butter separation problems, we recommend melting it completely, letting it cool to room temperature, and then whipping until it combines.

In this case, add some more butter to temper the strong flavour. Next time you make it, reduce the number of garlic cloves you add. Remember, it’s always easier to start with less and add more.

Let it sit at room temperature to soften, or soften it in the microwave for 10-second increments until it reaches the desired consistency.

Place it in the fridge to firm up until it reaches the desired consistency.

If you haven’t minced your parsley or garlic finely enough you’ll end up with a very chunky end result. Be sure to mince everything finely. If you run into this problem, fix it by using a hand blender to blend the mixture slightly, breaking the large chunks of garlic and parsley into smaller pieces.

Here’s a list of the basic kitchen equipment you’ll want to have on hand to make this garlic butter recipe (paid links):

• large knife
• Cutting Board
• Garlic Press
• Silicone Spatula
• mixing bowls
• Plastic Wrap
• microwave safe bowl optional, for making garlic butter sauce
• Hand Mixer optional, for making whipped butter
• Stand Mixer optional, for making whipped butter

Here are the basic ingredients you’ll need to make this simple, easy recipe (paid links):

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
• 4-5 cloves fresh garlic finely minced or pressed
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped, or use 2 teaspoons dried parsley instead of fresh
• 1 teaspoon salt

For a twist on the classic garlic butter recipe, try one of these delicious variations!

1. Roasted: Enhance the flavour by roasting the garlic first. Wrap a head of garlic in foil and roast it in the oven until soft. Blend the soft, roasted cloves into your butter mixture for a milder, smoother flavour.
2. Garlic Herb: Add a variety of fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or rosemary to your garlic butter for an aromatic twist. This is perfect for serving with meats or as a spread for fresh bread.
3. Lemon: Incorporate fresh lemon juice and lemon zest for a citrusy, refreshing flavour. This pairs well with seafood and roasted or steamed vegetables.
4. Parmesan: Mix in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and some Italian herbs like oregano or basil for a rich, savoury variation that’s great on pasta or garlic bread.
5. Chili: Add a spicy kick with some crushed red pepper flakes or a bit of finely chopped fresh red chili. This is ideal for anyone who enjoys a bit of heat!
6. Tuscan: Finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil can add a sweet and tangy flavour, making it great for spreading on crostini or as a topping for grilled chicken.
7. Honey: For a sweet and savoury combination, mix in a bit of honey. This is especially good on warm biscuits, cornbread, or with grilled chicken.

Want to turn this garlic butter recipe into a delicious garlic butter sauce? Here’s how to do it!

1. Make the garlic butter as directed in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Melt the mixture in the microwave on 50% power just until melted. This could take anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 and a half minutes, depending on your microwave.
3. Microwave in 30-second increments, whisking after every 30 seconds. Stop heating once the butter just reaches the melted stage and whisk well.
4. Serve immediately drizzled over salmon, for dipping lobster tails or shrimp, or with your favourite pasta.

Garlic butter sauce can also be made in a heat-safe bowl over a double boiler on the stove. Here’s how to do this:

1. Place a pot of water on the stove over high heat until it reaches a simmer.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and place a heat safe bowl containing the garlic butter over the pot, making sure the simmering water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
3. Whisk gently as the garlic butter melts, continuing to whisk gently until it’s just melted.
4. Remove it from the heat and serve immediately.

Making garlic herb butter is easy! Simply add your favourite fresh or dried herbs with the other ingredients and make as directed. We recommend adding some fresh thyme, fresh chives, and even fresh rosemary or basil, depending on the season and what you’ll serve it with. When adding fresh herbs, start with about 1 tablespoon each. If using dried herbs, start with about 1/2 teaspoon each.

We hope you love this Garlic Butter recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what would you serve with this garlic herb butter recipe? We’d love to know!

• Air Fryer Steak
• Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
• Roasted Vegetables
• One Pan Herb and Garlic Butter Salmon
• Beef Ribeye Roast (Prime Rib)
• Best Mashed Potatoes
• Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan
• Air Fryer Broccoli
• Air Fryer Steak Bites