This Garlic Butter recipe is rich, flavorful, and so easy to make! Made with just a few simple ingredients—butter, fresh garlic, and parsley—it adds a delicious punch to everything from steak and seafood to veggies and bread. Keep it on hand for quick weeknight meals or your next dinner party!
Compound butter (or flavored butter) is one of the best kept kitchen secrets. You can use this garlic butter recipe for everyday meals. It’s also great for special occasions or holidays. It adds a nice touch to any spread.
Butter – I generally use and recommend unsalted butter for the best control over the salt levels. After making this garlic butter recipe many times, I found that unsalted butter gives the best flavor and texture. But of course, if salted butter is what you have on hand, you can use it too. Also, I don’t recommend using margarine since it does not provide the same delicious taste.
Parsley or Any Fresh Herbs – Freshly chopped herbs are always best! They add a vibrant, aromatic touch to the garlic butter. While dried herbs can work in a pinch, they won’t provide the same fresh, lively flavor that freshly chopped parsley (or any herb) brings to the dish.
Garlic – I use 2 fresh cloves, grated or super finely minced. Fresh garlic adds a punch of flavor that jarred minced garlic can’t match, and when you grate or finely mince it, you get that perfect infusion of garlicky goodness throughout the butter.
1. Take butter out of the refrigerator so it can come to room temperature.
2. Grate your garlic cloves and finely chop fresh parsley.
3. Measure softened butter, parsley, garlic, kosher salt and pepper into small mixing bowl.
4. Mix everything really well until ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth.
Recipe Tips:
- Feel free to experiment with other spices and herbs! Sometimes I like to use fresh rosemary and thyme instead of parsley, especially during the holiday season. Fresh citrus zest is also very good in herb butter.
- To try different flavors in this recipe, add a little fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and grated Parmesan cheese.
- This recipe can be melted and served as a dip alongside lobster or crab legs. You can also use it as a delicious sauce for garlic butter pasta.
Ways To Use Garlic Butter
- Generously spread it on toasted bread, crackers, toasted crostini, on French bread, pizza crust or cornbread, low carb dinner rolls or savory breakfast scones.
- Mix it into mushrooms and veggies like zucchini to make them extra tasty!
- Scoop garlic butter into a small bowl and place atop a cheese board as a spread option.
- Add incredible flavor to any protein: chicken, steak, lamb chops or even seafood shrimp, salmon, rainbow trout.
- Melt a dollop over sweet potatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, air fryer baked sweet potato or fluffy rice.
- Melt your butter and use it as a glaze for grilled corn on the cob at your summer cookout.
- Because this simple compound butter feels a bit fancy, I love using it to make a roasted whole chicken or a garlic butter turkey breast for a special occasions.
To Store: Place your garlic butter recipe in an airtight container or use plastic wrap/wax paper to form it into a log. It should keep in the fridge for around 1-2 weeks.
To Freeze: This recipe is also freezer friendly, store butter frozen for up to 4-6 months. Place it in the refrigerator or on the countertop to soften before use.
Garlic Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add softened butter, parsley, garlic, salt and black pepper. Stir everything well.
- Serve on crackers, toasted baguette or bake onto garlic bread. More ideas how to serve it on the post above. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?
Follow @primaverakitchen on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #primaverakitchen. We’d love to see your recreation.
This garlic butter dish can be eaten with bread, can it be eaten with anything else?
Yes you can use with roasted veggies, pasta, pita, mashed potatoes, on top of corn and so on.
Good dish to try in the weekend.
It totally is. You can serve it with grilled steak and grilled bread. It’s so good!
great dish
Awesome. happy you liked it!
Wonderful recipes. You’re the best
Thank you SO MUCH! You’re so sweet 😉