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My Garlic Butter Sauce recipe is the key to taking any recipe over the top! Make this easy sauce recipe in one bowl using 3 ingredients. Garlic herb butter complements bread, vegetables, meat, pizza, seafood – anything you can think of!
Try all your favorite recipes with our flavored garlic butter recipe. It’s keto-friendly and gluten-free!
Jump to:
- Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
- How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- Steak Butter Sauce
- For Basting Turkey
- Garlic Butter for Bread
- Garlic Butter Sauce for Pasta
- Dip for Pizza
- On Seafood
- Spread on Burgers
- With Vegetables
- Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes
- How long does garlic butter last?
- How to Store
- Can you freeze garlic butter?
- Is this recipe keto-friendly?
- Is this recipe gluten-free?
- 📌 Pin it for later!
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Reviews
Garlic butter sauce… Does it really get any better than a good homemade garlic butter? You will want to add it to EVERYTHING, trust me!
This recipe is so simple but adds a special touch to any meal no matter what protein you’re cooking. We love it for everything from meat and seafood to bread and vegetables.
The best part about making homemade butter with garlic is that it really is as simple as it sounds – it only uses three easy ingredients!
You can make this easy recipe as either a solid compound butter to top steaks, bread, and more, or use it as a sauce for recipes like pasta or as a dip. It’s the perfect recipe if you’re on a keto meal plan- it’s keto-friendly and makes every meal taste incredible!
Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Yes! We use 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley in this recipe, which you can substitute directly for 2 teaspoons of dried parsley.
Use 1 teaspoon dried herbs for every 1 tablespoon fresh herbs.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- Let your butter reach room temperature before you get started. When it’s nice and soft, add it to a bowl.
- Chop or press garlic and finely chop parsley. Add them to the bowl with the butter.
- Mix well until combined. That’s it! Perfect homemade garlic butter!
Optional step: If you’re making our garlic butter recipe as a sauce, melt it in a saucepan over low heat for 3 minutes.
Steak Butter Sauce
This recipe makes the perfect butter garlic steak sauce! Garlic compound butter is a perfect pairing for beef and steak is the best way to enjoy it. Let it melt over a juicy steak… there is nothing as delicious!
For Basting Turkey
Compound butter for turkey is an absolute must-try. You won’t believe how crispy the skin gets and how much flavor it adds!
Garlic Butter for Bread
This is the best garlic spread for bread! The secret to great a garlic bread recipe is to keep it simple – which is exactly what this recipe is!
- Follow the recipe, but do not melt the spread. Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Spread onto your favorite bread (baguette or french bread works great) at room temperature. For cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle ¼ cup of mozzarella or Parmesan cheese on top.
- Place bread on a baking sheet and bake until bread is toasted and lightly brown, approximately 5 minutes.
Garlic Butter Sauce for Pasta
We love using this sauce for pasta. Add it to your favorite pasta, like angel hair, ziti, or linguine, and it will feel like a gourmet meal!
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1tablespoon of salt.
- Add your favorite pasta and cook, stirring often, until pasta is almost done.
- While the pasta is cooking, place a large pan over medium heat. Add ½ cup of garlic butter and let it melt. Be careful not to overheat and burn it.
- When done cooking, drain the pasta, making sure to reserve ¼ cup of the water. Add the pasta to the pan and toss the garlic butter recipe with the pasta and ¼ cup reserved pasta water.
- If desired, top with Parmesan, parsley, and additional salt and pepper. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Dip for Pizza
When melted, this recipe makes the perfect garlic sauce dip for pairing with pizza! In fact, this is one of our favorite ways to enjoy this garlic spread.
One of our favorite easy appetizers to serve is our pizza twists with garlic dip. Give it a try for game day!
On Seafood
Try melting our butter garlic sauce with herbs over seafood for an incredible dinner! Garlic butter for shrimp is our favorite – it’s the perfect scampi sauce! We also love garlic butter sauce for crab legs.
Spread on Burgers
Use this spread on your favorite burgers! Try our Air Fried Burger with this recipe.
With Vegetables
Have we mentioned our garlic butter mushrooms yet? There are no words to describe how amazing they are, and they only take 10 minutes to make!
Garlic Roasted Small Potatoes are a perfect fit for this sauce, too. Give them a try!
Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is incredible on mashed potatoes. Up your potato game by making garlic butter mashed potatoes with one of our easy mashed potato recipes!
How long does garlic butter last?
This spread will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge and about 2 to 3 months in the freezer. That is, if you don’t enjoy it all before then!
How to Store
You can store garlic herb butter sauce for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, or even freeze it to bring out as needed.
Store it in the fridge rolled in plastic wrap as a log, or in an air-tight container or baggie.
Can you freeze garlic butter?
Yes, you can freeze our garlic butter recipe. Just as if you were storing it in the refrigerator, add it to an airtight container and store it in the freezer labeled with the freezing date. When ready to enjoy, you can take it straight out of the freezer and toss it in with whatever meal you’re making for quick & easy flavor!
We recommend freezing for no more than 2 months, but can guarantee you will enjoy it all before then.
If you’re taking our garlic butter recipe out of the freezer for bread, we recommend microwaving it on the lowest power setting for 15 seconds.
Is this recipe keto-friendly?
Yes! This garlic butter recipe is perfect for a keto meal plan.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
This recipe is 100% gluten-free.
Love this recipe? Try our Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe!
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📋 Recipe
Garlic Butter Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter, salted (at room temperature)
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped or pressed
- ⅛ cup parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients until well-combined.
- If you are using the recipe as a Butter spread, it will be ready to use. If you are using it as a Garlic Butter Sauce, add to a saucepan and heat on low for 3 minutes or until melted. Serve with everything from garlic butter steak bites to grilled crab legs, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Photo Credit: Kristen King
Anita says
I don’t like buying fresh herbs as the rest would get wasted. How much dried parsley would you suggest? Thanks.
Em Beitel says
Hi Anita! Use 2 tsp. dried parsley in place of fresh parsley if you’re following the recipe exactly. If you’re making a different amount, you want to use 1 tsp. of dried per 1 Tbsp. you would use for fresh. Thank you for your question, and enjoy!
Kristin Belle Knudsen says
I only buy unsalted butter, so how much salt should I add per 2 sticks?
Em Beitel says
Hi Kristin! We would use about half a teaspoon of salt. This should be enough salt for 2 sticks of butter.
Thank you for your question and enjoy!