How to Make Garlic Butter

Name: How to Make Garlic Butter
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter (room temperature); 6 cloves garlic (finely diced); ¼ cup parsley (chopped); ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Experience the homemade delight of our Garlic Butter, a versatile spread that will elevate your meals with its rich, creamy, and full-flavored goodness.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yields: 1 cup

Have you ever thought your meals could use a little pizzazz? If so, then it’s about time I introduced you to the miracles of homemade garlic butter. It’s rich, packed full of flavor, and absolutely game-changing for your kitchen creations. Best part is, it’s a piece of cake to whip up!

This garlic butter recipe borrows some flavor notes from other garlic-oriented faves like Aioli (a seriously yummy garlic sauce from the south of Europe) and Bagna Cauda (a delicious hot Italian dip). It can also be used not only as a spread but as an ingredient for such dishes like my Creamy Garlic Chicken or smothered over Garlic Parmesan Grilled Corn. But the magic of garlic butter is in its simplicity and all-around awesomeness, truly putting it on a pedestal of its own.

Ingredients

See what I mean when I say this Garlic Butter is a piece of cake to whip up!

1 cup butter (room temperature)
6 cloves garlic, finely diced
¼ cup parsley, chopped
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

Add the softened butter to a bowl. Use a fork and spoon to mash until it’s smooth.

Add the garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper to the butter.

Mix together until the ingredients are evenly distributed and the butter is creamy.

Tips & Tricks

Use only high-quality, unsalted REAL butter.
Nothing beats the flavor of fresh garlic cloves. Don’t use the pre-packaged minced stuff.
Soften your butter but don’t melt it, to ensure it combines nicely with the other ingredients.
Don’t skimp on the salt and pepper. They bring out the flavor of the butter and garlic.
For the best texture, chill the finished garlic butter until firm before using.

Serving Suggestions

This homemade Garlic Butter makes a versatile addition to virtually any dish. Melt it over piping hot steak, spread it on crusty bread for a quick garlic toast, stir it into pasta for an extra hint of richness, or even drizzle it over grilled vegetables for an elevated flair.

FAQs

Why is my garlic butter not smooth?

If your garlic butter’s got some bumps, it could just be a bit too chilled. Before you start, let it warm up on the counter for a bit to soften it up.

What type of butter works best for this recipe?

Unsalted REAL butter is your best bet. And consider splurging on the organic stuff; you’ll notice a difference in taste.

Can this garlic butter be made vegan?

It sure can. Use vegan butter or top-notch extra virgin olive oil instead of the regular butter for 100% plant-based garlic butter.

Variations

Garlic Herb Butter: Stir in rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
Lemony Garlic Butter: Add fresh lemon zest and a hint of juice for a citrusy hit.
Spicy Garlic Butter: Add red chili flakes or Cajun seasoning.
Cheesy Garlic Butter: Blend in some grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese.

How To Prep and Store Garlic Butter

You can whip up some Garlic Butter whenever you like, then just pop it in the fridge to store. It will keep for two weeks in there. If you don’t plan on using it for a while, you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s in a sealed container or even better, shape it like a log in some cling wrap so you can slice off a bit whenever you need. When you’re ready to reheat, let it reach room temperature until it’s soft or warm it in the microwave if time is an issue. If time isn’t an issue, you can keep it low and slow in a saucepan over a soft flame.