Easy Garlic Herb Butter

Homemade garlic herb butter is quick, easy, and endlessly customizable. Made with fresh herbs and garlic, it elevates everything from bread to pasta to steak in minutes. You can even make a double batch and freeze the extra to have on hand as soon as you run out!

about this garlic herb butter

You won’t believe how this easy garlic herb butter can turn basic bread into a mini food moment. A spoonful melted over grilled chicken/steak or swirled into rice, and suddenly that regular old weeknight dinner feels a little more special.

Here’s what I love most – you can totally wing it with whatever herbs you’ve got. That lonely bunch of parsley in your fridge? Toss it in. Garden going crazy with basil? Perfect. Mix and match until you find your favorite combo. The basic ratio is 1 stick of butter to 2 cloves of garlic and 4 tablespoons of fresh herbs, but you can adjust to taste.

Keep a roll in your fridge and watch how it quickly becomes a must-have at all times. Slather this compound butter on bread, melt it over vegetables, stir it into pasta, or sneak it into mashed potatoes.

ingredients

butter. Use the best quality butter you can here. French butter is ideal, but Kerrygold is also delicious. Note that you can use unsalted butter OR salted butter. However, if you use salted butter, be sure to omit the salt called for in the recipe.

herbs. A combination of herbs is best to make this butter have more depth of flavor! We use parsley, thyme, and basil most often, but you can really go nuts with the herb combinations here. Try something new every time! Need more direction? Check out the FAQs below for a full list of fresh herbs to try.

garlic. Use minced fresh garlic or store-bought minced garlic for this recipe.

salt. You can use coarse or fine kosher salt for this recipe. We like to use big coarse crystals to get the slight crunch of salt in every bite.

pepper. Freshly cracked black pepper will yield the best flavor!

this recipe’s must-haves

You don’t need any fancy equipment for this recipe! Just the ingredients, a bowl, and a spoon.

here’s how to make a garlic herb butter

combine

Add softened butter, fresh herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. Stir to combine, until smooth and well-combined.

taste and adjust

Be sure to taste it! You might want more salt, or more fresh herbs. Perhaps you want the garlic to shine through more? This recipe is so easy to customize, you can take it any direction you want in terms of flavor profile. Have fun with it!

tips and tricks

pick the best butter. The better the butter, the better the flavor. French butter, in my opinion, is superior to any other butter out there. However, it can be expensive and hard to track down here in the United States. Kerrygold is a lovely alternative and we use it often with delicious results.

let the butter come to room temperature. It is SO hard to mix together this butter if the butter is not properly thawed to room temperature. Make it easier on yourself and let it soften!

make a double batch. Since this butter freezes so well, make a double batch!

variations

make basil butter. Use only basil in this recipe to make a flavorful basil butter.

make Italian herb butter. Use a combination of fresh rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme to make an Italian herb butter.

More easy sauce recipes: Bang Bang Sauce | Chipotle Aioli | Thai Peanut Dressing | Roasted Garlic Aioli

can you freeze garlic herb butter?

Yes, you can freeze this butter for up to 6 months! It’s a fantastic way to prep for upcoming dinner parties or even holiday meals like Thanksgiving.

Make sure to form the butter into a log, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or wax paper (be sure to twist the ends to form a tight log!). Store in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container (whatever you have that is freezer-safe).

how long does garlic herb butter last?

This recipe will last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. Note that fresh herbs lose their flavor over time, so the longer it sits, the less potency the herbs will have. It will still taste delicious, but the herb flavor is strongest within the first handful of days.

what fresh herbs can I use for this butter recipe?

You can use a variety of fresh herbs! We used fresh parsley, thyme, and basil in the version you see pictured here.

Here is a list of herbs you can use:

• Parsley
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Basil
• Chives
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thai basil
• Dill
• Tarragon

Need some inspiration for dinner this week? Check out my main dish recipes page!

how to use garlic herb butter

You can use this garlic herb butter in place of regular butter in many different ways.

Make garlic toast by slathering slices of bread with the butter and broil until toasted.

Use a knob to top your favorite steak like a grilled NY steak or ribeye steak.

Slather a corn cob with it.

Serve it alongside your favorite side dishes like honey roasted carrots and parsnips or instant pot mashed potatoes.

Use it in place of butter for savory dishes like roasted chicken or pasta dishes.

Make a garlic butter sauce with it.

how to store

Store. Store the garlic herb butter in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Note that the flavor of the fresh herbs will fade over time.

Freeze. Tightly wrap the butter in a log shape in wax paper or plastic wrap. Place in a resealable freezer-safe bag or freezer-safe airtight container. Store for up to 6 months.

Thaw. Place frozen butter in the refrigerator to thaw overnight before using.

more buttery recipes to try out

These little garlic bread bites are drizzled with a sweet honey butter, making them a lovely appetizer or side to dinner. They are ready in just 15 minutes!

Brown butter gnocchi with asparagus and peas is a one skillet meal that you’ll want to make over and over again.

Honey butter biscuits are fluffy and flaky, with just a touch of sweet honey. Use them as a pairing with any meal, or as a base for a sandwich!

Finally, if you make this homemade garlic butter with fresh herbs recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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