Garlic herb compound butter for steak is SO GOOD. Ready in 5 minutes! It’s seasoned with fresh garlic, herbs (rosemary and parsley) and lemon. Season everything with it — from steaks, to potato side dishes, to dinner rolls and corn on the cob. Let’s make it…
See the video
Ingredients for this garlic herb butter
Who knew a stick of butter seasoned with herbs could be such a delicious thing? This recipe for compound butter is loaded with fresh herbs and garlic.
- 1 stick butter unsalted, ½ cup, softened
- 1 cup parsley fresh chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp rosemary, fresh chopped (substitute basil or oregano)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp salt skip if using salted butter
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Herbs for compound butter
You have options if you’re wondering what herbs to add to compound butter. I’ll walk over to my Aerogarden and pluck off any fresh herbs for this DIY steak condiment, but in this recipe you’ll find:
- Fresh parsley has an earthy, peppery taste. Flat leaf parsley has more flavor than Italian parsley, which is why I use it as a base herb for compound butters. But the latter is a great substitution.
- Fresh rosemary is extremely aromatic and pairs perfectly with steak and chicken dishes. Also a bit peppery, the flavor reminds me of camping because of the evergreen forest taste. A little goes a long way! Fresh basil is a great substitute for rosemary in compound butter recipes.
Note: if using dry herbs in compound butter, use ⅓ the amount of dried herbs for similar results.
Other flavors for DIY butter
- A stick of butter softened in advance is the base ingredient. Use salted butter or unsalted butter.
- Fresh lemon or substitute lime. Both the juice and finely chopped peel or grated zest.
- Fresh garlic or substitute shallots or roasted garlic cloves for a more subdued flavor.
- Salt and pepper.Skip the salt if you use salted butter.
How to make compound butter
In just a few minutes, you’ll have a tasty garlic compound butter for steaks and more.
Make compound butter without a food processor
Add all ingredients to a bowl (butter, parsley, rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper).
Use a fork, potato masher or spatula to smoosh ingredients together until combined. Use immediately or store for later.
Check out these popular toppings for baked potatoes…
Making compound butter with a food processor
Alternatively, use a food processor and pulse all ingredients until loosely combined. Use immediately or store for later.
See another 5 minute recipe…
How to form a compound butter log shape
Serve compound herb butter immediately, or shape it for later.
Want to mold herb butter into a log shape to refrigerate or freeze for later? Set a piece of plastic wrap, about the size of a sheet of paper, on a flat surface.
Spoon herb and garlic butter into the center in the shape of a log. Roll the left and right edges in, like a burrito, then roll the compound butter log to completely wrap it in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 15 minutes to set the shape. Slice into round discs and serve on steaks, side dishes like vegetables or potatoes, or bread dinner rolls.
How to use compound butter for steaks
- Refrigerate it ahead of time. Then cut in discs or triangle wedges and place on top of hot steak. It will melt into the steak and add tremendous flavor.
- Freeze it. Make a batch to meal prep with frozen steak for dinner.
- Use it fresh. A dollop of homemade herb butter melts beautifully into smoked baked potatoes.
- Try is on all steaks! Air fryer filet mignon, grilled steak, oven broiled steak, sous vide steak, or cast iron seared steak.
What are other flavor add ins that taste good with steak?
Want to add a little heat to your garlic herb butter recipe? Mix in a little diced chipotle in adobo sauce, jalapeno, chili powder, or hot sauce.
How do you quickly soften butter?
To soften butter quickly, add hot water to a bowl and wait 30 seconds. Dump out water and add butter. Butter will begin melting. Another way to speed up the process is to dice up the butter before adding it to the hot bowl.
What do you use compound butter on?
When we have a fresh batch of compound butter for steaks in the fridge, I use it on everything. Corn on the cob, garlic rolls, roasted potatoes, sous vide lobster, fish, sous vide little potatoes, fresh vegetables, sous vide turkey breast, fresh focaccia bread, pellet grill smoked corn on the cob, and homemade pasta are plenty of ways to use garlic herb butter.
What can you shape homemade compound butter with?
Beyond making a log of garlic and herbs butter with plastic wrap, you can use parchment paper or foil. Sometimes I’ll form oval discs or form into a log with my hands. And you could always form different sized circle shapes in small glass dishes. Pop them out with a knife when it’s time to use the flavored butter.
Can you store compound butter in the freezer?
Yes, it’s so convenient to slice it whenever you need to add herby seasoning to a special meal.
Check out this compound butter on griddled ribeye…
More Steak Dinner Ideas from Sip Bite Go
Pro tip: One of my go-to tricks for perfectly cooked food every time is using the right BBQ meat thermometers.
Become a better home cook
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Wishing you a delicious day! – Jenna
Next, browse the Sip Bite Go recipe collection…
Garlic Herb Compound Butter for Steak Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter unsalted, ½ cup, softened
- 1 cup parsley fresh chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp rosemary, fresh chopped (substitute basil or oregano)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp salt skip if using salted butter
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Make compound butter with a fork or spatula (without a food processor)
- Add all ingredients to a bowl (butter, parsley, rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper). Use a fork, potato masher or spatula to smoosh ingredients together until combined. Use immediately or store for later.
Making compound butter with a food processor
- Use a food processor and pulse all ingredients until loosely combined. Use immediately or store for later.
To form a compound butter log shape
- To form a log shape to refrigerate or freeze for later, set a piece of plastic wrap, about the size of a sheet of paper, on a flat surface. Spoon herb and garlic butter into the center in the shape of a log. Roll the left and right edges in, like a burrito, then roll the compound butter log to completely wrap it in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 15 minutes to set the shape. Slice into round discs and serve on steaks, side dishes like vegetables or potatoes, or bread dinner rolls.
Notes
- To soften butter fast: Add hot water to a bowl and wait 30 seconds. Dump out water and add butter. Do this even faster by dicing butter before adding it to the hot bowl.
- What tastes good with garlic herb butter? Pretty much everything from steaks to corn on the cob, garlic rolls, roasted potatoes, sous vide lobster, fish, sous vide little potatoes, fresh vegetables, sous vide turkey breast, fresh focaccia bread, and homemade pasta.
- What shapes do you form butter into? Outside of the butter log mentioned in this recipe, you can form oval discs by hand or use small glass dishes to form perfect circles.
- How do you store compound butter in the freezer? Right in the plastic wrap, take out to thaw before using. Or freeze in slices to use one slice at a time. It will melt faster if thawed.
- How do you add spice to garlic herb butter? Mix in a little diced chipotle in adobo sauce, jalapeno, chili powder, or hot sauce.
Brown Susanne says
Delicious about sums it up!
Ginger Sigman says
I made this last night and followed the recipes exactly. I put it on the oven tri-tip recipe that was on sipbitego and it was the best tri- tip I have ever had. I used the Back yard Steak Shake rub and marinated the tri-tip for 5 hours. The compound butter for 2 hours. Will definitely be making it again.
Jenna Passaro says
Hey there, Ginger (I LOVE a good foodie name!)
SO HAPPY to hear you made the tri tip WITH this compound butter! It’s a winning combination. May that tri tip / butter combo be your go-to for many meals to come.
I just posted a t bone steak recipe that you gotta try next! https://sipbitego.com/t-bone-steak-in-oven
Jenna
Christy says
Hey there! Just made your tri tip for the second time tonight and it’s a keeper! I want to try this butter SOOO badly but only have dried herbs on hand. What are your thoughts on using dried herbs instead of fresh and if so, would the quantity change? Thanks!!
Jenna Passaro says
Hi Christy,
Yes you an go ahead and add some dried herbs, they are more potent, so only use about 1/2 or 1/3 the amount of herbs suggested. You really can’t go wrong, but wouldn’t want to completely over do it.
Enjoy!
Jenna
@sipbitego