Garlic Herb Butter for Steak
Want to make the most decadent Garlic Herb Butter for Steak? All you need are 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make this flavorful compound butter for steaks, bread and so much more.

I cannot get over what this simple compound butter for steak adds to the dish to make it something special.
The garlic is sharp — but not too sharp — and is balanced out with the pop of acid from the lemon zest. The fresh herbs adds both color and light flavor.
And the butter is, well, delicious.
Why I love this recipe:
Honestly, I love this garlic compound butter recipe because it’s versatile and goes with almost anything.
While we’re calling this Garlic Herb Butter for steak, it can be used on a variety of dishes, including garlic bread. (Hi, hello. Please make this for yourself.)
You could also use it when roasting a whole chicken, a turkey breast or even Garlic Herb Prime Rib, too.
It’s packed with flavor, and it’s incredibly simple to make at home. It keeps well in the fridge, too.
Other recipes to serve this steak butter with: Garlic Butter Steak | Cream Biscuits | Grilled Skirt Steak | Broiled Steak | Whole Wheat Italian Beer Bread | The Best Grilled Steak
Want to learn more about steak? Check out Steak 101: Everything You Need to Know about Cooking Steak at Home!

What you’ll need to make this recipe:
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- Large bowl
- Hand mixer or rubber spatula
- Microplane / zester
- Wax paper, parchment paper or plastic wrap
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
This is what you’ll need to grab from the store:
- Unsalted butter — this serves as the base for the homemade herb butter. I like to use unsalted butter because then I can control the saltiness.
- Salt — I like to use a fine grain sea salt in this recipe.
- Garlic — freshly minced, please and thank you. While the pre-minced stuff is great, fresh garlic that you mince yourself will have stronger flavor, and we want that in this steak recipe. You could also use roasted garlic if you have it on hand and would like a milder garlic flavor.
- Lemon — we’re using the zest of a single lemon, and it gives a little pop of citrus and acidity to the butter! SO good.
- Fresh parsley — you need a lot of this and more for garnish. Be sure to chop it up relatively finely for the butter.

How to make Homemade Garlic Butter
DID YOU KNOW?
Before you get started! It’s a lot easier to make a compound butter if your butter is at room temperature and softened.Remove it from the fridge 30-45 minutes before mixing your garlic butter.
Combine the softened butter with the minced garlic, chopped parsley, lemon zest and kosher salt in a medium bowl.
Use a hand mixer or a rubber spatula to stir until combined. If your butter is soft enough, using a rubber spatula should be easy.
Mold the butter into a log shape and place it on wax paper (or a long piece of plastic wrap or parchment) for storage.
You can also transfer it to a storage container* (affiliate link) to keep the butter in the refrigerator. This can be kept for 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
You may also leave at room temperature if you’re cooking the steak shortly after mixing it.

Frequently Asked Questions
A homemade Garlic Herb Butter on top of a steak is just wonderfully decadent and delicious. Some brands sell their own garlic butters if you don’t want to make your own, but I really like the homemade variety.
Yes. Butter on steak is excellent and elevates the dish even more, especially when it melts into a garlicky butter sauce.
It depends on your tastebuds, but I love garlic with almost every savory dish, so I say YES.
This garlic butter recipe includes unsalted butter, freshly minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, lemon zest and kosher salt.

Quick tips for Compound Butter
- Use quality ingredients. Choose the best butter you can get your hands on and add fresh garlic, parsley and lemon to it! It makes a difference and adds to the already incredible flavors.
- Make it decadent. Add a slice or two on top of your steak as it sears in a skillet, and add another once the steak is on the plate. It’s SO GOOD.
- Smear it on bread. I’ve used this butter on homemade garlic bread, too. Take the softened butter, smear it onto sliced bread and toast until golden brown!
- Add it to other dishes, like mashed potatoes, grilled corn or roasted vegetables, for wonderful flavor!
- Double or triple the recipe. Since this keeps well in the refrigerator, you can make a large batch and store it. You can also freeze it, if you wrap it tightly, for a few months.
Want to make this goodness?
Here you go…

Garlic Herb Compound Butter
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Equipment
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Instructions
- Combine the softened butter with the minced garlic, chopped parsley, lemon zest and kosher salt in a medium bowl.
- Use a hand mixer or a rubber spatula to stir to combine.
- Roll into a log or transfer to a storage container to keep the butter in the refrigerator.
- This can be kept for 2-3 week in the fridge. You may also leave at room temperature if you’re cooking a steak or another protein shortly after mixing it.
Notes
Nutrition

About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
This is so good on steak!
Steak is the best. But steak with THIS butter is even better!
We made a double batch and used it on steak and then to make a whole roasted chicken!! PERFECT! This recipe is such a keeper!