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 parsley 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 or a turkey breast, 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 | How to Broil Steak | Whole Wheat Italian Beer Bread | How to Grill 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:

The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

• Large bowl
• Hand mixer or rubber spatula
• Microplane / zester
• Wax paper or plastic wrap

This is what you’ll need:

• 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

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.

Shape the butter into a log and place it on wax paper 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

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 tablespoon or two on top of your steak as it sears, 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!
• 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

Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

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.

4.95 from 56 votes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 8 (1T) servings

Calories 104 kcal

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 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

• Large mixing bowl
• Hand mixer

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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

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.

Use quality ingredients and the best butter you can get your hands on for extra flavor!

Don’t just use it for steak. This compound butter recipe is perfect with poultry (like chicken and turkey), as well as a base for garlic bread.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 (1T) servingCalories: 104kcalFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 249mg

Keyword butter, butter for protein, butter for steak, butter recipe, compound butter, garlic butter, garlic herb butter, herb butter, steak butter

Course Condiments & Spice Blends

Cuisine American

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!