How to Make Homemade Garlic Butter

Homemade garlic butter is rich, flavorful, and comes together in just a few minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. It’s perfect for garlic bread, steak, seafood, veggies, and so much more.

I spread it on steak, stir it into mashed potatoes, and melt it over stove top chicken. This garlic butter has become a staple in our home, and it’s sure to become your family’s favorite too.

Before You Get Started

• Start with softened butter. Cold butter won’t mix smoothly. Let it sit at room temperature for about an hour so the garlic and herbs blend evenly. For help, check out my How to Soften Butter tutorial.
• Use fresh garlic when you can. It gives the strongest, freshest flavor. Garlic powder works in a pinch but has a milder taste.
• Salted or unsalted butter both work. I prefer salted butter for that extra savory punch, but unsalted gives you more control. Just taste and adjust the salt at the end.

RECIPE WALK-THROUGH

How To Make Garlic Butter

See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions

Step 1: Soften the butter

Set your butter out on the counter for about an hour before you start. Softened butter blends easily and keeps the finished mixture smooth. If you’re short on time, cut the butter into small pieces to speed things up.

Step 2: Mix everything together

Add the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper to a bowl or small food processor.

Use a spatula to mix until everything is well combined, or pulse on low for about a minute if using a processor. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure the garlic and herbs distribute evenly.

• Tip: Mince the garlic as finely as you can. Larger pieces can create uneven flavor and texture.

Step 3: Taste and Adjust

Give it a quick taste and adjust the salt if needed. The garlic flavor will deepen as it sits in the butter, so don’t worry if it seems mild at first.

Step 4: Shape or store

Spoon into a small jar for easy scooping, or form into a log using plastic wrap. A log makes it simple to slice off a pat for steak, vegetables, or a piece of crusty bread.

How To Use Garlic Butter

This fragrant butter is incredibly versatile and adds instant flavor to just about anything. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:

• Spread on warm bread or rolls for easy Cheesy Garlic Bread
• Melt over grilled or pan-seared steak
• Toss with shrimp and pasta for a quick dinner (Shrimp and Tomato Pasta)
• Stir into baked potatoes or mashed potatoes
• Use as a finishing butter for baked chicken breasts
• Melt and use as a dipping sauce for pizza or soft homemade pretzels

Variations

One of the best things about homemade garlic butter is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few simple ways to change it up:

• Roasted Garlic Butter: Swap fresh garlic for roasted garlic for a sweeter, mellower flavor that’s perfect for bread.
• Herb Garlic Butter: Add fresh or dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, or chives along with the parsley.
• Parmesan Garlic Butter: Stir in a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This version is especially good for garlic bread.
• Garlic Powder Version: No fresh garlic? Use 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic powder instead. The flavor will be milder but still delicious.

More Garlic Recipes To Try

• Garlic Butter Chicken
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Homemade Garlic Breadsticks
• Lemon Garlic Pasta
• Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Recipe

Homemade Garlic Butter

4.58 from 7 votes

Kristin Maxwell

Rich, flavorful garlic butter made with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect for spreading on bread, melting over steak, tossing with pasta, or adding flavor to vegetables. Make it ahead and keep it in the fridge or freezer for whenever you need it.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 16 servings

Print RecipePin RecipeReview Recipe

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup Butter slightly softened
• 5 Cloves of garlic minced (about 2 ½ tablespoons)
• 3 tablespoons Fresh minced parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt more or less to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper

Save this recipe

Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Email *

Save

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Add the softened butter and minced garlic to a medium bowl or food processor.
• Add the parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix with a spatula until well combined, or pulse on low for about a minute.
• Taste and adjust the salt as needed.
• Transfer to a jar or shape into a log using plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.

Notes

• Fresh garlic is best for the strongest flavor, but you can substitute 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic powder if needed.
• Salted or unsalted butter both work well. Just taste and adjust the salt at the end.
• Parmesan garlic bread: stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.
• To freeze, wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Slice off what you need straight from frozen.
• Softened butter is key. Let it sit at room temperature for about an hour, or cut into small pieces to speed things up.

Keyword garlic butter

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 175mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 418IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Have you tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was by leaving a review or sharing on Instagram with the tag #yellowblissroad