Herb Garlic Compound Butter is a great way to infuse your steaks and chops with fresh herbs. Made with butter, garlic, parsley, chives, and basil, this is a perfect way to add flavor and complexity.
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply want to elevate a family meal, serving a slice of this compound butter on top of a grilled steak or alongside roasted vegetables instantly adds a professional and sophisticated touch.
We are always mixing up this compound butter for our outdoor grilling days because it goes well with steak and really anything else we’re making, like lobster, crab legs, corn on the cob, or even baked potatoes.
What is Compound Butter?
Compound butter combines the creamy richness of butter with a variety of added flavors such as herbs, spices, and sometimes even other ingredients like garlic or citrus zest. It serves as a versatile ingredient that can be used to enhance the flavors of a prepared dish, much like a sauce or condiment would.
» You might also like this All-Purpose Dry Rub for BBQ.
Ingredients Needed
- Unsalted Butter – Make sure the butter is softened or it won’t be easy to incorporate the herbs.
- Herbs – You can really use any fresh herbs that you like, but our recipe today has garlic, parsley, chives, and basil.
- Salt & Ground Black Pepper – Just give an extra boost of flavor to the butter with some seasonings. You can add other seasonings too if you like.
How Long Does it Take to Make Herb Garlic Compound Butter?
Making herb garlic compound butter typically takes around 5 to 10 minutes of preparation time. This includes mincing the garlic, chopping the fresh herbs, and mixing all the ingredients together.
After it’s been mixed and rolled into shape, the butter is chilled in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to allow it firm up and for the flavors to meld together.
How to Make Herb Garlic Compound Butter
Mix together the butter and herbs in a bowl.
When fully incorporated, spoon the butter onto a piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap. Form it into a log and roll it tightly. I found that parchment paper worked better than plastic wrap, which is just a bit too sticky for this. You also don’t have to worry about the plastic wrap clinging to itself while you are rolling the butter to form it.
Chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or until you’re ready to use it. It will take at least this long for the butter to firm back up, so don’t plan on using it before that. The longer the better.
Additional Helpful Tips
- Ensure the butter is softened at room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients. This will make it easier to incorporate and achieve a smooth consistency. Don’t soften it in the microwave because you run the risk of melting it.
- Try to use fresh herbs whenever possible, providing a vibrant flavor and aroma. However, if fresh herbs are unavailable, you can substitute them with dried herbs, but reduce the quantity by half since they have a more concentrated flavor.
- Try using roasted garlic in place of the fresh garlic for a more mild flavor.
- Adding fresh lemon, lime or orange zest will boost the flavor. Try different combinations of herbs, citrus, and spices.
- Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the compound butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the added salt accordingly.
- You can add all of the ingredients to a food processor to chop and mix instead of cutting the herbs before hand.
Other Uses for Compound Butter
When you start thinking about it there are many uses for this delicious and flavorful butter. Besides the most common use, topping a grilled steak, you can add it to all kinds of things. Put a slice on top of a cooking hamburger patty, let it melt into a freshly baked potato, drop it into a pot of homemade tomato soup, or a steaming plate of pasta.
- Here are a few more ideas:
- Slather it on corn on the cob.
- Use it to make garlic bread.
- Melt it on steamed veggies.
- Stir it into mashed potatoes.
- Let it melt of a cooked fish fillet for extra flavor.
Recipe Notes
Wrap the compound butter tightly in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or Ziplock bag. Ensure there are no gaps or openings that could expose the butter to air.
Store the butter in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To freeze for later, slice the butter into single serving rounds or freeze the whole piece. It will last for several months. Remove it from the freezer and allow to soften slightly when you are ready to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between regular butter and compound butter?
Compound butter is regular butter with a variety of added flavors such as herbs, spices, and sometimes even other ingredients like garlic or citrus zest. It is used to enhance the flavors of a prepared dish like meat, sauces, and baked potatoes.
What kind of butter works best?
Use unsalted butter whenever possible. It allows you to control the amount of salt in the compound butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the added salt accordingly.
Can compound butter be frozen?
Yes! Once it has firmed up freeze it in slices for individual use or in the whole roll. Wrap it tightly so air can’t get to it and label it for future use.
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Herb Garlic Compound Butter
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon (4 g) fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (3 g) fresh chives finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (2 g) fresh basil finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix together the butter and herbs in a bowl. When fully incorporated, spoon butter onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Form it into a log and roll tightly.
- Chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or until you’re ready to use it.
Notes
- 1 batch makes 1/2 cup
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate home cook and grill enthusiast who has spent years perfecting her culinary skills, with a particular focus on grilling techniques and flavor combinations. Her fascination with the grill, smoke, and the mouthwatering results they produce has led her on an exciting journey to discover the best methods for grilling delicious and unforgettable meals.