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Easy Garlic Butter Sauce is made with just a few ingredients and couldn’t be simpler to whip up. It’s the perfect way to amp up your favorite recipes like steak, chicken, fish, shrimp or a massive pile of vegetables. 

Grilled Lobster Tails with butter sauce being drizzled overtop.

I’ve told you before but I’ll tell you again….I’m a lover of butter. I just think that butter makes everything better, like bacon., but better than bacon. I know there are some of you who agree with me but how handy is it to reach in the fridge and pull out a stick of butter to plop on top of a pile of broccoli. Bacon can’t do that. 

Why We Love This Sauce

Bacon is a little fussy, whereas, butter is so not in any way. It’s like my best girlfriend, always available when you need her, understanding of your needs and can make any situation infinitely better. 

I’ve been known to overdo it with the butter but really, can you overdo it with butter? I think not and that’s why I’m sharing my favorite EASY sauce recipe with you today, starring BUTTER. This homemade Garlic Butter Sauce recipe is totally magical in that it comes together in just a few minutes with ingredients you already have lurking in your kitchen.

It’s warm with garlic flavor and a hint of herbs. It takes minutes to make. It goes on everything from seafood to beef to chicken to veggies. We used a similar sauce in these Easy Garlic Butter Steak Bites and it’s especially fabulous with this Cajun Seafood Boil.

Stick of butter in a steel pot with herbs on a white background.

Simple Ingredients Right in Your Kitchen

  • Butter – I use salted butter but you can substitute with unsalted butter. Just be sure to check for seasoning at the end and add more salt, as needed. Grass-fed butter provides the best flavor but is sometimes expensive.
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves minced fine are used for this sauce to infuse it with the essence of garlic. Do not use garlic powder or jarred minced garlic.
  • Lemon – Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest balances the richness of the sauce and adds a bright, citrus note. You can also add a splash of white wine in place or in addition to the lemon.
  • Herbs – I love fresh chives, fresh parsley and fresh basil. You can substitute with your favorite herbs to mix up the flavor.
  • Seasoning – Season simply with kosher salt and black pepper. If you really want to amplify the flavor you can add 1 teaspoon Homemade Old Bay Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Melted butter in a skillet on a blue pot holder with herbs being poured into the butter.

How To Make Garlic Butter Sauce

You can, literally, whip up this easy Garlic Butter Sauce recipe in just a few minutes. It’s a great way to add some flair to a dinner party menu without having to go overboard.

You can serve this simple sauce with seafood boils, steak, chicken, vegetables, fish, shrimp, basically, whatever is on the menu you can serve with Garlic Butter.

  1. Melt the butter in a skillet or small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Mince the garlic or press through a garlic press. Once the butter melts, stir in the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic starts to smell nutty and fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic because it will have a bitter taste.
  3. Add the herbs and lemon to the butter stirring to combine.
  4. Serve immediately over fish, chicken or steak.

I love to drizzle this garlic butter over steak or a juicy burger (OMG…is that insanely delish…and something we don’t do regularly.) 

You can also use it as a Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce for your bread or pizza crust (ala Papa John’s Pizza garlic dipping sauce!)

Garlic being poured into a saucepan of melted butter.

What is Garlic Butter Sauce?

It’s pretty self explanatory, Garlic Butter Sauce. It’s basically a sauce made with butter, finely minced garlic, fresh herbs, salt and lemon juice, for extra POW and to cut through the richness of the butter just a tad. You can leave out the lemon, if you wish but who doesn’t love a good Lemon Butter Sauce drizzled on a piece of fish.

When making your Garlic Butter Sauce, be sure to use a good quality butter. I’m a big fan of Land O Lakes butter and they have a European style butter that’s perfect for this recipe because it’s rich and creamy with a slight sweetness that makes this butter sauce absolutely dreamy.

How To Store Garlic Butter Sauce

Your Garlic Butter is best if served as soon as it’s ready but I get it, sometimes you do need to prep ahead. Even the little things help when you’re entertaining.

To store your garlic butter sauce, simply transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. When you want to serve your sauce, reheat either in the microwave at 30 second increments, stirring after each OR transfer the butter sauce to a saucepan and heat over low heat until melted and warm.

Leftover Garlic Butter Sauce will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing garlic butter sauce because the texture will get all weird, grainy and gross.

Garlic butter sauce in a saucepan on a blue and white potholder.

What To Serve With Garlic Butter Sauce

You can, really, serve this luscious garlic butter sauce with anything you want BUT here are some of my favorite ways to use it.

With this versatile sauce, the options are limitless here!

Garlic butter sauce in a saucepan next to a plate of grilled lobster tails.

More Easy Sauce Recipes

Want even more easy ways to amp up your usual recipes? Follow us over on Instagram!

Easy Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

4.34 from 9 votes
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 9 minutes
Servings: 12
Ready in minutes, this easy Garlic Butter Sauce is heavenly on absolutely everything.

Equipment

  • saucepan

Ingredients 

  • 8 tbsp salted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat and cook until melted. Turn the heat to low.
  • Stir in the garlic and continue cooking over low heat for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic begins to smell fragrant.
  • Add the lemon juice and herbs to the butter stirring to combine.
  • Remove from the heat and serve immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.

Notes

Garlic Butter Sauce is best if served immediately. If making in advance, store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 70kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 68mg, Potassium: 4mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 274IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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20 Comments

  1. Linda D says:

    Lovely and light butter sauce.  Not too salty even when using salted butter. Very good on mixed vegetables or other steamed vegetables. Could be used for seafood or even garlic bread seasoning, if more garlic was added. 

    1. Kellie says:

      Thank you! We use this on everything, thank you for your comment!

  2. Donna Copeland aka Mammy says:

    I have always loved to cook but have not been inspired since our oldest daughter who had cancer was called home to heaven in March. When I saw your chicken breast recipe and garlic butter sauce, you lit a spark. I have been cooking but only because we must eat but not with enjoyment. All the recipes I have found are boneless skinless….ugh! I am Southern and we like our chicken fat. Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family!

    1. Kellie says:

      I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m happy you found a recipe to bring you joy and we love our chicken fat, too. Keeping you in our prayers.

  3. cheryl halldorsson says:

    always looking for new ideas. just getting in here let you know later

    1. Kellie says:

      Thank you!

  4. Marilyn says:

    how many servings if it is used on pasta?

    1. Kellie says:

      It’s about 4 servings depending on how saucy you like it.

  5. April Douglas says:

    Love it

    1. Kellie says:

      Thank you!

  6. Mel Butler says:

    Great recipe ! Quick and easy and 
    dee-luscious .,. Thank You.

    1. Kellie says:

      Thank you! I’m so happy you liked it!

  7. Tommy Gunn says:

    Made it with mahi and tiny shrimp. Its the perfect sauce. Next I will use clams.

    1. Kellie says:

      Sounds delicious!

  8. Lisa says:

    Outstanding!!

    1. Kellie says:

      Thank you so much!

  9. Jill Killian says:

    Thank you. Tasted great with our roasted artichokes. We also used this sauce with our steamed asparagus. The lemon makes it bright and perks the garlic and herbs.

    1. Kellie says:

      Yes to the roasted artichokes! Great idea!

  10. Dr.rmj says:

    Thanks for sharing your garlic butter sauce. It sounds delicious. Can’t Waite to try it out. Dr.rmj

    1. Kellie says:

      thank you so much for your comment!