Easy Garlic Butter Sauce

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. 

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.

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.

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!)

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.

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.

• Grilled Lobster Tails
• Pan Seared Filet Mignon
• Grilled Clams
• Green Beans
• Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
• Dip your brioche bread in and swoon.
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Chicken Breast
• Garlic Butter Popcorn
• Sautéed Dungeness Crab Legs

With this versatile sauce, the options are limitless here!

More Easy Sauce Recipes

• Easy Blender Hollandaise
• Better than a steakhouse, Homemade Steak Sauce
• The BEST EVER Creamy Horseradish Sauce
• Super simple Cocktail Sauce
• Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
• Easy Teriyaki Sauce from SCRATCH

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