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.


Garlic Butter Sauce

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. 

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 Easy 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.

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

What is Garlic Butter Sauce?

It’s pretty self explanatory….Garlic Butter Sauce, is. 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.

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 garlic butter sauce with seafood, steak, chicken, vegetables, fish, shrimp….basically, whatever is on the menu you can serve with Garlic Butter.

  1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Stir in the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic starts to smell nutty and fragrant.
  3. Add the herbs and lemon to the butter stirring to combine.
  4. Serve immediately.

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.

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.

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.

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 homemade garlic butter with anything you want BUT here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

Really….the options are limitless here!

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

More Easy Sauce Recipes

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

Get the Recipe: Easy Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

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

Equipment

  • saucepan

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.
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
Author: Kellie
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American