Published March 18, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy-to-make Garlic Butter Recipe is loaded with tasty garlic flavor and will complement any of your recipes perfectly. I always have this made and stored in my freezer whenever needed.
I am big into flavored butter and feel it is such a quick and easy way to add some more flavor and balance to a dish. If you’re the same, then you must try my Roasted Garlic Butter or Compound Butter.
Garlic Butter
Garlic butter is an accompaniment of whipped butter with garlic and seasonings. I believe it can be served on bread, beef, chicken, pork, or fish, or be tossed with pasta and vegetables. Adding this to your food is a fantastic way of adding a big punch of flavor to whatever it is you add it in or on.
While this butter is meant to be garlic-forward, I took the liberty of adding some fresh parsley and chives for some fresh green color and a gentle addition of flavor. It can absolutely be customized by adding other herbs or spices.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Butter – I always use unsalted butter in my cooking and baking to control the sodium content.
- Garlic — For this recipe, you will need fresh garlic cloves. You can substitute 2 teaspoons of garlic powder or granules.
- Herbs – While optional, I like to add minced fresh parsley and chives for fresh green colors and a gentle enhancement of flavor.
- Seasonings – In my recipe, coarse salt and ground pepper were all that was used.
How to Make Garlic Butter
Add two tablespoons of unsalted butter to a medium-sized sauté pan.
Immediately add the garlic to the butter and then turn the heat to low—medium. This process will give the butter more time as it will not directly touch the hot pan. This garlic needs to be perfectly cooked.
Once the garlic touches the pan and the butter has melted, cook the garlic, stirring with a spoon, just until it’s fragrant, which only takes 30 to 45 seconds. Set it to the side to cool slightly.
Next, add the 2 sticks of softened butter to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and mix on high speed for 5 to 7 minutes or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
Turn the speed to low and add the cooked garlic and any melted butter from the pan, the parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
Mix on medium speed just until combined. Taste it and adjust any seasonings. Serve or store the butter.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to several days ahead of time. Keep it in the refrigerator or freezer until you ready to use it.
How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for 7 days. Cover and freeze for up to 6 months.
Chef Notes + Tips
- You can use this butter directly from the freezer in whatever you want to use it in.
- Add acids like citrus juice or vinegar to enhance the flavor.
- If the garlic is overcooked it will become bitter.
- You can also use an electric hand mixer.
More Butter Recipes
Garlic Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
- 6 finely grated garlic cloves
- 2 sticks softened unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoons minced fresh chives
- coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add two tablespoons of unsalted butter to a medium-sized sauté pan.
- Immediately add the garlic to the butter and then turn the heat to low-medium. Doing this process will give the butter more time as it will not directly touch the hot pan. This garlic needs to be perfectly cooked.
- Once the garlic touches the pan and the butter has melted, cook the garlic, stirring with a spoon just until it’s fragrant, which only takes 30 to 45 seconds. Set it to the side to cool slightly.
- Next, add the 2 sticks of softened butter to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and mix on high speed for 5 to 7 minutes or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
- Turn the speed to low and add in the cooked garlic and any melted butter from the pan, the parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
- Mix on medium speed just until combined. Taste it and adjust any seasonings.
- Serve or store the butter.
Garlic Butter Recipe