Easy Garlic Compound Butter (How To Make At Home)

Garlic Compound Butter is a great way to get the fresh garlic taste combined with homemade butter. You’re going to learn a simple way to make flavorful compound butter that is perfect with Italian bread, meats, or just to have a yummy fresh flavor. (It’s so much better than regular butter!)

The best part about making this homemade garlic herb butter is that it’s a delicious compound butter that you can present in a fancy way! I love putting this on top of steaks, and it’s seriously the perfect topping for homemade garlic bread, too! It’s an amazing flavor that blows plain butter out of the water!

Once you make this soft butter recipe, say “so long” to that store-bought stick of butter! The log shape makes it unique and is perfect for cutting off and adding to your foods.

If you’re a fan of this simple butter recipe, be sure to check out my Mediterranean Herb Seasoning Blend Perfect For Chicken as well as my common kitchen herbs.

Looking for a great idea to use your homemade butter? Check out this recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp where it will work perfectly.

Why This Recipe Works

• Simplicity at its finest: Making this garlic compound butter requires only a few simple ingredients but delivers an explosion of flavor that can enhance any dish.
• Versatility: Whether it’s spread over warm fresh bread, melted over a juicy steak, or mixed into pasta, this butter transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
• Personal touch: Creating your own compound butter allows for customization. Add herbs and spices that you love to make it uniquely yours.
• Elevated dining experience: Serving dishes with a slice of homemade compound butter on top adds a gourmet touch to home-cooked meals, making even simple dinners feel special.

What is Compound Butter

Compound butter, or beurre composé if you want to get fancy with French, is basically butter jazzed up with a bunch of tasty stuff like herbs, spices, garlic, and sometimes even bits of citrus zest or cheese. You start with some softened butter and mix in these extra goodies to kick up the flavor and aroma. After mixing, you can shape it into a log with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge until it’s nice and firm. This not only blends all those flavors together perfectly but also makes it super easy to slice and serve.

What’s really good about compound butter is how versatile and simple it is, making it a great way to boost the taste of loads of dishes. Whether it’s melting over a sizzling steak, veggies, or fish, slathered on warm French bread, or adding a final flourish to sauces, those extra flavors in compound butter can turn your regular meals into something extra special. Plus, you can mix in whatever you like or need for your dish, making it a super handy trick for any cook to have up their sleeve.

What’s in This Garlic Compound Butter Recipe?

• Olive Oil: A versatile oil that brings a smooth, fruity base to the compound butter. It’s a healthier fat option that works perfectly in this recipe, but you can substitute it with coconut or avocado oil for a different flavor profile.
• Shallots: These add a subtle, slightly sweet flavor depth to the butter. Finely minced, they blend seamlessly with the other ingredients, offering a mild taste that’s less pungent than onions.
• Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic is the star of the show, giving this butter its distinctive aromatic and flavorful character. While fresh garlic is preferred for its vibrant taste, jarred minced garlic can also be used in a pinch.
• Butter: is the foundation of compound butter, providing a rich, creamy texture. Using salted butter enhances the overall flavor, but unsalted butter offers control over the saltiness of the final product.
• Fresh Chives: These herbs contribute a mild onion-like flavor that’s not overwhelming, adding freshness and a pop of green color to the butter.
• Flat Leaf Parsley: It rounds out the herbaceous notes of the butter, providing a slightly peppery flavor that complements the chives beautifully and adds to the butter’s visual appeal.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions and Variations

• If you’re not a fan of shallots, you can substitute them for another type of onion.
• If you want to add a little bit of spice to your shallot butter, try adding some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• For a sweeter compound of butter, add a tablespoon or two of honey. Homemade honey butter is divine!

How To Make Garlic And Herb Compound Butter (step-by-step directions)

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Once oil is hot, add shallots and cook for 2 minutes. (Photo 1)
3. Add garlic to the skillet and continue cooking for 1 minute.
4. Remove skillet from heat and allow shallots and garlic to cool completely.
5. In a small bowl, combine softened butter with the cooled shallots, garlic, freshly chopped chives, and parsley. 
6. Season with salt to taste, up to 1 teaspoon if using unsalted butter. Avoid salting if using salted butter. (Photo 2)

1. Thoroughly mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed. (Photo 3)
2. Place the mixed butter onto a piece of parchment paper.
3. Carefully wrap and roll the butter in parchment paper to form a cylindrical shape. (Photo 4)
4. Refrigerate the wrapped butter for at least 30 minutes to firm up before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Mix thoroughly: Ensure that all the ingredients are evenly mixed throughout the butter. This guarantees each slice of compound butter has a consistent flavor profile.
• Chill properly: Refrigerate the compound butter for at least 30 minutes to ensure it sets correctly and is firm enough to slice. For a quicker set, consider placing it in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
• Use quality ingredients: Since the butter carries the flavors of the ingredients mixed into it, opt for high-quality, fresh herbs and garlic for the best taste.
• Customize to taste: The recipe is quite flexible, so don’t hesitate to adjust the quantities of garlic, herbs, or shallots based on your personal preference.
• Experiment with shapes: While a log is traditional, feel free to shape your compound butter into balls or use silicone molds for decorative shapes, making them great for special occasions.
• Allow to soften slightly before serving: Take the compound butter out of the fridge a few minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly. This makes spreading it on bread or melting it over hot dishes easier.

Storing Tips 

This shallot butter can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure to keep it in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.

You can freeze garlic butter. Place it in an airtight container or freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to six months. Wrap it in a sheet of plastic wrap before adding it to the freezer.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many possibilities when it comes to roasted garlic butter! Here are a few of our favorites:

• Roasted vegetables: Shallot butter is the perfect finishing touch for green beans, roasted carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes.
• Grilled meats: try shallot butter on grilled chicken, steak, or fish.
• Pasta dishes: shallot butter is a delicious way to flavor pasta, rice, or quinoa.
• Sandwiches: shallot butter makes a great sandwich spread or condiment.
• Baked goods: shallot butter is delicious on dinner rolls, biscuits, muffins, or even pancakes!
• And let’s not forget that it’s amazing on top of mashed potatoes!

Recipe FAQs

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