Whether you use it to make Garlic Butter Pasta, Garlic Bread, or dipping sauce for bread, this quick and easy recipe is going to be a staple in your daily cooking routine.
Ingredients
The list of ingredients for garlic butter sauce is simple and short. You can make this savory recipe using only three ingredients, possibly with things you already have in your kitchen. So, no grocery trip is necessary!
Butter: I recommend using unsalted European-style butter (I like Vermont Creamery (affiliate link), as its high-fat content gives this recipe extra richness and depth. However, nearly any salted or unsalted butter would also work. Just note that if you use salted butter, I recommend omitting the extra salt to avoid over-seasoning. Fresh garlic cloves: I prefer finely minced garlic for this recipe. However, you can also use my Roasted Garlic or Air Fryer Garlic for a smokier garlic flavor. Though I don’t recommend using garlic powder in this recipe, you can use it in a pinch if you don’t have any fresh garlic on hand. Kosher salt
How to Make a Garlic Butter Sauce From Scratch?
Simple yet tasty, this quick butter garlic sauce comes together in just five minutes with these easy instructions:
How to Store, Reheat, Freeze, and Thaw?
You won’t want a single drop to go to waste when you make butter garlic sauce. These expert storage tips will ensure you can quickly meal prep and save your recipe for weeks.
Store: To store leftovers of this recipe, place them in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat: I recommend reheating this butter sauce recipe just before serving to avoid unwanted coagulation. Reheat it over low heat in a small saucepan or the microwave (5-second increments) until it reaches your desired heat and consistency. Freeze: To freeze, first let it reach room temperature. Then, you can pour it into an airtight container or an ice cube tray to make individual portions. Store the sauce in the freezer until ready to use. Thaw: There’s no need to thaw your frozen butter garlic sauce. Instead, reheat it just before serving.
How to Use This Buttery Garlic Sauce?
It’s amazing how versatile this simple garlic butter sauce is. Use it in dozens of dishes—from melted garlic butter for bread to sauce for steak—for a tasty meal no one can resist. Here are a few more suggestions:
Bread: For a match made in heaven, serve it as a garlic butter dipping sauce alongside your favorite French bread. Or, if you prefer homemade bread, this hearty side tastes amazing with soft, buttery bread like my Buttery Brioche Rolls and Brioche Slices. Or, serve it alongside crustier recipes—like my No-Knead Artisan Bread and Air Fryer Garlic Bread—for a more rustic feel. Pizza: Want to take your homemade pizza to the next level? Use this sauce for pizza by brushing your dough before baking it. Or you can also brush the pizza crust right after it comes out of the oven. Either way, every bite will explode with flavor. Meat: Transform your bland meat recipes into five-star meals that will disappear in minutes. Use this butter garlic sauce for steak or beef with recipes like my Beef Tenderloin. You can also use it to drizzle or baste poultry dishes like my Baked Bone-In Chicken, Turkey Loin, and Roasted Turkey Legs. Pasta: It’s undeniable that this recipe makes the ultimate homemade butter sauce for pasta. Serve it with spaghetti, and you’ll have Garlic Butter Pasta the whole family will love. Fish: Few things taste more elegant than using this creamy garlic butter sauce for fish. Drizzle this simple sauce over your favorite fish or seafood recipe—like my Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, or Breaded Fish—and prepare your tastebuds for a host of rich, sophisticated flavors. Marinade: This simple recipe doubles as one of my favorite garlic butter marinades—a succulent substitution for olive oil. Like my Shrimp Marinade and Marinade for Mahi Mahi, this easy recipe adds flavor to any meat or fish meal. Just be sure that the garlic butter reaches room temperature before adding it to your fish or meat. Vegetables: This recipe makes for a flavorful garlic butter glaze that will give any vegetable side a rich, luscious taste. Drizzle this divine sauce over Boiled Green Beans, Air Fried Corn on The Cob, or Steamed Asparagus for a tender, garden-fresh veggie side. If you want a slightly crispier taste, adding garlic butter to Air Fryer Green Beans is an easy way to take it to the next level. Potatoes: If you’re searching for a lavish, melt-in-your-mouth potato recipe, add garlic butter with minced garlic to your favorite dishes. Mix this garlic butter recipe with Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, and your table will look like a food magazine spread. Or, use garlic butter sauce instead of olive oil to give your Smashed Fingerling Potatoes a robust, crisp bite. Rice or grains: This garlic and butter sauce gives any grain dish a flavorsome depth. Pour some of your sauce into classic recipes, like Cooked Bulgur Wheat, Cooked Quinoa, or cooked orzo, and you’ll savor every bite. You could also add this delicious sauce to dishes like Forbidden Rice or Wild Rice for a subtle flavor boost. Popcorn: If you love the savory taste of gourmet popcorn, drizzle your batch with a few tablespoons of this garlic butter herb sauce. You won’t be able to put down your popcorn bowl until it’s empty.
Other Garlic Butter Recipes
If you love the rich taste of this garlic-infused butter, then you’ll be amazed by how many other delectable recipes are at your fingertips. This collection has it all, from veggie sides to tasty pasta.
Use quality ingredients: Selecting the freshest ingredients is the best way to ensure your fresh garlic butter has the most decadent flavor. Good quality grass-fed butter and fresh garlic are the keys to preparing the best garlic butter sauce. Mince the garlic finely: To infuse every drop of this simple butter garlic sauce with robust flavors, mince your garlic as finely as possible. I recommend using a garlic press if you have one on hand. Keep a close eye on it: No one likes a burnt sauce’s harsh, bitter taste. Because it’s so easy to burn garlic and butter, cook your sauce gently and watch it closely during the sautéeing process. Season to taste: To avoid over- or under-seasoning, I highly recommend giving it a taste before serving and adding more seasoning as necessary. Adjust consistency: You can transform this basic recipe into a thick garlic butter sauce by slowly simmering it over very low heat, stirring it every few seconds until it is reduced. It is imperative that the heat is very low as high heat will turn it into browned butter. Instead, let it simmer low and slow until it thickens to your desired consistency. Conversely, if you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add a splash of water, broth, or white wine to the saucepan. Customize it with fresh herbs and spices: Seasoned garlic butter sauce can compliment countless recipes, from Caprese Pizza to Whole Roasted Chicken, with the right blend of herbs and spices. Add fresh parsley and Italian seasoning for the perfect Italian meal, or make an Old Bay garlic butter sauce for all your fish recipes. The options are endless with this basic butter recipe.
Garlic Butter Green Beans Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus Buttery Garlic Pasta
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