Garlic Butter (Best Recipe)

Elevate your culinary creations with this delicious recipe for garlic butter!

This versatile concoction works wonders and elevates any dish it touches. From the grill to the stovetop, garlic butter has tons of uses. 

Drizzle it over steak, slather it on toast, or toss it with roasted veggies. The possibilities are endless. 

Get ready to learn the step-by-step process, tips, and tricks for the best garlic butter. Once you try this recipe, it’ll become a staple in your refrigerator.

Garlic Butter

Garlic butter is such a simple thing, but it can really transform your meals. It’s a  blend of creamy unsalted butter jazzed up with fresh garlic.

Toss in some freshly grated Parmesan, which adds this lovely, slightly salty, tangy kick. And for a little extra, mix in garlic salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and paprika. 

These just elevated the flavors, giving this butter an incredible depth.

It’s super easy to whip up. A small slather of garlic butter is an instant upgrade for your dishes. Spread it on toast, melt it over hot steak, or use it to sauté veggies. It’s a total game-changer, I swear.

Ingredients

• Butter – Plain, unsalted butter serves as the base for this recipe.
• Garlic – It’s minced to ensure the flavor spreads evenly throughout the butter.
• Parmesan cheese – It adds a tangy and salty flavor that complements the creamy butter and pungent garlic. It’s grated to mix into the butter easily.
• Seasonings and spices – Try garlic salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and paprika to take the flavors up a notch,

How to Make Garlic Butter

1. Make the butter base. Combine the softened unsalted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic. Mix everything until it’s well combined.
2. Season the garlic butter. Add the garlic salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and paprika. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
3. Store and use. Transfer the mixture to an air-tight container and refrigerate if you won’t use it immediately.

Tips for the Best Garlic Butter

• Fresh minced garlic will provide a more potent flavor than garlic powder or jarred minced garlic. If possible, opt for fresh.
• Ensure your butter is properly softened. This will make blending with the other ingredients easier and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
• Everyone’s taste preferences can be different, especially when it comes to garlic and salt. Start with the recommended amounts, then taste and adjust as needed.
• Refrigerate garlic butter for a couple of hours. The flavors in garlic butter deepen when given time to meld together.
• Throw all the ingredients in the food processor for a smoother and creamier texture. Or you can just process the garlic to remove large chunks.

Ways to Use Garlic Butter

Garlic butter is versatile and can add a rich, flavorful boost to many dishes. Here are some delicious ways to use your homemade garlic butter:

1. Garlic Bread: Slice a baguette or any kind of bread and spread the garlic butter. Toast it in the oven until golden brown.

2. Steak Topping: After grilling a steak, place a slice of garlic butter on top while it’s still hot. The butter will melt, creating a delicious, savory sauce.

3. Seafood: Drizzle melted garlic butter over cooked shrimp, lobster, or crab. It also makes a great dipping sauce for these dishes.

4. Vegetables: Toss steamed or roasted vegetables in garlic butter for an extra layer of flavor. It works particularly well with corn on the cob, green beans, asparagus, or broccoli.

5. Mashed Potatoes: Mix garlic butter into mashed potatoes for a flavor twist on a classic dish.

6. Rice: Stir garlic butter into freshly-cooked rice for a quick and easy garlic rice side dish.

7. Baked Potatoes: Slice a pat of garlic butter over a hot baked potato. It’ll melt and add a great taste to the potato.

8. Chicken: Coat the chicken with garlic butter before roasting or grilling. Or sauté chicken in garlic butter for a one-pan dish.

9. Pizza Crust: Brush garlic butter on your pizza crust before baking to give it a delightful garlicky flavor.

10. Popcorn: Melt the butter and drizzle it over freshly popped popcorn for a savory treat.

Remember, a little bit of garlic butter can go a long way in enhancing the flavor of your dish!

How to Store and Freeze

To store garlic butter:

Place the butter in an air-tight container and put it in the fridge. It’ll stay fresh for about 2 weeks.

To freeze garlic butter:

Shape the butter into a log using plastic wrap or parchment paper. Twist the ends to secure it, and put it in a freezer-safe resealable bag. It’ll last for about 4 to 6 months.

To use frozen butter, slice off the needed amount and return the rest to the freezer. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature, and you’re good to go!