Last Updated April 25th, 2024 at 10:37 am by Lisa
Herb butter is wonderful melted over roasted vegetables, tossed with hot pasta, spooned onto sizzling grilled steaks, spread on warm baguettes, or used on tea sandwiches and dinner rolls. Flavored butter is an easy condiment to make at home and keeps well for weeks, so have some on hand to slather on hot food and fresh bread.
Herb Butter Recipe
This basic herbed butter transforms simple dishes—once you taste it, you’ll find countless uses.
Use this recipe as a base. To make garlic herb butter, simply add a couple of finely crushed garlic cloves. Garlic herb butter is excellent on steaks, potatoes, artichokes, toasted bread and more.
- ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup fresh herbs, minced (rosemary, parsley, thyme, basil)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Mix Herbed Butter
PRO TIP: Cut the butter into small cubes so it softens faster.
Allow the butter to soften at room temperature for about 2 hours, or cut it into small cubes to speed the process.
Finely chop the herbs with a sharp chef’s knife, or snip them directly into a small jar or mug with kitchen scissors until minced—it’s quick and tidy.
In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, ¼ cup finely chopped herbs, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper. Mix with a spatula until evenly blended.
Transfer the mixture to a small sealed container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap—store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze, shape the butter into a log on parchment (or wax) paper, roll it up and twist the ends closed, then place it in a zip-top bag. Frozen, it will keep for up to four months. Stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator, it will stay good for about two weeks.
For attractive shapes, press the butter into silicone molds or form with wooden butter paddles. See the notes below for more ideas on presentation and storage.
Fancy Butter Shapes For Parties
Molded Shapes: For holidays or special occasions, press the butter into themed candy molds—leaves, trees, hearts or seasonal shapes make a lovely presentation.
Classic Coins: Roll the mixture into a log, freeze it, then slice it into coins. Keep the coins frozen in a bag and pull out only what you need.
Butter Balls: Scoop 1″ portions of slightly softened butter and shape them into balls with wooden paddles or a spoon for an elegant touch.
Container Storage: Store prepared butter in a covered container, a bowl wrapped with plastic wrap, or wrapped in parchment. Chill before slicing and bring to room temperature when ready to spread.
More Herbs and Add-Ins
Use whatever herbs and seasonal flavors you have on hand. In fall try sage and rosemary; in summer, lemon, basil, dill or chives add a bright note. This is a great way to use leftover herbs from the garden.
- fresh thyme
- fresh rosemary
- crushed garlic
- fresh sage
- fresh dill
- minced chives
- fresh tarragon
- lemon zest or a touch of lemon juice
- fresh oregano
- diced green onions
The author used basil, Italian parsley, rosemary and thyme from her herb garden.
Compound Herb Butter Top Tips
Choose a high-quality butter—salted works well, and unsalted is fine too. Let butter soften at room temperature for easier mixing. Fresh herbs give the best flavor and appearance; rinse and air-dry them before chopping.
You can use dried herbs if necessary, but fresh herbs deliver brighter flavor and better texture.
The Easy Way To Cut Herbs
The author’s mother taught a handy trick: snip herbs directly into a jar or coffee cup with kitchen scissors. It’s fast, keeps the workspace tidy, and any leftover herbs can be stored in the jar for other recipes.
Yes. Shape the compound butter into a log on parchment, roll and twist the ends, place in a zip-top bag, and freeze for up to two months (or up to four months if well wrapped).
Compound butter is softened butter mixed with flavoring ingredients—fresh herbs, citrus zest, garlic, spices or other additions—used to boost flavor when melted over meats, vegetables, seafood or spread on bread.
Herb Butter Uses
- Spread on warm loaves or hot dinner rolls
- Smear on crispy smashed potatoes
- Top steaks as herbed butter
- Melt over grilled or baked potatoes
- Make garlic butter by adding crushed garlic
- Use on shrimp or grilled salmon
- Melt on roasted potatoes
- Stir into mashed potatoes
- Brush on grilled corn on the cob
- Rub under poultry skin before roasting
Try this herb butter under the skin of a roasted turkey breast to flavor the meat and help crisp the skin—perfect if you like leftovers for holidays.
More Compound Butter Ideas
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Herb Butter Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¼ cup fresh herbs, minced (rosemary, parsley, thyme, basil)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- Optional herbs: sage, dill, chives, tarragon, oregano, green onions
Instructions
- Leave the butter out to soften for about 2 hours, or cut into small cubes to soften more quickly.
- Finely chop or snip the herbs with scissors until minced.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, herbs, sea salt and cracked pepper until evenly combined.
- Store the mixture in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- To freeze, form the butter into a log on parchment, roll it up, seal in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to four months. Thaw slices as needed.
- For decorative shapes, press into silicone molds or form butter balls with a scoop or paddle.
Notes
Uses & Recipe Ideas
- Spread on warm bread or dinner rolls.
- Smear on crispy smashed potatoes.
- Top steaks or melt over baked potatoes.
- Add crushed garlic for garlic butter.
- Try on shrimp, grilled salmon or roasted vegetables.
- Rub under turkey or chicken skin before roasting.
If you snip herbs into a jar and have leftovers, store them in the jar and use them within a few days in other dishes or salads.
Fancy Butter Shapes For Parties
Molded shapes: press into leaf or holiday-themed molds.
Classic coins: freeze a butter log and slice into coins for serving.
Butter balls: scoop small portions and shape with paddles for an elegant presentation.
Nutrition
| Calories: 68 kcal