Homemade Garlic and Fresh Herb Butter

Elevate your bread, pasta, or veggies with a dollop of this Homemade Garlic and Fresh Herb Butter! Softened butter is seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and a blend of fresh herbs like chive and dill. It can be enjoyed on things like buttermilk biscuits or skillet cornbread, or to finish a steak for something extra special. With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes, you can whip up this gourmet condiment right in your kitchen with little effort! 

Butter holds a strong spot in Southern cooking, acting as the backbone of so many of my recipes. It would also be one of my dad's favorite foods but you would never know by looking at him and how skinny he is - but he loves it! We all do!

There is just something about smearing butter on a piece of homemade sourdough, or piping hot buttermilk drop biscuits that you just truly can't beat. It is instant comfort if I do say so myself.

Today we are stepping up our butter game and making it a little extra special. Last year in 2023 I started making my own butter (which also results in homemade buttermilk used in so many FSS recipes!). It's fun to make something totally from scratch and to just go play in the kitchen. Because I was making so much of it by testing different methods, I had a lot of butter in the fridge, so I started making compound butter to enjoy and share with my family. Savory Green Onion Parmesan Butter has been a favorite recently. But this one is just a classic that you can't go wrong with and can be used for many things.

And the best part is, it’s so easy to make! This can be made with store-bought butter but is even better when made with homemade 2 ingredient butter, giving it that scratch-made touch. All you've got to do is mix some finely minced fresh herbs and a dash of garlic powder with a rubber spatula until all is smooth and combined, and you've got yourself a creamy, savory spread in no time. 

Enjoy it slathered on warm homemade yeast rolls or spread it on top of cast iron skillet cornbread for a mix of savory and sweet. It can also be used as a topping for chicken, steak, and vegetables, giving it a touch of flavor and comfort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Butter - this is the star of the show! You can use store-bought (any brand you like), or make your own and use that. I have done both and they both work great - just make sure to set out on the counter 30 minutes beforehand to soften a little to make it easier to mix everything in together.
• Fresh Herbs - I used a blend of dill, chives, basil, and parsley. But you can get creative and mix and match any or all of these up depending on your personal preference or what you have on hand.
• Salt - I always use salted butter for every recipe but I still add just a pinch to this to help bring out all the flavors. If you use unsalted then add a smidge more than a pinch.
• Garlic Powder - I like this better rather than minced fresh garlic to just mix in a little easier and have a milder flavor.

How To Make Garlic Herb Butter

Soften butter: Set the butter out on the counter for about 30 minutes before making it to allow it to soften so that it will mix more easily. Add to a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Prepare ingredients: Finely mince all the herbs and add to the butter along with the salt and garlic powder on a cutting board with a sharp knife.

Assemble the butter: Mix until everything is combined and evenly distributed throughout the butter.

Store and enjoy: Place in an airtight container with a lid in the fridge and use as needed. Alternatively, you can wrap in a log like the pictures below, which makes slicing off a piece super easy to easy on breads and it looks pretty when served.

Serving Suggestions

There are no rules or right way to eat butter - you do you! But here are a couple of ideas and options for you just in case. 😉

• Garlic Knots: Spread it generously on homemade garlic knots and bake until golden.
• Steak Topping: Add a dollop on top of sous vide steak to melt and enhance its flavors.
• Pasta: Melt into freshly cooked pasta for a simple and aromatic garlic herb butter sauce. (PS Buttered noodles are my favorite and highly underrated IMO)
• Roasted Vegetables: Toss with veggies before roasting or drizzle it over after cooking for a rich, garlicky touch.
• Grilled Seafood: Brush over shrimp, fish, or scallops before grilling to infuse them with flavor.
• Popcorn Seasoning: Melt and drizzle over freshly popped popcorn for a gourmet movie-night treat.
• Mashed Potatoes: Season southern style mashed potatoes with a drizzle of herb garlic butter. 

How to freeze: Place in an airtight freezer-safe container, like a mason jar, or rolled in the parchment paper like above place inside a freezer bag, and freeze. It will retain its quality for up to 6 months in the freezer. When you're ready to use it, move the container to the fridge and let it thaw for 24 hours before enjoying it. 

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