Cowboy Butter is the easiest way to add flavor to steak, pork chops, chicken, or burgers. This flavorful compound butter is loaded with garlic, fresh herbs, Dijon mustard, lemon, and spices, and it comes together in just a few minutes.
We especially love a pat melting over a hot steak fresh off the grill, but it's also amazing as a dipping sauce for shrimp, crab legs, fries, and crusty bread.
Be sure to try my Garlic Herb Butter and this Butter Poached Shrimp for two other must-try options.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ready in just 5 minutes
- Perfect for steak, burgers, seafood, and vegetables
- Easy to make ahead
- Freezer friendly
- Packed with garlic, herbs, and buttery flavor
Before You Get Started
- Let the butter soften at room temperature before mixing.
- Fresh herbs provide the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted in a pinch.
- If you prefer a milder butter, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper.
- For the smoothest texture, mince the garlic and herbs very finely.
Ingredients
- Salted butter - The added salt gives it a good base flavor.
- Garlic cloves - Mince the fresh garlic very finely so they blend evenly into the butter.
- Dijon mustard - Adds a tangy flavor that balances the richness of the butter.
- Fresh chives and fresh thyme - Gives a pop of fresh flavor.
- Lemon zest - Brightens the butter and helps balance the garlic and herbs.
- Crushed red pepper - For a little bit of heat.
- Smoked paprika - For a smoky flavor.
- Black pepper - For taste.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cowboy Butter
Step One: Add all the ingredients to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Step Two: Stir well. It will mix easily if your butter is soft.
Step Three: Spoon the mixture out onto a piece of waxed paper.
Step Four: Shape it into a log or stick. Wrap it up and place it in the fridge or freezer to firm up.
Top tip
Finely chopping the herbs and garlic helps distribute the flavor evenly throughout the butter and makes slicing much easier after chilling.
Substitutions
- Fresh herbs - This cowboy butter recipe is flexible, so you can mix and match the fresh herbs. Adding fresh parsley would also go really well with the other ingredients in this herb butter.
Variations
- Parsley – Fresh parsley is one of the most common additions to cowboy butter.
- Spicy Cowboy Butter – Add extra crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne.
- Smoked Cowboy Butter – Increase the smoked paprika for a stronger smoky flavor.
- Lemon juice - Use a bit of lemon juice if you don't have lemon zest.
Try this Wagyu Beef Burger for a great way to enjoy this herb and garlic butter.
Ways to Use Cowboy Butter
Cowboy butter is incredibly versatile and can be used on far more than just steak. Try a pat melting over grilled steaks, burgers, pork chops, or chicken breasts. It also makes an amazing dipping sauce for shrimp, crab legs, and lobster tails. For side dishes, spread it on corn on the cob, stir it into cooked rice, top baked potatoes, or use it to make garlic bread. You can even serve it alongside French fries for a rich, flavorful twist that everyone will love.
We even freeze it, grate it, and mix it into ground beef for burgers. Come back soon to check out our Cowboy Butter Burgers, made with frozen shredded cowboy butter mixed right into the beef!
Equipment
To make this delicious compound butter, all you need is a medium bowl, a spoon to mix, and wax paper to transfer the butter mixture onto.
Storage
You can make this flavorful butter ahead of time and store it in your fridge or freezer until you're ready to use it. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Slice off rounds as needed and let them soften for a few minutes before serving.
Common Questions
Cowboy butter is a compound butter made with butter, garlic, herbs, Dijon mustard, lemon, and spices. It is commonly served with steak, seafood, chicken, and vegetables.
Cowboy butter is rich, buttery, garlicky, and slightly tangy from the Dijon mustard and lemon. The herbs add freshness while the red pepper flakes provide a mild kick of heat.
Yes. Just add an extra pinch of salt to make up for the missing salt in the butter.
You can let it sit out at room temperature, but I'm not normally that patient. I microwave butter on the defrost setting for 30-60 seconds to soften it without it melting. Check it frequently.
Parchment paper and even plastic wrap will work.
Yes. In fact, it is best made ahead because chilling allows the flavors to blend together.
Related
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Recipe
Cowboy Butter
Ingredients
- 4 oz salted butter
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon fresh chives
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Spoon onto a piece of waxed paper in the shape of a stick of butter.
- Wrap up the compound butter and refrigerate or freeze until firm.
Nutrition
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