Garlic Butter Sauce

There’s really nothing better than this homemade garlic butter sauce. It’s rich, savory, and perfect for seafood, pasta, veggies, and more! Trust me when I say you’ll want to put it on everything.

When it comes to garlic butter sauce, there’s really no wrong thing to use it for. It’s the perfect addition to any savory dish! With that being said, I LOVE serving it with seafood. Try it with my reader-favorite lobster tails or grilled shrimp!

The BEST Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

I mean, the name speaks for itself. I feel like all the best savory dishes are slathered in some sort of buttery garlic sauce, and I can never get enough! Now, garlic butter sauce may not be the healthiest thing on the planet, but for those nights when you want to indulge, it’s the only way to go.

Use this garlic butter sauce for fish, steak, chicken, vegetables, you name it! Basically anything that needs a little extra richness and savory flavor. You can spoon it over your favorite dishes or use it for dipping. (This is a great method for things like lobster, crab, and shrimp!) No matter how you use it, one thing is for certain! It’s a recipe you’re going to want to memorize, because if you’re anything like me, you’ll want it all the time. Trust me, it is highly addictive.

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients act as the base of the garlic butter sauce, but of course, you can jazz it up however you’d like! I have included some tips below on how to switch up the flavor. You can also check out the recipe card at the end of the post for exact measurements.

Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted, based on your preferences!
Lemon Juice: Cuts through the richness of the sauce and also adds a touch of zesty flavor.
Fresh Garlic Cloves, Pressed: Using a garlic press is the best way to make sure you end up with the right consistency. Minced garlic also works if you don’t have a garlic press on hand.
Salt and Black Pepper: Add to taste. If you used salted butter, you may want to cut back on the amount of additional salt you add or omit it entirely.
Lemon Zest: (Optional) for some extra tangy flavor.
Fresh Herbs: For garnish and also infusing the garlic butter sauce with a little extra flavor. Fresh chopped parsley, thyme, rosemary, and basil are all great options. Pick your favorite!

How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce

Skip the store-bought stuff, because it only takes 5 minutes and a few simple ingredients to make garlic butter sauce at home. Plus, the fresh flavor is unbeatable!

Melt Butter: Melt the butter in a microwave bowl or over the stove in a sauce pan.
Add Lemon and Garlic: Whisk in the lemon juice, garlic, and zest if using.
Season: Season garlic butter sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
Add Herbs and Serve: Stir in fresh chopped herbs of your choice right before serving!

Tasty Variations

Here are a few simple ways to make your garlic butter sauce taste even better!

Spice it Up: Add some red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or a dash of cayenne pepper to give the sauce a kick. Adjust the amount to your preferred level of spiciness.
Make it Cheesy: Stir in some grated Pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese for a rich and cheesy version of the garlic butter sauce.
Add White Wine: A lot of garlic butter sauces are made with dry white wine for extra flavor. Try adding chardonnay or sauvignon blanc!

How Long Does Garlic Butter Sauce Last?

As long as it’s in an airtight container, your garlic butter sauce will stay good for about 4-5 days. When you’re ready to use it again, warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.