This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
In less than 10 minutes, this 4-ingredient Garlic Butter Sauce creates a versatile, flavorful sauce perfect for everything from drizzling over seafood to tossing with pasta.
A great sauce can transform an ordinary dish into a masterpiece, and as home cooks, we can all use a few reliable, easy recipes. This Garlic Butter Sauce is among my top choices when I want to enhance just about any dish! I love this recipe because it comes together in less than 10 minutes using 4 simple, everyday ingredients you likely have on hand. It’s a sauce that’s a worthy staple for your kitchen.
You’ll find that this fragrant, buttery sauce is exceptionally versatile. Drizzle it over mashed potatoes, steamed or grilled vegetables, seared or grilled meats, or serve it as a dipping sauce for seafood. I’ll also brush it onto bread or pizza crust or turn a plain bowl of pasta into a dish within moments. The possibilities are almost endless!
This is a wonderfully versatile recipe, and delicious, too! Great on pasta, meat, and vegetables. I really appreciate your lovely recipes.
stephanie
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
- Ready in 10 Minutes: This sauce comes together in one small pan in less than 10 minutes, making it one of the fastest ways to elevate any meal.
- Just 4 Simple Ingredients: Made with butter, garlic, salt, and parsley, this recipe relies on pantry staples to create incredible flavor.
- Incredibly Versatile: This single recipe can be used as a simple drizzling sauce for seafood and vegetables, or easily transformed into a creamy pasta sauce (see variations below).
Ingredients for Garlic Butter Sauce
- Butter: Because butter is essential to this recipe, I use richer-tasting European-style butter, which has more butterfat and less water than American butter.
- Garlic: Look for plump, fresh garlic cloves with smooth outer skin without discoloring.
- Kosher Salt: I prefer kosher, but you can also use fine sea salt.
- Fresh Parsley: I think flat leaf parsley (also called Italian parsley) works better here than curly parsley because it has a more robust flavor and smoother texture.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
Cook and stir minced garlic in sizzling butter until fragrant and tender. Remove from heat; stir in parsley and serve.
Pro Tips
- The Secret to No-Bitter Garlic: The biggest mistake you can make with this sauce is burning the garlic, which will make it bitter. The secret is to use gentle, medium heat and add the garlic as the butter is melting, not after it’s sizzling hot. This allows the garlic’s flavor to mellow and turn sweet as it infuses the butter.
- Make-Ahead and Freeze for Later: I often double or even triple this recipe. You can mix the ingredients with softened (not melted) butter, roll it into a log in plastic wrap, and freeze it. Then, you can simply slice off a round of “compound butter” whenever you need a nearly instant sauce!
Recipe Variations
Though this simple garlic butter sauce recipe is delicious as is, there are many ways to embellish it. Here are just a few ideas:
- How to Make a Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce: This is a very common question! To turn this into a thicker sauce that clings to pasta, simply whisk 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour into the melted butter and garlic and cook for one minute. Then, slowly whisk in 1 cup of milk or heavy cream and simmer until the sauce thickens. A splash of reserved pasta water also helps the sauce cling to the noodles.
- Garlic Herb Butter Sauce: Stir in other fresh herbs like minced rosemary, thyme, or chives. (If you’re a dill lover, try my Garlic Butter Sauce for Seafood.)
- Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce: Add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of zest at the end to brighten up the flavor. (Or make my Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce.)
- Spicy Garlic Butter Sauce: Swirl in a pinch or more of crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
How to Serve
- Drizzle over Bacon Wrapped Scallops or Bacon Wrapped Shrimp for added layer of decadence.
- Spoon over Slow Roasted Salmon or Grilled Swordfish
- Toss with your favorite pasta to make Garlic Butter Noodles or with seared steak to make Garlic Butter Steak Bites.
- Drizzle over tender green beans to make Garlic Butter Green Beans.
- Or toss with shrimp and pasta to make Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta.
How to Store and Reheat
I often double or even triple this recipe so I’ll always have it on hand. It stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheats beautifully in a skillet or small pan over low heat. You can also freeze individual portions for up to 3 months (ice cube trays work well for this). When you need a nearly instant sauce, just drop a cube into a pan (no need to thaw) and reheat over low heat!
FAQ
You can thicken this sauce by creating a simple roux. After cooking the garlic, whisk in a tablespoon of flour and cook for a minute before slowly adding milk or cream. Simmering this mixture will create a rich, creamy sauce perfect for pasta.
The key is to use gentle, medium heat and to add the garlic to the pan as the butter is melting. Don’t let the butter get too hot before adding the garlic, as this will cause it to brown and turn bitter almost instantly.
Absolutely. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, it freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, either in an ice cube tray or as a compound butter log.
This Garlic Butter Sauce recipe is in my constant rotation because it’s so versatile, simple and dish-transforming. I love that I can whip this up in no time and use it on so many foods. I’m betting you’ll enjoy finding new ways to use this recipe as much as I do!
Garlic Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 6 large garlic cloves minced
- kosher salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Infuse with Garlic: Heat butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat. As it melts, add the minced garlic. Cook and stir until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to let it brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Season with salt to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- Preventing Bitter Garlic: The main thing is to not burn the garlic. Cook it gently over medium or medium-low heat just until it smells fragrant. If it starts to brown, it will taste bitter. If you do burn it, throw it out and start over; unfortunately there’s no way to fix it.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Creamy Pasta Sauce Variation: To make a thicker sauce for pasta, whisk 1 tablespoon of flour into the garlic and butter and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of milk or heavy cream and simmer until thickened.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ooh… Tastes sooo good. Dinner was spur of the moment so I had to adjust the ingredients a bit. Instead of fresh garlic, I had to use dried minced. Substituted dried basil instead of fresh parsley and even with the substitutions it was really tasty. Next time, I’ll plan ahead and get fresh!
Thank you for the recipe 😁
So glad you enjoyed this, Lynn!
Haven’t made it, yet, but I can taste a recipe. This is going to be a Kitchen staple for me, especially over Sauted Shrimp wh Rice. Yum!
I love to hear this, Elizabeth. Thank you!
I love this recipe it brings vegetables alive I have to be careful not to eat too much.
haha…I know what you mean, Rebecca! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this!
This is a wonderfully versatile recipe, and delicious, too! Great on pasta, meat, and vegetables.
I really appreciate your lovely recipes.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Stephanie. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe!
Love this with Grilled salmon roasted red skinned potato’s.
Perfect pairing, David!