Garlic Butter Sauce (Easy 5 minute Recipe) - Foolproof Living (2024)

If you are like us, a fan of making your own Roasted Garlic Compound Butter, you won’t be able to resist the rich and robust taste of this easy garlic butter sauce recipe. Using this versatile recipe as a base, you can quickly turn your homemade garlic butter sauce into the perfect recipe for countless other dishes.

Whether you use it to make Garlic Butter Pasta, Garlic Bread, or dipping sauce for bread, this quick and easy recipe is going to be a staple in your daily cooking routine.

Ingredients

The list of ingredients for garlic butter sauce is simple and short. You can make this savory recipe using only three ingredients, possibly with things you already have in your kitchen. So, no grocery trip is necessary!

• Butter: I recommend using unsalted European-style butter (I like Vermont Creamery (affiliate link), as its high-fat content gives this recipe extra richness and depth. However, nearly any salted or unsalted butter would also work. Just note that if you use salted butter, I recommend omitting the extra salt to avoid over-seasoning.
• Fresh garlic cloves: I prefer finely minced garlic for this recipe. However, you can also use my Roasted Garlic or Air Fryer Garlic for a smokier garlic flavor. Though I don’t recommend using garlic powder in this recipe, you can use it in a pinch if you don’t have any fresh garlic on hand.
• Kosher salt

How to Make a Garlic Butter Sauce From Scratch?

Simple yet tasty, this quick butter garlic sauce comes together in just five minutes with these easy instructions:

1. Melt butter: Heat a small skillet or saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Wait until the butter melts.
2. Saute the garlic: Add the garlic to the pan, cooking gently. Stir the mixture until the garlic becomes soft (2-3 minutes). Be sure to watch it closely, as garlic burns easily.
3. Add the seasoning: Remove the butter from the stove. Then, stir in the salt and other desired add-ins, such as pepper and parsley.
4. Serve: Serve your melted garlic butter with bread or pasta, or use it as a tasty baste for other recipes.

How to Store, Reheat, Freeze, and Thaw?

You won’t want a single drop to go to waste when you make butter garlic sauce. These expert storage tips will ensure you can quickly meal prep and save your recipe for weeks.

• Store: To store leftovers of this recipe, place them in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Reheat: I recommend reheating this butter sauce recipe just before serving to avoid unwanted coagulation. Reheat it over low heat in a small saucepan or the microwave (5-second increments) until it reaches your desired heat and consistency.
• Freeze: To freeze, first let it reach room temperature. Then, you can pour it into an airtight container or an ice cube tray to make individual portions. Store the sauce in the freezer until ready to use.
• Thaw: There’s no need to thaw your frozen butter garlic sauce. Instead, reheat it just before serving.

How to Use This Buttery Garlic Sauce?

It’s amazing how versatile this simple garlic butter sauce is. Use it in dozens of dishes—from melted garlic butter for bread to sauce for steak—for a tasty meal no one can resist. Here are a few more suggestions:

• Bread: For a match made in heaven, serve it as a garlic butter dipping sauce alongside your favorite French bread. Or, if you prefer homemade bread, this hearty side tastes amazing with soft, buttery bread like my Buttery Brioche Rolls and Brioche Slices. Or, serve it alongside crustier recipes—like my No-Knead Artisan Bread and Air Fryer Garlic Bread—for a more rustic feel.
• Pizza: Want to take your homemade pizza to the next level? Use this sauce for pizza by brushing your dough before baking it. Or you can also brush the pizza crust right after it comes out of the oven. Either way, every bite will explode with flavor.
• Meat: Transform your bland meat recipes into five-star meals that will disappear in minutes. Use this butter garlic sauce for steak or beef with recipes like my Beef Tenderloin. You can also use it to drizzle or baste poultry dishes like my Baked Bone-In Chicken, Turkey Loin, and Roasted Turkey Legs.
• Pasta: It’s undeniable that this recipe makes the ultimate homemade butter sauce for pasta. Serve it with spaghetti, and you’ll have Garlic Butter Pasta the whole family will love.
• Fish: Few things taste more elegant than using this creamy garlic butter sauce for fish. Drizzle this simple sauce over your favorite fish or seafood recipe—like my Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, or Breaded Fish—and prepare your tastebuds for a host of rich, sophisticated flavors.
• Marinade: This simple recipe doubles as one of my favorite garlic butter marinades—a succulent substitution for olive oil. Like my Shrimp Marinade and Marinade for Mahi Mahi, this easy recipe adds flavor to any meat or fish meal. Just be sure that the garlic butter reaches room temperature before adding it to your fish or meat.
• Vegetables: This recipe makes for a flavorful garlic butter glaze that will give any vegetable side a rich, luscious taste. Drizzle this divine sauce over Boiled Green Beans, Air Fried Corn on The Cob, or Steamed Asparagus for a tender, garden-fresh veggie side. If you want a slightly crispier taste, adding garlic butter to Air Fryer Green Beans is an easy way to take it to the next level.
• Potatoes: If you’re searching for a lavish, melt-in-your-mouth potato recipe, add garlic butter with minced garlic to your favorite dishes. Mix this garlic butter recipe with Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, and your table will look like a food magazine spread. Or, use garlic butter sauce instead of olive oil to give your Smashed Fingerling Potatoes a robust, crisp bite.
• Rice or grains: This garlic and butter sauce gives any grain dish a flavorsome depth. Pour some of your sauce into classic recipes, like Cooked Bulgur Wheat, Cooked Quinoa, or cooked orzo, and you’ll savor every bite. You could also add this delicious sauce to dishes like Forbidden Rice or Wild Rice for a subtle flavor boost.
• Popcorn: If you love the savory taste of gourmet popcorn, drizzle your batch with a few tablespoons of this garlic butter herb sauce. You won’t be able to put down your popcorn bowl until it’s empty.

FAQs

Other Garlic Butter Recipes

If you love the rich taste of this garlic-infused butter, then you’ll be amazed by how many other delectable recipes are at your fingertips. This collection has it all, from veggie sides to tasty pasta.

• Garlic Butter Green Beans
• Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus
• Buttery Garlic Pasta

If you try this Garlic Butter Sauce recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute torate the recipeand leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them onInstagramusing #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.