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Cowboy Butter Recipe

4.5 from 100 reviews

Cowboy Butter is a rich and flavorful compound butter made by blending melted butter with garlic, fresh herbs, zesty lemon juice, and a blend of spices. Perfect for enhancing grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, or simply spreading on warm bread to add a savory, buttery kick.

Ingredients

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Melt the Butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, gently melt the unsalted butter until fully liquid but not browned. Be careful to melt it slowly to preserve flavor.
  2. Prepare the Seasonings: While the butter is melting, mince the garlic and finely chop the fresh herbs—parsley, chives, and thyme. Measure out the lemon juice and spices to have them ready.
  3. Combine Ingredients: Remove the melted butter from heat and stir in the minced garlic, chopped herbs, lemon juice, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly to ensure all the flavors are evenly distributed.
  4. Cool and Store: Allow the cowboy butter to cool slightly, then transfer it to a container or mold. Refrigerate until it firms up. This butter can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or frozen for longer storage.
  5. Serve: Use Cowboy Butter to top grilled steaks, seafood, roasted vegetables, or spread it on warm bread for a rich, flavorful addition.

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper based on your preferred spice level.
  • For smoother texture, you can blend all ingredients in a food processor instead of mixing by hand.
  • Use unsalted butter to control the salt content precisely.
  • Can be frozen in portions using plastic wrap or silicone molds for easy use later.
  • Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried herbs if fresh are unavailable, but use about one-third the amount.

Keywords: cowboy butter, compound butter, garlic butter, herb butter, grilled steak butter, savory butter sauce