This post may include affiliate links.
This garlic butter sauce is quick to whip up and makes anything taste like gold! Here’s how to make this simple recipe.
Looking for a sauce that works for vegetables, chicken, fish, and everything in between? This garlic butter sauce tastes like pure gold.
It’s the dipping and drizzling sauce you’ve been waiting for; rich and salty, with a burst of pure garlic flavor. This one takes just 5 minutes to whip up, and it’s easy to double-batch and keep for weeks. Here’s how to make this simple sauce!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This garlic butter sauce has only 4 ingredients, making it one of those pantry staples that’s easy to whip up without a trip to the store! (I always need more of those.) In fact, if you don’t regularly stock parsley in your refrigerator, you can omit it from the recipe. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to have on hand:
- Salted butter: It has a richer flavor, and I always have it on hand. If all you have is unsalted, add another ⅛ teaspoon salt to the sauce.
- Garlic cloves: For best results, always use fresh garlic! Jarred minced garlic won’t have the same results (the flavor is muted).
- Parsley: The fresh herb adds a nice look, but it’s totally optional.
- Kosher salt: Salt is crucial for the flavor here.
Variation: Add Lemon!
Want to add a zing to this recipe? Make it into Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce! All you need to do is add 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and the zest of ½ lemon. Stir it in when you add the parsley in this recipe, and it will add an irresistible citrus undertone (like in this Lemon Butter Sauce).
Notes on Parsley
Parsley is an important garnish in many recipes, since the bright green confetti makes everything look more appealing! You can use it in anything from Garlic Bread to Pan-Seared Salmon.
Ever stored fresh parsley in the fridge in the plastic bag you bought it in, only to realize a few days later that it’s going bad? The best way to store it is in an herb saver or canning jar. Stored properly, it can last 1 to 2 weeks. Go to How to Store Parsley.
Storage Info
Store leftovers refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 month. The sauce solidifies when it’s cold, so reheat it on the stovetop before serving.
One note: the parsley loses its bright green color during storage! You can add more fresh chopped parsley when you serve it to revive the color.
Ways to Use Garlic Butter Sauce
There are many ways to use this garlic butter sauce. You could use it with pasta, but it’s more intended as a dipping or drizzling sauce for vegetables, fish, or meats. Here are some ideas:
- Roasted vegetables like asparagus, green beans, and potatoes
- Fish like sauteed shrimp, grilled salmon, and cod
- Chicken like roasted chicken or pan fried chicken
- Grilled vegetables like corn, zucchini and asparagus
Dietary Notes
This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Garlic Butter Sauce
This garlic butter sauce is quick to whip up and makes anything taste like gold! Here’s how to make this simple recipe.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ¼ cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter*
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan or skillet over low heat.
- Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute (keep the heat low and don’t let it brown!). Remove from heat. Stir in the chopped parsley and kosher salt.
- Serve immediately as a drizzle for vegetables, salmon, white fish, shrimp, or chicken; a little goes a long way. (Store leftovers refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 month; it solidifies when cold, so reheat on the stovetop before serving. Note that the parsley loses its bright green color; you can add more fresh chopped parsley when you serve it.)
Notes
*This quantity makes ¼ cup and is easy to double to make a larger recipe. If all you have is unsalted butter, add an additional ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt to the recipe.
**Variation: make lemon butter sauce by adding 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and the zest of ½ lemon.
Let us know if you have any questions!