Steakhouse Garlic Butter

Written by
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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John Mitzewich
Updated 12/17/20
Steakhouse Garlic Butter
The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigeration: 60 mins
Total: 70 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
104 Calories
12g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 104
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 72mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 13mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A juicy steak is delicious and satisfying on its own, but when topped with a dollop of garlic butter, it becomes even more divine—which is why many steakhouses offer a savory pat of butter atop their sizzling cuts of meat. As the garlic butter slowly melts over the perfectly cooked steak, the flavors are soaked into the meat, enriching the beef's natural flavors.

But you don't need to wait to go to a pricey steakhouse to enjoy this luxury—you can make the garlic butter at home with this simple recipe, which includes Worcestershire sauce, a typical steakhouse ingredient. Just make sure the butter is soft before mixing with the other ingredients. This flavored butter (also called "compound butter") is not only perfect for steak, but also chops, chicken, and even seafood recipes. This garlic butter can be made well in advance and will keep in the fridge or freezer.

1:17

Click Play to See This Steakhouse Garlic Butter Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter (room temperature)

  • 3 garlic cloves (crushed and finely minced)

  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or substitute black)

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. 

    Steakhouse garlic butter ingredients
    The Spruce 

  2. Place the butter in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix with a fork to combine thoroughly.

    Mix in other ingredients to butter with a fork
    The Spruce 

  3. Use a spatula to scrape the flavored butter onto a piece of plastic wrap. Using the wrap, shape the butter into a log. Pull the sides of the plastic wrap over to seal, twisting the ends to close tightly.

    Scoop butter into plastic wrap and shape into a log
    The Spruce 

  4. Roll the wrapped butter back and forth to create an evenly shaped log. Place in the refrigerator or freezer to harden.

    Refrigerate log of butter
    The Spruce 

  5. When ready to use, unwrap and slice the butter into 1/4-inch rounds. Place on top of hot, sizzling steaks just before serving.

    Steakhouse garlic butter on steak
    The Spruce 

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • For a speedy preparation, you can make this flavored butter in the food processor. But first, you need to make sure the butter is soft or the hard pieces will stick onto the processor blades.
  • If using the food processor, mince the garlic in the processor first, and then add the remaining ingredients.

Recipe Variations

  • Add lemon zest to this garlic butter recipe for a citrus zing, or change out the parsley for chives to give it a little kick.
  • If using this butter on fish, you may want to eliminate the Worcestershire sauce—its flavor can be too strong for a delicate fillet.
  • Add cilantro, rosemary, or oregano in place of the parsley. Cilantro gives the butter a Latin characteristic and is wonderful served on pork tenderloin. The rosemary and oregano lend a Mediterranean flavor—perfect for grilled chicken, fish, or shellfish.