Cowboy Butter Recipe

5 from 12 ratings

This cowboy butter recipe is the perfect topping or dipping sauce for grilled steak, chicken, shrimp, or veggies, loaded with fresh herbs and spices!

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Course: Condiment, sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: butter, cowboy butter, cowboy butter for steak, cowboy butter recipe

Servings: tablespoons

Calories: 107kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons, softened)
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (or use spicy brown mustard, which I love)
Juice from ½ a lemon + zest
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon paprika I love smoked paprika or hot paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or use hot sauce, or both!
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

AS A SERVING SAUCE

Melt the butter slowly in a pan.
Gently stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Serve as a dipping sauce or spooned over your dish.

AS A COMPOUND BUTTER

Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl, then transfer to a layer of plastic wrap. Form the butter mixture into the shape of a log about 1 inch in diameter, then wrap in the plastic.
Refrigerate until hardened, then slice and serve over grilled meats or veggies.

Video

Notes

For a milder garlic flavor, briefly sauté the minced garlic in 1 tsp butter (30-60 seconds, just until fragrant), then cool completely before mixing into compound butter. For the sauce version, sauté in the saucepan first, then add the remaining butter and ingredients.

Great on steak and seafood, but also garlic bread, fries, roasted/sautéed veg, pasta/rice, baked potatoes, and grilled corn. Use 1-2 tablespoons per serving or slice into coins and melt over hot food.

Update (Jan 16, 2026): Added sautéed-garlic option + more serving ideas; recipe unchanged.

Nutrition