Discover the magic of herb butter, with sage, thyme, rosemary, or any of your favorite fresh herbs. A must-try on steaks, turkey, or fish for a flavorful feast every time! Boost your meals with the amazing flavor of this easy condiment!
Y’all know that in the South, we love our butter. But guess what? When you mix that stick of butter with some tasty herbs, it turns into something special. This isn’t just any butter; it’s herb butter magic!
This compound butter recipe is perfect for making your steak even juicier, giving your chicken that crispy skin, or just spreading on some warm dinner bread. So, if you’re looking to give your dishes a big flavor boost, this herb butter is the way to go!
Why use compound butter
Your Thanksgiving turkey will taste amazing if you cover it with this wonderful turkey butter rub.
The butter helps the turkey skin get crispy and brown, while keeping the meat underneath the skin from drying out.
And, one of the best things about this recipe is the way your kitchen smells while the turkey is roasting! The herbs and spices combined with the vegetables and herbs tucked inside the turkey leave your house fragrant and your mouth watering.
What herbs go in herb butter
Any fresh herb will work in this recipe!
The beauty of herbed butter is that you can tailor it to almost any flavor you need by switching up the herbs. Go Italian with basil, oregano, and garlic, or give it a Mexican twist with fresh cilantro and garlic.
This particular version is traditionally an herb butter for turkey, but we use it as is on many other foods as well.
If you want something a little simpler, you should try this homemade garlic butter – it’s amazing on a steak or slathered on bread!
Ingredients
Unsalted butter, at room temperature
Fresh sage, finely chopped
Fresh thyme, finely chopped
Fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Ground cumin
Fresh garlic, minced or garlic cloves, finely chopped
Crushed red pepper flakes
Ground allspice
Ground cloves
Freshly ground nutmeg
Kosher salt
Variations
Garlic herb butter: Add tiny garlic pieces or roasted garlic to make it taste just like garlic bread.
Lemon herb butter: Mix in some lemon juice and zest for a bright twist, perfect for grilled foods or veggies.
Single herb butter: Use just one type of herb, like fresh basil, a great way to taste its special flavor.
How to make herb butter
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with your chosen combination of herbs and seasonings.
- Blend until smooth using a hand mixer.
- Shape the butter mixture into a log shape using a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper.
- Store in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag until ready to use.
Tips
- Use fresh herbs! Dried herbs will not give the best flavor in this recipe.
- Make this herb butter recipe several days ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
- Use good quality butter—no store brands!
- The herb butter can be frozen in an airtight container.
- For a dinner party touch, use butter molds to shape your compound butter.
- Fresh vegetables like green onions or sun-dried tomatoes can be added for extra flavor and texture.
- Herbed butter like this is an easy way to use up leftover fresh herbs.
Making your own fresh herb butter opens up a world of flavor possibilities. From garlic butter to sage butter, there’s so much to explore. Use it on meats, with steak, slathered on dinner rolls, or stirred into mashed potatoes to make them taste even better. This butter is one of the easiest ways to add tons of flavor to your meals.
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Herb Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Refrigerate and save up to 4 days.
Notes
Tips for Making Herb Butter
- Use fresh herbs! Dried herbs will not give the best flavor in this recipe.
- Make this herb butter recipe several days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.
- Use good quality butter—no store brands!
- The herb butter can be frozen in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living’s Spice Butter.
Update Notes: This post was originally published November 14, 2011, and on October 19, 2023, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.
Can you still cook with this recipe in the turkey bag?
I don’t use a bag so I haven’t tested it, but I think it would be just fine!
@Leah,
Yes absolutely!