Cowboy Butter Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · · 10 Comments · Jump to Recipe

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

Cowboy Butter Recipe (1)

Cowboy Butter Recipe

Cowboy butter is sweeping the nation! Everywhere I look, I see people making cowboy butter and sharing their photos.

It's totally understandable, considering how delicious it is! If you've never tried it, this is a recipe you'll want to try, perfect for the spicy food lover.

What is Cowboy Butter?

Cowboy butter is a compound butter made with butter, fresh herbs, and spices. It's ingredients are ideal for pairing with steak, though you can use it on chicken, fish, shrimp, vegetables, pretty much anything off the grill.

You can serve it like regular butter, sliced and added to the top of you dish to melt, or softened or melted then served as a dipping sauce.

I've seen it referred to as cowboy butter sauce as well.

It's a very customizable recipe, easily adapted to your favorite flavors. This is how I like to make mine, perfect for those who love it zesty and bold.

Let's talk about how to make cowboy butter, shall we?

Cowboy Butter Recipe (2)

Cowboy Butter Ingredients

  • Butter. Use your favorite brand of unsalted or salted butter. This recipe calls for 1 stick, though you can easily scale it up.
  • Garlic. I love lots of fresh minced garlic, though you can use garlic powder.
  • Mustard. I prefer a good spicy brown mustard, though it's really good with Dijon mustard.
  • Lemon. Both lemon juice and lemon zest.
  • Fresh Herbs. I'm using fresh parsley, fresh chives, and fresh thyme from our herb garden.
  • Spices. Smoked paprika, cayenne, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. I like a lot of black pepper. I also like a few dashes of hot sauce.

How to Make Cowboy Butter - the Recipe Method

AS A SERVING SAUCE

  • Melt the Butter. Melt the butter slowly in a pan. You can also use ghee (clarified butter) for this recipe.
  • Mix the Ingredients. Gently stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
  • Serve. Serve as a dipping sauce or spooned over your dish.

AS A COMPOUND BUTTER

  • Mix and Form a Log. 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. Refrigerate until hardened, then slice and serve over grilled meats or veggies.
Cowboy Butter Recipe (3)

Boom! Done! Your cowboy butter is ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn't it? Fire up the grill! Get those steaks or veggies ready!

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Customize your cowboy butter with other flavorful ingredients, like Worcestershire sauce, pungent horseradish, fresh shallot, rosemary, or your favorite hot sauce.

How to Serve Cowboy Butter

Cowboy butter is ideal for steak, though it also shines with anything off the grill, like grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. Serve it melted, cold, or room temperature.

Try it over my grilled London boil recipe, this ancho crusted porterhouse, or blackened chicken.

You'll enjoy it on anything you normally enjoy with butter, like jalapeno cornbread or a slice of jalapeno cheddar Dutch oven bread.

Cowboy Butter Recipe (4)

Storage

Cowboy butter will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It will harden up and you can use it like any compound butter.

You can also freeze it for 2-3 months.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this cowboy butter recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Cookbook Recommendation

If you enjoy spicy cooking, I hope you'll check out my cookbook! 75 easy recipes with big, bold flavor.

Cowboy Butter Recipe (5)

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

  • Cowboy Beans
  • Homemade Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapenos)
  • Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Butter Recipe (6)

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Cowboy Butter Recipe (7)

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Cowboy Butter Recipe

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

Save Recipe

Course: Condiment, sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: butter, cayenne

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Calories: 107kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 8 tablespoons

Tap or hover to scale

5 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons, softened)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard Dijon can be used
  • 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

Nutrition Information

Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 25mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 626IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.2mg

Cowboy Butter Recipe (8)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Paulette Kay Salisbury says

    Cowboy Butter Recipe (9)
    Yum! Froze some in dots to use later.

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Perfect! Great for freezing!

      Reply

  2. Leigha Porter says

    Can't wait to try thus tonight.

    I was wondering though, if I don't have fresh parsley and thyme can I use dried?

    thanks

    Reply

    • Mike H. says

      Yes, you can, Leigha - you will just need to experiment with adjusting the quantities, because dried herbs are usually more concentrated in flavor. Let me know how it goes 😉

      Reply

  3. Julie says

    Cowboy Butter Recipe (10)
    this recipe was soooo good! my husband has asked me to make a lot so he can put on everything including hamburgers. really good recipe!

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Great way to use it! Thanks, Julie!

      Reply

  4. Halima says

    Cowboy Butter Recipe (11)
    "AND ITS KETO,"...she squeals like a school girl.

    Thanks Mike. am definitely trying this on my chicken tonight...Yuummoooooo

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Great, Halima! Enjoy!

      Reply

  5. Ramya says

    Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vegan butter i never had cowboy butter before perfect for with snacks loe your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Enjoy, Ramya.

      Reply

Cowboy Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cowboy butter made of? ›

Compound butter is just softened butter mixed with other ingredients to add sweet or savory flair. In the case of cowboy butter, it gets flavored with garlic, fresh parsley, chives and thyme, Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, paprika, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and chili powder.

Can you whip a stick of butter? ›

The recipe for homemade whipped butter could not be easier. All you need is a softened, room-temperature stick of butter and a bit of little milk or water, along with a hand or stand mixer. Within minutes, you will have delicious and creamy butter that spreads easily over any bread.

What is cajun butter made of? ›

Cajun butter is a compound butter made from Cajun seasoning, fresh parsley, fresh garlic and unsalted butter that have been creamed together.

Why is it called cowboy butter? ›

How Did Cowboy Butter Get Its Name? While it appears that not a soul knows for sure, there's a rumor that cowboy butter was born at Mr. Donahue's—a now-shuttered NYC restaurant once known for its Southern-style offerings.

What is the butter at Texas Roadhouse made of? ›

Compound butter is simply unsalted butter mixed with other ingredients and this Texas Roadhouse butter is no exception. It uses cinnamon and honey with powdered sugar as the main flavor contributors.

Why is steakhouse butter so good? ›

It's brimming with butterfat

“I think restaurant butter often tastes better because it has a higher butterfat percentage,” says Luke Ilardo, head baker and owner of Doppio Pasticceria in Baltimore. “Most grocery stores offer 80% butterfat, but through our distributors, we can pretty easily find up to 86% butterfat.

What happens if you whip butter too long? ›

If you overmix, the butter will separate out of the mixture and it will be grainy and soupy. Be sure to stop once your butter becomes light and fluffy.

Why won't my cream whip into butter? ›

Why is my cream not turning to butter? If you have used cream with a low fat content, it won't whip into butter. The cream should have fat above 35%; anything lesser than that won't work.

What is the best heavy cream for making butter? ›

The cream from Jersey cows produces the best butter because of its higher fat content milk, plus the fact that their fat is dispersed in larger globules than milk from other types of cows and tends to churn into butter more easily.

What is the best cream to make butter with? ›

Always buy heavy cream or whipping cream for churning butter. Any brand will do. You need the higher fat content. Heavy cream is approximately 40% butterfat and 60% milk solids and water.

Is it cheaper to make your own butter? ›

Butter isn't that expensive — it's about $3 per pound at the wholesale level. Cream costs roughly $3.50 for 16 ounces, or less if you buy a larger carton. That means the price of making your own butter isn't much more than buying it in the store, and often you can get organic cream cheaper than organic butter.

What is strawberry butter made of? ›

Beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and strawberry preserves together in a small bowl until creamy. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Where does black butter come from? ›

Jersey Apple Black Butter has a long and fascinating history that dates back to the 16th century. It was originally made as a way to preserve apples, which were abundant on the island of Jersey. At the time, the island was also known for its cider production, which was made from traditional Jersey apples.

How do you make chili's Cajun butter? ›

CHILI'S CAJUN BUTTER........... 1/4 cup butter, softened, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning.......... Make Cajun butter by combining softened butter with garlic powder, salt and 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend.

Is Western Star butter pure butter? ›

Western Star Easy Spread Butter is a pure and delicious blend of butter that is incredibly easy to spread for a quick and easy option. This full-flavoured butter is made without any artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, spreadable straight from the fridge.

What are the chunks in brown butter? ›

Brown specks in brown butter are toasted milk solids. They're actually where most of the flavor comes from, so make sure you scrape those out of the pan along with the liquid butter. Don't strain out the specks. Trust me, you want it all in your recipe!

Does Texas Roadhouse use real butter? ›

Texas Roadhouse butter is no exception. The restaurant takes great pride in using only the finest, freshest ingredients. Their butter is made from real cream, ensuring a rich, creamy taste that melts in your mouth. This commitment to quality is a primary reason behind the butter's exceptional flavor.

How do they make grass fed butter? ›

Grass-fed butter comes from cows that are ranged on grasslands during the warm weather, and fed hay in colder months. Their diet can be supplemented with a small percentage of grain to help the cow stay healthy while producing milk in the winter.

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