Quick and easy 4 ingredient garlic butter sauce pays compliments to everything it touches! Spoon over seafood, toss into pasta, or dip and dunk with crusty bread.
Why this recipe works
Garlic butter sauce is a staple in the kitchen. This versatile sauce elevates just about any dish with a simple dip, dunk, or drizzle. From juicy snow crab legs to cheesy garlic bread and sauteed shrimp you can find this savory butter sauce alongside most meals in this house. We even smother our roasted vegetables in it from time to time!
You will need only four ingredients – butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Heating the butter and garlic along with the other ingredients releases aroma and intensifies the flavor. Let’s get started.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
BUTTER – We opt for unsalted, but you can substitute with salted if you prefer.
GARLIC – Jarred minced garlic is convenient when making this sauce, but you can certainly use fresh minced garlic as well. In fact, it will add even more flavor! You will need 8-9 cloves to yield 3 Tablespoons minced.
LEMON – Fresh is best. To yield 2 Tablespoons of juice you will need 1 lemon.
CORNSTARCH – This thickens the sauce.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat until foamy.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking occasionally.
- Whisk in lemon juice.
- Remove 2-3 tablespoons of the butter sauce to a measuring cup. Add cornstarch to the measuring cup and whisk well.
- Add butter cornstarch mixture back to the skillet and whisk over medium-high heat until bubbly. Simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Although this sauce is best served right away, you can store any leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The butter will solidify when refrigerated. To reheat, spoon the mixture into a skillet over medium-low heat stirring often until warmed through. You can also reheat the sauce in the microwave in 20-second increments.
Serving Suggestions
Garlic butter sauce is insanely versatile. Here are a few ideas on how to use it.
- Spooned over a juicy steak, pork chops, or chicken
- As a dunking sauce for crab legs, lobster tails, or shrimp
- Drizzled over fresh fish
- Tossed with roasted vegetables
- Mixed into pasta dishes, more specifically to make garlic butter pasta
- As a dipper for pizza and garlic bread
Serve the garlic butter sauce warm with whatever vehicle you choose! Adding some fresh herbs to your butter sauce adds another delicious flavor element. Consider fresh basil for pasta noodles or for dipping garlic bread. Fresh dill would be a nice addition for spooning over fresh fish.
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Garlic Butter Sauce
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter 8 Tablespoons
- 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Jarred minced garlic is convenient when making this sauce, but you can certainly use fresh minced garlic as well. In fact, it will add even more flavor! You will need 8-9 cloves to yield 3 Tablespoons minced.
- To yield 2 Tablespoons of juice you will need 1 lemon.
- Although this sauce is best served right away, you can store any leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The butter will solidify when refrigerated. To reheat, spoon the mixture into a skillet over medium-low heat stirring often until warmed through. You can also reheat the sauce in the microwave in 20-second increments.
- Adding some fresh herbs to your butter sauce adds another delicious flavor element. Consider fresh basil for pasta noodles or for dipping garlic bread. Fresh dill would be a nice addition for spooning over fresh fish.
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat until foamy.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking occasionally.
- Whisk in lemon juice.
- Remove 2-3 tablespoons of the butter sauce to a measuring cup. Add cornstarch to the measuring cup and whisk well.
- Add butter cornstarch mixture back to the skillet and whisk over medium-high heat until bubbly. Simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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Deborah says
Can leftovers be frozen for later? It”s only me alone??
Amanda Davis says
Yes of course!