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Cowboy Butter

Category: 30-Minute Meals for Busy Days

Spiced-up butter packed with herbs. Fast 15 minutes. Feeds 8. Great for your meat or veggies.
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Barbara Chef
Updated on Tue, 13 May 2025 19:35:45 GMT
Cowboy Butter Highlight
Cowboy Butter | cookwithcarla.com

Whip up this bold cowboy butter packed with zippy seasonings, garden herbs, and garlic for a rich, punchy spread that’ll perk up your veggies, fish, or steak.

Fresh herbs and a hit of citrus totally up the butter game—turning something plain into a flavor bomb.

Vibrant Ingredients:

  • Lemon: Toss in both zest and juice
  • Fresh garlic: Skip the jarred kind for big flavor
  • Dijon mustard: Gives buttery richness an edge
  • Fresh herbs: Grab parsley and thyme
  • Smoked paprika: Adds smokiness and color
  • Worcestershire: Brings a meaty vibe
  • Unsalted butter: Go for good stuff if you can
Cowboy Butter Easy Highlight
Cowboy Butter Easy | cookwithcarla.com

Step-by-Step Directions:

Store or Serve
Wrap it up snug
Shape it for keeping
Let it cool down if you want it spreadable
Slather on while still warm, if that's your thing
Adjust Flavors
Stir everything well
Sprinkle in salt as needed
Tweak the tang until it tastes right
Dial up the heat or tone it down by tasting
Add Seasonings
Shake in your spices
Drop in zest and juice from the lemon
Stir in chopped up herbs
Blend in finely chopped garlic
Prepare Base
Mix in dijon and Worcestershire
Keep butter warm, not piping hot
Soften your butter in small chunks
Warm gently in the microwave

When I first added both lemon juice and zest, I realized it totally brightens up creamy butter.

Serving Ideas:

Amazing slathered on veggies, bread, hot potatoes, or a juicy steak.

Keep It Fresh:

Stash as a log or in scoops—good in the freezer up to half a year.

Plan Ahead:

Mold it early and freeze so it’s always on hand.

Cowboy Butter Simple Highlight
Cowboy Butter Simple | cookwithcarla.com

Pro Tips:

  • Always grab the freshest stuff
  • Chop garlic super small
  • Give flavors a little taste test as you mix
  • Keep it wrapped well

After years of tinkering, I’ve learned that keeping everything fresh and watching the temps is the real trick for stand-out compound butter.

Recipe FAQs

→ How long will it last?
Chill up to 2 weeks, or stash it frozen for as long as 6 months.
→ How do you serve it?
Spread it when soft or pour over food after melting.
→ Is salted butter okay?
Totally fine. Just skip a little of the extra salt.
→ What goes well with it?
Pile on steak, toss over veggies, slather on bread, or top fish and chicken.
→ Does dried herbs work?
Go for it. Use a third as much as you would with fresh.

Cowboy Butter

Buttery spread brightened with lemon, fresh herbs, and garlicky zip. Give your steak a tasty boost.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
~
Total Time
15 min

Category: Quick & Easy

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings

Dietary Preferences: Low-Carb, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

→ Base

01 Unsalted butter

→ Fresh Ingredients

02 Chopped fresh thyme
03 Chopped fresh parsley
04 Fresh minced garlic
05 Fresh lemon juice and zest

→ Seasonings

06 Black pepper
07 Sea salt
08 Red pepper flakes
09 Smoked paprika
10 Onion powder
11 Dijon mustard
12 Worcestershire sauce

Steps

Step 01

You can either leave it out on the counter to cool off or pop it in the fridge to chill.

Step 02

Toss in everything else and stir it up good with a whisk until it all comes together.

Step 03

Stick the butter in the microwave and heat at half power, checking and stirring every so often until it's all liquid.

Notes

  1. If you've got table salt, use a bit less.
  2. Best when served cold or at room temp.

Required Equipment

  • Microwave
  • Whisk
  • Small mixing bowl

Allergen Information

Double-check every ingredient for potential allergens and consult a healthcare professional if unsure.
  • Dairy is in this

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

This data is for informational purposes only and doesn’t replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 108
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Carbs: 1 g
  • Protein: 0.3 g