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The most amazing 5-ingredient Garlic Butter recipe comes together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients! This sweet and savory twist, made with a touch of honey, is fast, easy to make, and so versatile.
You can pair it with just about anything—from reader-favorite honey garlic butter roasted carrots to browned butter honey garlic chicken or even buttery honey garlic shrimp. If you’ve ever wondered how to make garlic butter that’s truly irresistible, this version might just be the best garlic butter you’ll ever try!
What Makes This Garlic Butter Work
This garlic butter recipe shines because it balances rich, savory butter with the bold flavor of fresh garlic and the perfect touch of sweetness from honey. The combination creates a sauce that’s smooth, flavorful, and versatile enough to elevate both everyday meals and special dinners.
Another reason it works so well is the simplicity, you only need five ingredients and a few minutes to create what many call the best garlic butter. It’s quick to make, easy to customize, and works beautifully with proteins, vegetables, or even bread. Once you know how to make garlic butter like this, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.
What Goes Into Garlic Butter
This garlic butter recipe comes together with just a handful of pantry staples and a fresh squeeze of lemon. Each ingredient adds its own unique touch, creating the perfect balance of rich, sweet, tangy, and garlicky flavors.
- Unsalted Butter: The base of the sauce, melted butter adds richness and creaminess while letting the garlic and honey shine.
- Honey: Provides natural sweetness that balances the sharpness of garlic and the acidity of lemon juice.
- Garlic: Freshly minced cloves infuse the butter with bold, aromatic flavor that makes this the best garlic butter.
- Lemon Juice (or Vinegar): A splash of acidity brightens the sauce, cutting through the richness and enhancing all the other flavors.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Garlic Butter
- Melt: In a small saucepan over low medium heat, melt the butter until just liquid and warm. Do not brown the butter.
- Whisk: Add honey and garlic to the pan and whisk until the honey dissolves. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth.
- Brighten: Take the pan off the heat and pour in the lemon juice or vinegar. Whisk to combine, then season with salt to taste.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the parsley and let the sauce rest for one minute. Use immediately over salmon, chicken, shrimp or fish.
This garlic butter recipe is so versatile that it pairs beautifully with a variety of sides and mains. Try it drizzled over Garlic Browned Butter Baked Asparagus for a simple yet elegant vegetable dish, perfect for weeknights or entertaining.
It’s also a dream alongside Hasselback Herbed Garlic Butter Sweet Potatoes, where the buttery sauce seeps into every golden slice. And for something truly classic, brush it over Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter—a comfort food favorite that’s elevated with the bold flavors of honey and garlic.
And if you’re in the mood for something heartier, my French Shepherd’s Pie (Hachis Parmentier) is the perfect cozy main to bring it all together.
Recipe FAQ’s
Fresh minced garlic gives the most flavor, but in a pinch, you can use garlic powder. Start with ½ teaspoon and adjust to taste.
If you don’t have lemon juice, white vinegar works beautifully. It adds the same brightness and balance to the sauce.
Reduce the honey slightly or add a bit more lemon juice or vinegar to balance out the sweetness.
Honey Garlic Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed, or 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add the honey and garlic; whisk until the honey has melted through the butter and the mixture is well combined. Pour in the lemon juice (or vinegar), season with salt and add parsley.
- Best cooked or served with salmon, chicken, shrimp, fish, scallops, oysters.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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is it possible to freeze this until you’re ready to use it?
Hi Kim, Yes, you can freeze this; it will help you to store it for longer.
I made this using tempura fried shrimp. Served over steamed rice, it was great and the shrimp stayed crispy.. The sauce was a bit too sweet for us, so I think I will reduce the amount of honey and increase the lemon juice or vinegar next time.
Good sauce, but I added soy in order to get that rich brown color.
Ooooh, this was good!! Did the carrots (they were a hit), but I can see how this sauce would be great on a many things. I like the shrimp idea! Thanks
I used this butter to cook sweet potato noodles. It is fantastic! I made the sauce in one pan and added the noodles from 1 large sweet potato. Easy clean up and so delicious! I also use it on carrots almost every week. I roast a big batch and then snack on them cold for a few days after. Thank you for such a versatile recipe.
AWESOME!!!!!! This is the “bomb” for shrimp!!!!
Can you post a recipe for chicken using this garlic honey buttery.
Thanks
Your recipes look great and nice page too! I am actually doing the chicken wings today but I have no rack so I am sure they will still be great. I am looking forward to making the Honey Garlic Butter sometime and maybe even for the shrimp or something. Nice job! Cheers!
Coukd you sub olive oil or coconut oil for butter for a vegan version?
Yes, of course! Thank you for choosing one of my recipes! XO
This sauce is so amazing! I’m so glad you finally put it up here. I was a huge fan of it with the salmon and would love to see how exactly you make it with shrimp. Thanks.