Cowboy Butter is flavored butter that can be used as a dipping sauce or formed into a log to use as a spread. It’s delicious when served with steak, turkey, chicken, and more. In fact, you have to try it with my Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin!

Grilled Steak with Cowboy Butter on It on a Skillet.

What is Cowboy Butter?

Cowboy Butter is a concoction of a multitude of flavors added to butter to use as a dip or as a spread, also known as compound butter. Butter is flavored with herbs and spices with a little kick from added cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. It would be a perfect addition to your Surf and Turf Butter Board!

Raw Ingredients on a Cutting Board that Go Into Cowboy Butter.

Ingredients

Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe. If you use salted butter, you may want to reduce or eliminate the added kosher salt.

Mustard: I prefer Dijon mustard in the cowboy butter, but you could also use yellow mustard if that is what you have on hand. It will just slightly alter the flavor.

Fresh Herbs: Both fresh parsley and fresh thyme are added to the butter. If you only have dried herbs, use about a teaspoon of each (as opposed to a tablespoon of fresh).

Lemon Juice: There is just a hint of lemon flavor in the butter. I have another recipe, Cowboy Sliders, where I omit the lemon juice. But on any meats, fresh lemon juice is a must!

Spices: You will need paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. The cayenne and red pepper flakes do not add too much heat, but you could leave them out if preferred.

Roll of Cowboy Butter on a Plate.

How to Serve Cowboy Butter

This butter can be used as a spread and a dip. It pairs well with all kinds of meat, from chicken to steak to pork. In addition, use it to saute vegetables, add flavor to pasta or rice, or serve with air fryer french fries. Another way to enjoy cowboy butter is to spread it on a French baguette or your favorite slice of bread.

Rolled and Chilled Cowboy Butter with a Piece Cut off The End.

Can I Make this Ahead of Time?

Sure! This seasoned butter can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will last up to 5 days.

Cowboy Butter Melted on a Steak in a Skillet.

Freezing Cowboy Butter

Compound butter like this one can be frozen. I recommend rolling the butter into a log and wrapping it in parchment paper or wax paper. After wrapping it, store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months. When ready to use, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

More Cowboy Grub

Rolled and Chilled Cowboy Butter with a Piece Cut off The End.
5 from 31 votes

Cowboy Butter

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cowboy Butter is flavored butter that can be used as a dipping sauce or formed into a log to use as a spread.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon coarse Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • teaspoon pepper
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, add the softened butter, dijon mustard, chives, parsley, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Mix together until combined. This will make about ⅔ cup of butter. (You could also mix the ingredients in a food processor.)
  • To make a compound butter: Scoop the cowboy butter onto a piece of plastic wrap. Roll the butter into a log shape, pressing and shaping as you go until the butter is completely wrapped in plastic. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap together and refrigerate until firm (2 hours up to overnight).
  • To make a butter dip: Melt the mixture in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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Reader Comments

  1. Might be nice if some of the questions were answered. I am asking the same question as another person, can you use dried herbs instead of fresh

    1. Might be nice if you read the post, where there is valuable information about the recipe?

      This is what it says:
      “Fresh Herbs: Both fresh parsley and fresh thyme are added to the butter. If you only have dried herbs, use about a teaspoon of each (as opposed to a tablespoon of fresh).”

      1. Can’t wait to go to the grocery store and make this. Mushrooms sound like they would be delicious. This easy recipe I can make in senior living

    2. I just made these for dinner tonight. I used the exact amounts that the recipe called for only in dried. It was delicious. I also hadn’t made the butter ahead of time, so I just put butter and herbs in the frypan and slowly melted. Then followed the recipe after adding the mushrooms. As I said they were excellent, so probably even better if you make the compound butter ahead.

  2. 5 stars
    My 17 year old son ate this and asked me to make more.
    He puts it on EVERYTHING! Thank you yet again for sharing.

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve used this recipe many times at the restaurant i work at and its really elevated the quality of our steaks! Appreciate it!

    1. 5 stars
      My 17 year old son ate this and asked me to make more.
      He puts it on EVERYTHING! Thank you yet again for sharing. I highly recommend it on bacon, egg and cheese on bagel breakfast sandwiches

  4. Crushed red pepper flakes equals chilli flakes in Australia right? Or is it more like capsicum/dried bell peppers?

    1. Crushed red pepper or red pepper flakes is a condiment or spice consisting of dried and crushed red chili peppers.

      1. Jeff, you didn’t answer the question. Freezing Cowboy Butter was addressed in the blog. I wonder why its says only lasts 5 days refrigerated.

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