If you love my original Cowboy Butter (and so many of you do!), you’ve got to try this Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter. It’s got all the bold, buttery flavor you know and love—plus sweet, flavorful roasted garlic for an extra layer of deliciousness. Use it as a garlic butter dip for steak, shrimp, or chicken, slather it on warm bread, or melt it over vegetables or potatoes. It’s one of those easy recipes that makes any meal feel a little more special. This one’s officially joining my growing list of Cowboy Butter recipes… I just can’t stop finding ways to use it!
What Is Cowboy Butter?
Cowboy Butter is a flavorful compound butter made by blending herbs, spices, and a touch of heat from cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. This versatile butter dip or spread can be used for everything from steak to bread, adding bold flavors and a little kick to any dish.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Garlic: Look for 2 heads of garlic, about 10-12 cloves per head. Roasting fresh garlic makes it soft, sweet, and buttery. It takes away the sharp bite and brings out a rich, mellow flavor that’s perfect for mixing into butter. Trust me—it’s totally worth the extra step! And, I have made it easy to follow how to roast garlic. Once you experience roasted garlic, you will want to make my Roasted Garlic Ravioli, too!
- Butter: I use unsalted butter in my cowboy butter recipe. If using salted butter, you may want to reduce the amount of kosher salt in the recipe.
- Herbs: Fresh parsley, chives, and thyme add a burst of flavor to the butter. If you only have dried herbs, use about 1 teaspoon of dried parsley and chives and ½ teaspoon of dried thyme.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best) adds a bright, tangy flavor that balances the richness of the butter and garlic. It enhances the overall taste and brings a fresh, zesty kick to the cowboy butter.
- Seasonings: The seasonings—paprika, kosher salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper—add a perfect balance of smokiness, savory depth, and just the right amount of heat to the cowboy butter, making every bite full of flavor without being overpowering.
- Crushed Red Pepper: Crushed red pepper (also called red pepper flakes) adds a little extra heat to the butter. If you prefer a milder roasted garlic cowboy butter, simply leave it out. Or, if you like a bit more kick, feel free to add extra—just adjust to your taste!
Delicious Ways To Use Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter
- As a spread: Perfect for bread (like my simple sourdough bread), buttermilk biscuits, or easy dinner rolls. I loved it spread on crostini. I couldn’t get enough of that!
- Topping for vegetables: Melt over roasted potatoes, air fryer baked potatoes, corn on the cob, or asparagus.
- Topping for meat: Add it to steaks (like my tender steak bites) or chicken for extra flavor.
- Pasta sauce: Toss with pasta (try making homemade shaped pasta or sourdough pasta!) for a rich, garlicky boost.
- In mashed potatoes: Stir into mashed potatoes or skins on mashed potatoes for extra creaminess.
- On seafood: Works wonderfully with grilled shrimp, crab, or lobster.
- As a snack: Drizzle over popcorn- doesn’t that sound amazing (and addicting)?
How To Store Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter
To store Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter, simply place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 5 days. This will keep the butter fresh and ready to use whenever you need a delicious, garlicky boost!
Can You Freeze Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter?
Yes, you can freeze Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter! To store it for longer, simply shape the butter into a log using plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, just thaw it in the refrigerator. Freezing Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter is a great way to keep this rich, garlicky spread fresh for months, so you can enjoy it anytime!
Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter
Ingredients
Roasted Garlic
- 2 heads garlic, about 10-12 cloves each
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Butter
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon coarse Dijon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
Roasted Garlic
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Use your fingers to peel away all the loose, papery, outer layers around the heads of garlic. (Leave the head itself intact with all the cloves connected.)
- Trim about ¼ inch off the tops of the heads of garlic, exposing the cloves inside.
- Place garlic in the center of a 10-inch square of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil, letting the oil saturate the cloves.
- Fold the sides of the aluminum foil up to the center and seal (creating a foil packet with the garlic inside). Roast for 50-60 minutes until the garlic cloves are soft and golden brown.
- Remove the garlic from the oven and carefully open the sealed foil packet to allow the garlic to cool slightly. Once it is cool enough to touch, use your fingers to squeeze out the cloves into a medium bowl. Discard the remaining skins.
Cowboy Butter
- To the bowl of garlic, add the softened butter, dijon mustard, chives, parsley, thyme, lemon juice, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Mix together until combined. This will make about ⅔ cup of butter.
- To Make 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.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This butter is delicious! The roasted garlic gives it such a unique flavor. I love it!
Elizabeth
I can't wait to try this garlic butter on more things! I loved it on a biscuit, but I want to try it on popcorn at home.
Annabelle
I love how versatile this butter is! From spreading it on biscuits to using it on vegetables, this Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter is really great!
Stephanie
I must have this on hand as often as possible. I will be using it a lot!
Bella
This is really flavorful! Wow, I really like it!
