Garlic Chive Butter

Garlic chive butter is a simple, versatile condiment perfect for elevating everyday meals and holiday favorites. This recipe is a compound butter—a fancy term for butter mixed with other ingredients to create a creamy, flavorful spread. Here, softened butter is whipped with fresh chives, minced garlic and finely grated Parmesan to create a rich, aromatic blend.

Whether you’re serving fluffy, from-scratch dinner rolls or a convenient tube of crescent rolls, this flavored butter is an easy and impressive way to upgrade holiday bread baskets. But don’t stop there! Melt a pat over roasted vegetables, stir it into mashed potatoes, toss it with pasta or grains, or add it to a steak for a boost of rich, herby flavor. Once you taste it, you may never go back to plain butter!

Ingredients for Garlic Chive Butter

• Butter: With so few ingredients, it’s essential to start with a high-quality butter for standout flavor. Not sure if your everyday butter cuts the mustard? Here’s a list of our Test Kitchen’s preferred butter brands. We recommend unsalted butter for better control over the final flavor, but salted butter works if that’s what you have. Make sure your butter is well-softened so it blends smoothly.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a salty, nutty depth of flavor. Pre-grated cheese works in a pinch, but finely grating it by hand gives the best flavor and a light texture that practically melts into the butter.
• Chives: Fresh chives add a mild onion flavor and little flecks of green throughout the butter. Snip them with kitchen shears for quick, easy prep.
• Fresh garlic: Use one clove for a subtle aromatic note or two cloves for a bolder garlicky kick. If you have a garlic press, use it to finely mince the garlic so it blends evenly into the butter.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the butter

In a small mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, Parmesan, chives and minced garlic until well-blended and creamy.

Editor’s Tip: A hand-held mixer will quickly blend the ingredients and incorporate air into the butter for a lighter whipped texture.

Step 2: Store the butter in the refrigerator

Transfer the chive garlic butter to a small dish, cover it tightly and keep refrigerated until it’s time to serve.

Editor’s Tip: For a fancier presentation, spoon the butter onto storage wrap, roll it into a log and twist the ends closed before chilling. Once firm, slice the butter into neat rounds for serving.

How to Use Garlic Chive Butter

Garlic chive butter is delicious slathered on crusty bread and fluffy rolls, but that’s just the beginning! Dress up mains, grains, veggies and more with this flavor booster. Here are some tasty ways to put it to use:

• Garlic bread: Spread softened butter on Italian bread or a baguette, then toast or broil for a quick homemade garlic bread.
• Baked and mashed potatoes: Melt over baked potatoes or swirl into creamy mashed potatoes for an instant flavor upgrade.
• Pasta and rice: Toss with freshly cooked pasta, rice or other grains for an easy buttered side dish that tastes gourmet.
• Scrambled eggs: Cook scrambled eggs in a spoonful of melted garlic chive butter for a savory flavor boost.
• Veggies: Toss with steamed or roasted veggies, or spread softened chive garlic butter onto corn on the cob.
• Grilled cheese sandwiches: Butter the outside of the bread before toasting for a golden, garlic and herb infused crust.
• Proteins: Add a pat of butter to cooked steaks, chicken, pork chops or seafood for a rich, restaurant-style finish.

How to Store Garlic Chive Butter

Keep garlic chive butter in an airtight container in the fridge, or roll it into a log wrapped in storage wrap for easy slicing. A covered serving dish works fine if you’re serving it within a few hours of making it. The butter will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about one week.

Can you freeze chive garlic butter?

Yes! You can freeze garlic chive butter for three to six months—perfect if you want to get an early start on holiday meal prep. The easiest method is to roll it into a log, wrap it tightly in storage wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Slice it into rounds straight from frozen for topping toast, vegetables, meats and more as needed.

You can also portion the butter into an ice cube tray—once frozen, pop the cubes out and store them in a freezer-safe bag for small, ready-to-use servings.

Garlic Chive Butter Tips

Can you make garlic chive butter with vegan butter?

Yes! You can swap in vegan butter for a plant-based version of this flavorful spread. Either tub or stick form works. Let it sit at room temperature if it’s too firm to mix, then whip it with the minced garlic and chives. To keep it 100% vegan, skip the Parmesan or use a plant-based cheese alternative.

What’s the best way to soften butter?

The easiest way to soften butter is to let the number of sticks you need sit at room temperature for at least 45 minutes. If you’re short on time, cut the butter into small cubes and let them sit at room temperature—the smaller pieces will soften faster than a whole stick.

Can I use another cheese instead of Parmesan?

Definitely! Finely grated Asiago or Pecorino Romano are our go-to swaps for Parmesan, but a sharp cheddar could be tasty here too. Have fun experimenting, and be sure to finely grate the cheese so it blends smoothly into the butter.

How far ahead can I make garlic chive butter?

You can make garlic chive butter a few days in advance for weeknight meals, or prep it weeks ahead and freeze butter. Keep it tightly wrapped in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.