You can't go wrong with this easy recipe! It's made with real butter, fresh garlic, Parmesan, and plenty of Italian spices for authentic and delicious flavor every time.
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Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- It's not only a great way to use up a head of garlic but it takes dinner parties and everyday dining to the next level.
- Garlic butter spread is a classic on slices of toasted Italian bread but it's also yummy on plain pasta, melted over vegetables, and added to potato soup!
- Read the FAQ section to learn how to make this delicious condiment vegan.
Few combinations are as comforting as warm bread or hot pasta paired with creamy butter full of herbs and garlic flavor. And, let's be real, homemade garlic butter is much quicker to make than garlic breadsticks or garlic knots!
After the first taste, you'll want to spread this homemade garlic butter recipe on everything—and, I mean, everything!
There's just so much flavor when you make it homemade.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
With such simple main ingredients, you might not even have to go to the grocery store to make this garlic spread recipe. However, here are some fun ways you can change it up if you need or want to.
- Try a roasted garlic spread! Slice a head of garlic in half and rub both halves with olive oil. Wrap them in foil and bake for about 30 minutes, or until soft. Squeeze the individual cloves out and mash them into a garlic paste. Use in place of the fresh garlic in the recipe.
- Make whipped garlic spread by using a hand mixer to incorporate air and a few tablespoons of milk into the garlic butter mixture.
- Swap garlic powder in place of the fresh garlic if don't have any.
- Add a little bit of onion powder, if you're a fan!
- Make your own Italian seasoning mix with herbs such as fresh parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
- You can also add some crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer a subtle touch of heat.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- In a food processor, combine the butter, garlic cloves, seasoning, and parmesan cheese.
- Pulse to combine the ingredients until smooth.
- Let sit for at least thirty minutes, or refrigerate until you're ready to eat.
- Enjoy the buttery goodness in a variety of ways—see below for ideas.
One of our favorites? For a quick, easy meal add homemade garlic spread to hot, cooked, and drained spaghetti for garlic butter pasta.
🧈 Garlic butter without a food processor
No food processor? No problem!
- Use an electric hand mixer
- Mash together with a fork
- Use a wire whisk to whip the softened butter then add the remaining ingredients
🥫 Storage
Store homemade garlic spread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the best, freshest flavor. It's fine for two weeks or more. A wide-mouthed mason jar or ramekin covered with plastic works well.
The spread will technically stay "good" according to the expiration date for the stick of butter but it sometimes starts to pick up weird flavors after a few weeks.
To make your easy garlic butter spread last even longer, store it tightly in a freezer-safe bag and freeze it for up to six months. I like to cover it first in some parchment paper or plastic wrap to make it easier to handle once thawed.
Speaking of, thaw the frozen butter in the refrigerator until it's soft enough to handle. You can also use the defrost or "soften" setting on your microwave—just do so with caution because you don't want to end up with a puddle of butter!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Butter at room temperature mixes together much more easily than cold butter. Let it sit out for an hour or so before you start to cook!
- Either salted or unsalted butter will work. If you use unsalted butter be sure to taste and add salt as needed.
- Use half butter and half olive oil to keep the garlic butter soft and spreadable.
- Easily peel individual cloves of garlic by using the heel of your palm to smash the garlic between a heavy chef's knife (not a paring knife) and your cutting board. Be careful not to slip and cut your hand, though!
- Roll the garlic spread into a log between a piece of parchment paper. Then, you can easily fit it into a butter dish and slice off a pat at a time as you need!
- Be careful where you store your garlic spread. Butter tends to absorb odors quickly, so don't place it next to fish or anything else in your fridge that is... fragrant.
- Smear this garlic spread over some French bread and broil for a few minutes—it's the easiest way to make homemade garlic bread in a jiffy!
- Add a pat (or two!) of garlic spread to your hot baked potato for delicious flavor.
- Stir a few tablespoons of the garlic spread into warm pasta for a delicious and easy garlic butter sauce. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice overtop for a chef-worthy dish!
- Flavored butter is great on a cheeseboard, too. Just put it in a small pot next to some crusty bread slices. Don't forget a small charcuterie knife!
This is the garlic butter I use for this easy garlic bread casserole. Give it a try!
👩🍳 FAQs
Yes! Just switch vegan "butter" for the dairy butter. You can use a non-dairy Parmesan or just leave that out. If you leave out the Parm I'd double up on the garlic and add a little more salt to taste.
Compound butter refers to softened butter mixed with different herbs or spices. You could call this garlic spread a garlic compound butter to impress your foodie friends!
You can use your favorite kind of butter—or any type of butter, really. However, a high-quality brand will have the best flavor. If you use unsalted butter you'll need to remember to taste and add salt.
This spread is a great replacement for regular butter in almost every savory dish! Use it on toast, as a sandwich spread, brushed over pizza crust or with homemade rolls for the best garlic bread ever—it complements a heavy Italian meat sauce perfectly!
📚 Related recipes
- Homemade Strawberry Butter is so easy to make and the best way to add some sweet flavor to your favorite breakfast—or dessert—dishes!
- Amp up the spice level in your favorite savory recipes with tangy Chipotle Aioli Spread. It sounds fancy, but making it is easy-peasy!
- Made with sweet dried figs and spicy Chipotle chiles, this Dried Fig Jam is a spread you'll crave for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, it's perfect as a party snack, game-day appetizer, or even on your holiday table!
🍽️ Serve with...
📞 The last word
We love bread around here!
And, garlic bread is one of our favorites! This spread is easy to make and keep on hand for any time the mood for Italian flavors hits!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Homemade Garlic Spread
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 6 cloves garlic , chopped - minced if you're not using a food processor
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, more to taste
Instructions
- In the food processor combine the softened butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
- Pulse until everything is well mixed and smooth.
- Let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to blend or put in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Butter at room temperature mixes together much more easily than cold butter. Let it sit out for an hour or so before you start to cook!
- If you don't have a food processor, you can mix up the garlic spread with a stiff spatula or a fork.
- Easily peel individual cloves of garlic by using the heel of your palm to smash the garlic between a heavy chef's knife (not a paring knife) and your cutting board. Be careful not to slip and cut your hand, though!
- Either salted or unsalted butter will work, but if using unsalted, you might want to add a pinch or two of some kosher salt.
- Be careful where you store your garlic spread. Butter tends to absorb odors quickly, so don't place it next to fish or anything else in your fridge that is... fragrant.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published November 16, 2022. Last updated September 3, 2023 for editorial corrections.
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