Learn how to make a delicious garlic butter sauce for seafood. With just 5 ingredients, this quick and easy recipe can be whipped up in just minutes. Rich, buttery, and seasoned with garlic and herbs, this is a must when it comes to serving seafood, steak, shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, and just about anything else! Stovetop and microwave instructions included.
Served warm in a bowl, this is the perfect way to take your seafood from good to great! I love serving this with a low country boil, peeled shrimp, drizzled over seared scallops, or with tender sweet crab meat! It’s so quick and easy to make. Plus, you likely have all of the ingredients already.
Why I Love this Recipe
Not only is this a pinch to make, it’s also cheap and customizable. I love this recipe because it is so basic and simple to make. If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, just omit them. Or, trade them out for a cajun seasoning. This is especially delicious with seafood!
And, you can make this all in the microwave! Talk about easy!
Many people simply toss their cooked seafood with a little seasoning and melted butter. But, I think serving warm garlic butter on the side takes your seafood dish to the next level.
Ingredients Notes
- Butter: I like to use salted, good quality butter. Challenge or Kerry Gold are both great brands. I wouldn’t recommend using margarine or any butter substitute.
- Garlic and Seasonings: As I mentioned above, if you don’t have fresh herbs or the recipe’s seasonings on hand, cajun seasoning or seasoned salt will work just fine.
- Lemon Juice: The tang of the lemon really brightens up the rich flavor in this sauce. Feel free to use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
This recipe really comes down to melting the butter and stirring in ingredients. You can make this in the microwave or on the stove. The directions below are for the stovetop, but the recipe card at the bottom of this post provides microwave instructions.
Since this recipe only makes about 2 servings, increase the ingredient amounts as needed.
Cooking Steps
First, gather your ingredients together. Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. Be mindful of the heat setting. It’s very easy to burn butter, and it happens fast!
Be patient and wait as the sticks of butter melt. If it begins to bubble and become frothy, reduce the heat.
Then, add the garlic and give it a good stir. Garlic burns just as easily as the butter, so keep a watch on the color. Continue cooking over low heat for a minute or two, until the garlic is fragrant and aromatic.
Next, turn the heat off and remove the pan from the heat. Add the lemon juice and herbs to the butter. Stir until the ingredients are combined.
After the mixture is combined, divide the butter into ramekins or small dipping cups for serving.
Alternatively, you can keep the pan on low so the butter stays warm until you are ready to serve with your low country boil or seafood dinner.
Store any unused leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Variations
There are so many different recipes for dipping sauces. Most of them start with melted butter. Some include Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, chili sauce, white wine, garlic powder, and other optional ingredients.
Here are a few simple variations for your homemade version:
- Melted Butter
- Melted Butter and lemon pepper
- Melted Butter and garlic
- Melted Butter and lemon juice or lemon zest
- Melted Butter and Cajun seasoning
- To increase the spiciness: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or tabasco sauce to your liking.
- Add dry white wine to elevate this sauce! This would be particularly delicious served with pasta and scallops. Chardonnay or sauvignon blanc are good options.
What to Serve with Seafood Sauce
This recipe is a classic melted butter and garlic recipe that could really be used on anything. This will complement all of the seafood boil recipes, including a crawfish boil, shrimp boil, king or snow crab legs, lobster, fried shrimp, steamed jumbo shrimp, and any other shellfish you can think of.
FAQ: Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce
How do you make seafood sauce from Old Bay?
To make this recipe with Old Bay seasoning, follow the recipe card below but omit the addition of any extra salt. Instead, add Old Bay (or other Cajun or creole seasonings) one teaspoon at a time. Be sure to taste test the sauce to avoid over-salting.
To avoid overpowering the meal, I’d leave out the addition of a creole or Cajun seasoning if already used on the seafood.
What sauces go with seafood?
Classic seafood sauce recipes include tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and garlic butter sauce. I recommend serving all three with your seafood dish so guests can choose what they like.
This is a great recipe for dipping shrimp, crab legs, lobster tails, crawfish, or any other ingredient from a seafood boil.
Garlic Butter Sauce for Seafood
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter (salted)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chives (freshly chopped)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (freshly chopped)
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat and cook until melted. Turn the heat to low.
- Stir in the garlic and continue cooking over low heat for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic begins to smell fragrant.
- Add the lemon juice and herbs to the butter stirring to combine.
- Remove from the heat and serve immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.
Microwave Instructions
- To a microwave-safe bowl (I like Pyrex measuring glasses), add the butter and garlic.
- Microwave at 30-45 second intervals, or until melted. Stir periodically to avoid splattering.
- When the butter is melted, add the fresh herbs and lemon juice. Serve warm.
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