Cowboy Butter Sauce (Printable)

A bold, creamy butter sauce with fresh lemon, garlic, and Dijon mustard—ideal for elevating steak, seafood, or roasted vegetables.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

→ Fresh

02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)

→ Pantry

06 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter until just foamy.
02 - Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, and cayenne (if using).
04 - Simmer gently for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in parsley, chives, and thyme.
06 - Serve immediately as a warm sauce or use as a dipping sauce for steak, seafood, vegetables, or bread.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in about 15 minutes, so you can make it while your steak is still resting.
  • The combination of lemon, garlic, and smoked paprika creates this sophisticated depth that feels like you spent hours on it.
  • It works on literally anything—beef, fish, vegetables, even warm bread—making it the most versatile sauce you'll ever keep on hand.
02 -
  • Never let the sauce boil aggressively or the butter will separate and you'll lose that creamy, unified texture you're after.
  • Always add your fresh herbs at the very end, after removing from heat—this preserves their color and keeps that bright, garden-fresh taste intact.
03 -
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking because once the butter's melting, everything happens quickly and you won't want to stop and chop.
  • If your sauce breaks or separates, whisk in a tablespoon of cold water or cream off heat and it should come back together smoothly.
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