How To Make The Best Steak Butter Recipe (4 Ways)

This easy steak butter recipe shows you four different ways to make a flavorful compound butter that melts beautifully over a hot steak and instantly adds extra richness. Whether you're cooking some pan seared filet mignon, ribeye steak, flat iron steak, or New York strip steaks, a simple compound butter is the best way to level up steak night with minimal effort.

Why You'll Love This Steak Butter Recipe

This compound steak butter recipe is one of those "why don't I do this every time?" kind of things. It's made with simple ingredients you can grab at the grocery store, comes together in minutes, and works on just about any kind of steak you love. From pan-seared steak cooked in a cast iron skillet to a perfect grilled steak with a charred exterior, this finishing butter takes everything to the next level.

Using room temperature butter is the first thing that makes this recipe foolproof. Softened butter mixes evenly, traps fresh herbs and seasonings, and creates a smooth, delicious compound butter with so much flavor. And because each version has its own flavor profile - spicy, herby, briny, or cheesy - there are different ways to match it with whatever you're cooking.

This butter isn't just for steak either. Try a dollop of garlic butter on pork chops, swirl it into garlic butter steak bites, or melt it over a tender steak right after the steak rest. The natural flavor of the butter combined with high heat cooking creates that glossy, steakhouse-style finish we all want. So if you want to take a good steak and turn it into a great steak, this is the first thing you should do!

Plus, these steak butter stores beautifully in an airtight container or wrapped in a piece of plastic wrap, making them the most most perfect delicious recipe. 

Ingredients & Substitutions

These delicious compound butter recipes all start with a stick of butter and build from there. Unsalted butter works, but salted butter adds more depth and balance.

• Salted butter: Always use room temperature or softened butter for the best mix of butter and seasonings.
• Calabrian chilis: Adds heat and smoky spice without overpowering the steak. I recommend getting the crushed variety if you can find it.
• Chimichurri: Brings fresh herbs like parsley and oregano with bright, garlicky flavor. I use the one from Trader Joe's and it's perfect!
• Blue cheese: Adds bold richness and pairs beautifully with juicy steak. If you're not a blue cheese person, feel free to swap it out for a few dashes of worcestershire sauce which will give tons of umami. 
• Castelvetrano olives: Mild, buttery olives that add briny contrast... but any pitted olive will work. 
• Lemon zest: Brightens everything and balances richness.
• Pecorino Romano cheese: Salty, nutty, and perfect for a cacio e pepe vibe. You could also use parmesan cheese and some roasted garlic if you were feeling up for it!
• Fresh cracked black pepper: Essential for seasoning and heat and that cacio e pepe compound butter recipe. 
• Optional Additions: fresh garlic, lemon juice, worchesteshire steak, fresh parsley, fresh rosemary,  green onion, dried herbs

How To Make Butter for Steak

Making this steak butter couldn't be easier and truly is the best way to get maximum flavor with minimal work.

• MIX THE BUTTER: Add the ingredients for each butter to a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat the butter for 1 minute until smooth and fully combined.
• SHAPE THE BUTTER: Scoop the mix of butter into beautiful serving bowls or onto parchment paper or a piece of plastic wrap. Roll into a log, twist the ends, and refrigerate until firm.
• SLICE & SERVE: Dollop or cut into steak butter coins and place one right on top of your steak while it rests.
• SAVE: Store leftover butter in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to one week.

When & How To Use Steak Butter

Add the butter to your steak immediately after cooking so it melts into the top of your steak. This works especially well after cooking steak in a cast iron pan over medium heat or high heat. Always pat steak dry with a paper towel, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and cook until the internal temperature hits your target using an instant-read thermometer. 

This compound butter is perfect for ribeye steak, filet mignon, top sirloin, and New York strip steaks. It also tastes incredible on pork chops and vegetables. Be sure to check out my filet mignon steak guide if you have questions on how to cook the perfect steak. 

What to pair with Steak Butter 

This steak butter is the perfect finishing butter for steak night and works beautifully on everything from pan-seared steak cooked in a cast iron skillet to a perfect grilled steak with a charred exterior. Add a steak butter coin to the top of your steak right after cooking and let it melt during the steak rest for extra richness and a juicy steak every time. It's especially great on ribeye steak, sauteed filet mignon, and New York strip steaks, but also delicious on pork chops, garlic butter steak bites, or alongside my favorite roasted vegetable recipes and simple steakhouse-style sides like the ones listed below.

• Prosciutto and Gouda Twice Baked Potatoes
• White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
• Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Blue Cheese Bacon Compound Butter
• The Best Easy Steak House Creamed Spinach Recipe

And if you love butter, here are some more tasy butter recipes!

• Garlic Steak Bites Appetizer with Boursin CheeseGarlic Steak Bites Appetizer with Boursin Cheese
• Crockpot Steak Bites with Garlic, Rosemary & Honey Balsamic
• Butter Roasted Turkey
• Butter Roasted Tenderloin
• Homemade Turkey Seasoning Recipe for Thanksgiving

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