Cowboy Butter

Name: Cowboy Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 9 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Western
Ingredients: 100 g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened, divided; 1 garlic clove (1 tsp), large, finely minced; knife best; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 tsp smoked paprika, regular paprika can be substituted; 1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes; ¼ tsp cooking salt / kosher salt, halve the amount for table salt

Bowl of orange cowboy butter beside sliced steak. — Cowboy butter served with sliced steak.

A smoky, garlicky butter with Dijon mustard and chilli flakes, made for spooning over steak or serving with other cooked meats, seafood, and vegetables.

By Cookin' KitchenOctober 6, 2026Updated October 19, 2026

Be the first to rate it Leave a comment

Total: 9 minutes
Makes: 2 people

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 1 minute
Rest: 3 minutes
Total: 9 minutes
Makes: 2 people

Jump to recipe

Recipe

Cowboy Butter

A smoky, garlicky butter with Dijon mustard and chilli flakes, made for spooning over steak or serving with other cooked meats, seafood, and vegetables.

Cookin' · https://cookin.club/recipes/cowboy-butter

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 1 minute
Rest: 3 minutes
Total: 9 minutes
Makes: 2 people

Cook modeKeeps your screen awake while you cook.

Ingredients

2 people

For 2 people

100 g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened, divided
1 garlic clove (1 tsp), large, finely minced; knife best
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp smoked paprika, regular paprika can be substituted
1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes
¼ tsp cooking salt / kosher salt, halve the amount for table salt

Instructions

Step 1: Melt 1 tbsp (15g) of butter in a small frying pan over medium heat until it starts foaming. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, until it becomes very, very light golden. Remove the pan from the heat and let the garlic cool for 3 minutes; it will become more golden as it cools.
Tip: If using a garlic crusher, cook the garlic over lower heat and watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn.
Step 2: Put the remaining butter and ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Pour the garlic butter over them and mix until combined.
Step 3: Serve with steak, other cooked meats, seafood, or vegetables.
Step 4: Serve softened over hot steak, where it melts thickly. Alternatively, melt it gently and dip bites of steak into it, or roll it into a log using cling wrap and refrigerate until firm. Cut slices as needed and place them on hot steak to melt.

Notes

For a dipping sauce, melt the butter gently and serve it in a bowl. To make a log, roll the butter in cling wrap, refrigerate until firm, then cut slices as needed.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

If using a garlic crusher, cook the garlic over lower heat and watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn.

About this recipe

This garlicky butter gets smoky depth from paprika, a tang from Dijon mustard, and a kick from chilli flakes. Spoon it softened over steak, or serve it with other cooked meats, seafood, and vegetables.