FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Compound Butter Recipe
• What Is Compound Butter?
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Compound Butter
• 7 Flavor Variations
• Storage Options
• Ways To Use It
• Compound Butter (7 Flavors!) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

If you haven’t made your own compound butter yet, let me show you how to make it and you’ll never want to be without it! My compound butter recipe is one of those kitchen tricks that’s so simple but makes such a big impact. I’ve been using variations of this compound butter for steak the longest, but it’s actually so versatile and enhances many other dishes, too. Whether you’re spreading it on bread, melting it over roasted potatoes or veggies, or adding a dollop on the perfect ribeye , it adds flavor and richness to just about anything. Whip up a batch with me and taste the difference!

Why You Need My Compound Butter Recipe

• Savory, garlicky, and creamy – The rich, garlicky, and herby flavor will elevate any dish you make. And the texture is silky, making it easy to spread or melt over your favorite foods.
• 7 flavor variations – The recipe card has the herb combo I use the most, but I’ve got 7 other flavors you can make, from sweet to savory.
• Takes just 5 minutes – It’s as simple as mixing the ingredients together. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start making compound butter sooner!
• Many ways to enjoy it – I use compound butter for steak most often — you’ll spot it on almost every steak picture I have here on Wholesome Yum! But it’s also incredible on chicken , vegetables, bread, seafood , and more.

What Is Compound Butter?

Compound butter is basically a fancy name for garlic herb butter. You simply mash butter with flavorful ingredients, like garlic, herbs, and spices. I love using it over meats, veggies, or even slathered on warm bread!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my compound butter recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Butter – I like to use unsalted butter, so I can control the salt separately Salted butter works, though — just skip the extra salt. Grass-fed butter tastes the best (I love this brand ), but feel free to use regular if that’s what you’ve got.
• Garlic – Use fresh garlic cloves if you can, so that you can press them through a garlic press. I prefer this for texture, but jarred minced garlic works. 1 clove equals about 1/2 teaspoon minced.
• Fresh Herbs – I went with dill and parsley for my basic compound butter recipe, but feel free to swap in other fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro, or chives. You can make compound butter with dried herbs, but let’s be real, it won’t taste as good. If that’s all you have, use 1 teaspoon dried to replace each tablespoon fresh.
• Sea Salt – You can add black pepper, but I usually season my food with it separately. For a kick, try adding cayenne or chili powder.

How To Make Compound Butter

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Press the garlic. Peel your garlic cloves, then press through a garlic press (I have and love this garlic press , pictured below).
2. Mash the butter. In a small bowl, mash the butter with a fork.

PRO TIP: Use room temperature butter!

Soft butter is way easier to mash and helps everything blend together smoothly.

1. Mix it all up. Mash the garlic, fresh herbs, and salt into the butter, until combined.
2. Refrigerate (optional). If you want to be able to slice it, place the herb compound butter mixture on a piece of parchment paper, plastic wrap, or wax paper, and roll into a log shape. Twist the ends to seal and refrigerate until firm. You can skip this step if you just want to dollop it over something right away.

1. Enjoy! Slice your herb butter log, and use in your favorite way. (See below for my favorite compound butter uses!)

7 Flavor Variations

You can easily make your own compound butter recipes by mashing in different ingredients! These are some of my favorites:

• Summer herbs – Dill and parsley are already pretty summery, but you can also add or replace them with chives or basil.
• Fall herbs – In the fall, I like to make compound butter with rosemary, thyme, and/or sage. This combo is perfect for spreading under the skin for my roasted turkey or spatchcock chicken .
• Blue cheese – Mash some crumbled blue cheese into the butter. I love this version on steak, along with some sauteed mushrooms .
• Lemon – With any herb combo, mix in a teaspoon of lemon zest for a bright flavor. You can also try lime or orange zest. Skip the juice, though—it can make the butter too watery unless you’re using it in a sauce.
• Pesto – Mix together butter and pesto, for built-in herbs and garlic. I love this melted over zucchini noodles or grilled shrimp skewers .
• Honey – For a sweet version, skip the garlic and herbs, and beat the butter with 1/4 cup of honey (I make it with my natural sugar-free honey ). Sometimes I add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or even pumpkin spice to this one. It’s amazing spread on fall breads!
• Black garlic – Use black garlic instead of regular for a deeper flavor. Use it just as you would regular garlic butter… on anything.

Storage Options

• Store: You can use the softened butter right away, or refrigerate it for firmer pats. I usually keep a stick of butter in my butter dish on the counter, but compound butter is best chilled, since it has fresh herbs. (Plus, this allows you to slice it more easily.) It will last up to 1 month on the fridge, as long as your herbs were fresh to begin with.
• Freeze: You can keep compound butter in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. To freeze the whole batch, just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in a zip lock bag. Sometimes I like to smear tablespoons into a small ice cube tray, so that I can use individual portions — I just got this one and love how easily the pieces pop out!

Ways To Use It

There are so many ways to use homemade compound butter! One of them deserves it’s own section. 😉

Compound Butter For Steak:

The #1 reason I make it! Using compound butter for steak is an instant way to add richness and take your steaks to a whole new level. Try it with some of my steak recipes:

• For every day – My sirloin steak recipe is my most popular affordable cut. You can also whip up a reasonable sirloin tip steak , grilled steak , or garlic butter steak bites .
• For special occasions – I have to admin, these are my weakness, and I sometimes make them even when there’s no event. My fave is filet mignon , but you can also use compound butter for ribeye (pictured below), New York strip , London broil , or even surf and turf .

Other Uses:

• Poultry – My favorite way to use compound butter on chicken and turkey is to tuck it under the skin. Try it in my recipes for spatchcock chicken , roasted turkey , air fryer chicken legs , or roasted chicken thighs . For lower heat cooking methods, like my slow cooker turkey breast , you can just slather it on top. I also love adding a dollop to my juicy chicken breast after baking.
• Seafood – My favorite is my pan seared salmon , but you can also use this in place of regular butter for pan seared scallops or pan fried cod , or for dipping chunks of broiled lobster tail or crab legs .
• Vegetables – Add it to my sauteed green beans , sauteed asparagus , or sauteed cabbage in the last couple minutes of cooking for a garlicky, buttery finish. I also love blending it into cauliflower mash .
• Potatoes – I always toss my air fried potatoes with a little butter at the end, but they’re even better with this compound butter recipe. This method works with roasted sweet potatoes , too.
• Bread – Use your favorite kind! I like to slather it on my gluten-free almond flour bread after toasting.

With so many ways to use it, it’s no wonder I always have a log of compound butter in my fridge! And once you try it, I bet you will, too.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
• 4 cloves Garlic (pressed through a garlic press ) ▢
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped) ▢
• 1 tbsp Fresh dill (chopped) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. In a small bowl, mash the butter with a fork.
2. Add the garlic, fresh herbs, and salt. Mash again.
3. To store for later, or if you need firm pats of butter, place the butter on a sheet of plastic wrap and wrap in a log shape, twisting the ends. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm. To use, slice butter into tablespoon-sized pats.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 tablespoon

• Flavor Variations: See the details in the post above! I’ve got summer and fall versions, blue cheese, lemon, pesto, honey, and black garlic flavors to choose from.
• Store: Up to 1 month in the fridge, depending on how fresh your herbs are.
• Freeze: Up to 3-6 months in the freezer. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, or use an ice cube tray like mine to pop out individual portions easily.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Compound Butter

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Compound Butter (7 Flavors!)

Make my compound butter recipe in just 5 minutes, with 7 flavor options! Use this easy compound butter for steak, veggies, bread, and more.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/compound-butter/

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 cloves Garlic (pressed through a garlic press )
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1 tbsp Fresh dill (chopped)
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mash the butter with a fork.
2. Add the garlic, fresh herbs, and salt. Mash again.
3. To store for later, or if you need firm pats of butter, place the butter on a sheet of plastic wrap and wrap in a log shape, twisting the ends. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm. To use, slice butter into tablespoon-sized pats.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 tablespoon

• Flavor Variations: See the details in the post above! I’ve got summer and fall versions, blue cheese, lemon, pesto, honey, and black garlic flavors to choose from.
• Store: Up to 1 month in the fridge, depending on how fresh your herbs are.
• Freeze: Up to 3-6 months in the freezer. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, or use an ice cube tray like mine to pop out individual portions easily.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)