Let’s have a moment of appreciation for butter, shall we? That magical ingredient that makes everything taste better and somehow convinces children to eat things they’d otherwise reject with dramatic flair. This Lemon-Rosemary Butter Sauce is basically butter’s glow-up.

The pairing of lemon and rosemary is a classic that spans countless culinary traditions, from Italian to French to Greek cuisine. There’s something about the bright, zingy citrus with the piney, aromatic rosemary that just works, especially when they’re swimming in melted butter (because, hello, it’s butter). 

The beauty of this sauce is its simplicity – just a handful of ingredients that transform into liquid gold in about 5 minutes flat. It’s the kind of sauce that makes weeknight dinners feel special without requiring any actual cooking skills. And the aroma? Pure kitchen magic that’ll have everyone wandering in asking, “When’s dinner ready?

Zesty Lemon-Rosemary Butter Sauce

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Luxurious Lemon-Rosemary Butter Sauce pairs bright citrus with piney rosemary in a silky, rich base that enhances without overwhelming more delicate flavors.

• Author: Amanda MacArthur
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: ¾ cup 1x
• Category: Sides & Sauces

Ingredients

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• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, finely minced (optional but wonderful)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

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Instructions

1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat
2. Add shallot (if using) and cook for 1 minute until softened
3. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant
4. Stir in rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
5. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest
6. Let stand 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to infuse.

Notes

• Makes about ¾ cup

This luxurious Lemon-Rosemary Butter Sauce is magic on seafood – particularly salmon, scallops, or shrimp – but don’t stop there! It’s absolutely delicious drizzled over roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, or even just a humble baked potato. For an impressive yet ridiculously easy dinner party main, roast a whole side of salmon, then drizzle with warm lemon-rosemary butter right before serving – the sizzle and aroma will make you look like a culinary genius with minimal effort (my favorite kind of cooking trick). It also makes plain steamed vegetables like green beans or asparagus instantly company-worthy.

For the ultimate comfort food upgrade, toss hot pasta with this butter sauce, add a handful of frozen peas and some rotisserie chicken, and dinner is DONE in less time than it takes to decide what to watch on Netflix. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days – just gently reheat before serving.

If you want to be really fancy, strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve before serving for that restaurant-quality silky finish. But honestly? I never bother – those little flecks of herb are flavor bombs I wouldn’t dare lose!

Has this Lemon-Rosemary Butter Sauce made you look like a kitchen rock star? Or have you discovered it’s amazing on something unexpected like popcorn or scrambled eggs? Share your buttery adventures in the comments – I’m always looking for new excuses to eat more butter (as if we needed any)!