Lemon Butter Sauce
The perfect blend of sweet and savory this rich Lemon Butter Sauce recipe will become a staple in your home.
Easy to make and ready in just 5 minutes this sauce is the perfect addition to a variety of dishes. I have enjoyed it over vegetables such as Brussel Sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.
But it is delicious on meat dishes such as Pork Chops or Lemon Chicken. Believe it or not this lemon butter sauce even fantastic over pasta. It is also delicious on fish like salmon.
The versatility and ease of this sauce makes it a staple that I will keep coming back to.
Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Butter: Salted butter is what I like to use for this recipe as it adds to the flavor of the sauce. However, if you are watching your salt and do not have it on hand unsalted butter works just as well. I would add a pinch of salt to the lemon sauce to help balance the flavors.
- Chicken Broth: A savory addition to this sauce is the chicken broth. It gives just that extra amount of richness that helps to balance the acidity of the lemon.
- Lemon Juice: It is impossible to have lemon butter sauce without lemon. If you have fresh lemons on hand and are able to juice them then I suggest doing that. Fresh lemon juice is much more rich and flavorful. However, if you do not have lemons do not despair, bottled lemon juice works as well.
- Garlic: If you love the taste of garlic like I do then you will enjoy it in this sauce. I am generous with it in this recipe and use two minced garlic cloves.
- Italian Seasoning: I prefer just a touch of Italian seasoning to bring some extra flavor. The acidity in the lemon juice and the richness in the butter pair very well with Italian seasoning. Together they are a great balance of flavor that compliments many a dish. If you are not a fan of Italian seasoning I have other options for you bellow.
- Fresh Ground Pepper: It is important to create a balance of flavors in dishes and that is exactly what this small amount of pepper does.
How To Make Lemon Butter Sauce
- In a saucepan melt the butter over low heat. Cooking butter over to high of a heat can burn it and that is not appetizing.
- Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the saucepan. Once the garlic is added to the butter stir for 1 minute to bring out the flavor in the garlic.
- Measure out the chicken broth and add it to the saucepan. If you do not have chicken broth available then chicken bouillon with water will work just fine.
- If fresh lemons are available to you then use squeeze those to get your lemon juice. If lemons are not in season or you do not have access to them then store bought lemon juice will also work. Add the lemon juice to the sauce pan, start with the amount that the recipe calls for. However if you decide that you would like a sharper lemon flavor feel free to add more.
- Italian seasoning and ground black pepper are the next set of ingredients that I like to add.
- Stir the ingredients on low heat for another minute then remove from heat.
- Add the garlic butter to your pasta, chicken, vegetables, or pork dish.
- *If you want to make this a creamy sauce you can add 1/4 cup heavy cream or 1/4 cup Ricotta. Add it along with the other ingredients and stir. This richer sauce pairs well over pasta or chicken.
Lemon Butter Sauce FAQ’s
What is Lemon Butter Sauce made of?
Lemon butter sauce is made using lemon juice, butter, chicken broth, garlic, and Italian spices. This simple sauce is used to bring citrus flavor to meats and pasta dishes.
The beauty of this lemon butter sauce is that it is forgiving when it comes to recipe ingredients. Feel free to add or omit any of the ingredients that you would like to. If you are not a huge fan of garlic then do not add very much of it. If you love spices add some extra red pepper flakes to the sauce.
How do you make butter sauce thicker?
Butter sauce is a versatile and delicious addition to numerous dishes, ranging from seafood and vegetables to pasta and meats. However, sometimes you may find that your butter sauce is too thin for your liking. In such cases, there are several simple techniques you can employ to thicken it up without compromising its taste or texture. In this article, we will explore five easy ways to make your butter sauce thicker.
- Reduce the Sauce:
One of the most straightforward methods to thicken a butter sauce is by reducing it on low heat. Simmering the sauce allows some of the liquid content to evaporate, resulting in a denser consistency. Start by transferring the sauce into a wide-bottomed pan or skillet and simmer over low heat until it reaches your desired thickness. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching. - Incorporate Flour or Cornstarch:
Using flour or cornstarch as thickening agents can give your butter sauce a smooth texture while increasing its viscosity. Begin by mixing equal parts flour or cornstarch with cold water until it forms a slurry-like mixture without any lumps. Slowly add this mixture into your simmering butter sauce while whisking continuously until the desired thickness is achieved.
How do you keep Lemon Butter Sauce from breaking?
It can be frustrating when a sauce breaks or separates, resulting in an undesirable texture and appearance. To help you maintain a smooth and silky lemon butter sauce every time, we have gathered some valuable tips that will prevent it from breaking. Read on!
- Use cold butter:
One of the key factors that contribute to a stable lemon butter sauce is the temperature of your ingredients. Using cold unsalted butter straight from the fridge helps emulsify the sauce better and reduces the chances of separation. - Slowly incorporate butter into warm liquid:
To create a cohesive emulsion, gradually add small pieces of cold butter into warm liquid (such as lemon juice or white wine) while whisking continuously. Avoid rushing this process; patience is essential for achieving a smooth consistency. - Maintain low heat:
When preparing your lemon butter sauce, ensure that you keep the heat low throughout the cooking process. High temperatures can cause fats in the butter to separate quickly, leading to broken or greasy sauces. - Do not overcook:
Overcooking your lemon butter sauce can also lead to breakage due to excessive heat exposure. Remove it from direct heat as soon as it reaches your desired thickness and continue whisking until fully combined.
Tips and Tricks:
I prefer to make my sauce separately from the main dish that I will be adding it to. This is possible to do in a Non-Stick Skillet or in a Saucepan. Keeping the sauce separate from the main dish that you plan to serve it with during the cooking process allows you to perfect the taste. Once you have your lemon sauce the way that you like it then add it to your chicken, pasta, fish, or pork chops.
When stirring this sauce I use a Wooden Spoon. I found that when I need to leave a spoon in a sauce or pan to stir it that using a wooden spoon is best. Because it is not metal the handle will not get hot. And because it is not plastic I do not have to worry about the spoon melting.
For the first minute of cooking this sauce I like to have just the butter and minced garlic together. I find that cooking the garlic on its own with the butter brings out the flavor more. And if you are a garlic lover like me I am sure that you will like doing the same.
Lemon Butter Sauce Variations
- Make it Spicy: Looking for a sauce with a bit of a kick? Substitute the Italian seasoning with crushed red pepper flakes. I love to add red pepper flakes to the final product once I have added the lemon butter sauce to the main dish. I enjoy a spicy kick to my pasta and find that a small sprinkle of crushed red peppers really adds to the flavor.
- Make it Creamy: When I want to make this sauce creamy I add 1/4 cup heavy cream to it once it is removed from the heat. If you are a fan of Ricotta Cheese then add a 1/4 cup of it to the lemon butter sauce as another alternative to thickening it. The creamy and rich flavor of the Ricotta cheese is a perfect addition when adding this sauce to pasta.
Lemon Butter Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
- 1/4 cup Chicken Broth
- 6 tbsp Salted Butter
- 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
- 1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a saucepan melt the butter over low heat. Cooking butter over to high of a heat can burn it and that is not appetizing.Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the saucepan. Once the garlic is added to the butter stir for 1 minute to bring out the flavor in the garlic.Measure out the chicken broth and add it to the saucepan. If you do not have chicken broth available then chicken bouillon with water will work just fine. If fresh lemons are available to you then use squeeze those to get your lemon juice. If lemons are not in season or you do not have access to them then store bought lemon juice will also work. Add the lemon juice to the sauce pan, start with the amount that the recipe calls for. However if you decide that you would like a sharper lemon flavor feel free to add more. Italian seasoning and ground black pepper are the next set of ingredients that I like to add. Stir the ingredients on low heat for another minute then remove from heat. Add the garlic butter to your pasta, chicken, vegetables, or pork dish.*If you want to make this a creamy sauce you can add 1/4 cup heavy cream or 1/4 cup Ricotta. Add it along with the other ingredients and stir. This richer sauce pairs well over pasta or chicken.
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