Garlic Butter Medallions: Easy, Flavorful, and Perfect For Every Dinner Table
Creamy, flavorful garlic butter medallions are an easy way to add rich garlic butter flavor to vegetables, meats, and simple side dishes. Made by mixing softened butter with seasonings and shaping it into freezer-ready rounds, they’re a quick, make-ahead staple that brings big flavor to everyday meals.
Looking for more flavor-packed staples? Try Stone Ground Mustard Sauce, Ginger Scallion Sauce, or Teriyaki Marinade.
Introduction
These garlic butter medallions are simple to make and incredibly versatile. With just a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep, the butter is mixed, shaped, and frozen into individual portions you can pull out whenever you need a boost of flavor.
This post includes three variations — dill, cayenne, and mustard — giving you a starting point while still leaving plenty of room to customize. Once you have a stash of these butter medallions in the freezer, they become an easy go-to for weeknight cooking as well as holiday meals, when having flavor already prepped makes everything run smoother.
If you enjoy making condiments at home, you may want to browse the full condiment recipes made from scratch collection for more ideas.
Why This Recipe Works
- It takes only minutes to prepare, making it perfect for busy cooks or last-minute prep.
- It uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- It freezes beautifully, so you can make it ahead and use as needed.
- It’s customizable with endless flavor combinations for both savory and sweet dishes.
- It adds instant flavor to everything from vegetables to meats and breads.
Ingredients For Garlic Butter Medallions
Just a few ingredients come together to create these buttery flavor bombs.
- Olive Oil: Optional — used only if roasting the garlic.
- Garlic: Use fresh, high-quality garlic; roasted garlic offers a sweeter, milder taste.
- Butter: Choose a high-quality, preferably farm-fresh or European-style butter. I like to make my own farmhouse style butter and then use it to create compound butters to keep in the freezer.
- Salt: Only needed if using unsalted butter.
- Flavorings: Dried dill, cayenne pepper, or mustard powder work beautifully in these versions.
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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Variations or Substitutions
- Try other herbs and spices like rosemary, chives, scallions, oregano, or smoked paprika.
- Add savory extras such as lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or parmesan.
- Make sweet versions with honey, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, or citrus zest.
- Use flavored salts for an added layer of complexity.
- Substitute roasted garlic with raw if you prefer a bolder, sharper garlic flavor.
How To Make Garlic Butter Medallions
These butter medallions come together quickly and can be prepped entirely in advance.
- Mix the ingredients:
In a bowl, combine the softened butter, roasted garlic, and salt. Mix well until smooth and evenly combined.
- Shape the butter log:
Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Spoon the butter mixture onto the plastic wrap, shaping it into a rough log.
- Roll and seal:
Use the plastic wrap to tightly roll the butter into a smooth log. Twist the ends to secure.
- Freeze until solid:
Place the wrapped butter log in the freezer and let it freeze completely.
- Store for later use:
Once frozen, transfer the butter log to a freezer-safe bag for long-term storage.
- Slice as needed:
When ready to use, remove the log from the freezer and slice into medallions.
Recipe FAQs
They store well for 6–9 months if wrapped and placed in a sealed freezer-safe bag.
Yes, for short-term use. They will keep for 10–15 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
Yes. Skip the added salt if using pre-salted butter.
No, but roasted garlic adds sweetness and removes the sharp bite of raw garlic.
Yes, use waxed paper or shape the butter into small ramekins instead. But, please note, that plastic wrap works best.
Serve
Use cayenne butter medallions on roasted vegetables, dill butter on seafood, and mustard butter on meats. These also elevate pasta, baked potatoes, grilled cheese, toast, and corn on the cob.
Sweet versions are excellent on pancakes, waffles, muffins, or scones. Whether savory or sweet, they’re a delicious, elegant touch to nearly any dish.
This recipe is part of my Thanksgiving recipe collection — a cozy roundup of dishes that make the holiday feel extra special.
Expert Tips
- Try different flavor variations: Add dried dill for a fresh, herby taste, cayenne pepper for a touch of heat, or mustard powder for a tangy kick.
- Roasting garlic first adds depth and sweetness: Roasted garlic has a milder, slightly caramelized flavor that blends beautifully into the butter, making it richer and less sharp than raw garlic.
- Perfect for finishing dishes: Place a medallion on top of a hot steak, grilled fish, or roasted vegetables for an easy, gourmet touch.
- Use high-quality butter: Farm-fresh or European-style butter will give the best flavor and texture.
- Let it soften before use: If using on bread or for spreading, let a medallion sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften.
Other Condiments You’ll Love
Homemade Ketchup
Stone Ground Mustard Sauce
Handmade Tasty BBQ Sauce
Horseradish Mayonnaise
Easy Dijon Mustard From Scratch
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Butter Garlic Medallions
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Fork or spatula
- Plastic wrap
- Sharp knife
- Freezer safe bag
Ingredients
- 8 oz unsalted butter room temperature
- 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional Additions (not calculated into nutritional values):
- 1 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoons dried dill
- 3 tablespoons mustard powder
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients: In a bowl, combine the softened butter, roasted garlic, and salt. Mix well until smooth and evenly combined.
- Shape the butter log: Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Spoon the butter mixture onto the plastic wrap, shaping it into a rough log.
- Roll and seal: Use the plastic wrap to tightly roll the butter into a smooth log. Twist the ends to secure.
- Freeze until solid: Place the wrapped butter log in the freezer and let it freeze completely.
- Store for later use: Once frozen, transfer the butter log to a freezer-safe bag for long-term storage.
- Slice as needed: When ready to use, remove the log from the freezer and slice into medallions.
Notes
- Try different flavor variations: Add dried dill for a fresh, herby taste, cayenne pepper for a touch of heat, or mustard powder for a tangy kick.
- Roasting garlic first adds depth and sweetness: Roasted garlic has a milder, slightly caramelized flavor that blends beautifully into the butter, making it richer and less sharp than raw garlic.
- Perfect for finishing dishes: Place a medallion on top of a hot steak, grilled fish, or roasted vegetables for an easy, gourmet touch.
- Use high-quality butter: Farm-fresh or European-style butter will give the best flavor and texture.
- Let it soften before use: If using on bread or for spreading, let a medallion sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These garlic butter medallions are packed with rich, savory flavor and make it so easy to add a delicious touch to any dish. With three different flavor options, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Be sure to leave a review and let me know how it turned out for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments — I’m happy to help!