Chile Lime Butter

This chile lime butter is a bright and flavorful compound butter made with fresh lime zest, chili powder and cilantro. It’s an easy flavored butter recipe that adds a bold citrusy kick to grilled corn, steak, seafood and vegetables.

What is Chile Lime Butter?

One of my go-to flavors is Chile Lime Butter. It features lime zest, chili powder, cilantro, and unsalted butter. Super simple and super delicious.

Chile lime butter is a type of compound butter made by mixing softened butter with flavorful ingredients such as citrus zest, spices and herbs. The result is a rich, aromatic butter that melts beautifully over hot foods.

Compound butters are commonly used in restaurants because they instantly add flavor to dishes. In this recipe, the combination of lime zest, chili powder and cilantro creates a balance of citrus, heat and freshness.

While the flavors of this butter are traditionally Latin leaning, they are also general enough to be paired with any grilled meal or steak. What doesn’t go with the essence of fresh citrus, herbs and a touch of spice?

What You’ll Need

Homemade chile lime butter only requires a handful of simple ingredients. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Unsalted butter – If you’ve been around for awhile, you know I prefer to use unsalted butter and add my own salt into recipes. However if salted is all you have, just leave out the extra salt. You cam also make your own homemade butter if you prefer.

How to Make Chile Lime Butter (Step-by-Step)

Making this flavored compound butter is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Just follow these simple steps.

1. Mash butter. Mash until soft and pliable.
2. Add zest, chile powder and salt. Add lime zest, red chile powder and salt, continue to mix until evenly blended.
3. Fold in cilantro. Gently fold in the cilantro until fully incorporated.
4. Chill. For best results, chill for the flavors to marry and the butter to reharden.

How to Use It

Melt Chile Lime Butter on grilled or roasted vegetables or use it to top baked chicken breasts to add back flavor and moisture. Use it while you are grilling corn on the cob or in recipes that require sautéing corn in the pan.

The uses for homemade chile lime butter are really endless, but there are a few things that these particular flavors do pair well with. Here are some of our favorites:

• Grill corn and then brush corn with this butter
• Use it to coat fresh vegetables (broccoli florets, cauliflower florets)
• Slather on a grilled cheese sandwich
• Use it to sauté chicken breasts

Tips for Perfect Compound Butter

Once you start making flavored butters like this chile lime butter, you won’t be able to stop! Follow these tips for the perfect compound butter every time.

• Use softened butter – Soft butter is easier to work with and makes it easier to distribute the ingredients evenly.
• Use fresh ingredients – Using fresh ingredients when it comes to citrus and herbs makes for a brighter, bolder flavor.
• Taste before chilling – Before chilling, which therefore hardens the butter, give it a taste test to see if anything needs adjusted- specifically salt.
• Shape for easy storage – I like to roll my butter into a log and wrap it with parchment or plastic wrap for easy slicing.

More Homemade Butter Recipes

If you know me, you know how much I love butter. Here are some of my favorite compound butter recipes for slathering.

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Chile Lime Butter Recipe

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This chile lime butter is a flavored compound butter made with fresh lime, chili powder and cilantro. Perfect for corn, steak and veggies.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings: 8 tablespoons

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Equipment

• Stand Mixer

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature, cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 tablespoon cilantro , finely minced

Instructions

• Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer or working by hand, stir the softened 1/4 cup unsalted butter until soft and mashed.
• Stir in the the 1 tablespoon lime zest, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt until evenly mixed. Add the chopped 1 tablespoon cilantro, mixing until combined.
• Transfer to an airtight container or roll in wax or parchment paper, chilling for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• If you've tried this recipe, make sure to come back and leave us a comment or quick star rating.

Notes

Storage: Store your chili lime butter recipe in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days.

Freezing: Butter can also be frozen and thawed in the fridge or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tablespoon, Calories: 102 kcal, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 30 mg, Sodium: 294 mg, Vitamin A: 390 IU, Vitamin C: 0.4 mg, Calcium: 3 mg

Author: Chef Jessica Formicola

Calories: 102

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Keyword: butter for corn, butter for seafood, butter for steak, butter for vegetables, chile lime butter, chili butter, chili lime butter, cilantro butter, compound butter, flavored butter, grilled corn butter, homemade compound butter, lime butter

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