Lemon Chive Compound Butter

Lemon Chive Compound Butter is a fresh, zesty spread made with soft butter, bright lemon zest, and finely minced chives. It’s simple to prepare, full of flavour, and an easy way to elevate everyday dishes with minimal effort.

Hey, folks – I hope you’re all doing well.

This is one of those small kitchen staples that quietly makes everything better, whether it’s spread on warm bread or melted over vegetables. It takes just a few minutes to prepare, yet feels thoughtful and refined. So, let’s dive into this Lemon Chive Compound Butter.

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Chive Compound Butter

• Quick and easy: Ready with just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep.
• Fresh and vibrant: Lemon and chives bring brightness and balance.
• Versatile: Works just as well for everyday meals as for entertaining.
• Make-ahead friendly: Keeps beautifully in the fridge for several days.
• Customisable: Easy to adjust lemon, salt, or herbs to taste.

Flavour and Texture Profile

This Lemon Chive Compound Butter is smooth, creamy, and lightly tangy. The butter provides richness, while lemon zest adds a clean citrus aroma and chives bring a mild onion-like freshness. A small amount of lemon juice sharpens the flavour just enough, keeping the butter balanced rather than heavy.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe

To make this Lemon Chive Compound Butter, you’ll need just a few well-chosen ingredients that shine on their own.

• Butter: Salted or unsalted both work; the butter should be fully softened for easy mixing.
• Chives: Finely minced chives add gentle onion flavour without overpowering the butter.
• Lemon zest: Provides bright citrus aroma and freshness.
• Lemon juice: Adds acidity and balances the richness of the butter.
• Salt: Only needed if using unsalted butter, and added to taste.

How to Make Lemon Chive Compound Butter

This Lemon Chive Compound Butter comes together quickly and requires no special tools.

1. Soften the butter by leaving it at room temperature for about 60–90 minutes, until pliable.
   Alternatively, soften it in the microwave using 2–3 short intervals of 10–15 seconds each.
2. If using unsalted butter, add the salt along with the minced chives, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
3. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Transfer the butter to a small bowl and let it firm up, either at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for 10–15 minutes.

Normally, you would shape infused butter into a log or even individual portions. However, there’s really no need to spend extra time on shaping when you can simply transfer it to a bowl and let it set. Whatever way you choose, you’ll be impressed with the result.

If refrigerated, the butter will firm up quite a bit, so I recommend taking it out of the fridge 20–30 minutes before serving.

How to Use This Butter

• Spread on bread: Perfect on warm crusty bread, rolls, or toast.
• Finish vegetables: Let it melt over steamed or roasted vegetables.
• With fish or seafood: Ideal for grilled or pan-seared fish.
• On chicken or meat: Add a pat on grilled chicken, steak, or lamb.
• In savoury cooking: Stir into pasta, rice, or potatoes just before serving.
• For entertaining: Serve as part of a bread basket or butter board.

More Compound Butter Recipes

Are you looking for more fun ideas, like this Lemon Chive Compound Butter? Be sure to check more recipes below:

• Roasted Garlic Chive Compound Butter
• Lavender Lemon Honey Butter
• Lavender Chive Thyme Butter
• Compound Chive Blossom Butter

I hope you like this Lemon Chive Compound Butter, and you will give it a try shortly. If you make it, please let me know in the comment section of this post below, send me an Instagram message, or share your photos by adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

Lemon Chive Butter

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

Lemon Chive Compound Butter is fresh, zesty, and easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for fish, vegetables, and bread.

Course: Condiments Sauces and Compound Butter

5.0 from 1 vote

Print

Servings

8-10

servings

Cooking time

10

minutes

Chilling time

20-30

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of salted or unsalted butter, softened (1 stick or about 115 gr.)

• 2-3 tbsp. finely minced chives

• zest of 1 lemon

• 1/2 to 1 tbsp. lemon juice

• 1/4 tsp. salt (if using unsalted butter)

Directions

• Soften the butter by leaving it at room temperature about 60-90 minutes before proceeding, until it’s pliable. Alternatively, you can soften it in the microwave in 2-3 short intervals (about 10-15 seconds each.)
• If using the unsalted butter, stir in the salt along with the chives, lemon juice and zest. Mix well to distribute evenly. Try and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Transfer to a small bowl and let it firm – either at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes. You can also shape it into a log. Use the butter for bread, grilled food, or as a part of savory recipe that uses butter. When refrigerated, it firms up a lot, so I would recommend taking it out the fridge 20-30 minutes prior to serving. Enjoy!