What Exactly Is Cowboy Butter?
Perhaps you've heard of cowboy caviar and cowboy cookies, and maybe even cowboy candy. That word seems to be making its way into the names of many popular recipes, the origins of which are always a bit blurry. Were these "cowboy" recipes birthed in Texas? Do the dishes have some sort of cowboy-related history or are they sturdy enough to survive long periods of time in a saddlebag? Is it simply a version of an existing recipe that's been rebranded and gone viral?
Whatever the reasoning or origins behind it, one thing seems to be clear — when it comes to the food itself, the name cowboy implies some kind of epic mashup. The common denominator in all of these recipes is that they're made from a somewhat unexpected combo of various ingredients that come together to form a "kitchen sink" type of dish — one that proves to be trend-worthy. And cowboy butter is no exception.
So what exactly is cowboy butter? What are its supposed origins? How do you make it, and what do you eat it with? Saddle up. Here's everything we know.
From a New York diner to TikTok and beyond
Like the other recipes, the conception of cowboy butter is a bit of a question mark, but many credit a Southern-style diner in New York (Mr. Donahue's, which has since closed) for first putting it on the map several years ago. More recently, it's gained traction thanks to creator @JortsKitchen, who posted it where recipes go to blow up: TikTok. Now everyone wants a bite.
@jortskitchen 🦅🔥 This cowboy butter recipe should be trending because its one of the best tasting sauces for steak I've ever had! It's quick and easy to make too! #cowboybutter #butter #filetmignon #raw #mediumrare #foodtok #fyp #fypシ
Cowboy butter is essentially an easier-to-make version of a compound butter that marries together any and every ingredient that pairs well with steak. Each recipe varies a bit, but the main stars tend to be butter, lemon, garlic, dijon mustard, paprika, cayenne, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and chives. Some recipes include Worcestershire sauce, others horseradish or shallots.
It can be made like a true compound butter, resulting in a solid log to be used as a meltable spread like traditional steak butter. But most often cowboy butter is simply made as a dipping sauce, meant to be slathered on your favorite steak. It's simple and quick to put together, and whatever ingredients combo you choose, they'll come together to create a salty, savory, spicy, herbaceous, buttery deliciousness that you'll want to sop up immediately.
The best way to eat cowboy butter
The beauty of cowboy butter is that when it comes to the best way to eat it, there is none — this concoction goes well with just about anything. If you haven't guessed by now, it's often served with grilled meats like steak and chicken, but its pairing powers certainly don't stop there.
This flavorful butter, whether in soft, solid, or saucy form, will also go great with seafood like grilled shrimp or roasted salmon. It'll level up soakable carbs like dinner rolls, cornbread, or biscuits. It can be spread on corn on the cob or even poured on top of popcorn if you're feeling adventurous. And anything from crispy potatoes to asparagus to mushrooms will taste amazing when dunked into this golden glory.
Wherever and whoever it came from, you'll be eternally grateful once you give it a try and quickly realize there's no wrong way to enjoy cowboy butter.