Homemade Tarragon Butter Recipe

If you grow tarragon in your herb garden, homemade tarragon butter is a delicious way to use some of those fresh leaves.

This easy compound butter combines creamy butter with fresh tarragon, a little lemon, and simple seasonings.

Tarragon has a distinctive flavor that’s slightly sweet with a hint of anise. It’s especially delicious with chicken, seafood, eggs, potatoes, and roasted vegetables.

Homemade herb butter is one of my favorite ways to use fresh herbs from the garden. It takes just a few minutes to make, and you can keep it in the refrigerator or freezer to add fresh flavor to everyday meals.

What Does Tarragon Butter Taste Like?

Tarragon has a delicate flavor that’s a little different from many of the other herbs commonly used in cooking. It has a subtle licorice-like taste with a slightly sweet, peppery finish.

When mixed with butter, fresh tarragon creates a rich, savory spread that works especially well with chicken, fish, and vegetables.

A little lemon zest brightens the flavor without overpowering the tarragon.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this homemade tarragon butter.

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Fresh tarragon gives this butter the best flavor. Remove the leaves from the woody stems before chopping.

Unsalted butter is my preference because it lets you control the amount of salt.

How to Make Tarragon Butter

Step 1: Soften the Butter

Remove the butter from the refrigerator and let it soften until it’s easy to stir. You want it soft enough to mix but not melted.

Step 2: Prepare the Tarragon

Rinse the fresh tarragon leaves and pat them completely dry.

Remove the leaves from the stems and finely chop them. Tarragon leaves are fairly delicate, so you don’t need to chop them too finely.

Step 3: Mix the Ingredients

Place the softened butter in a medium mixing bowl.

Add the chopped tarragon, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

Stir everything together until the herbs and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the butter.

Taste and adjust the salt or lemon if needed.

Step 4: Shape the Butter

Spoon the butter onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap.

Shape it into a log, then roll it up and twist the ends to seal.

You can also spoon the finished butter into a small serving dish or airtight container if you prefer.

Step 5: Chill

Refrigerate the butter for at least one hour, or until firm.

Once chilled, you can slice the butter into individual rounds whenever you need it.

Ways to Use Tarragon Butter

Tarragon butter is especially good with foods that have mild flavors. The fresh herb adds something special without overpowering the dish.

Here are some ways to use it:

Chicken: Place a slice of tarragon butter over grilled or roasted chicken just before serving. It melts into a delicious herb sauce.

Fish and Seafood: Tarragon pairs beautifully with salmon, cod, shrimp, and scallops. Add a small pat of butter to hot seafood just before serving.

Roasted Vegetables: Toss roasted carrots, green beans, asparagus, or zucchini with a little tarragon butter.

Potatoes: Stir a spoonful into mashed potatoes or melt it over baked or roasted potatoes.

Eggs: Add a little tarragon butter to scrambled eggs or an omelet for a fresh herbal flavor.

Pasta: Toss hot pasta with a little tarragon butter, Parmesan cheese, and freshly ground black pepper for a simple meal.

Fresh Bread: Spread softened tarragon butter on warm homemade bread or dinner rolls.

Tips for Making the Best Herb Butter

A few simple tips will help you get the best results when making homemade compound butter.

• Start with softened butter so the herbs mix in easily.
• Use fresh herbs whenever possible for the best flavor.
• Make sure the herbs are dry before adding them to the butter.
• Finely chop the herbs so they’re evenly distributed.
• Taste the butter before chilling and adjust the seasonings.
• Roll the butter into a log for easy slicing and serving.

How to Store Tarragon Butter

Store homemade tarragon butter in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in parchment paper in the refrigerator for up to one week.

For longer storage, freeze the butter for up to three months.

I like to roll compound butter into logs, wrap them tightly, and freeze them. You can slice off individual portions whenever you need a little extra flavor for dinner.

More Homemade Herb Butter Recipes

Once you start making homemade herb butters, it’s fun to experiment with all the different herbs growing in your garden.

Here are some other recipes you might enjoy:

• Homemade Garlic Rosemary Butter – A savory combination that’s delicious on steak, potatoes, chicken, and homemade bread.
• Homemade Chive Butter – Fresh chives add a mild onion flavor that’s wonderful on baked potatoes and vegetables.
• Garlic Parsley Butter – A classic garlic butter for seafood, pasta, bread, and grilled vegetables.
• Fresh Dill Butter – A bright, fresh butter that’s especially good with salmon, potatoes, and vegetables.
• Basil Herb Butter – A delicious way to use fresh basil from your summer garden.
• Thyme Herb Butter – An earthy herb butter that’s wonderful with roasted vegetables, chicken, and turkey.
• Honey Lavender Butter – A lightly sweet, floral butter that’s delicious on biscuits, scones, muffins, and pancakes.

You can also find all of these recipes in my collection of 7 Homemade Herb Butter Recipes.

Homemade tarragon butter is an easy way to bring fresh garden flavor into your kitchen.

Whether you melt it over chicken, add it to roasted vegetables, or spread it on warm bread, it’s a simple little recipe that makes everyday meals more flavorful.

The next time you’re harvesting fresh tarragon, save a few leaves and make a batch. You might want to keep a roll in the freezer so it’s ready whenever you need it!

Follow my kitchen garden living board on Pinterest.