2-Ingredient Pesto Butter (5 Minutes!)

Looking for an easy recipe to elevate your buttery spread? This Pesto Butter comes together in just 5 minutes and with only two ingredients, giving you a velvety, flavorful spread in just minutes!

By mixing simple pesto with softened butter, you’re left with a next-level condiment that brings flavor, moisture, and vibrance to any food. I love using my homemade Arugula Basil Pesto in this recipe!

As a busy mom who can’t resist a gourmet meal, I love having little flavor enhancers like this delicious compound butter on hand! Just a little spread of this butter can elevate any meal or bring your morning toast to the next level!

Pesto Butter Ingredients

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Just 2 ingredients! Here’s what you need:

• Unsalted butter. Pesto has salt in it, so using salted butter will make for an overall too salty spread. It’s important that your butter is softened.
• Pesto. You can buy some at the store or make your own pesto. I used basil pesto, but this works with really any pesto recipe that I’ve tried!

2-Ingredient Pesto Butter Tips and Tricks

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Make Sure Your Butter Is Softened

This is the most important step! There are several options for softening your butter! For all 6 options, see this article on How To Soften Butter Quickly.

But for now, I’ll share what I find to be the two easiest techniques.

The first and simplest way to soften your butter is to simply take it out of the refrigerator ahead of time.

Depending on the starting temperature of the butter and the air temperature in your kitchen, it will take anywhere from 30-45 minutes for your butter is softened.

Otherwise, if you don’t want to wait (I did promise you a 5-minute recipe after all), add your whole stick of butter to a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 10 seconds. If need be, continue to heat in 5-second increments until it’s nice and soft.

The best way to check if your butter is softened is actually by poking it! If it’s ready, your finger will leave an indent in the butter as pictured below.

Use a Hand Mixer

A high-powered hand mixer is the best tool to get this Pesto Butter perfect! Add the softened butter and your pesto to a small mixing bowl.

Use your hand mixer on high to whip until smooth. The hand mixer should easily combine the pesto and butter. It also aerates it to make a really light and airy texture on your butter.

Storing Your Pesto Butter

This 5-Minute Pesto Butter will last for up to 2 months in the refrigerator if stored properly. There are two great options for storing. You can either keep it in a sealed, airtight container to use as a spread.

If you’d rather have the butter in a stick form, roll it up tightly in parchment paper so you can cut into pats of butter.

You can also freeze it in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. After freezing, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and use it up within 3 weeks.

Serving Your Pesto Butter

Arguably my favorite thing about this recipe (aside from how quick and easy it is) is its versatility. I enjoy Pesto Butter on all kinds of things!

Here’s some ideas for making the most of your Pesto Butter:

• Use it for this Pesto Butter Garlic Bread or any other toast or crostini
• In this Pesto Butter Salmon or on any other fish
• Toss it with hot pasta
• Marinate with or slather it on roasted or grilled vegetables (my favorite is corn on the cob!)
• Melt it over popcorn
• Fry or scramble your eggs in it
• Add it to baked or mashed potatoes
• Use it for grilled cheese or to elevate other sandwiches

And honestly, the list goes on! Use it in place of regular butter for any savory recipe to ramp up the flavor!