Jalapeño Lime Butter

Jalapeño Lime Butter with fresh jalapeño, lime, parsley, Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.

We make this Jalapeño Lime Butter when a meal needs a little extra kick without making another sauce from scratch. Fresh jalapeño, lime, Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire give the butter a bright, savory flavor that works especially well with seafood, grilled chicken, steak, corn, and vegetables.

It comes together in just a few minutes, and we like making it while the rest of dinner is cooking so it's ready to spoon over the food while it's still hot.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh jalapeño

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1–2 teaspoons Louisiana-style hot sauce, optional

• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Ingredients for Jalapeño Lime Butter, including fresh jalapeño, lime, parsley, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and optional hot sauce and cayenne.

Flavor tip: Start with the jalapeño, then add the hot sauce and cayenne to taste. For a milder version, reduce or skip the hot sauce and cayenne rather than removing the lime, Cajun seasoning, or Worcestershire sauce. Those ingredients add the bright, savory flavor that makes this butter distinctive.

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Jalapeño Lime Butter with fresh jalapeño, parsley, lime, and Cajun seasoning, ready to serve over grilled foods, seafood, or vegetables.

Instructions

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.

Add the chopped jalapeño and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until fragrant.

Stir in the Cajun seasoning, parsley, lime zest, and Worcestershire sauce.

Let the butter warm gently for another 30 seconds, allowing the flavors to come together.

Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh lime juice.

For a spicier butter, stir in hot sauce and cayenne pepper to taste. For a milder version, use less jalapeño and skip or reduce the hot sauce and cayenne.

Use immediately: Spoon the Jalapeño Lime Butter over grilled seafood, chicken, steak, vegetables, corn, or potatoes while they're hot so the butter melts and coats the food.

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Tips

• Control the heat: The fresh jalapeño adds a mild kick, while the optional hot sauce and cayenne can take the heat up another level. Start with less and add more to taste.

• Use fresh lime: Fresh lime zest and juice make a noticeable difference and give the butter its bright, citrusy flavor.

• Don't overheat the butter: Keep the heat low and remove the saucepan from the heat before adding the lime juice to keep the flavor fresh.

• Make it your own: Add more Cajun seasoning for extra spice or a little more lime juice for a brighter finish.

• Try it everywhere: This butter is fantastic over a seafood boil, but don't stop there. Spoon it over steak, chicken, grilled shrimp, corn, potatoes, or roasted vegetables.

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Storage

Store leftover Jalapeño Lime Butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

For longer storage, portion the butter into an ice cube tray or roll it into a log using parchment paper, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using, or add a frozen portion directly to hot seafood, steak, chicken, or vegetables and let it melt.