One of the best things about following a keto diet, in my humble opinion, is that butter has zero carbs and I can use it to flavor vegetables, enjoy it on keto toast, and use for frying eggs, sautéing meats and fish.

Butter is the bomb.

Or so I thought until I discovered brown butter.

Brown butter is like butter’s sophisticated older sibling. It adds depth of flavor and a delicious nuttiness to meat, seafood, and vegetables. And, like ordinary butter, you can use it in cooking.

Now brown butter is a staple in my cooking and I wanted to share this super simple Easy Keto Brown Butter Sauce recipe. I have five delicious variations of the basic brown butter sauce as well!

Easy Keto Brown Butter Sauce Recipe with 5 delicious flavor variations to elevate and upgrade your low-carb meals. Brown Butter Sauce has zero carbs and is a keto-friendly food. The basic Keto Brown Butter recipe and variations are perfect for seafo…

What is brown butter?

Brown butter is simply butter that has been simmered long enough to allow all the water to evaporate, the milk solids are solidified and toasted to a delicious dark brown color. Browning the butter gives it a distinct sweet nutty, caramelized flavor that is unlike anything else.

Brown elevates the flavor of both sweet and savory dishes. It can be added to baked goods like (keto or traditional) cookies, cakes, and brownies, it is an excellent sauce for fish, chicken, and beef, and you'll love it drizzled on steamed or roasted vegetables.

RELATED: Don't skimp on low carb veggies on a keto diet. See How to Eat More Veggies on a Keto Diet - Free Low Carb Eat the Rainbow Tracker

Is brown butter keto?

Brown butter is definitely keto-friendly. Since brown butter is butter that has been cooked long enough to toast the milk solids and has no additional ingredients, it is basically 100% fat. A 2 tablespoon serving of brown butter has 0 carbs, 0 protein, and 23 grams fat and can be a part of any low-carb diet.

Keto Brown Butter Sauce is delicious on top of roasted vegetables, like this cauliflower steak.

What do you need to make brown butter?

You only need three things to make delicious keto-friendly brown butter:

unsalted butter (or use salted butter if that's all you have)
a stainless steel or light-colored saucepan or skillet
a Pyrex 2-cup glass measuring cup or heat-proof bowl

Experts recommend using unsalted butter to make brown butter.

Unsalted butter is recommended, especially when using brown butter in baked goods, because you are better able to control the salt level.

That said you can definitely make brown butter using salted butter. I have my freezer stocked with salted butter so that's what I've always used and the results are fantastic.

If you are making brown butter with salted butter for use in a recipe that specifically calls for unsalted butter, be sure to taste before adding any additional salt in the recipe.

Use a stainless steel or light-colored skillet or saucepan, if you have one.

Using a pan or skillet with a light-colored surface will allow you to easily see when the milk solids begin to turn brown, so you don't overcook and burn your brown butter.

That said, you absolutely don't have to buy any new equipment. As a minimalist, all I own is one set of pots and pans and they are nonstick with a dark surface, but I've had great results making brown butter. Just use a white or light-colored rubber spatula to stir your butter as it's browning and you can easily see the butter change color from yellow to brown.

RELATED: You don’t need a lot of kitchen equipment to cook healthy keto meals. See 6 Gadgets Every Minimalist Keto Kitchen Needs

How to make keto brown butter in less than 10 minutes.

The process couldn't be easier.

Easy Keto Brown Butter Sauce Recipe With 5 Delicious Variations

Cut 2 sticks of unsalted butter into even pieces and place in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat. I like to use a skillet so there is more surface area and the butter will melt faster. Have a 2-cup glass Pyrex measuring cup or heatproof bowl nearby.

The butter will melt and then begin to bubble and foam. Swirl the pan occasionally or stir with a spatula.

The milk solids will begin to caramelize, turn light, then darker brown, and sink to the bottom of the pan.

Continue stirring the butter until you begin to smell a delicious nuttiness. Yes, rely on scent to know when your brown butter is ready.

Be sure to watch the butter carefully as it begins the browning process. You want delicious brown butter, not burnt butter.

When the milk solids are brown and the melted butter smells nutty and rich, remove it from the heat and pour into a glass Pyrex measuring cup or heatproof bowl immediately. This will stop the cooking process so your butter does not burn.

Keto Brown Butter Sauce combined with fresh lemon juice is a perfect topping for pan-fried tilapia.

How to use brown butter on a keto diet.

It is simple to use brown butter on a keto diet and you are only limited by your imagination! Because brown butter has zero carbs you can use it to flavor any food guilt-free.

Brown butter can be used alone or with additional ingredients (like in the brown butter sauce variations below) to top seafood, meat, or poultry. It pairs well with vegetables and adds a delicious depth of flavor to keto baked goods.

You can substitute brown butter in almost any place butter is called for in a recipe.

Here are a few ideas to get you started using keto brown butter sauce:

drizzle on top of roasted cauliflower steaks
use as a sauce for fish, like tilapia, sole, or salmon (try the Meunière sauce variation below which uses lemon juice and parsley)
use brown butter to sauté vegetables
use to make keto gravy or in any sauce that calls for butter
top keto pancakes or waffles with brown butter
drizzle warm brown butter on top of keto French toast (I make French toast using this zero carb bread mix)
use brown butter (or the Alfredo sauce variation below) with spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, or cauliflower rice
use brown butter to sear steaks
add brown butter to keto baked goods

I freeze brown butter in the half-cup size Souper Cubes so I always have some on hand.

Can I make keto brown butter ahead of time?

You can absolutely make brown butter and store it in the refrigerator or freezer to use later. This recipe calls for 2 sticks of unsalted butter which yields about 3/4 cup of brown butter. That's more than I use at one time, so I keep the extra butter in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Or I freeze portions in Souper Cubes to use in the future.

How to store brown butter.

You can store brown butter at room temperature for 5 days.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It will solidify so melt it on the stovetop or in the microwave before using.

You can freeze brown butter for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

I love using my 1/2 cup Souper Cubes which is the perfect portion size for my family.

Pour cooled brown butter into the Souper Cubes up to the fill line, cover with the lid, and freeze until solid.

You can keep the frozen brown butter in the Souper Cubes or pop the cubes of frozen brown butter and place them in a freezer bag. Be sure to label your freezer container.

RELATED: Souper Cubes (cute little silicone freezer containers featured on Shark Tank) have really changed how I do keto meal prep. You can read all about how I use Souper Cubes in this review.

5 Simple and Tasty Variations of Keto Brown Butter Sauce

You can use brown butter as-is, or combine it with herbs, cream, lemon juice, or other ingredients to create tasty keto-friendly sauces. Here are 5 of my favorite brown butter sauce variations.

1 - Keto Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Use one stick of unsalted butter. When butter begins to bubble, stir in 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh sage leaves, and 1 clove minced garlic. Allow butter to brown, then remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2 - Keto Meunière Sauce (Brown Butter Lemon Sauce)

Meunière sauce is simply brown butter combined with lemon juice and parsley, and it’s the variation I use most often. It's great for fish (and traditionally served with sole), but also works well with poultry, pork, and roasted vegetables.

To make Keto Meunière Sauce:

Use 1 stick unsalted butter and follow the basic recipe to make brown butter. After the butter browns, remove it from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley.

3 - Keto Brown Butter Garlic Cream Sauce

Brown Butter Garlic Cream Sauce is perfect served over zucchini noodles, shirataki (zero carb) noodles, or cauliflower rice. It also pairs well with beef, pork, and poultry.

To make Keto Brown Butter Garlic Cream Sauce:

Follow the basic recipe and add 2 cloves minced garlic when the butter starts to brown. When butter is brown, remove from heat and whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you want a kick of flavor.

RELATED: If you like red pepper flakes or spicy food in general, check out Easy Keto Sichuan Chili Oil Recipe and 12 Creative Ways to Use It

4 - Keto Brown Butter Alfredo Sauce

Keto Brown Butter Alfredo Sauce pairs well with zucchini or shirataki noodles, spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, or keto pasta. It also tastes delicious drizzled over steamed or roasted broccoli or cauliflower.

To make Keto Brown Butter Alfredo Sauce:

Use one stick of unsalted butter and follow the basic recipe. As butter begins to brown, stir in 2 cloves crushed garlic. Add 2 ounces of softened cream cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Add a pinch of nutmeg, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

5 -Keto Basil Brown Butter Sauce

Basil is my favorite herb of all time and it tastes amazing with brown butter.

How to make Keto Brown Butter Sauce:

Use one stick unsalted butter and follow the basic recipe. After the butter is melted, stir in 1 clove crushed garlic and allow the butter to brown. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves. Add a pinch of red pepper, if desired.

RELATED: If you like butter, you'll love this Rosemary-Garlic Compound Butter recipe. It is perfect with meat (especially steak!), seafood, and veggies.

Easy Keto Brown Butter Sauce Recipe

This is the basic Keto Brown Butter Sauce recipe.

How to Brown Butter, Is Brown Butter Keto

Condiment

French

Yield: 3/4 cup

Author: The Keto Minimalist

Easy Keto Brown Butter Sauce Recipe

Cook time: 9 MinTotal time: 9 Min

Brown butter is a perfectly keto, simple to make, and will add a unique nutty flavor to meat, seafood, vegetables, and other dishes.

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter

Instructions

Cut butter into even chunks and place in a stainless steel or light-colored wide saucepan or skillet over medium heat.
Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter begins to foam and bubble. When the milk solids turn golden brown and the butter has a delightful, nutty aroma, it is done. It will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to brown the butter.
Remove the pan from the heat and pour the brown butter into a glass Pyrex measuring cup or heat-proof bowl to stop the cooking process and prevent the brown butter from burning.
Use the brown butter immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 5 months.

Notes

You can use any amount of butter, from 1/2 stick, to multiple sticks of butter, but cooking time will differ. Just keep stirring, watch for golden brown milk solids, and the nutty aroma to know when the brown butter is done.

You can use salted butter in place of unsalted butter. If using brown butter in a sauce or recipe, taste before adding any additional salt.