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    Home » Recipes » Butter Sauces

    Sage Butter Sauce

    Published: Jan 1, 2022 Modified: Mar 21, 2022 by Isabel Laessig

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    My Sage Butter Sauce is the perfect brown butter sauce for pasta, beef, chicken, and more! It's so easy to make, using just 3 ingredients and 2 simple steps. You can have this simple sage brown butter sauce ready in 5 minutes!

    Sage butter sauce in a skillet with a ladle
    Jump to:
    • Sage Butter Sauce for Pasta
    • Sage and Butter Sauce FAQs
    • Sage Brown Butter Sauce Ingredients
    • How to Make Sage Butter Sauce
    • Recipe Tips
    • Can I use dried herbs?
    • Do I need to use unsalted butter?
    • Can you make brown butter sauce ahead of time?
    • Is brown butter sauce keto?
    • What to Serve with Brown Butter Sauce
    • Butter Sauce Recipes
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    • 📖 Recipe

    Sage Butter Sauce for Pasta

    One of my go-to meals as a busy parent has always been pasta. It's so easy to put together a pasta dinner the whole family will love! All you need is a good sauce, and you can have a restaurant-quality dinner ready in minutes.

    That's what this sage butter sauce recipe is all about. It is the best butter sauce for pasta, with so much flavor and depth you will hardly believe it only takes 3 simple ingredients to make.

    Even though sage brown butter sauce is my answer for simple pasta dinners, it's also perfect for serving with steak, roast chicken, turkey... the list goes on!

    lobster ravioli topped with sage butter sauce

    Sage and Butter Sauce FAQs

    What foods go well with sage?

    Sage is earthy and both sweet and savory, and pairs well with dishes using beef, pork, chicken, turkey, sausage, and even duck. In a butter sauce, it is a perfect match for pasta dishes of all kinds, such as lobster ravioli.

    What is brown butter?

    Brown butter, also known as buerre noisette in French, is a technique where butter is browned in a pan to become more flavorful.

    What does browning your butter do?

    To brown butter, you are toasting the milk solids. The butter cooks down in less than 10 minutes to create a nutty, caramelized flavor. Essentially, browning your butter turns it into a flavorful sauce to use in recipes of all kinds.

    Sage Brown Butter Sauce Ingredients

    • Fresh sage
    • Unsalted butter
    • Garlic

    One of the best things about sage brown butter sauce is you only need 3 simple ingredients to make it, making it even easier to cook up in a pinch!

    Ingredients for sage brown butter sauce on a surface

    How to Make Sage Butter Sauce

    1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. When the butter begins to bubble slightly, add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute.
      Cooking butter in a skillet
    2. After 1 minute, add the chopped sage to the garlic butter sauce. Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the butter darkens to a light brown color and gives off a rich, nutty aroma.
      Sage added to butter in a skillet
    3. Remove from the heat as soon as it starts to brown! You do not want to overcook your sage butter sauce. Serve, and enjoy!
      Sage butter sauce in a ladle over a skillet of sauce

    Recipe Tips

    • Rather than melting the whole stick of butter in the pan, cut the butter into pieces first and melt it that way. If you add the whole stick to the pan, it will melt unevenly and some parts may brown before others.
    • Make sure to pull the butter from the heat as soon as it starts to brown. You don't want to overcook the sauce.
    • It is easy to burn brown butter sauce. Constantly stir once the sauce starts to form solids. Don't step away from the pan.
    • Sage butter sauce is incredible, but you can also use other herbs, like basil or thyme!

    Can I use dried herbs?

    You can use dried herbs instead of fresh to make your sage brown butter sauce if preferred. Use ½ teaspoon dried sage in place of 4 fresh sage leaves. The taste will not be the same, but in a pinch it will do the trick. I recommend using fresh herbs if possible.

    Do I need to use unsalted butter?

    Unsalted butter is better for creating a brown butter sauce as it foams up less in the pan, and you can season it as you prefer. You can use salted butter if you like, but I recommend using unsalted for these reasons.

    Can you make brown butter sauce ahead of time?

    Let brown butter sauce cool completely, then transfer it to a glass airtight container such as a jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

    Is brown butter sauce keto?

    Brown butter sauce is completely keto-friendly, making it a great choice for a low-carb meal plan!

    What to Serve with Brown Butter Sauce

    • Sliced Buttermilk oasted Chicken
    • Your Thanksgiving Turkey
    • A juicy Steakhouse Steak
    • Lobster Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce is amazing!

    Butter Sauce Recipes

    Try more of my best butter sauce recipes.

    • Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
    • Garlic Butter Sauce
    • Cowboy Butter

    Check out my all-time favorite sauce recipes here: Easy Sauce Recipes

    Butter sauce in a skillet after cooking

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    📖 Recipe

    Butter sauce in a skillet after cooking

    Sage Butter Sauce Recipe

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make sage butter sauce for pasta, steak, chicken, and more! This easy but flavorful brown butter sauce is ready in 5 minutes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 1 cup (a little under)
    Calories 607 kcal

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    • Wooden spoon

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces
    • 4 fresh sage leaves or ½ teaspoon dried sage, but I recommend using fresh
    • 1 garlic clove minced

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once it melts and begins to bubble slightly, add garlic and stir for 1 minute.
      6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 garlic clove
      Cooking butter in a skillet
    • After 1 minute, add chopped sage and continue stirring for an additional 1-2 minutes. Make sure you are constantly stirring and do not step away from the pan. The butter will turn light brown and give off a rich, nutty aroma.
      4 fresh sage leaves
      Sage added to butter in a skillet
    • As soon as the butter sauce browns, take it off of the heat and serve.
      Sage butter sauce in a ladle over a skillet of sauce

    Notes

    • Rather than melting the whole stick of butter in the pan, cut the butter into pieces first and melt it that way. If you add the whole stick to the pan, it will melt unevenly and some parts may brown before others.
    • Make sure to pull the butter from the heat as soon as it starts to brown. You don't want to overcook the sauce.
    • It is easy to burn brown butter sauce. Constantly stir once the sauce starts to form solids. Don't step away from the pan.
    • Sage butter sauce is incredible, but you can also use other herbs, like basil or thyme!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 607kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 68gSaturated Fat: 43gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 10mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2099IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword sage and butter sauce, sage butter sauce
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