Spicy Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce

Cajun garlic butter sauce for broccoli or to dip in your seafood shrimp boil is great. Make as spicy or mild as you want the homemade way. If you loved our Seafood Boil Sauce but want more heat, this is another great butter dip.

Ok so I shared how to boil broccoli today but couldn’t link what we serve that with. Cajun butter, that’s right because it makes vegetables SO much better y’all! Not just this one though, tossed in with corn kernels is to die for too. I like medium and my husband likes over the top spicy. You can achieve them all here.

Garlic Butter Sauce for Seafood

Another thing you always seem to serve with a cup of melted YUM would be all the things out of the sea right? Most commonly would be set alongside our Instant Pot shrimp boil dish. Not only is it great on the bottom feeders but the potatoes take on a new wow with a quick dip in the “pool” too.

Garlic Butter Broccoli

Now let’s talk about all the mixed vegetables this is great with and how to use it. For smaller pieces like corn kernels and florets yes you can drizzle over the top and serve. BUT you can incorporate it more if you gently toss together. A few tips to remember before serving;

1. Add the cajun seasoning slowly, you can always add more later but can’t remove it once it’s in there
2. Allow it to cool slightly once incorporated in your saucepan, test again and adjust heat again
3. If you are unsure if it is too spicy for someone in your family, serve it on the side
4. To really incorporate it into your dish the best, toss gently with it so each piece is coated well

You can make this a dairy free cajun garlic butter sauce too!! My husband needs this option and I have used a plant based product from Country Crock. It comes in sticks and a tub, I use the stick to even bake with and you’d never know the difference. Just make and then this is How to Cook Seafood in a Bag with it!

Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

Beyond the heat there is something else you can adjust, how garlicy it is, I mean that is a word. 😉 So we like A LOT, like A lot y’all. I make roasted air fryer garlic all the time so we can spread it on toast, and use inside all the recipes. Yes you can use raw and minced, cooking it in your pan but already roasted would skip this step.

What is cajun butter made of?

Just throw that in if you have it to gently warm but the deepened flavors would already be there if you make this first. Then add all the things like;

• 1/2 cup butter, unsalted, or dairy free plant based sticks
• Lots of minced garlic
• 2 tsp garlic or onion powder
• Add a bit of salt if your butter is unsalted and black pepper
• Amount of cajun seasoning is up to you but what we used is below, more or less depending on heat level desired
  • You could even add a bit of Old bay seasoning if it is for a seafood boil sauce primarily
  • Some enjoy a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice at the end too
  • If you wanted to add just a touch of sweetness, add 1/4 tsp brown sugar into the mix even

Spicy Garlic Butter Sauce

Now let’s talk about options beyond just cajun seasoning you could use. They all come with a different level of heat of course, but flavors as well. Like cajun has more of a smokiness to it where cayenne pepper and/or Sriracha taste totally different but will still bring the spice!

What do you use Louisiana garlic butter sauce for?

If I am making this to use as a seafood boil sauce I might just add a bit of heat and then whisked in more to the bowl with just the dip. You can use it to boil crab legs in to add a lot more flavor to your dish, just as a dip for shrimp or on top of vegetables for a real kick of yum.

• Use a small saucepan over medium heat to saute 2 tbsp of butter, add the garlic until it softens and starts to turn a light golden color.
  • could substitute this out for olive oil instead if you preferred
• Add the remaining butter or butter product, garlic powder, salt, some of your cajun seasonings and pepper into the sauce pan.
• Stir to combine and cook until butter melts.

Taste and adjust heat if you want more. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before serving with shrimp with no breading or over the top of air fryer broccoli.

How long does garlic butter sauce last in the fridge?

You can keep it and use it on your leftover seafood boil recipe the next day. You’re going to want to pour your melted butter mixture into a glass cup or small mason jar (what I use). Allow it to cool to room temperature and put the lid on. You can keep it well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

When you are ready to use your dipping sauce over your cooked seafood again, just put into the microwave for 30 seconds or so, stir, and 30 more seconds to melt. Want more heat??? Try our cajun alfredo sauce recipe with pasta next!