Bone Marrow Compound Butter Recipe

Elevate your dishes with rich and decadent bone marrow compound butter, a savory blend of roasted bone marrow, fresh herbs, and aromatic seasonings. This umami-packed butter adds next-level flavor to any meal, perfect for melting over grilled steaks, spreading on crusty bread, or enhancing roasted vegetables.

Why This Recipe Works

Best of Both Worlds: This bone marrow compound butter recipe combines a traditional herb compound butter with the richness of bone marrow, giving you the benefits of both in one versatile ingredient! Compound butter already enhances dishes with concentrated herb flavors and a smooth, meltable texture, but by incorporating roasted bone marrow, we add a savory richness that is totally irresistible!

Deep Flavor: The complex flavor profile of creamy bone marrow butter adds instant depth to any dish. The marrow itself provides a rich, meaty foundation, while garlic, herbs, and seasonings add layers of aromatic complexity. A small amount packs tremendous flavor impact, giving you the ability to transform even the simplest dishes with minimal effort!

Supplies Needed

Large bowl for soaking bones
Sheet pan or cast iron pan
Aluminum foil (if using sheet pan)
Mixing bowl
Parchment paper or plastic wrap

Ingredients

Beef Bone Marrow Bones: Look for bones that are cut lengthwise (known as “canoe cut”) to make extracting the marrow easier. Your butcher can prepare these for you if they’re not already available. Center-cut femur bones typically yield the most marrow with the best flavor.
Butter: Use unsalted, high-quality butter for best results. The butter should be room temperature (soft enough to press a finger into easily) to incorporate with the marrow properly.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is best for the best flavor!
Herbs: I used finely chopped chives and parsley here to brighten up the flavor of the bone marrow compound butter.
Salt & Pepper: Add salt and pepper to taste! If you use salted butter, you will need less salt.
Red Pepper Flakes: This is optional for a little kick!
Lemon Zest: Lemon zest is great in compound butter since it adds a layer of bright, citrusy flavor that balances out the richness!
Worcestershire Sauce: For an extra layer of umami flavor.

How To Prep Bone Marrow Before Using

Soak & Pat Dry: Place the marrow bones in a large bowl of cold water, ensuring they are fully submerged. Let them soak for 12-24 hours , changing the water every few hours. This helps remove any blood and impurities, resulting in a cleaner flavor. Pat the bones dry with paper towels before proceeding with your chosen cooking method.

Cooking Methods

Oven Roasting:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or use a cast iron pan. Place the marrow bones, cut side up, on the sheet pan. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until the marrow is soft and slightly bubbling but not melted away. Let the bones cool slightly, then use a spoon to scoop the marrow into a bowl.

Smoking:

Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Place the marrow bones, cut side up, into a foil or cast iron pan. Smoke for 45-60 minutes or until the marrow is soft and infused with a smoky flavor. Remove from the smoker and let cool slightly, then scoop out the marrow into a bowl.

For more in-depth information about smoking bone marrow, head to my smoked bone marrow recipe!

Smoking the bone marrow on the grill in a cast iron pan

Tips For Making Compound Butter

Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, roasted/smoked marrow, garlic, herbs, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.
Roll into a Log: Transfer the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap, roll into a log, and twist the ends to seal.
Chill & Use as Desired: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up before slicing and serving. Slice into thin rounds for bread, steaks, or these amazing bone marrow butter smash burgers, etc.

What To Pair With It

Bone marrow compound butter is super versatile and can be used for so many things! It is always good with steak, so you can place a round of this butter on top of a perfectly grilled tomahawk steak just before serving, allowing it to melt and create a luscious sauce. It’s also delicious when served with seared scallops or other seafood as a dipping sauce for smoked crab legs.

Feel free to spread it on warm bread like Guinness beer bread or this smoked cornbread recipe. It also works beautifully stirred into just-cooked pasta or risotto or melted over Italian roasted vegetables to add extra flavor. You can even stir some compound butter into my Kitchenaid mashed potatoes to take them up a notch!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to soak my bone marrow?

Yes, it is highly recommended. The soaking step ensures a cleaner, milder flavor in the bone marrow, making the final compound bone marrow butter even more luxurious and delicious!

How long does bone marrow compound butter last?

When properly stored in the refrigerator, the compound butter will keep for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze it, wrap the butter log tightly in parchment paper, then in aluminum foil or freezer-safe plastic wrap.

More Recipes To Try