Easy Honey Jalapeno Butter

This is your sign to stop serving plain butter with summer corn and cornbread. This jalapeno butter is sweet, spicy, creamy, and just bold enough to make everyone ask, "Wait, what did you put on this?"

This recipe is a fun way to use one or two fresh garden jalapeños. It's made with just a few simple ingredients, and it gives you that perfect sweet-heat moment!

As a Southern dietitian, I love recipes like this because they make simple cookout foods feel a little more fun, whether you're spreading it on biscuits, melting it over corn on the cob, or topping warm cornbread waffles.

If you love sweet heat, try my jalapeno honey or spicy balsamic glaze that pair perfectly with summer meals.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Simple ingredients: You only need butter, honey, jalapeño, and salt to make this sweet and spicy butter.
• Makes cookout food better: This jalapeno butter is perfect for corn on the cob, cornbread, biscuits, grilled chicken, burgers, and BBQ plates.
• You can control the heat: Remove the jalapeño seeds for a milder flavor or leave a few in if your people like a little kick.
• Make-ahead friendly: You can mix this butter ahead of time and keep it chilled until you're ready to serve.

Try my tomato basil butter or old bay butter for more easy flavored butter ideas.

Ingredients for Jalapeno Compound Butter

This delicious jalapeno butter uses just a few ingredients, so each one really matters.

• Butter: Use softened butter so everything mixes together smoothly. I like using unsalted butter because it gives you more control over the salt, but salted butter works too if that's what you have.
• Fresh jalapeño: Fresh jalapeno pepper gives this butter a bright, peppery flavor. For a milder butter, remove the seeds and white membrane before finely mincing it.
• Honey: Honey balances the heat from the jalapeño and gives the butter that sweet-spicy flavor that works so well with cornbread, corn, and biscuits.
• Salt: A small pinch of salt helps bring all the flavors together. If you use salted butter, taste before adding extra.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions & Variations

This sweet and spicy butter is easy to adjust depending on what you're serving it with.

• Use what you have and swap in salted butter if needed, but taste the jalapeno butter before adding extra salt.
• Add a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavor, especially if you plan to serve this with grilled corn, shrimp, or fish tacos.
• Stir in a little fresh garlic when you want the jalapeno butter to taste more savory for grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, or burgers.
• Roast the peppers first and use roasted jalapeños for a smoky Southern-style butter for cornbread or BBQ plates.
• Chop and pat dry pickled jalapeños before mixing them in if you want a tangier butter with a little extra zip.
• Add a pinch of smoked paprika to give this butter a warm, smoky flavor.
• Fold in fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or chives for a brighter flavor.

How to Make Jalapeno Butter Recipe

This recipe comes together quickly, especially if your butter is already softened.

Step 1: Add the softened butter, minced jalapeño, honey, and salt to a small mixing bowl.

Step 2: Stir everything together with a fork or small spatula until the jalapeño and honey are evenly mixed into the butter.

Step 3: Taste and adjust as needed. Add a pinch more salt, a drizzle of honey, or extra jalapeño depending on how sweet, salty, or spicy you want it.

Step 4: Serve right away while soft, or chill until ready to use.

Best Ways to Use Whipped Jalapeño Butter

This jalapeno honey butter is one of those recipes that works with so many summer meals.

• Spread it over warm cornbread, biscuits, dinner rolls, or toasted sourdough.
• For cookouts, try it on grilled corn on the cob, burgers, grilled chicken, steak, shrimp skewers, or roasted vegetables. 
• It makes a fun finishing butter for mashed sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, or green beans.
• Add a pat of jalapeno butter on top of warm chicken and cornbread waffles!
• If you're hosting, add a small bowl of jalapeno butter to a BBQ spread, brunch board, biscuit bar, or tailgate table.

Tips For Best Jalapeño Honey Butter

A few small tips will help your jalapeno butter mix smoothly and taste balanced.

• Let the butter soften at room temperature before mixing so the honey and jalapeño blend in smoothly.
• Wear kitchen gloves while handling jalapeños if your skin feels sensitive to spice.
• Chop the jalapeño extra fine so every bite gets a little sweet heat without big spicy chunks.
• Remove the seeds and membrane if you want fresh jalapeño flavor without as much heat.
• Taste the butter before serving so you can adjust the honey, salt, or jalapeño to fit your preference.
• Chill the jalapeno honey butter for at least 30 minutes if you want the flavors to blend before serving.

Storage

This jalapeno butter stores well, which makes it perfect for prepping before a summer meal or cookout.

• Refrigerator: Store jalapeno butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Wrap the butter tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then place it in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also portion the jalapeno butter into an ice cube tray, freeze until solid, and transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag for easy single servings.
• Make-ahead: You can make this butter 1 to 2 days ahead of time and keep it chilled until you're ready to serve.
• Serving after chilling: Let the butter sit at room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving so it softens enough to spread.
• For cookouts: Keep the butter chilled until close to serving time, especially if you're serving it outside in warm weather.