This is my quick, easy, and incredibly tasty Drawn Butter for Seafood that combines rich melted butter with white wine, onion, garlic, lemon, and dill. My additions make the flavor out of this world while still keeping the process really quick. It’s easy enough to manage on the back burner while you’re busy cooking up some fabulous seafood!

Our quick and easy Drawn Butter for Seafood (lobster, clams, mussels, crab).
Drawn Butter for Seafood (Easy Dipping Sauce Recipe)
Our drawn butter is only lightly skimmed. You can always take more time and be more attentive to skimming the fat from the top…but, if your household is anything like ours they probably can’t wait to get their hands on the delicious seafood that accompanies this!
We made a quick batch of our drawn butter up while steaming our steamer clams, they just go together so perfectly!
The clams were steamed over a water/wine/onion mixture and the drawn butter features some similar flavors (plus butter, lemon, dill) but the white wine adds such a nice touch.
What is Drawn Butter
Drawn butter is simply a melted butter combined with shallots and herbs typically used as a dipping sauce for seafood and sometimes vegetables.
What Is Clarified Butter?
Clarified butter is butter that has been melted and the white foam (fat) skimmed from the top.
To Clarify or Not?
This is an individual decision. I usually do not “over clarify” my drawn butter just removing a small amount of the fat.
What To Serve Drawn Butter With?
- Lobster
- Clams
- Shrimp/Prawns
- Oysters
- Mussels
- Scallops
- Steamed Vegetables
How To Make Drawn Butter
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil to medium heat.
- Add onion, cook for 30 seconds to a minute then add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds to a minute (depending on how soft you like your onion & garlic).
- Add the white wine and cook for 1 minute before adding the butter.
- Add the butter and cook until melted (reduce heat to prevent boiling, if necessary).
- Add seasoning: dill and ground black pepper, stir to combine.
- Squeeze the lemon juice into the drawn butter mixture and continue to cook on low. We usually leave our drawn butter on low until we are ready to dish up our seafood. At that point, you can skim the fat that has risen to the top (if desired) or serve immediately.
Drawn Butter
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1/4 small white onion (finely chopped/minced)
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic (minced)
- 1/3 cup white wine (dry)
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1/4 tsp dill (fresh or dried)
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed 1/2 - 1 whole lemon)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add onion, cook for 30 seconds to a minute then add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds to a minute (depending on how soft you like your onion & garlic).
- Add the white wine and cook for 1 minute before adding the butter. Add the butter and cook until melted (reduce heat to prevent boiling, if necessary). Add seasoning: dill and ground black pepper, stir to combine.
- Squeeze the lemon juice into the drawn butter mixture and continue to cook on low. We usually leave our drawn butter on low until we are ready to dish up our seafood. At that point, you can skim the fat that has risen to the top (if desired) or serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
I used this drawn butter for dipping some King crab…yummy!
Amazing and so easy, my seafood dinner turned out perfect because of this.
Thank you!
Thank you Ken, that is wonderful to hear!!