Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Carne Diem
Jump to RecipeCompound butter with roasted or smoked bone marrow is a fantastic way to add rich umami flavor to your steaks and other proteins. This marrow butter is super simple to make and can easily be portioned for use throughout the year. Often referred to as million dollar butter or Butter of the Gods, this compound butter is the perfect way to finish off your grilled steaks and an easy way to up your steak game.
Table of contents
How to Make Bone Marrow Compound Butter
Making a compound butter with roasted bone marrow is super simple with only a few ingredients.
Bone marrow bones: Marrow is found in the long bones of animals like the femur. For this marrow recipe we will be using beef bones. Make sure your marrow bones are cut lengthwise.
Butter: Use a high-quality butter. Regular butter or salted butter will work in the bone marrow recipe.
Parsley: A little parsley blends perfectly with the rich flavor of the butter and bone marrow. Fresh herbs are aways better so avoid dried herbs if possible.
Black pepper: Finish the compound butter with roasted bone marrow with a little black pepper.
Health benefits of bone marrow
Roasted bone marrow is not only delicious, but an also have a number of health benefits. According to WebMD, bone marrow is high in collagen, which is good for bones and skin, as well as glucosamine which is beneficial for arthritis. Bone marrow may also have anti-inflammatory properties and may be beneficial in lowering risk in people with diabetes or heart disease and is high in healthy fats and fatty acids.
Making Smoked Bone Marrow Compound Butter on Your BBQ Grill
Making a compound butter with smoked bone marrow is our favorite way to prepare the elegant next level steak topping. Season the marrow bones with a little sea salt prior to cooking. To smoke the bone marrow, prepare your grill or smoker for indirect heat. Heat the smoker to 375- 400 degrees. We prefer to smoke the bone marrow at a lower temperature than in the oven to develop more smoke flavor. The prolonged cooking time at a lower temp may cause more of the marrow to melt and leak out so we typically smoke them over a pan to catch any of the bone marrow drippings.
Cook the bone marrow for about 20-25 minutes, or until the bone marrow reaches and internal temperature of 145-150 degrees. Visually the marrow should begin to pull away from the bone and be slightly browned. If probing with a temp probe of toothpick, there should be no resistance.
Making Roasted Bone Marrow Compound Butter in Your Oven
If you choose not to add smoke flavor to your roasted bone marrow you can prepare it in the oven. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Roast the bone marrow for 15-20 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 145-150 degrees.
Mix the marrow butter
To make the bone marrow compound butter, carefully scoop the roasted bone marrow from the bones and into a bowl. Be sure to add back any of the drippings that leaked into the pan. Add the softened butter, black pepper, and parsley. Stir and mix well until evenly combined. At this point the marrow butter is ready to be used or made into individual portions and refrigerated.
Uses for Bone Marrow Butter
This compound butter with roasted bone marrow is the perfect addition to grilled steaks like an Ancho-espresso rubbed ribeye, Sous Vide Florentine Style Porterhouse, or your favorite steak. It can also be used in wraps for brisket or even just great spread on some crusty bread. This bone marrow finishing butter is great for all types of steaks, from filet mignon to New York strip steaks.
Storing the compound butter
Unused marrow butter can be frozen until needed. Bring to room temperature before using. We find it helpful to make into individual portions using a mold tray or ice cube tray, then you can pull out the butter as needed. To store as larger portions, use a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper to roll the compound butter into a log shape, then wrap tightly and freeze. Slice off portions as you need them.
For more great steak sauces and toppings check out our Easy Chimichurri Recipe, Chicago Style Steak Rub or Malbec Sauce For Steak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bone marrow indeed has many health benefits. It is high in collagen, which is good for bones and skin, as well as glucosamine which is beneficial for arthritis. In addition, compounds in the marrow have anti-inflammatory properties and may be beneficial in lowering risk in people with diabetes or heart disease. In short bone marrow is both delicious and good for you.
Bone marrow is best cooked to a temperature or 145-150 degrees. When done, you should be able to poke the marrow with a toothpick with no resistance.
Butter of the Gods is a compound butter made with bone marrow. Some versions also include ingredients like egg yolk, shallot, and parsley. The butter is used as a finishing topper for steaks.
Yes, the bone marrow butter freezes well. If desired, you can divide into individual portions and freeze until needed. Let the compound butter warm to room temperature before using on your steaks.
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📖 Recipe
Smoked Bone Marrow Compound Butter
Ingredients
- 2 Marrow Bones
- 8 Tablespoons Butter softened
- 1 Tablespoon Parsley
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Allow the butter to soften and finely chop the parsley.
- Heat your grill or smoker to 375-400 degrees and set up for indirect heat. Place the marrow bones in or above a pan and cook until they reach an internal temperature of145-150 degrees and the marrow is starting to pull away from the bone. This typically takes about 25-30 minutes.
- Scoop the roasted bone marrow out of the bone and into a bowl. Add in all of the pan drippings, butter, pepper, and parsley and mix to combine.
- Roll into a log shape or place into an ice cube tray to make individual portions. Unused potions can be frozen for future use.
JP
Great addition to our ribeyes. Really ups the beefy flavor.
Steve
Used the bone marrow butter for our steak night and really enjoyed the flavor it added.