Give homemade hot honey butter some Italian flair with zippy, flavorful Calabrian chili peppers. Think beyond standard bread and butter because this spicy compound butter levels up sandwiches, grilled corn, roasted vegetables, chicken, and more. It's simple to make and freeze!

Hot honey butter in a bowl next to a sliced loaf of bread.

I've been a bit like that Oprah meme when it comes to Calabrian chilis. You get some chilis (spicy rigatoni vodka), you get some chilis (Calabrian chili aioli), you get some chilis (eggs in purgatory) -- now it's butter's turn.

Compound butters have the distinction of seeming fancier than the work involved would have you think, and are slam dunks when it comes to impressing guests. They can lean sweet (honey butter) or savory (garlic butter), or in this instance, both!

This hot honey butter recipe incorporates the bright, bold heat of Calabrian chili peppers for a seriously full-bodied butter, if you will. Both butter and honey temper the spice level nicely, though go to town on adding more peppers if you prefer things the spicier, the better. This kind of recipe is versatile.

Recipe Ingredients

Hot honey butter ingredients labeled in separate containers.

Butter: You'll want to really make sure your butter is soft so all of the ingredients combine easily. Either salted or unsalted (just add salt separately) are fine.

Honey: The sweet heat of hot honey is popular for a reason. Honey adds a present but not overbearing level of sweetness that plays off the zip of the peppers, taking this Calabrian chili butter to the next level.

Calabrian chili peppers: Their well-rounded flavor works well in hot honey butter as these peppers bring a nice heat with fruity undertones. Use Calabrian chili peppers jarred in oil - chopped, sliced, or whole are all fine (just chop them yourself if needed).

Garlic: Go for fresh garlic versus the pre-minced jarred kind for the best flavor. It doesn't need to be super finely-minced or pressed as this recipe comes together in the food processor, but chop it up into smaller pieces to give it a head start.

Easy Recipe Steps

The recipe ingredients added to the bowl of a food processor.

Step 1: Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor.

The hot honey butter blended together in the food processor.

Step 2: Process, scraping down the sides as needed, until everything is smooth and combined.

Do you need to use a food processor?

It's not a must, but it helps blitz the Calabrian chilis into the smallest pieces to result in a smooth and evenly spicy honey butter. If you'd rather stir together everything in a bowl, make sure your butter is really soft, the garlic is very finely minced (or pressed), and your chilis are chopped even finer than they come out of the jar.

Calabrian hot honey butter spread onto a slice of fresh crusty bread.

Serving Suggestions

Once mixed together this Calabrian chili butter is good to go. Serve it softened in a bowl and transform your everyday bread and butter game, or...

...use it as a hot sandwich spread. It's especially good in a pressed mortadella sandwich or an air fryer grilled cheese.
...use it to butter grilled corn. The sweet, spicy, and rich flavor is perfection on charred corn on the cob or melted into skillet roasted corn.
...use it to season cooked vegetables. Of any kind, really, but especially roasted vegetables. The hot honey butter will melt and provide tons of flavor.
...use it to make one mean chicken and waffles. No notes!
...use it to zhush up other baked goods. It's especially good on breads that lean savory like biscuits, or already feature a complementary flavor note like honey cornbread.

Keep in mind flavored butter will naturally harden once refrigerated, so if making this recipe ahead of time consider shaping it into a log before chilling for easy slicing and future serving. Just wrap it in parchment paper, then plastic wrap - the full details are in the recipe card below.

A log of Calabrian chili butter sliced on a plate with bread.

More Spreads

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