Red Lobster Roasted Garlic Butter: Recipe, Price & Calories
By Alex Rivera, Head of Menu Research | Prices Verified September 2026 Against the Red lobster App.
Red Lobster roasted garlic butter is a savory dipping sauce made from butter blended with sweet roasted garlic. It is sold as a 4 oz. cup for about $3.49, with about 860 calories for the full cup. It pairs well with snow crab legs, shrimp, and seafood bakes. A copycat version needs only butter, a head of garlic, salt, and lemon.
Red Lobster offers a 4 oz. roasted garlic side sauce as part of its soups and sides menu. It is a rich, savory roasted garlic butter blend made for dunking seafood. This guide covers the price, calories, pairings, and an easy copycat recipe. See the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your visit.
Roasted garlic butter at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Menu item | Roasted garlic (butter sauce) |
| Menu category | Soups and Sides, 4 oz. sauces |
| Portion | 4 oz. cup |
| Served with | Snow crab legs, shrimp, seafood bakes |
| Price | About $3.49 (varies by location) |
| Calories | About 860 (full 4 oz. cup) |
| Flavor | Rich, savory, garlicky |
| Spice level | None (savory) |
What is roasted garlic butter?
Roasted garlic butter is butter blended with garlic that has been roasted until soft and sweet. Roasting tames raw garlic’s sharp bite and turns it mellow, nutty, and almost creamy.
At Red Lobster it is offered as one of the 4 oz. sauce options, alongside Cajun, Old Bay and butter, lemon pepper, and the RL signature sauce. It is a dipping and finishing sauce built for seafood.
See the full Red Lobster menu with prices.
What it is served with at Red Lobster
This sauce is made for rich seafood dishes. Common pairings include:
- Snow crab legs
- Shrimp, including Walt’s Favorite Shrimp
- Seafood bakes and boils
- Lobster
- Grilled fish
- Breadsticks and biscuits for dipping
It is listed under Soups and Sides and Biscuits and Extras at participating locations. Availability can vary by local supply.
Price
The 4 oz. cup is priced as an a la carte side. Prices differ by location and ordering platform.
| Where you order | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| In restaurant, a la carte (4 oz.) | About $3.49 |
| Online ordering / delivery apps | About $3.49, plus fees |
| Served with a seafood bake or boil | Often included, varies |
Check the Red Lobster app for the current price near you. Delivery platforms may add service and delivery fees on top.
Calories and nutrition
| Nutrient | Approximate value | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 860 | – |
| Total fat | 88 to 95 g | 113% to 122% |
| Saturated fat | 55 to 60 g | 275% to 300% |
| Sodium | 300 to 500 mg | 13% to 22% |
| Total carbs | 3 to 5 g | 1% to 2% |
| Protein | 1 to 2 g | – |
These are approximate values, not official lab-tested numbers. This is a rich sauce, so a little goes a long way.
Ingredients
Red Lobster does not publish the exact proprietary recipe. Based on the known flavor profile, the key components are:
- Butter (the base of the sauce)
- Roasted garlic (mellow and sweet, not sharp)
- Salt
- Lemon juice or herbs in some preparations
Check our deals and specials page for what is live now.
Copycat recipe: roasted garlic butter
This is a copycat recipe, not Red Lobster’s official formula. It makes about 4 oz. with 10 minutes of hands-on time plus roasting.
Yield: about 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus 35 minutes roasting
Ingredients
- 1 whole head garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the top off the garlic head to expose the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in foil.
- Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cloves are soft and golden. Let cool slightly.
- Squeeze the roasted cloves out of their skins into a small bowl. Mash into a smooth paste with a fork.
- Mix the garlic paste into the softened butter with the salt and lemon juice until fully combined.
- Serve at room temperature for spreading, or melt gently for dipping.
Pro tips
- Do not skip the roasting. Raw garlic is sharp and harsh. Roasted garlic is sweet and mellow.
- Use softened butter, not melted, for a spreadable texture.
- Leftovers keep well. See the storage FAQ below.
Red Lobster dipping sauces compared
Red Lobster’s four signature dipping sauces cover every craving. Here is how they compare.
| Detail | Roasted garlic butter | Old Bay butter sauce | Cocktail sauce | Pina colada sauce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portion | 4 oz. cup | 4 oz. cup | 8 oz. cup | 8 oz. cup |
| Price | About $3.49 | About $3.59 to $3.99 | About $3.99 | About $3.99 |
| Calories | About 860 | About 590 | About 220 | About 450 |
| Flavor | Rich, garlicky | Savory, spiced | Tangy, zesty | Sweet, tropical |
| Base | Butter and garlic | Butter and Old Bay | Tomato and horseradish | Coconut and dairy |
| Best with | Snow crab legs, shrimp | Crab legs, seafood boils | Shrimp cocktail | Coconut shrimp |
Read our Old Bay butter sauce guide, cocktail sauce guide, and pina colada sauce guide for the other three.
Can you buy Red Lobster roasted garlic butter?
Red Lobster sells it as a 4 oz. side cup at the restaurant and through online ordering. It is not sold as a bottled Red Lobster product in grocery stores.
But roasted garlic butter is one of the easiest sauces to make at home. The copycat recipe above needs only a head of garlic and a stick of butter. That gets you the same rich flavor for much less money.
Allergens and dietary notes
Based on the typical ingredients in this sauce:
| Allergen | Presence |
|---|---|
| Milk (dairy) | Yes |
| Gluten / wheat | Unlikely |
| Shellfish | No (but served with seafood) |
The sauce is not dairy free and not suitable for vegans. Guests with serious allergies should check Red Lobster’s official allergen guide or ask the restaurant directly, since recipes can change.
Frequently asked questions
What is Red Lobster roasted garlic butter?
It is a savory dipping sauce made from butter blended with sweet roasted garlic. Red Lobster sells it as a 4 oz. cup for about $3.49, mostly with snow crab legs, shrimp, and seafood bakes.
How do you make roasted garlic butter at home?
Roast a whole head of garlic at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes until soft. Squeeze out the cloves, mash into a paste, and mix into 1 stick of softened butter with 1/4 teaspoon salt. This is a copycat approximation, not the official recipe.
How much is roasted garlic butter at Red Lobster?
About $3.49 for the 4 oz. cup when purchased a la carte. Prices vary by location and ordering platform. Delivery apps may add extra fees.
How many calories are in roasted garlic butter?
About 860 calories for the full 4 oz. portion. The calories come almost entirely from butterfat. It is the richest of Red Lobster’s dipping sauces.
What do you eat with roasted garlic butter?
Snow crab legs, shrimp, lobster, seafood bakes, grilled fish, and breadsticks or biscuits for dipping.
Can you buy Red Lobster roasted garlic butter?
You can buy the 4 oz. side cup at the restaurant or through online ordering. Red Lobster does not sell it bottled in stores. The copycat recipe above is easy to make at home with just garlic and butter.
Does roasted garlic butter have dairy?
Yes. It is butter based, so it is not dairy free and not suitable for vegans.
Is roasted garlic butter gluten free?
Gluten and wheat are unlikely based on the typical ingredients. But this is not officially confirmed, and cross contact is possible in restaurant kitchens. Check with Red Lobster directly if you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity.
How long does homemade roasted garlic butter last in the fridge?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Soften at room temperature before serving, or melt gently for dipping.
What is the most popular dish at Red Lobster?
Cheddar Bay Biscuits are the most famous signature item. Shrimp and lobster dishes are among the most ordered entrees. Many guests pair them with extra dipping sauces like this roasted garlic butter.
What are the $15 specials at Red Lobster?
Red Lobster runs limited-time specials, including meal deals around the $15 mark during events and promotions. The lineup changes often.
What is Red Lobster’s Garlic Linguini Alfredo?
It is a pasta dish with linguini in a garlic Alfredo sauce. Menu items change often, so check the current Red Lobster menu for availability, price, and calories.
Final thoughts
Roasted garlic butter is the richest of Red Lobster’s dipping sauces at 860 calories, but also one of the most satisfying. Sweet roasted garlic plus butter is a simple combination that works on everything from snow crab legs to a warm biscuit. At around $3.49 for 4 oz., it is a fair add-on, and the homemade version needs only a head of garlic and a stick of butter.
Explore the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your next visit.
Related guides
- Red Lobster Old Bay butter sauce
- Red Lobster cocktail sauce
- Red Lobster pina colada sauce
- Sailor’s seafood boil
- Red Lobster nutrition guide
- Red Lobster deals and specials
Disclaimer: Menu items, prices, calories, and availability change over time and vary by location. Nutrition values are approximate. The recipe in this article is a copycat approximation, not Red Lobster’s official formula. Verify current details in the Red Lobster app or at redlobster.com before relying on them.
