This easy and tender buttered sautéed leeks recipe makes the perfect quick and tasty side dish when in need of both comfort and nutrition.
5-Stars From Our Readers
“I have been sauteeing leeks in butter for a long time. But the addition of olive oil, garlic and lemon juice make them so yummy!
Thank you 😋”
— Carol
A Note From Kristen
I love making these buttered sautéed leeks on busy weeknights because they come together fast and taste like something I spent way more time on! The leeks turn tender and silky in the pan, with a mellow, buttery flavor that melts in your mouth and feels instantly comforting. They’re naturally vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free with an easy vegan option, so they slide right into almost any meal without extra planning. Happy eating!
~Kristen
Ingredient Notes
Please keep in mind that this is just a quick overview. Visit the full recipe for amounts and instructions!
01
SAUTE
Start by sauteing the garlic in olive oil and butter until golden.
02
ADD
Then, add the remaining ingredients to the pan and stir, while sauteeing for about 8 minutes or until the leeks are nice and tender.
03
SERVE
Enjoy!
Serving Ideas
- Use sauteed leeks alongside cheese in a cheese quesadilla (trust me on this one!).
- Use sauteed leeks in a frittata or omelet.
- Sprinkle sauteed leeks over a baked potato.
- Serve sauteed leeks atop soups or stews.
- Fold sauteed leeks into a favorite pasta dish.
- Top with shredded parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs for something a bit extra!
- Use buttered leeks as a salad topping.
- Serve alongside a holiday meal like my vegetarian roast or stuffed acorn squash.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the entire leek is fully edible, the dark green leaves of the leek are bitter and hard to chew. The white and light green parts are far more agreeable.
While sauteed leeks taste their best when served right away, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Tasty Vegetable Side Dishes You Might Like
Buttered Sautéed Leeks
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 leeks, dark green tops removed white and light green parts thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the butter, olive oil and garlic.
- Saute for 2 minutes, or until the garlic turns golden brown.
- Add the sliced leeks, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Saute the leeks, stirring frequently, until tender, about 8 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, serve and enjoy!
Quick and easy recipe! Delicious addition to our steak and potato meal.
So happy to hear it! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I have been sauteeing leeks in butter for a long time. But the addition of olive oil,garlic and lemon juice make them so yummy!
Thank you😋
So happy to hear it! Thanks for sharing!
Delicious side dish to our dinner of Lamb chops. Served over rice as a wonderful complete meal.
I’m so happy to hear it! Thank you for sharing!
I was planning to make this and the right protein never came up so I decided to use what I had at hand. I added some asparagus spears. And after making the leeks, in the same pan sautéed some lions mane mushrooms to top it off and delicious!
I love simple recipes like these that highlight fresh produce beautifully. So easy to make and so good.
This sautéed leeks recipe is so useful! I love making this recipe as a base for my other recipes such as soups, braised meats, and stews. So many great cooking ideas in this post.
This was really easy and delicious. I mixed the leeks into cooked pasta with a little pasta water – wonderful! Great way to prepare leeks that isn’t just soup.
I loooooove leeks but had no idea that they were so easy to prepare! I’m going to be making these buttered leeks often because they’re delish!