What are ‘butter meats’? We tried the keto slow-cooker hack

The secret to the most flavorful, tender meat from a slow cooker just might be butter. Shocking, right?

Abby Durlewanger (aka @houseofketo) said she discovered her now-popular “butter meats” cooking technique several years ago when she first started following a low-carb, ketogenic diet. Durlewanger wasn’t a fan of fatty chicken thighs, but needed a way to “fatten up” the lean proteins she enjoyed to fit into her keto lifestyle.

So Durlewanger, who is also responsible for the viral “twisted bacon” technique of twisting bacon strips before crisping them up in the oven, turned to butter for some help.

“I thought, ‘What if the butter is my (slow cooker) liquid?’ and decided to try it one day while I was home to watch to make sure I didn’t burn my house down,” Durlewanger told me.

Her home stayed standing, and she was left with meat slow cooked in a mix of its own juices and butter. Lots of butter.

When Durlewanger shared her idea with the members of her online community, the technique took off. Years later, followers of her blog and social media accounts continue to tag her in images of their own buttery creations, and the blogger frequently shares updated how-to videos on the method.

To make butter meats, Durlewanger suggests lining a slow cooker with a plastic liner then placing in a half stick of butter. After putting whatever kind of meat you’re craving on top, add the other half of the stick. From there, season the meat, set it and forget it.