Garlic Butter Chicken Bites (Printable)

Golden chicken bites in rich garlic butter sauce. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

→ Sauce & Aromatics

05 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season thoroughly with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, ensuring even coating on all sides.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter melts and begins to shimmer.
03 - Add chicken in a single layer without overcrowding. Sear for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through to internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken if cooking in batches.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Once melted and foaming, stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
05 - Return seared chicken to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat each piece in the garlic butter sauce. Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley until well combined.
06 - Serve immediately while hot, garnished with additional fresh parsley and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These come together in under 30 minutes but taste like something from a fancy bistro
  • The sauce is so good you will want to drizzle it over everything
02 -
  • Crowding the pan will steam the chicken instead of searing it so work in batches
  • Garlic burns quickly so keep it moving once it hits the hot butter
03 -
  • Let the chicken come to room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one for the best sear

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