Garlic Butter Chicken Bites (Printable)
Golden chicken bites in rich garlic butter sauce ready in 25 minutes
# What You 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
# Steps:
01 - Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season evenly with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, ensuring all pieces are coated.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary. Sear for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining pieces.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the garlic butter sauce. Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and additional parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The entire dish comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
- You get that seared, crispy exterior with incredibly juicy meat inside
02 -
- Dry chicken equals crispy chicken, so do not skip the paper towel step
- Let your pan get properly hot between batches or you'll lose that sear
- The garlic can burn in seconds, so have your chicken ready to toss back in immediately
03 -
- Cut your chicken into uniform pieces so everything cooks at the same rate
- Room temperature chicken sears better than cold from the fridge