These quick and easy garlic butter chicken bites take only 15 minutes to prepare, but the garlic butter sauce delivers big on flavor.
Between the Italian seasoning, fresh garlic, and parsley, each bite-sized chunk is loaded with flavor.
And the silky butter sauce is just the cherry on top.
Serve these as an appetizer or pair with sides like roasted vegetables or pasta for a complete meal. Either way, you’ll love it!
Why You’ll Love These Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Lightning Quick Prep: This recipe comes together in just 15 minutes from start to finish. So it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need a tasty meal fast.
One-Pan Wonder: Everything cooks together in a single skillet, meaning fewer dishes to clean after dinner.
Meal Prep Magic: Easily double or triple the batch for meal prepping. The bites reheat beautifully for quick lunches or dinners.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Lean, high in protein, and cut into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking.
- All-Purpose Flour: A light dusting gives the chicken a slight crust and helps to thicken the delicious sauce.
- Seasonings: A blend of Italian seasoning, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper adds a robust and spicy flavor profile.
- Olive Oil: Used for its high smoking point and subtle flavor, it’s ideal for searing the chicken to golden perfection.
- Unsalted Butter: Divided for cooking and creating a rich, glossy finish, it melds into a luxurious garlic butter sauce.
- Fresh Garlic: Minced for a burst of sharp, aromatic flavor that infuses the chicken with a classic garlic punch.
- Fresh Parsley: Adds a fresh, herbal note to the dish and a pop of green color for garnish.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
This dish is a triple threat – quick, easy, and unbelievably delicious. And 15 minutes is all you need to get this restaurant-quality meal on the table.
1. PREP. Cut and pat dry the chicken before tossing in the flour and seasonings.
2. COOK. Warm the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
3. FINISH. Add remaining butter, garlic, and parsley, and cook until the chicken is done.
4. SERVE. Season the chicken, if needed, and serve hot.
Tips For the Best Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
What I appreciate most about this dish is that it uses simple, everyday ingredients I usually have on hand.
But it tastes like something I’d order at a restaurant!
And with these tips, your dinner will be just as drool-worthy.
- Dry the chicken. Dab the chicken pieces dry with paper towels before seasoning to help the flour coating stick.
- Preheat the pan over medium-high heat before adding the oil and butter to ensure the chicken sears and browns nicely.
- Don’t overcrowd. Leave some space between the chicken pieces in the skillet so they brown and crisp rather than steam. You might need to do this in batches.
- Flip once. Let the chicken cook without moving for 3 minutes, then flip and leave them alone. This is how you get the best crust.
- Add the butter at the end. You’ll use oil and butter at first because oil has a higher smoke point. This allows you to cook the chicken without burning. Add the bulk of the butter to make the sauce at the end so it doesn’t have time to burn.
- Variations. Experiment with different proteins like shrimp or pork. Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice or grated parmesan cheese or swapping the parsley for other herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Serving ideas. For a complete meal, serve the chicken bites with pasta, rice, garlic bread, roasted or steamed veggies, or a salad.
How to Store
Whether served with potatoes or just eaten straight out of the pan (guilty!), these garlic butter chicken bites are a winner.
My whole family loved them and was practically licking their plates clean. But if you have leftovers, here’s how to store them:
To Store: Place the cold bites in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: Spread the cold bites on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
To Reheat: For best results, reheat the chicken bites in a skillet over medium heat until they’re hot. Alternatively, you can microwave them on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
More Easy Chicken Dinners
Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Crockpot Mississippi Chicken
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
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kcalThese quick and easy garlic butter chicken bites take only 15 minutes to prepare but deliver big on flavor. They’re a must-make any night of the week.
Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided
4-5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Cut the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Add to a bowl with the flour, Italian seasoning, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss until the meat is well coated, and set aside.
- Warm the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer, leaving some space between each (work in batches, if needed).
- Cook until the meat is golden brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 2 minutes longer.
- Add the remaining butter, garlic, and parsley. Stir well and cook for 1-2 more minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve the garlic butter chicken bites hot.
Notes
- Dry the chicken. Dab the chicken pieces dry with paper towels before seasoning to help the flour coating stick better and promote browning.
- Don’t overcrowd. Leave some space between the chicken pieces in the skillet so they brown and crisp rather than steam. You might need to do this in batches.
I want to eat it all!