Garlic Butter Chicken Bites (Printable)

Golden chicken bites in a rich garlic butter sauce, ready in 25 minutes. Perfect for quick dinners or appetizers.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter and the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Sear for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken 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 garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the garlic butter sauce. Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley. Serve hot with lemon wedges and extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Crispy outsides and juicy insides happen automatically, no tricky technique required
  • The garlic butter sauce doubles as a dip for whatever bread or veggies you have on hand
  • Ready in 25 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant that takes reservations
02 -
  • Crowding the pan will steam the chicken instead of searing it, so work in batches if your pieces are touching too much
  • Garlic burns in seconds, so have your chicken nearby and ready to return to the pan before you start sautéing
03 -
  • Let your chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking for more even results
  • Cast iron or stainless steel pans give the best sear compared to nonstick

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