Fast, easy, and family-friendly, you’ll want to make these Garlic Butter Chicken Bites on repeat! Bite-sized chicken is pan-seared in a homemade garlic butter sauce that makes every morsel tender and flavorful. It’s the best 15-minute recipe for those busy weeknights and perfect for meal prep as well.
My Garlic Butter Steak Bites recipe is a huge reader favorite, so obviously, I had to share my chicken version with you all as well. I make these chicken bites recipe so often that it’s just one of those autopilot recipes at this point.
It’s my go-to dinner when I need something quick and low-effort. While the chicken cooks, I prep some veggies like my garlic butter zucchini, roasted asparagus, green beans or creamy mashed potatoes. It’s the ultimate comfort food combo—quick, cozy, and always hits the spot. Sometimes I go with fluffy rice or pasta instead, depending on what we’re craving.
This recipe is also fantastic for meal prep. You can keep a container of garlic butter chicken bites in the fridge to make an easy chicken salad, chicken and veggie wraps, and chicken meal prep bowls. Since they’re good served hot or cold, they’re perfect for kids’ lunches or appetizer as well!
Gather Your Ingredients
- Chicken breast — Since we’re cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces, you can use whatever you have on hand. I’ve made this recipe with chicken breasts, tenderloins, and boneless, skinless chicken thighs, and it’s always delicious no matter what I use.
- Seasonings — This simple blend of Italian seasonings, paprika, salt, and pepper is my go-to for chicken. It adds just the right amount of flavor and pairs well with everything. This recipe is super versatile, so feel free to use whatever seasonings you like.
- Garlic butter — The garlic butter is what makes this recipe so good. I use it in everything, so I like to keep a container of homemade garlic butter on hand. It’s a big time saver and instantly makes any dish more flavorful.
How To Make Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
First: Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and put them in a large bowl. Add your seasonings and toss everything to coat the chicken evenly.
Second: Melt one tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. The olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning.
Then: Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes. Then, use a pair of tongs or a fork to flip the pieces of chicken and cook them for another couple of minutes. Season with black pepper and kosher salt.
Finally: Add the rest of the butter, cloves garlic, and parsley to the pan to make the garlic butter. Cook the chicken in the garlic butter for another minute while stirring to evenly coat it. Garnish with parsley or chopped basil or oregano.
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- If the chicken bites stick to the pan when you try to flip them, just wait a little bit longer and try again. The chicken will naturally release from the pan when it’s browned and ready.
- Keep a close eye on the garlic and turn the heat down if it starts to get too brown or crispy, as burnt garlic has a bitter taste to it.
- Be careful not to overcrowd your pan, or the chicken will steam instead of brown. If I’m making a lot, I always cooking it in two batches or more.
- Finish the chicken bites with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a nice bright flavor.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites (Skillet-Seared & Ready in 15 Minutes)
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Ingredients
- 1¼ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1½ tablespoons minced fresh garlic 4 cloves
- Finely chopped fresh parsley
Equipment
Instructions
- Coat the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring it’s evenly covered.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet, tilting the pan to spread it evenly.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the skillet, avoiding overcrowding to ensure the pieces brown instead of steaming.
- Cook the chicken for about 3 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes, or until nearly cooked through. If necessary, cook the chicken in batches.
- Add the remaining butter, garlic, and parsley to the skillet, cooking for an additional minute or until the chicken is fully cooked, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Enjoy!
Tips
- The actual cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken bites and the type of skillet you use.
- Dice the chicken into similar-sized pieces so they all cook at the same time.
- To get the best sear, wait until the pan is hot before adding the chicken.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Steve says
Hello Olivia! I had some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and saw this recipe. I already made it tonight and it was VERY good. Thank you for the recipe. So fast, and easy, and delicious!
Olivia Ribas says
Hi! I’m so glad you gave the recipe a try and loved it! 😊 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work great, and I’m happy to hear it was quick, easy, and delicious for you. Thanks for sharing! 🍗✨