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This garlic butter chicken bites recipe is the perfect meal for busy weeknights! Everything comes together in about 20 minutes in one skillet with simple ingredients, but the flavor is anything but basic!
These garlic butter chicken bites are weeknight dinner gold. Juicy chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with onions, a little Cajun seasoning, fresh lemon juice, and parsley – basically my ideal meal.
It’s garlicky, savory, and so easy to make. And because the chicken is cut into smaller pieces, it cooks fast, which is exactly what I need on those busy nights when everybody’s hungry. Best part? It’s perfect for meal prep, a quick dinner, or whenever you want an easy chicken recipe to make.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites 🧄
Alright y’all, this garlic butter chicken is an easy recipe for sure. But simple does not mean boring. The goal is juicy chicken bites with golden brown edges and a buttery garlic sauce that actually coats the chicken instead of sitting at the bottom of the skillet. And that’s exactly what this recipe gives you.
The trick is to sear the chicken first. If you add the butter and garlic too early, the garlic can burn and the butter can brown before the chicken gets that good color. So, I season the chicken thighs, sear them until golden brown, then build the sauce in the same skillet. That one little switch gives you better browning, deeper flavor, and a garlic butter sauce that clings to every bite.
👉 If you love these garlic chicken bites, make my honey garlic chicken thighs or my garlic butter steak bites next!
What You’ll Need
(Full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card)
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs are the move here. I like using them because they can handle high heat without drying out, which gives you more time to get those golden brown edges. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but keep in mind they cook quicker and can dry out faster.
- Fresh Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic cloves give the butter sauce that bold, savory flavor you just can’t get from garlic powder alone.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder and onion powder season the chicken itself, Italian seasoning adds herby flavor, and Cajun seasoning gives the butter sauce a smoky, savory kick.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice brightens the sauce and balances the richness of the butter. It does not make the chicken taste lemony; it just wakes everything up.
- Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a little freshness and color at the end, which helps balance all that rich garlic butter.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor and melts into the garlic butter sauce just enough to help it cling to the chicken.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Step 1: Season the chicken. Pat the chicken thighs dry, cut them into bite-sized chunks, trim any excess fat, then add to a large bowl. Toss with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
Step 2: Sear until golden brown. Cook the chicken in a large skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil until browned on the outside and cooked through. Work in batches if needed so the chicken sears instead of steams.
Step 3: Build the garlic butter sauce. In the same skillet, cook the diced onion until softened, then add butter, fresh garlic, and Cajun seasoning. Stir until the garlic is fragrant.
Step 4: Toss and finish. Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss in the garlic butter sauce. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley or green onion.
Pro Tips
- Let the pan get hot first. For the perfect sear, let the pan warm for about 3–4 minutes before cooking. This helps the chicken develop those golden brown edges.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook the chicken in a single layer so it browns evenly. If the pan is overcrowded, the chicken will steam instead of sear. Work in batches if needed, it’s worth it for that deep golden crust.
- Pat the chicken dry first. Don’t skip this step! Removing excess moisture helps the chicken sear properly and develop that golden, flavorful crust instead of steaming in the pan.
- Store leftovers properly. Store leftover garlic butter chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
Main Course
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
Main Course
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Main Course
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
Main Course
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
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If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and comment below! You can also tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can celebrate your beautiful creations!
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Equipment
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper , (to taste)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp Salted Butter
- 1/2 Yellow Onion, (diced)
- 6 cloves Garlic, (diced)
- 1 tsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, (chopped)
- 3 tbsp Parmesan Cheese, (grated)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Trim any excess fat/fatty pieces off of the chicken. Add the chicken to a large bowl and season with Italian seasoning garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated. 1 1/2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs 2 tsp Italian Seasoning 1 tsp Garlic Powder 1 tsp Onion Powder Salt and Pepper
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, then add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the chicken in a single layer. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown on the outside and cooked through. Work in batches if needed so the chicken sears instead of steams.
- Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Add the butter. Once melted, add diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan – this adds tons of flavor to the sauce. 4 tbsp Salted Butter 1/2 Yellow Onion
- Add the minced garlic, and Cajun seasoning. Stir constantly for 2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant and slightly browned. Be careful not to let the garlic burn. 6 cloves Garlic 1 tsp Cajun Seasoning
- Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss until every piece is coated in the garlic butter sauce.
- Stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley. Remove from the pan and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. 1 tbsp Lemon Juice 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley 3 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
