Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: These crispy garlic butter chicken bites are incredibly tender, juicy, and coated in a mouthwatering savory garlic butter sauce. This recipe will quickly become a weeknight staple, especially when you need a quick and satisfying dinner.
How long it takes: 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: Large bowl, large skillet
Servings: 4
Garlic Bread, But Chicken
If you are looking for a quick and delicious meal? Look no further than Garlic Butter Chicken Bites! My original chicken bites recipe is a weekly favorite in my household. Due to our love for it, I have been creating different variations of the recipe, and this garlic butter chicken bites recipe is one of my absolute favorites!
These chicken bites cook incredibly fast and deliver that amazing garlic-bread-meets-buttery-chicken flavor. They are also incredibly versatile. And if you like this, then you will love these garlic butter steak bites, too!
Everyone loves them, including kids and adults! What more can you ask for in a recipe?
- Quick and easy protein: With just 10 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cooking time, you can have a delicious protein dish ready in minutes. The best part is that the ingredients are likely already in your pantry and fridge.
- Versatile: You can serve these chicken bites on a plate with a side dish like crockpot mashed potatoes or a simple salad. You can also toss them into salads, tuck them into wraps, or fold them into pasta.
For more bite-sized protein ideas, check out my air fryer salmon bites and air fryer steak bites.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Making garlic butter chicken bites is easy, quick, and delicious. Follow these simple steps:
Combine the seasonings: In a large bowl, mix together the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Using a large bowl is recommended so that you have enough space to toss the chicken with the seasoning.
Cut the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into half-inch pieces, ensuring they are evenly sized for even cooking. Start by cutting long half-inch strips and then cutting those strips into half-inch pieces. Refer to the photos for visual guidance.
Season the chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the bowl containing the cornstarch mixture and toss until each piece is well-coated.
Cook: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced chicken in a single layer. If your skillet is large enough, you should be able to cook all the chicken in one batch. Cook the chicken without stirring for 3 to 4 minutes. Waiting to stir allows a nice golden crust to form and prevents sticking. After 3-4 minutes, stir the chicken and continue to cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked.
Make it delicious: Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the butter, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Cook until the butter melts and the chicken bites are thoroughly coated in the garlicky goodness.
Finish: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Serve the garlic butter chicken bites immediately as desired.
Cooking Tip
To prevent a bitter flavor, do not overcook the garlic. Adding the garlic towards the end of the cooking process will mellow its bite and release its flavor into the butter sauce and chicken.
Recipe Variations
- Lemon garlic butter chicken: Right before taking the pan off the heat, squeeze fresh lemon juice or sprinkle lemon zest into the pan for a burst of citrusy flavor.
- Parmesan garlic chicken bites: Just before serving, stir grated Parmesan cheese into the pan for a cheesy twist.
- Herbed garlic butter chicken: Enhance the flavor by adding other finely chopped fresh herbs such as thyme, basil, chives, or rosemary along with or in place of the parsley.
How to Serve Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
These garlic butter chicken bites are incredibly versatile and can be served in many different ways:
Pair with pasta or rice: Enjoy these chicken bites with fresh tomato pasta, vodka pasta, or Instant Pot risotto for a complete and satisfying meal. They can also be paired with Kraft mac and cheese!
Add to meal bowls and salads: Create a flavorful meal bowl or salad by adding garlic butter chicken bites to arugula salad or Caesar salad. Try with homemade Caesar dressing and Caesar croutons!
Use as a protein for a wrap: Create a wrap with garlic butter chicken bites, lettuce, shredded cheese, and chopped tomatoes in a soft tortilla. Enhance the flavor with Chick-fil-A sauce. You can also try them in a roasted vegetable wrap.
Serve with roasted vegetables as a side: Spoon some of the garlic butter sauce over your roasted green beans or roasted Parmesan broccoli for a flavorful side dish.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate: Transfer leftover garlic butter chicken bites to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Store in a freezer bag with the excess air pressed out or in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheat: The best method is to heat the chicken bites in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until warmed through. The air fryer also works well, as does the microwave, but be careful with that—heat in 30-second bursts to avoid overheating and making the chicken tough.
More Chicken Recipes
Honey Balsamic Chicken Thighs
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Hot Honey Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
Crockpot Chicken Tacos – 3 ingredients!
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
No ratings yet
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Pin
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Dice chicken evenly into small pieces, about ½-inch. Add the cut-up chicken to the bowl with cornstarch mixture and toss until chicken is evenly coated.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken in a single layer.
- Cook without moving the chicken bites for 3 to 4 minutes so a golden crust forms. Stir and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes more.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add the butter, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine, and continue to cook until butter is melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley.
- Serve immediately (see serving suggestions below).
Notes
- Serving suggestions: Garlic butter chicken bites go well with cooked pasta or rice. I like to add them to meal bowls, salads, wraps, or roasted vegetables.
- Storage: Leftover chicken bites will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. They can be reheated in a skillet, or briefly in the air fryer. They tend to get a bit chewy in the microwave.
- Variations: Add a squeeze of lemon juice (zest, too!) to the pan with the butter. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese on the bites with the parsley. Try different fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, chives, cilantro, or whatever you like.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!