These garlic butter chicken bites are the quickest way to add some healthy protein into your meals! I coat juicy, bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken breast in a light flour seasoning, sear them to golden perfection, then toss them in a rich garlic butter sauce. They’re simple to make, packed with flavor, and ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for meal prep with rice, pasta, or roasted veggies!
Chicken Breast Bites with Garlic Butter Sauce
Inspired by the flavor of my favorite garlic butter chicken recipe, I designed these protein-rich chicken breast bites to be quick, easy, and tasty! Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts keeps things lean and makes prep easy. And the light flour coating helps create a slightly crisp exterior that holds up beautifully when tossed in the garlic butter.
The butter-garlic sauce is super quick too. Just melt the butter, sauté some fresh garlic until fragrant, and toss in the cooked chicken. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, and you have some incredibly tasty garlic chicken bites in no time! These are ideal for meal prep and healthy family meals, but they fit right into any dinner you have planned.
Email this recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Easy Chicken Recipes.
Freeze Before Slicing for Uniform Pieces
For perfectly-even chicken breast bites, place your chicken in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before slicing. This firms up the meat, making it easier to cut evenly, so all pieces cook at the same rate. Avoid cutting fully frozen chicken, which can dull your knife, and always check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe, juicy results.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into bite-sized chunks)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (⅜ stick)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- chopped fresh parsley (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with the flour, salt, onion powder, paprika, and pepper until well coated.1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon ground paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side; or until the pieces are cooked through and golden brown and crispy on the outside. Once cooked, transfer to a plate and set aside.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the chicken pieces back to the pan and stir to combine with the garlic butter.
- Top with fresh parsley before serving.chopped fresh parsley
Notes
- To make the chicken easier to cut into uniform pieces, you can briefly freeze it for about 30 minutes. Do not try to cut fully frozen chicken!
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning it so it crisps up nicely in the pan.
- Let the seasoned chicken sit out for 10-15 minutes before cooking. This helps it cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Don’t overcrowd the chicken pieces in the pan, or they will steam rather than browning. Cook the chicken in batches if needed.
- Properly cooked chicken should read 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
- After cooking the chicken, you can add a splash of chicken broth, white wine, or water to the skillet to help scrape up the browned bits. This will add extra flavor to the garlic butter.
- Cook the garlic just until fragrant; burnt garlic tastes bitter.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan for richness.
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
Meal Prep Ready!
These chicken bites have quickly become one of my favorite meal prep items. I like to make a double or triple batch, so I can put a few days worth in my fridge to use throughout the week, then freeze the rest to use later. Because they’re so simple and versatile, I can quickly add them to a meal prep container with rice, veggies, or whatever I have in mind. With over 30g of protein per serving, these are a must for my health goals!
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for this chicken bites recipe. For ease of cutting, you can freeze your chicken breasts for about 30 minutes to firm them up. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized chunks, pat dry, and mince the garlic.
Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, toss 1½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces with 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of onion powder, ¼ teaspoon of ground paprika, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, until well coated. I like to let this all come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking, especially when I briefly freeze the chicken to make it easier to cut. This helps it cook more evenly.
Cook the Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the pieces are cooked through to 165°F and golden brown and crispy on the outside. Cook in batches if needed so you don’t overcrowd and steam the chicken. Once cooked, transfer to a plate and set aside.
Make the Garlic Butter: Next, add 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the skillet (no need to wipe out) and let it melt. Add in 4 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Take care not to burn the garlic, or it will take on a bitter flavor.
Sauce the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces back to the pan and stir to combine with the garlic butter. Do this over low heat or off the heat entirely to avoid burning the garlic.
Top and Serve: Top with chopped fresh parsley, if desired, before serving. I like mine with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, but they work in just about any meal!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store leftover garlic butter chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. Add an extra pat of butter on top while reheating to rehydrate the sauce.
Leave a Reply