15-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken Bites One-Pan Recipe

The Juiciest Garlic Butter Chicken Bites: Sizzling One-Pan Recipe

Weeknight dinners transform with these delectable 15-minute garlic butter chicken bites that promise maximum flavor without complicated preparation.

Succulent chicken pieces soak up rich, aromatic butter and garlic notes in a single skillet.

Minimal ingredients create maximum satisfaction for hungry households.

Quick cooking techniques ensure juicy, golden-brown exterior with tender inner meat.

Herbs and seasonings add depth to this simple yet impressive dish.

Every bite delivers a punch of savory goodness that feels like restaurant-quality cooking at home.

Jump in and create magic with this foolproof culinary adventure that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Make Dinner Quick And Craveable

  • Quick Weeknight Savior: Whip up this lightning-fast chicken dish in just 15 minutes, perfect for busy families needing a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Minimal Cleanup Champion: Using only one skillet means less dishwashing and more time enjoying your meal, making this recipe a stress-free cooking experience.
  • Flavor-Packed Simplicity: With just a few pantry staples like garlic powder, butter, and seasonings, you can transform ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish that tastes incredible.
  • Versatile Meal Solution: Serve these garlic butter chicken bites over rice, pasta, or alongside a fresh salad for a complete meal that pleases both adults and kids with its irresistible buttery garlic flavor.

Simple Parts In Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Protein:
  • Chicken Breasts: Tender meat that cooks quickly and absorbs flavors well, best when boneless and skinless.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Butter, Garlic Cloves, Garlic Powder: Rich, aromatic base that creates a delicious, savory coating for the chicken.
Seasoning Blend:
  • Paprika, Dried Parsley, Italian Seasoning, Salt, Pepper: Warm spices that add depth, color, and complexity to the dish, helping to build layers of flavor.
Garnish:
  • Fresh Parsley: Optional bright green herb that adds a fresh, colorful finishing touch to the dish.

15-Min Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Guide

Step 1: Spice Up The Chicken

Mix chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to create a delicious flavor coating.

Make sure each piece gets an even sprinkle of seasonings for maximum taste.

Step 2: Sizzle And Brown

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Drop chicken pieces into the hot pan and cook until they turn golden brown and are completely cooked through.

This should take about 4-5 minutes.

Step 3: Create Garlic Magic

Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

In the same pan, melt additional butter and add minced garlic.

Sauté the garlic until it becomes wonderfully fragrant and releases its amazing aroma.

Step 4: Combine And Coat

Bring the cooked chicken back to the skillet.

Toss the pieces in the freshly made garlic butter sauce, ensuring every bite gets a rich, buttery coating.

Let everything sizzle together for another 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Serve And Enjoy

Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley on top for a pop of color and extra freshness.

Serve these mouthwatering chicken bites immediately while they’re hot and bursting with flavor.

Quick Pro Tips For Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

  • Mix dry spices in a bowl before coating chicken to ensure even, consistent flavor distribution across all pieces.
  • Use a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet to achieve perfect golden-brown chicken without burning or sticking.
  • Check chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe, fully cooked meat without drying out the tender bites.
  • Replace traditional butter with ghee or olive oil for a healthier, low-carb version that maintains rich, savory taste.
  • Let chicken rest for 2-3 minutes after cooking to help juices redistribute, creating more succulent and moist meat bites.

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Store Smartly

  • Transfer leftover chicken bites to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Warm chicken bites in a skillet over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying out.
  • Reheat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even heating. Stop when chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
  • Reheat only once to maintain juicy texture and prevent tough, rubbery chicken pieces.

Fast Matches for Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Savor Complementary Flavor Companions: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Pairings

  • Wine Wonderland: Crisp chardonnay or light pinot grigio perfectly balance the rich garlic butter, cutting through the chicken's savory depths with refreshing acidity.
  • Carb Companions: Fluffy white rice or roasted baby potatoes absorb the delicious garlic butter sauce, creating a delightful texture and flavor harmony.
  • Green Garden Freshness: Roasted asparagus or steamed green beans provide a crisp, nutritious contrast to the buttery chicken, adding bright color and light vegetable notes.
  • Bread Brilliance: Crusty French baguette or warm garlic bread become ideal vehicles for soaking up extra garlic butter, enhancing the meal's indulgent experience.

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Fixes

  • Low-Carb Keto Option: Replace chicken with cubed turkey or replace chicken entirely with cauliflower florets for a vegetarian alternative. Use ghee instead of butter to increase healthy fat content.
  • Dairy-Free Version: Substitute butter with olive oil or coconut oil. Use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor profile and replace butter with dairy-free margarine.
  • Spicy Herb Variation: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne powder to increase heat. Incorporate fresh rosemary or thyme instead of parsley for deeper herbal notes. Replace garlic powder with fresh minced garlic for more intense flavor.
  • Mediterranean Style: Swap paprika with za'atar seasoning. Add lemon zest and squeeze fresh lemon juice over chicken before serving. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top for additional Mediterranean character.

FAQs

  • What makes this chicken recipe so quick to prepare?

The recipe uses small chicken bites that cook rapidly in just 4-5 minutes, and requires minimal ingredient prep, allowing you to have a delicious meal ready in about 15 minutes total.

  • Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken bites?

Yes, you can cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, which will cook just as quickly and absorb the same delicious garlic butter sauce. Just ensure the pieces are roughly uniform in size for even cooking.

  • How do I know the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). The chicken should also look golden brown and have no pink color in the center when cut.

  • Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?

While best served immediately, you can store cooked chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheat gently in a skillet to maintain their moisture and flavor.

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15-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken Bites One-Pan Recipe

15-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken Bites One-Pan Recipe


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4.9 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Succulent garlic butter chicken bites offer a quick culinary escape from weeknight dinner stress, delivering bold Mediterranean flavors in mere minutes. Crispy edges, rich butter sauce, and minimal cleanup make this recipe a delightful solution you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 1 lb (453 grams) chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

Seasonings and Spices:

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley or Italian seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Butter and Aromatics:

  • 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with a blend of aromatic spices, ensuring each morsel is evenly seasoned with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat a spacious skillet over medium-high flame, allowing a portion of butter to melt and create a golden cooking surface.
  3. Carefully introduce seasoned chicken bites into the sizzling pan, allowing them to develop a rich, caramelized exterior while cooking completely through.
  4. Once chicken reaches perfect golden-brown status and is fully cooked, transfer pieces to a temporary holding plate.
  5. In the same skillet, introduce remaining butter and fragrant minced garlic, creating a luxurious aromatic base that will infuse the dish with intense flavor.
  6. Gently return chicken bites to the pan, coating each piece generously with the bubbling garlic butter sauce.
  7. Allow chicken to reheat and absorb the sauce’s richness for a brief moment, ensuring maximum flavor integration.
  8. For a final touch of freshness and visual appeal, sprinkle finely chopped parsley across the dish.
  9. Serve immediately while the chicken remains hot and the garlic butter sauce is at its most enticing.

Notes

  • Customize the seasoning by experimenting with different herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano for unique flavor profiles.
  • Ensure chicken pieces are uniform in size to guarantee even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
  • For a low-carb option, serve these chicken bites over cauliflower rice or a crisp salad instead of traditional grains.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption, which prevents overcooking and maintains juiciness.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 325
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 30 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg
Emily Harper

Emily Harper

Nutrition Consultant & Recipe Analyst

Expertise

Healthy Recipe Modification, Nutritional Analysis & Meal Planning, Global Cuisine & Dietary Adaptations​

Education

School: French Pastry School, Chicago, IL

Program: L’Art de la Pâtisserie

Focus: Intensive training in traditional French pastry techniques, baking theory, and confectionery arts. ​


Emily’s journey started in a pastry kitchen but took a detour into the world of health and flavor science.
Graduating from the French Pastry School and studying nutrition opened her eyes to a new mission: making healthy food taste like something you’d actually crave.
At Dining At Home, Emily’s the go-to for smart, feel-good recipes that don’t trade flavor for nutrition.
She’s all about adding a fresh spin on old favorites and finding small ways to make everyday meals a little brighter.
Outside of the kitchen, Emily is most at home walking forest trails, testing plant-based recipes, or sharing a picnic under a wide-open sky.

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