These Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are cooked to perfection right on the stovetop to yield bite-sized pieces of juicy, tender chicken in a delicious buttery garlic sauce. This is an easy-to-make recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes.
You’ll love this recipe if you enjoy chicken recipes like Sticky Sauce Chicken and Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers.
This recipe is a quick option for a flavorful meal, coming together easily in just one skillet.
Whether you’re new to cooking or just need to get something on the table, this dish is a great choice. Pair it with rice and veggies for something hearty, or serve it on top of a salad for a lighter meal.
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and straightforward-to-follow instructions.
- Easy to make — ideal for any level of cooking expertise.
- Only one skillet is required, making for easy cleanup.
- Yields delicious leftovers.
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make this chicken bites recipe
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and, if needed, pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Coat Chicken: In a large, shallow bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and salt, then gently toss the chicken pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chicken pieces and cook without touching them for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces one by one, then cook until the temperature of the chicken pieces reaches 165 degrees F, about another 3-5 minutes, stirring around occasionally to cook all sides.
Recipe Tip: There may be some grease splatter, so I would suggest using a splatter guard while the chicken cooks and being careful while flipping the chicken.
- Transfer To Plate: Remove the chicken bites from the pan and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: Melt the butter in the microwave or in a small pan or pot on the stovetop. Sprinkle the spices in and stir until combined.
- Coat Chicken: Toss the chicken bites in garlic butter until coated evenly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the chicken bites with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and parsley, then serve.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Chicken Breasts: Chicken thighs can be used as a substitute. Cooking times may slightly differ, so adjust accordingly.
- Cornstarch: Use potato starch or rice flour.
- Avocado Oil: Any other neutral-tasting oil will work.
- Unsalted Butter: For a dairy-free option, use olive oil.
- Italian Seasoning: Use a mixture of dried basil, oregano, and dried thyme.
✨ Variations
- Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add a splash of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to the garlic butter.
〰️ How to serve
- Bread — Pair with a baguette or garlic bread.
- Salad — Serve the chicken bites atop a Caesar salad or alongside a simple green salad.
- Vegetables — Serve with baked sliced zucchini, buttery whole roasted cauliflower, quick pickled carrots, or roasted celery root.
- Pasta — Serve it as a side to giant stuffed shells.
- Rice — Serve atop white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice to make it a complete meal.
- Potatoes — Mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes are a great side option and will soak up the butter sauce well.
- Dipping Sauces — Serve with dips like ranch, BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, spicy aioli, or lemon juice.
💬 FAQs
How should the chicken bites be stored?
Store the chicken bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months, though the texture may change slightly upon thawing.
How should the chicken bites be reheated?
Reheat the chicken bites in a skillet over medium heat or use the microwave. If using the microwave, place a damp paper towel over the chicken to help retain moisture.
📚 More chicken recipes
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Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 3 Tablespoons (24 grams) cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- ¼ cup (half a stick) unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, can be adjusted based on your spice preferences
Optional Garnishes:
- Fresh lemon juice
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and, if needed, pat them dry with paper towel.
- Coat Chicken: In a large, shallow bowl, whisk together cornstarch and salt, then gently toss chicken pieces in mixture until evenly coated.
- Cook Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot and shimmering, add chicken pieces and cook without touching for 4 minutes. Flip chicken pieces one by one, then cook until temperature of chicken pieces reaches 165 degrees F, about another 3-5 minutes, stirring around occasionally to cook all sides. (There may be grease splatter, so I would suggest using a splatter guard while chicken cooks and being careful while flipping the chicken.)
- Transfer To Plate: Remove chicken bites from pan and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: Melt butter in microwave or in small pan or pot on stovetop. Sprinkle spices in and stir until combined.
- Coat Chicken: Toss chicken bites in garlic butter until coated evenly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish chicken bites with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and parsley, then serve.
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