Dinner

Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites Recipe

Bylina Carter October 17, 2025October 17, 2025

Introduction

Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are a flavorful and easy-to-make dish perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings. Tender chicken pieces are seared to a golden brown and tossed in a zesty, garlicky butter sauce that packs a punch of smoky and spicy flavors.

The image shows many small, golden-brown, crispy chicken bites piled closely together in a white pan. Each piece has a slightly rough texture with a shiny glaze of seasoned oil coating the surface, giving them a juicy look. Some pieces have darker, almost burnt edges that add contrast, while small green herb bits are lightly scattered across. The pan is simple and clean, holding a shallow amount of flavorful sauce pooling at the bottom. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Step 1: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in batches and cook until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Step 3: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it in the cowboy butter sauce until well coated. Let it simmer for another minute to absorb the flavors.
Step 5: Garnish with extra parsley and serve immediately while warm.

Tips & Variations

Use chicken thighs for juicier bites or breasts for a leaner option.

Add a splash of hot sauce to the butter for an extra kick.
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Swap fresh parsley for cilantro for a different herbal note.

Storage

Store leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave to keep the chicken tender and the sauce flavorful.

How to Serve

This image shows a close-up of many small, golden-brown pieces of fried food stacked together in a white dish. Each piece has a crispy, slightly rough texture with a shiny glaze of brown sauce covering them, creating a wet and flavorful look. The pieces are irregular in shape and appear to be cooked to a perfect crunch with some darker browned edges. The dish is filled with a thin layer of sauce pooling at the bottom, giving a rich, glossy appearance. The background shows a white marbled surface partially visible behind the dish. A large dark spoon is partially seen in the upper right corner, resting inside the dish. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

It’s best to use fresh or fully thawed chicken to ensure even cooking and proper texture.

How spicy is the dish?

The red pepper flakes add a mild heat that you can adjust to your taste by using more or less.