Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are flavorful, tender pieces of chicken seared to perfection and coated in a rich, garlicky buttery sauce infused with lemon, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. This quick stovetop recipe is perfect for a savory appetizer or a hearty main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 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
Cooking & Sauce
- 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
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking each batch until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter: Using the same skillet, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh parsley. Cook this sauce mixture for about 1 minute, stirring frequently until fragrant.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the cowboy butter sauce. Toss well to ensure all chicken pieces are evenly coated. Allow the mixture to simmer together for an additional minute to meld flavors.
- Serve: Garnish with extra chopped parsley for freshness and serve immediately while hot as a delicious appetizer or main dish.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful bites, or breasts for a leaner option.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- Serve with crusty bread, rice, or a fresh salad to complete the meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently in a skillet to maintain the sauce’s flavor and avoid drying out the chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cowboy Butter, Chicken Bites, Garlic Butter Chicken, Easy Chicken Appetizer, Skillet Chicken
