Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
These Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are incredibly flavorful and SO easy to make!! I add a pop of lemon juice to keep things bright, while the garlic adds a savory punch. All you need are a handful of simple ingredients, a hot skillet, and about 20 minutes to spare and your main dish is served.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
When it comes to weeknight dinner, I need it to be easy to make, flavorful, and relatively wholesome. You’ll get all three with these lemon garlic chicken bites!
While I love spending time in the kitchen, sometimes I just don’t have a lot of it to go around! On busy days I love to keep simple recipes like this on hand.
Paired with some veggies and a carb, these garlic chicken bites make for an amazing meal. You’ve got all of the important food groups… and it’s ready in just about 20 minutes!!
This isn’t my first chicken bite recipe. I’ve got straight-up lemon chicken bites, baked pesto chicken bites, and some delicious low carb chicken nugget bites too.
Keep all of them on hand for when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen either!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts will be the easiest to cut into 1-inch pieces.
Plus, I don’t know about you guys but… I always have a spare pack or two in the freezer.
You could certainly use thighs instead — or even some steak if you have it!
- All-purpose Flour – I add a light coating of flour to the chicken before cooking to form a lightly crispy crust!
You can use gluten-free flour, though the texture may change a bit.
Or, you could omit the flour altogether if needed.
- Olive Oil – Also adds more flavor to the garlic chicken bites — I love pan frying in a mixture of butter and olive oil. So delicious.
- Garlic – For even more savory flavor. Plus, garlic complements lemon wonderfully! Fresh is best here, but you could also use jarred in a crunch.
- Lemon – You’ll need fresh lemon juice plus lemon slices for a garnish, so skip the store-bought juice and squeeze it yourself.
- Seasonings – I add Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper to the bites before I pop them in the skillet, then I garnish the whole thing with some finely chopped parsley for a pop of color!
If you don’t have any Italian seasoning on hand, create your own blend by combining oregano, thyme, basil, parsley, and marjoram.
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Garlic Chicken Bites
- Start with a very hot pan.
The key to this garlic butter chicken bites recipe is to have that skillet nice and hot before you add the seasoned chicken.
This will give your bites a great crust — they’ll be crunchy without being overly crispy and have a beautiful golden brown color. So good.
- Pat the chicken dry before adding the seasonings.
Any extra moisture on the chicken will cause it to steam instead of sear! Use paper towels to pat it dry as best you can before you add the flour and seasonings.
- Cook in batches if you have to.
It’s best not to overcrowd the pan, or else the chicken won’t sear up correctly.
Just like you need to dry the chicken thoroughly to prevent steaming, if there are too many pieces in the skillet at once they won’t sear properly.
Don’t be afraid to cook in batches! And do your best not to disturb the chicken as it cooks for the crispiest crust ever.
- Be careful with the garlic.
Garlic adds so much flavor to these lemon garlic chicken bites, but it’s super important not to add it too early. This small but mighty aromatic tends to burn easily.
Add it toward the end of the cooking process for the best results.
Prep Ahead
- Cube and pat dry the chicken
- Mince the garlic
- Squeeze the lemon
- Chop the parsley
- Preheat your skillet
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Cast Iron Skillet – There are a ton of brands out there, but this is my trusty inexpensive go-to. I love a cast iron sear for these chicken garlic bites!
- Heat-Resistant Spoon or Spatula – Perfect for cooking, stirring, and serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your garlic butter chicken bites hot and fresh from the skillet! To make it a meal, pair with some vegetables, pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
For the veggies, I love asparagus, broccoli, or green beans with tomatoes. These crispy garlic Brussels sprouts would also be so good.
Round it all out with some Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, Lemon Roasted Vegetable Pasta, or some simple brown rice!
Storing and Reheating Chicken Garlic Bites
Allow the meat to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 3 days.
You can enjoy leftovers cold, or use your microwave to reheat small portions.
I love using leftover garlic butter chicken bites in salads, protein bowls, or in a fun protein bento box with some ranch, hummus, chopped carrots, and celery!
If you want to make a double batch to keep on hand in the freezer, go for it!
Allow the chicken bites to cool and then place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Let them thaw gently in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites FAQ
I keep things simple with my combination of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, but feel free to get creative!
Red chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or even some hot sauce would add a bit of heat, while a pinch of onion powder or diced onions would inject some extra savory flavor.
If you want things a bit more herby, try adding fresh thyme, rosemary, or extra parsley!
The easiest way to tell if your chicken is cooked through is to test the internal temp with a meat thermometer.
These garlic butter chicken bites cook up quickly on the stovetop — they only need about 6-7 minutes in total.
At around the 6-minute mark, check to see if the temp is at least 165°F. If it is, you know they’re safe to eat.
There could be a few reasons! The most common is that you likely overcooked your chicken garlic bites.
Remember that it typically takes under 10 minutes, so keep an eye on it and have your meat thermometer ready to check the internal temp. Otherwise, you may have cut the meat too thin. Aim to chop it into 1-inch pieces!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus lemon slices for garnish (optional)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place chicken pieces on a large plate. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel.
- Sprinkle the chicken with flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands or a spoon toss the chicken pieces to coat completely.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once a drop of water scatters on the pan, it is hot, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and all of the olive oil. Tilt the pan to evenly coat.
- Add chicken pieces in an even layer and cook for 6-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until chicken is golden brown on all sides. Do not overcrowd the pan, it will cause the chicken to steam.
- Add remaining butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and parsley. Stir to combine. Cook for one more minute or until chicken pieces are cooked through. Be sure to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Serve immediately with lemon slices, if desired.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published August 2024
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
