Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are tender, flavorful pieces of chicken coated in a smoky, garlicky butter sauce with a hint of heat and fresh parsley. This quick and easy stovetop recipe makes a perfect appetizer or main dish that pairs well with a variety of sides.
- Author: Bella
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Cowboy Butter Sauce
- 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
- Prepare the chicken: In a mixing bowl, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Toss well to evenly coat the chicken with the spices.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the cowboy butter sauce: Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the unsalted butter and let it melt. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add flavorings: Stir in the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes. Mix well to combine all the flavors into the buttery sauce.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken bites to the skillet and toss them in the cowboy butter sauce until fully coated and heated through, about 2 minutes.
- Finish and garnish: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken bites. Serve immediately for maximum flavor and tenderness.
Notes
- You can use either chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference; thighs will yield juicier bites.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spice level of the dish.
- Serve with rice, crusty bread, or roasted vegetables to complete the meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- For a richer flavor, use clarified butter instead of regular unsalted butter.
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken, chicken bites, quick chicken recipe, garlicky chicken, stovetop chicken, spicy chicken bites