Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are tender, juicy pieces of chicken seared to perfection and coated in a rich, flavorful butter sauce infused with garlic, lemon, Dijon mustard, and a hint of red pepper flakes. This dish is perfect as a quick weeknight dinner or a savory appetizer that’s sure to impress with its bold flavors and buttery finish.
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
- 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
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, toss the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until evenly coated. This seasoning blend adds a smoky and savory flavor base to the chicken.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each batch for about 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown on the outside and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the unsalted butter. Stir in the minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh parsley. Cook this mixture for about 1 minute until fragrant, which allows the flavors to meld and the garlic to soften without burning.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken bites to the skillet and toss them in the cowboy butter sauce until fully coated. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for an additional minute to absorb the flavors and heat through.
- Serve: Garnish the chicken bites with extra chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately while hot as a delicious main dish or appetizer.
Notes
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for juicier bites or breasts for a leaner option.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the heat level according to your preference.
- Serve with crusty bread or over rice to soak up the flavorful cowboy butter sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- For a gluten-free meal, ensure the Dijon mustard used is gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 510 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken, Chicken Bites, Garlic Butter Chicken, Easy Chicken Recipe, Quick Dinner, Spicy Butter Chicken, Skillet Chicken
