Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites Easy Weeknight Dinner
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites deliver a bold and buttery flavor perfect for easy dinners and weeknight meals. This quick chicken recipe comes together fast, making it a simple chicken bites option the whole family will enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Standard
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Optional ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Dry the chicken pieces and season them with salt and pepper.
- Warm olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken in batches until golden and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side, then set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in the same pan before adding minced garlic, cooking it for about 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, parsley, and thyme until well mixed.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss it in the sauce to coat fully, letting it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle extra parsley on top and serve immediately alongside lemon wedges.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, dredge chicken in cornstarch before searing
- Add honey or parmesan for a flavor twist
- Adjust spice to preference by changing red pepper flakes and cayenne amounts
Nutrition
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg