Description
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are juicy, tender chicken pieces seared to golden perfection and tossed in a rich, flavorful butter sauce infused with garlic, lemon, Dijon mustard, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. This quick and easy dish delivers a smoky, zesty, and slightly spicy experience that’s perfect as a snack, appetizer, or main course.
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 bowl, toss the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until evenly coated, ensuring flavor throughout.
- 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 for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Stir in minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Cook the mixture for about 1 minute until fragrant and well combined.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken bites to the skillet. Toss them thoroughly in the cowboy butter sauce until fully coated. Let everything simmer together for another minute to marry the flavors.
- Serve: Garnish with extra fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot. These bites are perfect on their own or paired with sides like rice, salad, or crusty bread.
Notes
- Use either chicken breasts or thighs based on your preference; thighs will be juicier, breasts slightly leaner.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the heat level of the dish.
- For extra smoky flavor, consider using smoked paprika rather than regular paprika.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when searing the chicken to ensure even browning.
- This dish pairs well with a side of roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, or a fresh green salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Searing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (approx. 150g)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken bites, chicken appetizer, garlic butter chicken, smoky chicken recipe, quick chicken bites
