Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites
Tender chicken pieces smothered in a bright and buttery sauce, enhanced with garlic, lemon, and spices for a finger-licking good flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
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
- Pat the chicken dry and season it with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium. Melt the butter in the skillet, then stir in the garlic. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, parsley, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss until fully coated. Simmer for 1–2 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and serve hot with lemon wedges.
Notes
This dish is versatile and can be served as an appetizer or a main course. Pair it with rice, salad, or roasted vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken, appetizer, buttery sauce, easy recipe, party food