Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites
These Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are juicy, tender, and packed with bold garlic-butter flavor. Made with simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, they’re perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or crowd-pleasing appetizers.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
Cowboy Butter Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme or chives chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a small amount of oil.
- Add chicken to the pan in a single layer and cook for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add butter to the same skillet. Let it melt gently.
- Stir in garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs. Stir until well combined.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss until fully coated in the cowboy butter sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra spice, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
- Chicken thighs stay especially juicy, but chicken breasts work just as well.
- Avoid overheating the butter sauce to keep it smooth and flavorful.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 34gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 520mgSugar: 1g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
