Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites Recipe
Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites are tender, juicy pieces of chicken seared to perfection and tossed in a rich, flavorful butter sauce infused with garlic, smoked paprika, and a kick of red pepper flakes. This quick and easy dinner recipe combines bold southwestern flavors with a creamy buttery finish, making it a perfect weeknight meal or appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American Southwest
- Diet: Low Fat
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. This ensures the chicken is well-flavored before cooking.
- 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 until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove cooked chicken and set aside.
- Prepare Cowboy Butter: In the same skillet, lower heat to medium and melt the unsalted butter. Stir in minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh parsley. Cook the mixture for about 1 minute until fragrant to develop deep flavors.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet. Toss them thoroughly in the cowboy butter sauce, ensuring every bite is coated. Let it simmer together for an additional minute to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Garnish with extra chopped parsley if desired, and serve immediately while hot. Enjoy as a flavorful dinner or appetizer option.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for juicier bites.
- Serve with a side of rice, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread to soak up the buttery sauce.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings.
- For a low-fat option, reduce the amount of butter or replace with olive oil, though the flavor will differ slightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 5.3 oz chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cowboy Butter Chicken, Chicken Bites, Easy Chicken Recipe, Southwest Chicken, Garlic Butter Chicken, Quick Dinner
