High Protein Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

These high protein garlic butter chicken bites are one of my favorite quick meals. They’re ready in about 20 minutes and taste way better than they have any right to for how simple they are.

The chicken gets a nice golden sear on the outside, and then it’s tossed in a simple garlic butter sauce that makes everything so flavorful.

If you’re looking for a high protein meal that’s easy to make on a busy weeknight, this is it. Each serving is packed with protein from the chicken breast.

You can serve these on their own, over rice, or with some roasted veggies on the side. They work with pretty much anything.

Let me show you how to make them.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Packed With Protein – Two pounds of chicken breast means every serving is loaded with protein to keep you full for hours.

Ready in Under 20 Minutes – From seasoning to plate this whole recipe takes about 15 minutes of actual cooking time.

That Garlic Butter Sauce Though – Six cloves of fresh garlic melted into butter creates a rich sauce that coats every single bite.

Ingredients

• 2 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 3 tbsp Butter
• 6 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Directions

Step 1

Pat the chicken breast pieces dry with paper towels. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Toss until every piece is evenly coated.

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same skillet and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.

Step 4

Return the chicken to the skillet and toss everything together for about 1 minute so the chicken absorbs all the garlic butter flavor.

Step 5

Remove from heat and squeeze lemon juice over the top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Pro Tips

Don’t Skip Drying the Chicken

Patting the chicken dry is the single most important step for getting that golden brown sear. If there’s moisture on the surface, the chicken will steam instead of browning, and you’ll miss out on all that crispy color and flavor.

Use a few paper towels and press firmly on each piece. You want the surface to feel completely dry before you season it.

Cook in Batches

With 2 pounds of chicken, your skillet is going to be crowded if you try to cook it all at once. When pieces are too close together, they release steam and basically boil instead of getting that nice golden crust.

Cook in two batches and give each piece some breathing room in the pan. You want every piece sitting flat on the skillet surface with space around it.

It takes a few extra minutes, but the difference in color and texture is huge.

Cut Your Chicken Pieces Evenly

Try to make all the bite-sized pieces roughly the same size – about 1 inch cubes. If some pieces are big and some are small, the small ones will overcook and dry out by the time the bigger ones are done.

Even pieces cook at the same rate, so everything finishes at the same time and nothing ends up rubbery.

Related Recipes

• Instant Pot Butter Chicken
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I serve with these chicken bites?

Since this is a high-protein recipe, pairing it with something light works really well. Rice, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad are all solid choices. If you’re keeping it low carb, cauliflower rice or steamed broccoli is perfect for soaking up all that garlic butter.

You can also toss them over pasta or serve them with crusty bread if you’re not worried about carbs. The garlic butter sauce is honestly good enough to put on just about anything.