Description
Cowboy butter chicken bites bring together juicy chicken chunks with a rich, savory butter sauce that gets its kick from garlic, herbs, and a touch of heat—perfect for serving at your next gathering. These little bites come together quickly in one pan, making them an easy choice when you need something delicious that won’t keep you in the kitchen all evening.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Butter Base:
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Seasonings and Flavoring:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F before you do anything else.
- Combine 1/2 cup melted butter with 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl, stirring until everything blends together smoothly.
- Toss your 1 pound of diced chicken breast into the butter mixture, making sure each piece gets completely coated.
- Spread the coated chicken across a baking sheet in a single layer so the pieces cook evenly.
- Slide the sheet into your 400°F oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken turns golden and cooks through completely.
- Pull the baking sheet out, then finish your dish by sprinkling 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley over the warm chicken bites.
Notes
- Cut your chicken pieces into uniform bite-sized chunks so they cook evenly and finish at the same time.
- Let the butter mixture coat the chicken for a few minutes before baking to help the flavors soak in better.
- Check that the chicken reaches 165°F internally with a meat thermometer to ensure it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.
- If your chicken browns too quickly on top, tent the baking sheet loosely with foil for the first 10-15 minutes, then remove it to finish crisping.
- Fresh parsley adds brightness right before serving, but dried herbs mixed into the butter at the start work just as well if that’s what you have on hand.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Sautéed Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 663 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg