Cowboy Butter Chicken Bites (Print Version)

Juicy chicken bites coated in a savory, buttery herb sauce with hints of garlic and lemon zest.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

→ For Searing

06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Cowboy Butter Sauce

07 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Cut chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red chili flakes. Toss chicken pieces with seasoning mixture and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
02 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant and golden, approximately 1 to 2 minutes, ensuring garlic does not brown. Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, and thyme. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, sear chicken pieces until golden and crispy on edges, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per batch.
04 - Return all seared chicken to the skillet. Pour cowboy butter sauce over chicken and toss to coat thoroughly. Allow to sizzle for 1 minute to meld flavors.
05 - Transfer to serving platter and serve immediately. Garnish with additional fresh herbs or lemon wedges as desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Chicken thighs stay impossibly juicy and flavorful, not dry or bland like breasts sometimes turn out.
  • The entire dish comes together in 25 minutes, making it perfect for weeknights when you're tired but hungry.
  • That buttery, garlicky sauce is so addictive you'll find yourself scraping the pan clean.
  • Low carb and naturally gluten-free, so it works whether you're following a diet or just want a lighter meal.
02 -
  • Never let that garlic brown or your sauce will taste burned and bitter—keep the heat at medium and stay close to the stove for those 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Chicken thighs cook a bit slower than breasts, but they're worth the patience because they stay tender and juicy instead of drying out.
03 -
  • Cut your chicken pieces to roughly the same size so they cook evenly and you don't end up with some pieces overdone while others are still raw.
  • Make the cowboy butter sauce while the chicken is searing so everything comes together hot and fresh instead of sitting around getting cold.
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