Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, these Garlic Chicken Bites are the perfect quick dinner or appetizer for busy weeknights.
Bite-sized pieces of chicken are seasoned and cooked to golden perfection, then tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce that’s hard to resist.
This easy Family Favorite Chicken Recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or serving as a party appetizer with rice, veggies, or pasta.
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These Garlic Chicken Bites are full of flavor and cook quickly in a cast iron skillet.
The chicken is seared until golden, then a buttery garlic-lemon sauce is made with chicken broth, oregano, parsley, and fresh lemon juice.
Add the chicken back to simmer, top with Parmesan, and dinner is ready in under 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights.
If you love recipes that come together fast for a quick dinner after a long day, this one’s a must-try!
Looking for more Family Dinner Recipes? Try my Monterey Chicken Pasta, Hasselback Chicken, and even my Chicken Pesto Kabobs. Yum!
Table of Contents
- Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
- Avoid Dry Chicken with These Simple Tips
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Recipe FAQ's
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- More Recipes You'll Love!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Food Safety Tips
- 💬 Comments
Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
This was super easy to make and tasted fantastic! The chicken turned out very tender and juicy. I used less garlic than the recipe suggested, but I should have followed the original amount—it could have been even more flavorful. I'm definitely saving this to make again and again!
~ Shirley Rhymer
Avoid Dry Chicken with These Simple Tips
Cut Evenly: Dice chicken into similar-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
Don’t Overcook: Cook just until the chicken reaches 165°F; overcooking makes it dry. Use a digital meat thermometer!
Preheat the Skillet: A hot cast iron skillet gives a quick sear, locking in moisture.
Avoid Overcrowding: Cook chicken in batches if needed to allow proper browning.
Deglaze Properly: When making the sauce, scrape up the browned bits with broth for added flavor and moisture.
Simmer Gently: After adding the chicken back to the pan, let it simmer lightly instead of boiling to keep it tender.
Main Ingredients Needed
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
Chicken: Swap chicken breasts for boneless chicken thighs for a juicier bite.
Herbs: Try basil or thyme in place of oregano and parsley for a different flavor.
Cheese: Skip the Parmesan or use Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.
Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne for heat.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section provides step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Season bite sized pieces of chicken with salt and pepper. Add to a cast iron skillet that's been heated with olive oil.
Step 2: Sear the chicken for about 4 minutes while stirring occasionally. Once golden brown, remove the chicken from the pan.
Step 3: Deglaze the pan over medium heat with the butter and chicken broth. Add the oregano, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice and simmer for 2 minutes before adding the chicken back in.
Step 4: Coat the chicken in the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through, then stir in the Parmesan cheese.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
Want to make this recipe even better? Don’t miss my favorite tips below for boosting flavor, perfecting texture, and saving time in the kitchen!
✔️ DO use a hot cast iron skillet to quickly sear the chicken and lock in juices.
❌ DO NOT overcrowd the pan—cook in batches if needed to avoid steaming the chicken.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes, you can make Garlic Chicken Bites without a cast iron skillet. A regular stainless steel or nonstick skillet will also work. Just make sure the pan is hot before adding the chicken to get a nice golden sear, and adjust the cooking time slightly if needed since heat retention differs from cast iron.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the main cut for this recipe, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for extra juiciness and flavor. Chicken tenders or pre-cut chicken strips work well too. Avoid bone-in cuts since they take longer to cook and won’t give you the same quick, bite-sized pieces.
The chicken is done when the outside is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can check this with a meat thermometer.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Place cooled chicken bites in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw and Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
More Recipes You'll Love!
Check out my other recipe for Chicken in Cast Iron Skillet. Or you might like this recipe for Easy Skillet Mediterranean Chicken.
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🗒️Shopping List
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📖 Recipe Card
Garlic Chicken Bites
Video
Ingredients
- 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.5 pounds)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter unsalted
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
- 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
- ¼ cup Parmesan grated
Method
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Season with salt and black pepper (don’t over-salt, as parmesan adds extra saltiness).
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken pieces and sear for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside, leaving the pan juices.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and chicken broth to deglaze the pan.
- Stir in oregano, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice.
- Let the mixture simmer for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and stir to coat in the sauce.
- Cook for another 2 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and infused with flavor.
- Stir in parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Serve warm with spaghetti, rice, or roasted vegetables. Spoon extra pan juices over the chicken for the best taste!
Nutrition
Notes
- Cut chicken evenly for uniform cooking.
- Preheat skillet for a golden sear and juicy bites.
- Avoid overcrowding; cook in batches if needed.
- Cook to 165°F and simmer gently in sauce.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in skillet or microwave.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Food Safety Tips
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Shirley Rhymer says
This was super easy to make and tasted fantastic! The chicken turned out very tender and juicy. I used less garlic than the recipe suggested, but I should have followed the original amount—it could have been even more flavorful. I'm definitely saving this to make again and again!
Lois says
Thank you so much for the amazing 5-star review! I’ve added your feedback to our blog post – it means a lot! We’d love to have you back soon to try even more delicious recipes!