This easy Brown Butter Chicken Bites Recipe is a super simple one pan dinner recipe that will be done in just 20 minutes! Start with chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces, then cook them in a skillet with butter to soak up all that nutty flavor. Add fresh sage and garlic for a delicious burst of flavor that both kids and adults alike will love!
This meal is an excellent option to keep in your back pocket for those nights when you forgot to plan dinner. Plus we include lots of side dish ideas to this meal complete.
If you're looking for an easy main course, pan seared chicken bites is the answer! Variations of this are made on repeat in our family, and in my experience it just takes a few specific tips to go from average to truly delicious.
This chicken chunks recipe was inspired by our very own Skillet Sage Brown Butter Chicken. I also highly reccomend this Skillet Apricot Chicken if you need more dinner recipes!
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Why this recipe is great
- It's on the table in 20 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights.
- It's flavorful and made with very simple ingredients.
- The bite-sized pieces are easy to eat (no extra cutting required).
- It goes with so many different side dishes!
- It's healthy and packed with protein.
Ingredients for brown butter chicken bites
You will only need 7 ingredients (including salt and pepper).... so this will be a breeze! You probably have everything on hand, but here are a few quick suggestions.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast: The higher quality your meat, the better this dish will turn out. I try to avoid really large breasts because the texture is never as good, in my opinion. You can cut up chicken tenders instead, if that's what you have.
- Kosher salt: This is our everyday salt. Iodized table salt doesn't have the same flavor or saltiness.
- Ground black pepper: You can use a pepper grinder or buy it ground.
- All purpose flour: Just the tiniest layer helps create a golden brown sear and gives the sauce something to stick to.
- Butter: I highly suggest salted butter because that is where most of the flavor is coming from. Olive oil and avocado oil are not good substitutes because they won't develop the same flavor.
- Fresh minced garlic: I buy it minced, but if you have whole cloves you can use a garlic press.
- Fresh sage: Dried sage is really not as impactful in this case, and it won't crisp up (which is my favorite part!). I suggest buying it fresh, washing it, and patting it dry before mincing.
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How to make chicken bites
Start by cutting the chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes. It's important for them to be as even as possible so that they cook at the same speed. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper and let it sit for about 5 minutes (this is like a shortcut dry brine, which can help keep it juicy and flavorful).
After 5 minutes, sprinkle the flour on top of the chicken pieces and toss it well, until all the pieces are lightly coated. You can do this on a large plate, in a large bowl, or right on the cutting board.
In a 12 inch non-stick skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once it is melted, add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes. Resist the urge to stir because the key to getting it golden brown is to leave it completely untouched while it cooks.
Flip the pieces over, then immediately sprinkle the garlic and sage around the skillet. Swirl everything around to evenly disribute it, then continue to cook for 2-3 minutes wihtout touching the chicken. Once the meat is cooked through and the butter is a deep color with lots of browned bits, remove the pan from the heat and serve immediately.
Variations
- Use different fresh herbs! Sage is especially flavorful, but you could also try thyme, rosemary, or a combo of all three.
- Sprinkle the top with freshly grated parmesan cheese right before serving.
- Increase the garlic for garlic lovers!
- Try boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. You'll want to trim off the extra fat, and you'll need to slightly increase the cooking time.
Serving ideas
This chicken bites recipe can be served with any of your favorite sides for a perfect dinner! Here are some of my go to ideas.
- White rice or brown butter rice pilaf (follow this guide for how to freeze rice to make it ahead!)
- Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Easy Maple Brussels Sprouts
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
- Pull Apart Bread (with frozen dough)
- Simple green salad (leftovers would be great on top of a salad too!)
Storage and reheating tips
This meal is the most tender and juicy when served fresh. However, if you have leftovers you can store them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
I suggest reheating them in a hot skillet with a little extra butter to restore some of the original goodness! You can also use the microwave. Either way, the key is to avoid overheating them so that they don't completely dry out.
FAQs
This one really is ideal to serve fresh right out of the pan. But the good news is you can cut and freeze the raw chicken in a freezer-safe bag ahead of time. Then simply thaw at room temperature and cook as directed. This will get dinner on the table extra quick!
My first tip to avoid dry chicken is to salt the meat and allow it to sit for a few minutes before you coat it in flour. The salt helps with juiciness! Second, be very careful not to overcook it. Use a digital thermometer and remove it from the heat as soon as the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
In this case you do not need to pound the meat since you are cutting it into small pieces. However, if your chicken breasts are very uneven and you feel that pounding them slightly would help you cut evenly sized pieces, then you can. Just be careful not to over do it, since you want to keep the final pieces in 1in x 1in cubes.
Yes, you can make this in a large cast iron skillet. However, since cast iron retains heat more than a non-stick pan, you will want to keep the heat a bit lower to avoid burning it. I would start on medium heat and turn it up slightly if the meat isn't browning after 3-4 minutes.
Tips & Tricks
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken breast dry before cutting and adding the seasonings.
- Allow the salt to sit for a full 5 minutes before you start cooking.
- Move the chicken as little as possible while it is cooking. This is the trick to getting it nice and golden!
- Use salted butter for extra tasty flavor.
More chicken dinner recipes
Looking for more like this? Try these:
Recipe
Easy Brown Butter Chicken Bites Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 6 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh sage minced
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch by 1 inch pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside for 5 minutes.3 chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Sprinkle the flour on top of the chicken and toss until evenly coated.2 tablespoon flour
- Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once it is melted, add in the chicken. Allow to cook untouched for 3-4 minutes.6 tablespoon butter
- Flip the pieces over. Immediately sprinkle in the garlic and sage around the skillet. Swirl around to distribute throughout. Cook 2-3 more minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the butter is browned. Serve immediately.1 tablespoon garlic, 2 tablespoon fresh sage
Notes
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken breast dry before cutting and adding the seasonings.
- Allow the salt to sit for a full 5 minutes before you start cooking.
- Move the chicken as little as possible while it is cooking. This is the trick to getting it nice and golden!
- Use salted butter for extra tasty flavor.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Misty says
Easy, flavorful, and affordable! Plus I love how simple it is to eat since the chicken is already cut into pieces.