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Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Recipe with Asparagus – So much flavor and so easy to throw together, this chicken and asparagus recipe is a winner for dinnertime! Chicken bites are so juicy, tender, and delicious you’ll eat them hot right off the pan! This low-carb, keto-friendly one-pan chicken dinner is ready in under 30 minutes. If you’re super hungry, serve the garlic butter chicken bites on top of cauliflower rice, it makes a super healthy dinner idea everyone will love. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Garlic Butter Chicken Bites and Asparagus recipe
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 bunch of asparagus, rinsed and trimmed
- 1/2 cup butter, divided (1/4 cup for browning the chicken and 1/4 cup for the sauce)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided (1 teaspoon for the chicken bites and 1 teaspoon for the asparagus and sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbes de Provence
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, optional (we used Sriracha)
- 1/2 cup (125ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- Crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional
- Slices of lemon for garnish
For the chicken seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe with Asparagus
If you’re looking for a quick and easy 30-minute chicken dinner, this delicious garlic butter chicken bites recipe will be your new family favorite. It’s made in just one skillet for less cleanup.
The diced chicken breasts are sautéed on the stovetop and the result is super tender, juicy, rich, and buttery with crisp asparagus on the side.
You can serve this chicken recipe as is, or with rice on the side if you’re extra hungry. For a low-carb option, serve chicken and asparagus with mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to make the garlic chicken bites with asparagus
The method to prepare the chicken bites recipe is pretty simple: First, cut chicken breasts into cubes and season generously.
While the chicken is sitting, we blanch asparagus in boiling to precook them so they cook faster in the skillet.
Stir-fry the chicken bites until golden then add minced garlic and Italian seasoning and stir and cook with chicken bites until fragrant.
Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, add remaining butter, lemon juice, hot sauce, parsley, then add the blanched asparagus and toss to finish cooking asparagus. Add chicken back to the skillet, reheat, season, and serve!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken recipe with asparagus
This one-pan garlic butter chicken bites and asparagus recipe is full of rich, buttery herb flavors with both chicken and asparagus all cooked in one skillet for quick, easy prep and cleanup. This healthy chicken recipe for dinner is low in carbs, gluten-free, and compatible with the Keto diet. Here are a few tips so you can make the most of this delicious chicken dinner recipe:
- Depending on the thickness of your asparagus, you might want to skip blanching.
- You can enrich the sauce by adding some white wine.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken bites. Proceed by batches so each chicken bite has this delicious crisp golden crust! Refrain from stirring the chicken bites constantly. Let them sit in the pan, then turn from time to time, so the chicken gets that nice golden sear on every side.
- For a variant of the chicken recipe, you can use whole chicken tenders instead. They’re delicious, and you can skip the cutting board! Check this chicken tenders recipe for inspiration.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To prepare the chicken bites recipe and asparagus in garlic butter sauce: Start to slice chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks and season with salt, pepper, and onion powder. Let sit on a shallow plate while you prepare the asparagus.
2. Wash and trim the ends of the asparagus, blanch them in boiling water for 2 minutes, then soak them in ice water to stop the cooking. This way, asparagus will cook faster and evenly in the skillet. You can skip this step if you have skinny asparagus. Drain and set aside.
3. Melt half the butter (1/4 cup) with olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Gently stir-fry the chicken bites on all sides until golden brown. Lower the temperature, and add one teaspoon of minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Stir and cook the chicken bites for one minute more until the garlic is fragrant. Remove the chicken bites from the skillet and set aside on a plate. You might work in batches to avoid crowding the pan and have steamed chicken bites instead of browned ones.
4. In the same skillet over medium-high, add the remaining teaspoon of minced garlic, then deglaze with chicken broth (or wine). Bring to a simmer and allow to reduce to half the volume. Add the remaining 1/4 cup butter, lemon juice, hot sauce, and parsley. Give a quick stir to combine.
5. Add the blanched asparagus and toss for 2 minutes to cook it up. Push asparagus on the side and add the sauteed chicken bites back to the pan and stir for another minute to reheat. Garnish the chicken and asparagus with more parsley, crushed chili pepper, and lemon slices, and serve your garlic butter chicken bites and asparagus immediately. Enjoy! ❤️
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Can I use veggies other than asparagus for this chicken recipe?
If you don’t like asparagus or couldn’t find some, replace them with green beans, broccoli, zucchini, or even cauliflower rice!
How long should I cook the chicken bites?
While a whole chicken breast must reach an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC), smaller bits will reach this temperature quicker – in a matter of 5 or 6 minutes, depending on how you cut the chicken pieces. Make sure to brown the chicken bites nicely. Proceed in batches if necessary, so you won’t crowd the pan and get steamed chicken bites.
What other readers say about this chicken and asparagus recipe
“Made this exactly as the recipe called for. Blanched the asparagus before throwing them in the pan. Made it with jasmine rice. Will definitely make this again. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” – Ashley
“I’ve made this chicken recipe at least 10xs. It’s one of my family’s favorites. I also add mushrooms and a little Worcestershire and low sodium soy sauce.” – Keri
“Delicious! We loved it! This is a keeper. I did only use 3/4 of the seasoning for the chicken; other than that; I did everything the same.” – Jessica
“Holy cow!!! This chicken recipe was amazing. My husband devoured it and had seconds.” – Krystal
More one-pan chicken recipes you might like
- Garlic Butter Chicken with Spinach and Bacon
- Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet
- Salsa Fresca Chicken Bake
- Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes Skillet
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Leave a Reply
Suzanne
2023-01-04 21:41:08
Excellent taste, super easy directions to follow and you don’t need a lot of ingredients!👍
Suzanne
2022-10-10 08:34:24
Good but I don't know what the serving size is I weigh all my food
Shantee White
2022-07-26 22:55:47
Tons of flavor!! I used chicken thighs.
![Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus]()
Tatum
2022-07-07 14:17:55
I’m starting meal prep and this was the first meal I made for the week! Super easy for someone who’s never cooked before and very tasty! I made mine with broccoli and it’s just as good! Thank you :)
Jill
2022-06-30 21:19:50
Made it tonight for a birthday. Everyone loved it. Will be making it again soon for sure! Thank you for sharing.....
K
2022-06-23 08:05:31
We love asparagus so this is perfect for us! We're not big on red pepper flakes AND Sriracha, we do either/or, so that's the only change up we make. We also can't wait to try different veggies with this, but we think Snow Peas Pods would be yummy!
Julie
2022-06-15 20:43:57
So good!!! the whole family loved it!
Carol D
2022-05-18 19:34:52
My husband ( an ex chef) and I love this. I add rice and it's a perfect meal. If you haven't tried it, you need to.
Summerconway606@yahoo.com
2022-05-05 17:07:40
what a tasty meal that was! I was short on ideas and found this and it came together in one half hour,my grand daughter loved it too thank you will surely make this again!
Ruth
2022-04-20 18:11:58
Easy and quick. A bit too salty for our taste, as there are already a lot of bright flavors. Will make it again!
Karen
2022-04-03 13:09:23
Another easy and yet delicious dinner.
Lauren R
2022-04-01 19:50:31
This was absolutely delicious, just a little salty for my liking. Will definitely make again!
Linda
2022-03-30 18:40:48
I made this as written- except for the red pepper flakes- it was a great blend of lemon, garlic, and seasonings; very flavorful. Next time I would use chicken tenders, or a thin cut breast,( I thought the bites got a little bit dry). I would also cut back on the butter. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely make this again.
Kathy
2022-02-28 17:39:05
Delicious! I also made another small pan of the garlic butter, and added mushrooms and onions to have as sides for anyone who wanted those with their dish as well. We had garlic biscuits with this I appreciate you sharing your delicious photos and recipe. My son is looking forward to the leftovers tonight when we go to bed, and he stays up playing video games (he is home from college) Oh, and my son does not care for asparagus, but he ate 4 stalks of this.
Reigh
2022-02-21 23:30:55
This is so delicious! A preheated cast iron skillet with butter, herbs and almost anything else is pretty irresistible. I love the step of removing the chicken and adding the sauces to pull those yummy crispy bits back in before cooking this asparagus. I bet it would be great to add other veggies as well. My family enjoyed this meal. I will definitely make it again!
M Shallcross
2022-02-17 20:26:52
Made this tonight and it was Delicious. Even my kid's raved about it. I ended up doing what I wasn't supposed to do and steamed the chicken by accident because I didn't work in batches like it said. The finished product was quite soupy. If it was this good, I could only imagine what it would've tasted like if I had worked in batches. Can't wait to make this again.
Melissa
2022-02-02 20:04:24
My picky greens eater loves the asparagus in this which is a major win - what I like to do is mix the rice in with the butter garlic leftover drippings in the pan - makes the rice taste extra good!
Emma
2021-12-23 07:17:01
This is one of my family’s favorite dishes it has a load of flavor and it is so delicious!!! I totally recommend this dish!!
Laney
2021-12-19 23:03:36
Loaded with flavor and heat. Will definitely make again, maybe with a side of rice. Added feta cheese to cool the heat a bit 😋
Amanda
2021-10-26 18:26:58
I absolutely love this recipe. It’s easy, loaded with flavor and a great combo of protein and veggies. It does use a lot of butter but you can easily cut that back if you need.
Ana Ramírez
2021-10-12 18:44:49
I made this recipe it so good and chicken so juicy and tender and the flavor it’s amazing 🤩 add fresh Italian herbs 🌿
Ann
2021-10-06 19:14:15
What can I say? Awesome!!! It took no time and it’s a hit!
Cheryl
2021-09-29 21:27:53
A very tasty and easy meal. I had no lemons so I used a lime, not too much different.I will be cooking this recipe again
S
2021-09-29 15:21:37
Living at very high altitude we use Instapot for everything. Have you tried this in one yet?
Nicole
2021-09-03 22:54:33
This is a new family staple. Thank you!
Carmen
2021-08-25 19:43:08
This was so good…I may have licked the pan after we finished it…and then shared it with everyone I know. Yum!
Mart
2021-07-09 22:51:07
Phenomenal and easy
Alex
2021-06-23 19:52:27
Delicious! New fav!
CJ
2021-06-09 20:08:18
Made this recipe and it’s delicious! I also paired with mashed cauliflower, will definitely make again in the future.
Tricia
2021-04-25 15:53:17
I made this with long stemmed broccoli instead of asparagus (not a fan). I also let it soak at the end for 5 minutes to cook the broccoli more. It tastes divine and I will definitely put this in my cookbook to use again.
Isabella
2021-04-18 18:16:55
This dish is so tasty, will definitely be making it again. I paired it with targets brand of a multi rice mix to have a little more of a side, it tasted absolutely amazing
Jessice
2021-03-28 17:17:24
This turned out amazing! Both my picky eaters -husband and eight year old son- gobbled it up!
Pam
2021-03-24 19:40:28
Used my big ole cast iron skillet, split production into two phases as recommended, and still found the chicken could not brown at medium low, (I wondered initially, but tried to stay faithful). Best to up that to medium or medium high - chicken should be past the point where it sticks to the pan and the sear allows it to release easily for a flip, I'm guessing because too late for me, can't go back from there, lol. Maybe the medium low is a typo? That just served to stew the chicken bites into toughness.
Ayden
2021-03-08 11:00:42
This meal is so delicious, I would definitely recommend it. It is fast and easy to make.
Susan
2021-03-07 19:13:54
I pinned this recipe a while ago and finally got around to making it. Why oh why did I wait so long?!! Made it exactly as is and it was sooo good! Used herbs de Provence (heaven on earth). 😇 Noticed a few reviews indicating that the chicken didn’t brown- possibly didn’t use a cast iron skillet?
k
2021-02-17 19:42:39
the chicken did not want to brown for me, had to put it on high for it to cook better
Margaux
2021-02-14 17:44:52
This recipe is delicious! I had fresh basil I used instead of parsely. Yummy!
Laura
2021-02-13 17:15:38
I have made this multiple times, but used green beans instead. I was unable to get organic asparagus at the time. Needless to say, this is now one of my kids and husbands favorite chicken dishes. One question. Do you have the calories calculated for the recipe?
Liv
2021-02-01 15:33:55
I don't have lemon could I still make this?
Megan
2021-01-25 13:00:52
I’m only a couple weeks into a modified keto diet and this was amazing! The flavors are so good! It’s a large meal and tastes just as great as leftovers.
melisa.masri@gmail.com
2021-01-24 20:22:09
I made 2 versions of this- one for the meat eaters in my family following the recipe above- they loved it. I also made another version with vegan butter and Lightlife Smart Chicken Tenders and that was amazing as well. Thanks for this!
Katie
2021-01-12 09:44:41
Fiancé and I loved the recipe! We used broccoli instead of asparagus because that’s what we had on hand but it worked great! I wish I had used less butter because it was a lot but it was delicious. Will definitely adjust the amount next time.
Suzanne
2021-01-06 12:54:40
Excellent recipe with loads of flavor and spice. It makes a LOT of asparagus per serving, which did not excite the children so much. Tasted great with rice.
Rhonda
2021-01-03 22:43:10
The whole family thought it was definitely a keeper. I cut back the butter to 2 Tbl. Added mushrooms sautéed in the garlic butter sauce for 2 minutes. Served with a side of quinoa and wild rice.
FP
2020-11-07 10:34:42
Delicious recipe! Cut down on the butter a lot though! Initially used only 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp of olive oil and didn't add more butter or oil after that. Didn't really need it!
