Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Asparagus (Print Version)
Tender golden chicken in rich garlic butter sauce with crisp asparagus spears.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
→ Sauce
06 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ To Finish
11 - Lemon wedges for serving
# How to Cook:
01 - In a large bowl, toss the chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and paprika until evenly coated.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add asparagus to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender.
05 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add lemon juice and half of the parsley. Toss everything together and cook for 2 more minutes to combine flavors.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining parsley and lemon wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your evening
- The garlic butter sauce creates those sticky, caramelized bits that everyone fights over
- From prep to plate in 25 minutes, making it faster than delivery and infinitely more satisfying
02 -
- Crowding the pan with chicken will lower the temperature and create steam instead of a sear, so work in batches if your skillet is on the smaller side
- Garlic burns in seconds, so have your asparagus ready to add immediately after the garlic hits the butter
- The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so remove from heat while it still looks slightly looser than you want
03 -
- Room temperature chicken sears more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking
- Prep all your ingredients before turning on the stove because this recipe moves fast once you start cooking
- Save a few parsley leaves to add at the very end for a pop of fresh green color