Tender, juicy pieces of chicken seared to golden perfection, then tossed in a rich, buttery garlic sauce and showered with freshly grated Parmesan. These come together in under 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner or high-protein snack.
Ingredients
The Chicken
- Chicken Breast: 2 large (about 500g), boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized 1-inch cubes
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon
- Butter: 1 tablespoon (for searing)
The Seasoning Rub
- Italian Seasoning: 1 teaspoon
- Garlic Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
The Garlic Butter & Parmesan Toss
- Butter: 3 tablespoons (unsalted)
- Garlic: 4 cloves, freshly minced
- Parmesan Cheese: 3/4 cup, freshly grated
- Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons, finely chopped (for garnish)
- Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon (optional, for a slight kick)
Instructions
1. Season the Chicken
- Pat the cubed chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels. (Dry chicken ensures a better golden crust when searing).
- Place the chicken bites in a mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper directly over the chicken.
- Toss well until every piece is evenly coated in the spice blend.
2. Pan-Sear the Chicken Bites
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet (cast iron or stainless steel works best) over medium-high heat.
- Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the chicken bites in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the pan—cook in two batches if your skillet isn’t large enough, so they sear rather than steam.
- Let the chicken cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes to develop a deep golden-brown crust.
- Flip the pieces and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until cooked through and golden on all sides.
- Remove the chicken bites from the skillet and set them aside on a clean plate.
3. Build the Garlic Butter Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter directly to the same skillet, letting it melt in the leftover chicken drippings.
- Add the minced garlic (and red pepper flakes, if using) and sauté for 30 to 45 seconds. Stir constantly so the garlic becomes fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to let it burn or turn bitter.
4. Combine and Serve
- Turn off the heat completely. Return the cooked chicken bites back into the skillet with the garlic butter.
- Toss the chicken thoroughly so it absorbs all the garlic butter.
- Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley directly over the warm chicken.
- Toss one final time until the cheese melts slightly and clings to the chicken bites. Serve immediately while hot.