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Quick Garlic Butter Chicken Bites Recipe with Easy Lemon Orzo Side

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A quick and flavorful weeknight meal featuring tender garlic butter chicken bites paired with bright and buttery lemon orzo. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy evenings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Juice of half a lemon (about 1 tbsp)
  • 1 cup orzo pasta (about 170 g)
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (about 475 ml)
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for finishing)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken bites dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
  2. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add orzo and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Drain excess liquid if needed.
  3. Stir lemon zest and olive oil or butter into the cooked orzo. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes until cooked through and golden all over. Remove chicken and set aside.
  5. Lower heat to medium. In the same skillet, add butter and minced garlic. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and butter is melted. Add lemon juice and chopped parsley, stirring to combine.
  6. Return chicken bites to the skillet and toss to coat in garlic butter sauce. Warm together for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Serve chicken bites over lemon orzo, garnished with extra parsley or lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when searing chicken to ensure a golden crust. Mince garlic finely to prevent burning. Use room temperature butter for a silky sauce. Cook orzo like risotto, stirring occasionally and draining excess broth to avoid mushiness. Let chicken rest briefly after cooking before tossing in sauce. Reduce heat if garlic browns too fast.

Nutrition

Keywords: quick chicken recipe, garlic butter chicken, lemon orzo, weeknight dinner, easy chicken bites, garlic butter sauce

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