Description
These Easy Oven Baked Chicken Bites are a quick, oven-baked weeknight dinner packed with garlic, butter, and zesty herb flavor. A healthy, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for beginners and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon instant chicken stock (optional; reduce salt if using)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
- Fresh lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 420°F (220°C) and lightly grease a sheet pan or baking dish to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Freezing the chicken for about 30 minutes beforehand makes slicing easier and less messy.
- Make the Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne (if using), garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and instant chicken stock.
- Season the Chicken: Place the cubed chicken in your prepared baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over the chicken and toss again to distribute the flavors thoroughly.
- Add the Butter: Dot the seasoned chicken with small cubes of butter. This will melt during baking, creating a rich and savory sauce.
- Bake the Chicken: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 16–18 minutes. Stir halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. The chicken is done when it turns golden and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Broil for Extra Crisp: For crispy edges, switch the oven to broil on high for the last 2 minutes of baking. Keep a close watch to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with a squeeze of lemon for brightness.
Notes
- To keep things low-carb, serve over cauliflower rice or a fresh green salad.
- For a hearty twist, pair with pasta, quinoa, or pita wraps.
- You can adjust spice levels by omitting cayenne or adding extra herbs for more complexity.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 0.3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg