This Garlic Butter Chicken is a quick, 15-minute dinner idea for busy weekdays or meal prep. Chicken is cut into bites, and cooked in butter with the addition of baking soda that tenderizes the meat and helps it brown perfectly!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
It's finally time to share with you my simple go-to chicken dish that can be served in many ways! You can prepare it the day before or make a bigger batch for meal prep for a work week. Use it as a main dish or serve with pasta, rice, salads, or roasted vegetables. The garlic butter sauce is bursting with flavor!
My secret ingredient is using just a sprinkle of baking soda over cooking chicken to help the meat tenderize and brown nicely. I actually think it helps the chicken brown faster too!
Ingredients:
- chicken breasts: sliced into cutlets or bite-size pieces,
- butter: unsalted is better for controlling salt levels,
- oil: olive or grapeseed is recommended,
- garlic: fresh, sliced, or minced,
- baking soda: to tenderize the meat and help it brown nicely,
- paprika: for flavor,
- chicken stock: to deglaze the pan and make sauce.
How to make garlic butter chicken?
- Start by adding half of the butter along with oil to a skillet. Heat up to melt.
- Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, and paprika, and cook on one side.
- Add baking soda. It will foam up. Stir everything together. Cook until the chicken is nicely browned.
- Remove chicken onto a plate and set aside.
- Add garlic and more butter to the skillet. Cook until garlic is golden brown and fragrant.
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- Add chicken stock to pan and scrape any cooked-on bits. They are very flavorful and will make for a tasty sauce. Add the last tablespoon of butter, stir in to melt, and return the chicken to the skillet.
- Stir to coat every piece of chicken with the sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
Why add baking soda to chicken?
Baking soda raises the pH level on the surface of the meat. It tenderizes the meat so it stays juicy. You will notice that less liquid will escape the meat during cooking. It also speeds up the browning process. The result: juicy, tender meat with golden brown color and lots of flavor! The pan will have cooked on bits so don't forget to deglaze it. Once you add butter and it melts, try to scrape every flavor bit from the pan so it stays in the dish.
What to serve with garlic butter?
This chicken dish can be served with so many different sides! Try potatoes, pasta, rice, steamed broccoli, roasted brussels sprouts, air fryer asparagus, and more. I sliced zucchini in half and then in ¼" thick disks, tossed them with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning, and air fried for 8 minutes.
Recipe FAQs:
Any leftovers should be stored in a container with a lid, in the fridge, for up to 4 days. To reheat, use the microwave on the reheat setting or place the chicken in a pan, add a splash of chicken stock and cook until heated through.
You can use boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs. The latter have more flavor since they have dark meat. You can cut them into bite-size pieces or leave them whole.
Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for meal planning. Make a batch, portion out into containers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More delicious chicken dinners:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Garlic Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chicken stock
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into cutlets or bite-size pieces. Season with salt, pepper and paprika.1 ½ lbs chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon paprika
- In a skillet, heat up 1 tablespoon of butter and olive oil.4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add chicken and cook on one side for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip or stir and sprinkle baking soda on the meat. Stir everything together. Cook until the chicken is nicely browned.⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- Remove chicken onto a plate and set aside.
- To the skillet, add garlic and 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook until garlic is golden brown and fragrant.4 garlic cloves
- Add chicken stock and deglaze the pan. Scrapy any cooked on bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the last tablespoon of butter, stir in to melt, and return the chicken to the skillet.¼ cup chicken stock
- Stir to coat every piece of chicken with the sauce.
- Serve.
Notes
- Any leftovers should be stored in a container with a lid, in the fridge, for up to 4 days.
- Baking soda raises the pH level on the surface of the meat. It tenderizes the meat so it stays juicy.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.
Tris says
The recipe was delicious, but it also saved us from terminally dry chicken. We have used the baking soda trick on every chicken recipe, and it never fails. Thank you!
Anna says
I'm glad it was helpful! Thank you for making my recipe, Tris!
Jessica says
I wanted something different to make with chicken, than my normal chicken dish routine... so I decided to try this and I'm so glad that I did! It was WONDERFUL! Thank you!
Anna says
I am so glad you enjoyed the chicken, Jessica! Thank you for making my recipe!
jess says
what an amazing and simple recipe when you're strapped for time!
Anna says
Exactly! Thank you, Jess!
Melissa says
Wow - great recipe my family loves chicken and this was an easy & delicious recipe!
Sue Orris says
Anna;
Now that sounds great! I will definitely try this one since I'm trying a low carb diet. 😊 I love getting your email recipes.
Sue
Anna says
Thank you so much, Sue! I hope you enjoy it! Have a beautiful day!