The sweet and nutty aroma of sauteing garlic into the butter as it melts is one of my favorite scents in the kitchen! As the garlic sizzles in butter, it fills the air with warmth and builds anticipation for a delicious meal. It’s the kind of smell that promises something tasty is on the way to your table! It’s called the garlic butter chicken recipe.

Today’s recipe is all about that delightful combination of garlic and butter coming together to create a flavorful butter sauce. The savory sauce is then used to wrap tender pieces of chicken, creating a smooth, creamy coating that drips with delicious flavor in every bite! The addition of chicken stock helps deepen the flavor and brings a comforting touch to the overall dish.

Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe on a serving plate — Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Despite being a rich, tummy-filling meal, garlic butter chicken is surprisingly easy to make as the whole dish is prepared in just one pan. The juicy chicken, flavorful stock and the rich, buttery sauce with a hint of garlic come together with a velvety finish- all without needing multiple pots or pans. Ergo, you get to enjoy a gourmet meal prepared at home with fresh, healthy ingredients and no extra cleanup required!

Flavor Variation For Making Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Today’s recipe is packed with so much delicious flavor that you will be left wanting more after the first bite! However, if you are looking to switch things up a bit, there are plenty of ingredients suited for customizing this recipe.

Cheese

Love cheese and want to add it to this delicious dish? Don’t hold yourself back! Sprinkle some shredded cheese on top of the garlic butter chicken and enjoy a creamy delight!

For a sharp and bold addition to your dish, go for parmesan and cheddar cheese as these two varieties blend wonderfully with the butter sauce. If you prefer cheese strings that create that stretchy effect as you take a bite, mozzarella is the perfect choice for you. To add a cheesy finish to your dish, sprinkle some shredded cheese directly over the sauce and let it melt for a creamy garlic butter chicken meal!

Herbs

Adding fresh herbs to the end of the cooking process helps bring a burst of freshness to any dish and garlic butter chicken is no exception to that. You can add a variety of fresh herbs including parsley, cilantro, coriander, basil and thyme.

You can also use dried herbs to deepen the flavor of the dish and take it to the next level. Herbs like rosemary or oregano are best used in dried forms and added to the dish while the chicken is simmering in the sauce. This helps the herbs to release their natural aroma and blend with the sauce over time.

Spice

Garlic butter chicken isn’t intended to be a spicy dish at all. However, you can use spices to add a touch of heat if desired.

To add a spicy kick to your dish while maintaining its core flavor, you can add chili powder, red pepper flakes, hot paprika, thai chili paste and cayenne pepper. Feel free to adjust the amount to find the perfect balance for your garlic butter chicken recipe.

Tips To Make Easy Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Garlic butter chicken features a hassle-free cooking process that even newbie cooks may nail on their first try. However, there are some hidden techniques to help you create a mouthwatering dish that everyone keeps asking for seconds! Here are some tips to make your cooking journey smoother and more enjoyable:

The dish involves pan-frying the chicken to achieve a golden-brown crispy exterior. Once you add the seasoned chicken pieces to the pan, make sure it’s heated properly over medium-high temperature. A hot pan helps create a nice sear on the chicken and doubles the taste by locking the juicy flavor inside.

To make the frying process easier, use a heavy-bottomed pan for cooking this recipe. I recommend using a cast-iron skillet instead of a nonstick pan. While a nonstick pan helps prevent the dish from getting overcooked, a cast-iron skillet gives the chicken that charred exterior on the chicken and makes it more flavorful.

While preparing the butter sauce, it’s important to keep a close eye on the pan as the butter melts very quickly and may get burned within a second. Garlic is another element that goes from perfectly golden to burnt within a few seconds. To avoid these mishaps, keep stirring and watch closely while sauteing the garlic in the butter.

Follow the recipe guidelines step by step to get the best results. For instance, I have cooked the chicken pieces at an early stage of cooking and set them aside so that the chicken gets to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This action allows the chicken to retain its natural juices and make the dish more flavorful. You can carry on making the butter sauce in the meantime.

If you find the butter sauce too thick for your liking, reduce the heat and add a bit more water or chicken stock to achieve the desired consistency.

For more flavorful bites, you can marinate the chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, along with the other ingredients in the recipe, for a couple of hours or overnight. If you decide to marinate the chicken pieces overnight, keep them in the refrigerator.

1 Pan Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Print Rate Pin

Tender chicken bites coated in a velvety sauce offering mouthwatering flavors. Make this quick and easy garlic butter chicken recipe for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

For Marination

▢ 500 grams Boneless Chicken (Cubed)
▢ ½ tsp / 3 g Salt
▢ ½ tsp / 1 g Black Pepper
▢ 3 tbsp / 23 g All-Purpose Flour

For Cooking

▢ 2 tbsp / 30 ml Cooking Oil
▢ 2 tbsp / 28 g Butter
▢ 6 cloves Garlic (Minced)
▢ ½ tbsp / 4 g All-Purpose Flour
▢ ½ cup / 118 ml Chicken Stock
▢ 1 tsp Mixed Herbs
▢ ½ tsp / 1 g Black Pepper
▢ 1 tbsp / 15 ml Lemon Juice
▢ 2 tbsp Chopped Coriander

Equipments

Instructions

Prepare The Chicken

Grab a mixing bowl and place 500 grams of boneless chicken pieces into it.
Season the chicken pieces with ½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of black pepper.
Mix the chicken pieces with the seasonings thoroughly using a spoon.
Add 3 tbsp of all-purpose flour to the bowl and mix again to coat the chicken pieces well.

Fry The Chicken

Take a frying pan and put it on the stove over medium-high heat.
Pour 2 tbsp of cooking oil into the pan.
Using tongs, carefully place the seasoned chicken pieces into the hot oil. Make sure to leave some space between each piece to allow them to cook evenly.
Cook the chicken pieces for 5-6 minutes on one side, until the bottom is golden brown and flip them when one side is done.
Once both sides are golden brown and crispy, remove the chicken from the heat and transfer it to a plate for later use.

Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce

In the same pan, add 2 tbsp of butter and let it melt.
Toss in 6 cloves of minced garlic to the pan. Stir with a spatula to let the garlic cook with butter.
Add ½ tbsp of all-purpose flour to the pan and stir with a spatula to let the flour dissolve into the butter.
Add ½ cup of chicken stock to the mixture and cook until the sauce thickens.
Sprinkle 1 tsp of mixed herbs and ½ tsp of black pepper over the sauce.
Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice to the pan and stir to mix all the ingredients.

Combine Chicken With Sauce

Add the chicken back to the pan and toss to coat them with the butter sauce.
Garnish the dish with 2 tbsp of chopped coriander.
Give it a final toss to mix the garnish into the chicken and sauce.
Serve hot on a plate and enjoy!

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Nutrition Facts

*This calculation is done by assumption calculated by an API. Please use our nutrition information just to get an idea about the recipe, consult a nutritionist if you need exact nutrition information.

Tried this recipe?

The garlic butter chicken tastes so yummy, mainly because of its wonderful contrast. The crispy chicken that’s soft and juicy inside and the creamy sauce that clings to every bite make the dish irresistible. The rich flavor of the garlic butter chicken is balanced nicely with fresh coriander leaves which adds a bright and citrusy note to the meal.

For a satisfying dining experience, serve the dish with a side of steamed rice, mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables and enjoy the meal while it’s still hot!

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Frozen Chicken For This Recipe?

It’s best to use fresh chicken to get the most flavour out of this dish. However, you can use frozen chicken if you thaw it properly and remove excess moisture by patting the chicken completely dry.

What Can I Use Instead Of Chicken Stock?

If you don’t have chicken stock in your pantry, you can use vegetable stock, chicken broth, or beef broth instead. If neither is available, you can also add water as a substitute; however, the flavor will be milder in that case.

How To Make This Quick And Easy Chicken Dish Healthier?

Use olive oil instead of your regular cooking oil to prepare this dish. Also, include more veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, or peas to add more nutrients to the recipe.

Can I Freeze The Garlic Butter Chicken?

Yes, you can freeze the cooked dish in an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breast?

Yes, you can alternately use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this garlic chicken dinner. However, the cooking time may vary; keep a close eye.