🍗🧄 Grilled Chicken Bites with Creamy Garlic Sauce
Description
These grilled chicken bites are juicy, flavorful, and coated in a rich, creamy garlic sauce that makes them absolutely irresistible. Perfect for dinner, meal prep, or even as a party appetizer, this dish balances smoky grilled chicken with a velvety, garlicky sauce. It’s comforting yet light, and pairs beautifully with rice, roasted veggies, or salad.
📝 Ingredients
For the grilled chicken bites:
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
For the creamy garlic sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter option)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
🍳 Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Toss chicken pieces with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Let sit 15–20 minutes.
- Grill Chicken: Heat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high. Cook chicken bites 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F / 74°C internal temp). Remove and keep warm.
- Make Garlic Sauce: In a skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in chicken broth, then cream. Simmer until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes).
- Add Cheese & Seasoning: Whisk in Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper.
- Combine: Toss grilled chicken bites in the creamy garlic sauce until well-coated.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
🥗 Servings
- Makes 4 servings
📌 Notes
- Thighs stay juicier than breasts if you prefer dark meat.
- Sauce thickness depends on simmering time; reduce longer for thicker sauce.
- Can be served over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or zucchini noodles.
💡 Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the grill pan—cook chicken in batches for the best sear.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the sauce for brightness.
- For extra flavor, marinate chicken overnight in olive oil, garlic, and herbs.
- Sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before tossing with chicken.
🔢 Nutritional Info (per serving, approx.)
- Calories: ~410 kcal
- Protein: 34 g
- Fat: 28 g
- Carbs: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sodium: ~520 mg
🌟 Benefits
- High protein meal that’s filling and satisfying.
- Low carb, great for keto and gluten-free diets.
- Garlic + Parmesan = antioxidant and calcium boost.
- Meal prep friendly — keeps well in fridge for 3–4 days.
❓ Q & A
Q: Can I use milk instead of cream?
A: Yes, but sauce will be thinner. Thicken with 1 tsp cornstarch if desired.
Q: Can I bake instead of grill?
A: Absolutely! Bake chicken bites at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes.
Q: Can I make it dairy-free?
A: Use coconut cream and nutritional yeast instead of dairy cream and cheese.
Q: How can I make it spicier?
A: Add chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Q: Is this good for meal prep?
A: Yes! Store in airtight containers and reheat gently to keep chicken juicy.