Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus (Printable)

Tender chicken bites in rich garlic butter with crisp asparagus for a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 tsp paprika

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces

→ Sauce

06 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ To Finish

11 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Step-by-step:

01 - In a large bowl, toss the chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and paprika until evenly coated.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer. Sear for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add asparagus to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender.
05 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add lemon juice and half of the parsley. Toss everything together and cook for 2 more minutes to combine flavors.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining parsley and lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, meaning less cleanup and more flavor as the sauce builds layer by layer
  • The chicken stays incredibly tender while developing a golden crust that makes every bite satisfying
  • Ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant, perfect for those busy weeknight moments when you still want something special
02 -
  • Crowding the pan will steam the chicken instead of searing it, so work in batches if your skillet is smaller than 12 inches
  • Let the chicken develop a deep golden crust before flipping, resisting the urge to move it around too early
  • The garlic can go from fragrant to burnt in seconds, so have your asparagus ready to toss in immediately after adding the garlic
03 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels before seasoning, this extra step is what creates that restaurant-quality sear
  • Letting the seasoned chicken sit for 15-20 minutes before cooking gives the spices time to penetrate the meat

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