Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Cajun honey-butter chicken bites are crispy, sweet, smoky, and spicy, which is a combination that’s absolutely irresistible! Cajun chicken bites are the perfect way to spice up your weeknight chicken routine.
How long it takes: 30 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: large skillet, mixing bowl
Servings: 4
Sweet Heat Meets Crispy Chicken
If you’ve tried my garlic Parmesan chicken bites or Buffalo chicken bites (or the OG chicken bites), you know this format is kind of my thing (and my kids love them). But this Cajun honey butter version might be my favorite yet. There’s something about that sweet-heat-buttery combination that makes it genuinely hard to walk away from the pan.
What makes them special:
- Completely irresistible flavor: Rich butter, sweet honey, smoked paprika, and spicy Cajun seasoning make these chicken bites taste like something you’d get from a restaurant.
- Crispy exterior, no deep frying needed: Coating the chicken in cornstarch helps it get crispy on the outside without a deep fryer.
- Quick and easy: Just 15 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cook time.
- So many serving options: Eat these as is, add them to bowls or salads, or even make them into a game day appetizer.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card, but here’s what you’ll need and why it works.
- Chicken breasts: I always use boneless skinless chicken breasts to make my chicken bites. The white meat is high in protein, low in calories, and is so easy to prep!
- Cornstarch: A light dusting of cornstarch forms an amazingly light crispy coating on the chicken. Don’t substitute flour because it won’t work the same way.
- Seasonings: Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper add big flavor. The seasonings are mixed right into the cornstarch. You can try my homemade Cajun seasoning (a mildly spicy blend), or buy it in the spice section of your grocery store.
- Olive oil: Oil has a higher smoke point than butter, so we use it here to cook the chicken, with butter being used for finishing. Different oils could be substituted, as long as they have a high smoke point.
- Honey & butter: For a savory sweet sauce, honey and butter are melted together in the skillet, not a lot, just enough to lightly coat the spicy chicken bites.
- Fresh parsley: Chopped parsley adds a fresh, bright finish. It’s optional if you have family members who are not pro-green.
How to Make Cajun Honey-Butter Chicken bites
Coat the chicken. In a large bowl, mix together the cornstarch with the seasonings. Cut the chicken into evenly sized, bite-sized pieces. Add them to the bowl and toss until well coated.
Cook until golden. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the chicken and let it cook undisturbed for a few minutes so a golden crust forms. Stir and continue cooking, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and nicely browned on all sides.
Recipe Tip
Don’t overcrowd the pan! If your pan isn’t big enough to cook all of the chicken in a single layer, cook it in batches instead. This will help the chicken get crispy instead of steaming.
Make the glaze. Reduce the heat to low. Add the butter and honey to the skillet, stirring gently as the butter melts. Let the mixture simmer briefly until it thickens slightly and coats the chicken.
Finish and serve. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
- Rice or quinoa. This yellow rice would be perfection! Instant Pot white rice or cooked quinoa (I like the tri-color quinoa!) would work, too.
- Vegetable sides. Cajun chicken bites go well with sautéed fresh corn, honey butter skillet corn, or spoon bread. Air fryer carrots or air fryer Brussels sprouts would be excellent for an easy weeknight meal.
- In a bowl or salad. Make a Cajun chicken bowl with rice, black beans, fresh corn, and diced bell pepper. Top it with Cajun ranch dressing (ranch dressing with Cajun seasoning blended in). Make a main course salad by adding chicken bites to a bed of greens with your favorite toppings.
More Chicken Bites
Refrigerate: Store leftover Cajun chicken bites in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe; they won’t be as crisp and are likely to be tougher the second time around.
Reheat: Warm leftovers in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
More Chicken Recipes
Cajun Honey-Butter Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cornstarch, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and coarse ground black pepper.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Dice chicken evenly into small pieces, about ½-inch. I like to cut it into long strips, about ½-inch wide, and then make horizontal cuts, about ½-inch apart. Try to cut the pieces the same size as much as possible so they cook evenly.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl, and toss until evenly coated with cornstarch mixture.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook without moving it for about 4 minutes until a golden crust forms on the bottom. Stir and continue cooking, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes more.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the butter and honey to the skillet. Stir gently as the butter melts, coating the chicken in the honey-butter glaze. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the chicken.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon honey
- Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley. Taste and season with extra salt and pepper, if needed.1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Serve immediately over rice, alongside corn, or with roasted vegetables. Chicken bites are an amazing addition to meal bowls or salads, too.
Notes
- Storage & reheating: Refrigerate leftover chicken bites in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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