This Whole30 Garlic Butter Chicken is a fast and easy 20-minute meal. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you just need to get dinner on the table. It really comes in handy during my boys’ busy sports seasons, or when you have minimal energy to cook.
Why We Love This Whole30 Garlic Butter Chicken
First, it’s Whole30, which means it’s also Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and soy-free. Plus, this easy recipe also accommodates nut-free and egg-free diets, with a Keto option. It’s a perfect, simple option to address so many dietary needs.
Second, did you catch that this is a 20-minute meal?! It’s as quick and easy as dinner can get. And it’s simple—a great recipe for cooking beginners.
Third, it’s budget-friendly. This Whole30 Garlic Butter Chicken recipe mainly uses spices to create flavorful chicken, which keeps it budget-friendly. No custom sauces or pricey ingredients are needed.
Finally, it’s flavorful. In the words of my 18-year-old, “This chicken is so good, it doesn’t need a sauce!” A great one-and-done dish.
Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – Use the highest quality you can afford. Keeping in mind a home-cooked meal is always a win, even if it’s not free-range, organic, all the things ; ).
- Vegan butter or ghee – Adds richness and depth of flavor.
- Vegan butter – I love the similar flavor and melt of vegan butter, and prefer it in my dairy-free dishes. Use a vegan butter like this one I love from Walmart (my favorite, but not Whole30). However, if you are on a Whole30 and using vegan butter, double-check the ingredients for compatibility!
- Ghee – Ghee is Whole30 compatible (read more about that in the Whole30 program rules here!) and works well for our family. I use the recipe from my Cookbook to make my ghee and keep it budget-friendly! But, if you have a true dairy allergy, ghee is derived from dairy and is not the right choice for you.
- Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute or other Poultry Seasoning – I ADORE Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute. It is my first choice for seasoning steamed veggies and excellent on this chicken. I don’t live near a Trader Joe’s (an hour away), so I go a few times a year and stock up! Or, it is available on Amazon or Walmart.com. If you don’t have access to the 21 Seasoning Salute, grab a poultry seasoning of choice like this Mrs. Dash.
- Garlic salt – First, double check your poultry seasoning does not contain salt. If it does, omit this ingredient. But, if it doesn’t (21 Seasoning Salute does NOT), then be sure to use the garlic salt. My favorite garlic salt is the garlic salt grinder from Trader Joe’s (Whole30 compatible). If you are on Whole30, double check your ingredients on the garlic salt – some garlic salts have added sugars. This garlic salt from Walmart is Whole30 compatible.
- Pepper – Black ground pepper.
- Optional Starch or flour – Potato, arrowroot starch, or cassava flour (all Whole30 + Paleo options). I don’t recommend tapioca flour for this recipe; it will make the results “tacky.” See my blog post on Paleo flours and how to use them here to learn more. Or, if you are not on a Whole30 or Paleo, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour in equal amounts. The flour gives it a fantastic texture. But, if you are Keto or don’t have any on hand, this Whole30 Garlic Butter Chicken is still delicious without it!
- Fresh minced garlic – I prefer to get pre-minced garlic such as this one from Walmart to save time, especially in a “get it done” recipe like this one. But you can always mince your own garlic if you prefer and have time from whole garlic bulbs.
How to Make Whole30 Garlic Butter Chicken
- First, add the cubed chicken to a large bowl or reusable zip-top bag. Add the seasonings and flour or starch (if using) to the bowl or bag and stir or toss until well coated.
- Add 3 tablespoons ghee to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken in a single layer.
- Cook chicken until brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
- Once the chicken is mostly browned, add the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee and 2 tablespoons minced garlic. Saute for another 3-4 minutes, or until the garlic is lightly browned and fragrant and the chicken is cooked through (no pink inside).
- Do a happy dance that dinner is done ALREADY and serve. If you are in a hurry, pair this with steam-in-a-bag rice or cauliflower and green beans that you can steam in your microwave while the chicken is cooking. BOOM, dinner is done!
- FREEZE leftover chicken in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
Want Other 30-Minute Meal Options?
I get it! You are someone who doesn’t have a lot of time or energy to make dinner. Here are some of my top 30-minute meals:
- Whole30 Ground Beef Stir Fry
- Whole30 Chicken Meatballs (Air Fryer or Oven)
- Whole30 Chili con Queso Dip
- Whole30 Sheet Pan Fajitas
- Whole30 Blackened Chicken
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
A FAST and easy budget-friendly 20-minute dinner with basic ingredients but full of flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1" pieces
- 5 tablespoons vegan butter divided, see notes if on Whole30
- 1/4 cup arrowroot or potato starch see notes for Keto
- 1 tablespoon Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute or Mrs. Dash
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
Instructions
- Add cubed chicken to a large bowl or reusable zip-top bag. Add all of the seasonings and flour or starch (if using) to the bowl or bag and stir or toss until well coated.
- Add 3 tablespoons ghee to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken in a single layer.
- Cook chicken until there are brown crispy bits on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
- Once chicken is mostly browned, add the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee and 2 tablespoons minced garlic. Saute for another 2-3 minutes or until garlic is lightly browned and fragrant, and chicken is cooked through (no pink inside).
- Do a happy dance that dinner is done ALREADY and serve. If you are in a hurry, pair this with steam in a bag rice or caulirice and green beans that you can steam in your microwave while the chicken is cooking. BOOM, dinner is done!
- FREEZE leftover chicken in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
Notes
KETO VARIATION: This chicken is already pretty low-carb, but if you need to, you can omit the starch or flour and still have a really flavorful, tasty chicken.
*Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute or other Poultry Seasoning—I ADORE Trader. Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute. It is my first choice to season veggies and is excellent on this chicken. I don't live near Trader Joe's (an hour away), so I go a few times a year and stock up! It is also available on Amazon or Walmart.com. If you don't have access to the 21 Seasoning Salute, then grab a poultry seasoning of choice like this Mrs. Dash from Walmart.
NOTE: If you cook this in a cast iron skillet, you will need an additional 1-2 tablespoons ghee or vegan butter to prevent sticking. Saute the chicken in 5 tablespoons melted ghee or vegan butter. Add 1-2 tablespoons more (1 if there is still some melted ghee in the pan, 2 if there is no melted ghee remaining) before adding and sautéing the garlic.
On a Whole30? Be sure to use a compatible vegan butter or ghee; the one linked in the recipe is my preferred vegan butter but NOT Whole30 compatible. I recommend this ghee (not suitable for those with dairy allergies, but Whole30 compatible) or this vegan butter.
Nutrition
Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 24gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 714mgPotassium: 438mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.05gVitamin A: 53IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Literally the easiest recipe, ever! And it’s good with both chicken breast and chicken thighs. My whole family loves it, and I have some picky eaters! We like to eat it with jasmine rice and roasted broccoli or green beans.
Winning over picky eaters is no small feat, so this makes me so happy! Love that it works with both chicken breast and thighs, and your jasmine rice and roasted veggie combo sounds like the perfect plate. So glad it’s an easy family win!
These are SO easy and delicious and my picky boys absolutely love them. I make them on repeat. They also reheat well in the air fryer for quick lunches. A win all around!
Picky boys AND easy AND great reheated for lunches? That’s a total triple win. Love that these are on repeat in your kitchen — thanks for the air fryer tip too, so helpful for anyone wanting quick leftovers!
Been a go-to recipe for our family for a while now. So good!! One of the few recipes my volleyball guys have learned to make before heading to college!
That’s awesome to hear! So glad it’s become a family favorite and even a go-to for your volleyball guys — nothing better than passing on a recipe that sticks. Thank you for leaving a review!
These are incredible!! I’m obsessed!! Thanks Autumn!! I’ve been making them regularly!!!
Yay!! I’m so happy you love them and are making them often — that makes my day! Thanks, friend, so much for the review.
I make this weekly! My teenage boys (and my hubby) love it and request it often. And it’s super easy so a win-win!!
YAAAY! I LOVE hearing that your teenage boys and husband are requesting it weekly—such a win when it’s easy and family-approved! So glad it’s become a regular in your rotation! Thanks so much for the glowing review!
These are SO easy and SO good! They’re one of my go-to dinners for busy nights when we need something fast. They turn out perfect every time!
Thank you so much for the review! I’m so happy to hear these have become a go-to for your busy nights. That’s exactly what they’re meant for—quick, easy, and reliably tasty!
This recipe was easy and delicious! My whole family ate it. Thanks so much!
Love hearing that it was both easy and a hit with the whole family—those are the best kind of wins! So glad you all enjoyed it. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Thank you for this family friendly, quick, and delicious recipe. I did make a few adjustments. I added a 1/2 cup diced onion, a bit more ghee, and then to deglaze the pan, I used some chicken stock. For my boys that need more calories, we served it over pasta. For me, I served it over cauliflower rice. It got the…yes, let’s have this again vote! Thanks Again, Autumn!
I love hearing how people make a recipe their own, thanks for sharing! Glad it was a big hit and got the thumbs up to make again – wahoo! Thank you for the review.
I made this recipe tonight and was really please with how easy and quick it was to get a nutritious dinner on the table. An added bonus was a recipe that called for Trader Joe’s 21 season salute! We’ll be making this again.
I heart Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning salute – glad to hear you do too! A great easy way to add a lot of flavor. Glad you loved this one, thank you!
Delicious and my whole family loved this chicken! I doubled for our family of 7. Love that your site has the quick option of doubling! Thank you for a delicious, fast, healthy meal!
I’m so happy this was a hit with your large family. And big YES to using that button to double, triple, or half a recipe as needed. Glad your family loved this one – thank you for the review!
Love these garlic chicken bites. So easy and so much flavour. I have made them a couple times. And are great to pair with just about anything. My son who lives away, has made it as well. Love all your recipes. I bought your cookbook.
YAY that you love how easy and delicious these are! My son who is at college also loves this one. Thanks so much for the review!
This has become a regular meal in our family! I always double the recipe and we barely have leftovers. The only downside is that it is pretty messy….I make it before cleaning my stovetop.
YAY that this is a regular that is always devoured. I love it! Thank so much for the review!
Being prediabetic & my husband celiac & prediabetic, it is hard to find recipes that accommodate both issues without using artificial sweeteners, which I cannot have. I finally found your site. Thank you! I have been making my own combination for frying chicken that will work great in the recipe. Like you I don’t live close to a Trader Joe’s so plan on using my recipe. This is definitely one recipe I will use often (we already had dinner this evening).
I’m so thrilled my recipes can be a resource to you as you try to accomodate all your dietary needs – I get how tricky that can be. So happy you love this recipe! Thanks much for the review – those help me a ton.
This has become a weekly rotation in our household. My 6 and 3 year old call it “Mommy Chick-fil-a chicken”
Woohoo! Hearing it was enjoyed by everyone is the best—thank you! Thanks for the review, those help me so much.
This recipe I definitely didn’t make enough of. My kids AND husband loved it!! It is going on our meal rotation for sure. Thank you for all these fabulous healthy recipes ❤️❤️
Hooray that this was a big hit with your family! Love that it’s one you want to put on the rotation. Thanks so much for the review!
I have been making this weekly since you posted about it. My 18 year old son LOVES the recipe and told me that he “never wants to eat chicken any other way again”. The rest of the family loves it too and its SO quick and easy. THANK YOU!
Oh my gosh, what a fantastic compliment!! WAHOO! I love that this is now his “it” chicken. Thrilled to hear it. Thank you so much!
I made this for my family last night and everyone loved it! I was anticipating a large amount of leftovers, as there are only 3 people in my family, but we ate all of it. I can’t wait to make this again. It is definitely a new family favorite. Thank you!
I love that it was so good it was just plain devoured! Hooray for a new family favorite that is so easy. Thank you for the review!
So good, everyone loves it. Comes together quickly in a pinch. I do not have Trader Joe’s so I use the Aldi version of the original Mrs dash and the flavor is on point.
YASSSS that you found this to be easy and loved! And thank you for sharing which seasoning you used and enjoyed. Thank you for the review!
Made this for dinner last night and it was a big hit with the whole family! I made a double recipe in hopes of getting 2 meals and I barely have any left! I didn’t have any Trader Joe’s seasoning so I used Lawry’s seasoning salt instead. This will definitely be added to the rotation!
WOOT! I love that it was devoured and so good there wasn’t much for leftovers, even on a double batch. The same thing happens in my house too. And thanks for letting us know what swaps you tried and enjoyed. I appreciate the review!
This recipe was a big hit with my whole family! I made a double recipe in hopes to get 2 meals – it’s almost gone in one meal! I didn’t have the Trader Joe’s seasoning and used Lawry’s seasoning instead. Very easy and fast to make. I will definitely make this again!
I can’t even get over it! SOOOO full of flavor and you probably already have it all in your house!! Working overtime this week and dinner was ready quick, fast and in a hurry. Steamed veggies for the win on the side! You should probably make this…..TONIGHT!!! Well done, Autumn! As per usual you nailed it!!
It’s it awesome how EASY yet flavorful this one is?!! I’m so glad this came in handy on a busy week to get a delicious + nutritious dinner on the table. YAY!