Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus

When I first made this keto garlic butter chicken, the family went nuts over it, and it’s stayed in regular rotation ever since. Chicken bites and asparagus cook in one skillet, finished with a velvety garlic butter sauce, at 3 net carbs a serving.

This post may contain affiliate link(s). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

I reach for this on nights when I want a real dinner without a sink full of dishes after. Swirling cold butter into the hot pan at the end, off the heat, is what turns the pan juices into an actual sauce instead of just broth.

Chef Jenn’s Take on Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus

A lot of one-skillet garlic butter chicken recipes just melt butter into the pan while the chicken is still actively cooking, and what you get is a greasy pan sauce that separates instead of coming together. Butter added to a pan that’s still cooking breaks instead of emulsifying, and you end up with pooled fat rather than a sauce with any real body to it.

The move here is turning the heat off completely and swirling in very cold butter at the very end, after the chicken and asparagus are already done. That temperature difference is what emulsifies the butter into the pan juices instead of just melting it into a puddle, and it’s the same trick behind any proper pan sauce a chef would make. Don’t cut the chicken smaller than 1-inch cubes either. Smaller pieces dry out completely before the sauce ever has a chance to come together.

What You’ll Love About Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus

• It’s a genuine one-skillet dinner, so cleanup is minimal on a night when that’s the whole reason I’m making it.
• The pan sauce actually comes together silky instead of greasy, which is the detail that makes this taste like more effort than it is.
• It’s low enough in net carbs that there’s real room left over for a low-carb dessert if you want one.

Ingredients

• Chicken breast – Boneless and skinless for easy prep, or use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
• Butter – I used salted butter. If using unsalted, add a pinch more to taste at the end.
• Olive oil – Or avocado oil.
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Oregano
• Garlic – Fresh is best!
• Chicken broth – Use low or no-sodium added chicken broth or make your own.
• Asparagus – At least a pound, a bit more to account for the loss when trimming the ends.
• Lemon pepper – Use your favorite lemon pepper blend.
• Salt and pepper

How To Make Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano.

Melt half the butter and the olive oil in a skillet, and when hot, sautee the chicken until brown. It doesn’t have to be cooked through. Scoop out the chicken and set it aside.

Saute garlic in the remaining oil, then deglaze the pan with the chicken broth. Simmer the chicken broth until reduced by half.

Meanwhile, blanch the asparagus, then drain and set aside. Return the chicken (and any juices) to one side of the skillet and add the asparagus to the other side. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through and hot.

Remove the chicken and asparagus from the skillet, turn off the heat, and swirl in the remaining cold butter to create a velvety sauce. Sprinkle the asparagus with lemon pepper and serve.

Make It A Meal

This is a genuine one-dish dinner, so it doesn’t need much else. If you want a little more on the plate, a simple cauliflower rice underneath soaks up the extra sauce well.

Since this comes in low on net carbs, there’s room for Keto Blueberry Chia Pudding afterward if you want something sweet to finish the meal.

Storage

Chicken keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and freezes fine on its own. Asparagus doesn’t hold up the same way once cooked and turns mushy after freezing, so plan to eat this fresh or refrigerate only, not freeze the full dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

WANT EVEN MORE EASY KETO DIET RECIPES?

I’m always in the kitchen creating new recipes, and while some of them are big hits, I get some misses, too. But these are some of my favorite all-time recipes:

• Thick and luscious Salmon Chowder
• Grilled veggies – I love how versatile this recipe is!
• This amazing cauliflower dish
• Meaty sausage Parmigiana