I absolutely love sharing this One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe with friends because it feels like a little kitchen magic happening right before your eyes. It’s quick, incredibly flavorful, and you only end up with one pan to clean—score! When life gets busy, or you want a dinner that delivers but doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen, this recipe truly shines.
What makes this dish special is how the rich garlic butter sauce hugs every bite of tender chicken and perfectly cooked asparagus. I’ve found that the balance of zesty lemon juice with a subtle kick of sriracha gives it a little something extra, without overpowering the simple elegance of this one-pan wonder. Trust me, once you try this One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe, it’ll become one of your go-to weeknight meals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Cleanup: Because it’s all made in one pan, you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying dinner.
- Burst of Flavor: The garlic butter sauce is rich and tangy with lemon and just enough sriracha heat to keep it exciting.
- Balanced Meal: With protein and green veggies cooking together, it’s well-rounded and healthy.
- Quick to Make: Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something fast but still impressive.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients work harmoniously to create a simple yet flavorful dish. I always recommend fresh asparagus for the best texture, and don’t skip on the butter—it’s essential for that silky sauce.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Cutting them bite-sized ensures quick cooking and even seasoning throughout.
- Kosher salt: A clean, flaky salt that seasons beautifully without being too harsh.
- Onion powder: Adds subtle sweetness and depth without overpowering garlic.
- Garlic powder: Layers extra garlic flavor beyond the fresh garlic we’ll add later.
- Fresh ground pepper: Gives just the right amount of bite to the chicken seasoning.
- Unsalted butter: The base of our sauce that makes everything rich and luscious.
- Olive oil: Helps keep the butter from burning and adds another subtle layer of flavor.
- Minced garlic: Fresh garlic really brings the sauce to life with its bright aroma.
- Italian seasonings: A perfect blend that complements the lemon and asparagus beautifully.
- Lemon juice: Adds brightness and acidity that balances the richness of butter.
- Sriracha: Just enough to add a gentle spicy kick, but you can adjust to your taste.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: Builds depth in the sauce while keeping it light.
- Asparagus: Fresh and trimmed, cooks quickly and adds a lovely crunch and color.
- Italian parsley: Fresh parsley sprinkled on top adds a pop of color and herbaceous finish.
Variations
I love to mix things up with this recipe depending on what I have on hand or my mood. Feel free to customize the spice level or swap the asparagus for other veggies you enjoy.
- Spicy Variation: I once added an extra splash of sriracha and some crushed red pepper flakes for a seriously fiery twist that my family loved.
- Veggie Swap: When asparagus isn’t in season, I’ve used green beans or broccoli florets just as successfully.
- Dairy-Free: Try using olive oil instead of butter and coconut milk instead of chicken broth for a dairy-free version.
- Herb Boost: Fresh thyme or rosemary instead of Italian seasoning can change the flavor profile beautifully.
How to Make One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe
Step 1: Season Your Chicken
Start by tossing your small pieces of chicken breast with kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and freshly ground pepper. I find that seasoning ahead not only builds flavor but helps the chicken brown nicely. Make sure every bite gets some love with those spices.
Step 2: Brown the Chicken in Garlic Butter
Heat half of the butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cooking the chicken slowly here is key; you want a golden crust, not burned butter. When the chicken looks almost done, add a teaspoon of minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for just 30 seconds to boost aroma without burning the garlic. Then, take the chicken out and set it aside — don’t skip this step, or the garlic might get bitter.
Step 3: Make the Sauce and Cook Asparagus
Turn the heat to medium-high and add the remaining garlic to the skillet for a quick sauté. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up those golden bits stuck to the bottom — they’re packed with flavor! Then stir in the rest of the butter, lemon juice, and sriracha. Add your asparagus, letting it cook in the sauce until it reaches your preferred tenderness—usually about 4-5 minutes.
Step 4: Reheat and Finish
Pop the chicken back into the pan and stir everything together for about a minute to reheat the chicken and let it soak up the delicious sauce. Finish by sprinkling fresh Italian parsley and adding some lemon slices for a beautiful, bright garnish.
Pro Tips for Making One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: I’ve found that giving the chicken room to brown properly makes all the difference in texture.
- Watch Your Heat: Butter burns easily, so keep your pan at medium-low when cooking chicken, upping to medium-high only when deglazing and cooking asparagus.
- Fresh Garlic Timing: Add fresh garlic briefly to avoid bitterness — too long and it turns harsh.
- Trim Asparagus Properly: Snapping off the woody ends ensures your asparagus cooks evenly and tastes great.
How to Serve One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle fresh minced Italian parsley and add a few bright lemon slices on top before serving. It not only looks lovely but adds fresh brightness that cuts through the richness of the butter sauce – you’ll really notice the difference.
Side Dishes
My go-to side dishes for this meal are a light garlic mashed cauliflower or a simple quinoa salad. Both soak up the sauce beautifully and keep the meal balanced and nutritious.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I like to plate the chicken and asparagus on a long white platter, drizzle some extra sauce on top, and garnish with edible flowers or microgreens for a restaurant-quality look that impresses every time.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure the chicken cools before sealing to maintain the texture and freshness of the asparagus as much as possible.
Freezing
I’ve had success freezing this dish by placing portions in freezer-safe containers. Just keep in mind asparagus can get a bit softer after freezing, so I usually freeze only the chicken and sauce and add fresh asparagus the day I reheat.
Reheating
The best way I’ve found to reheat leftovers is gently on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce. This method keeps the chicken tender and the sauce luscious without drying out.
FAQs
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Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts in this recipe?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs will bring a bit more richness and stay juicy even if slightly overcooked. Just cut them into similar sized pieces and follow the same cooking times, though thighs might take a minute or two longer to brown through.
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Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Yes, it’s perfect for meal prep. Since it stores well and reheats nicely, you can make a batch ahead of time and enjoy quick, healthy meals throughout the week.
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How do I know when the asparagus is perfectly cooked?
Asparagus should be tender but still have a bit of crunch. Usually, cooking it 4-5 minutes in the sauce over medium-high heat hits that sweet spot. If it looks a little too soft or soggy, it’s overcooked.
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Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free chicken broth and check your seasonings to be sure they don’t contain any gluten additives.
Final Thoughts
One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe is one of those dishes that feels both comforting and fancy to me — the kind of meal I’m eager to share with friends at a casual dinner or enjoy solo after a long day. The way the flavors meld in one pan saves you time and maximizes taste, which is a win-win in my book. I hope you give it a try soon and find it as rewarding and delicious as I do. Happy cooking!
Print
One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Description
This One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Tender bite-sized chicken pieces are seasoned and pan-cooked in a luscious garlic butter sauce with a hint of sriracha and lemon, paired with tender asparagus. It’s a simple, delicious, and comforting meal made entirely in one skillet to minimize cleanup.
Ingredients
Chicken Seasoning
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Sauce & Vegetables
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 lb asparagus, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, minced
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Place the bite-sized chicken pieces in a medium bowl and toss them evenly with kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and freshly ground pepper to ensure each piece is well coated.
- Melt Butter and Heat Oil: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt half of the butter (1/4 cup) together with 1 teaspoon olive oil, preparing the pan for cooking the chicken.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the skillet. Cook them until all sides turn golden brown, taking care to not burn the butter. When the chicken is nearly done, add 1 teaspoon minced garlic and the Italian seasoning, cooking for about 30 seconds to infuse flavor. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Deglaze the Pan: Increase the skillet heat to medium-high. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon minced garlic, then pour in the low-sodium chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup butter, lemon juice, and sriracha into the pan, letting the sauce combine and warm through.
- Cook Asparagus: Add the trimmed asparagus to the skillet with the sauce. Cook until the asparagus reaches your desired tenderness, usually about 4-5 minutes.
- Reheat Chicken and Garnish: Return the chicken to the pan, stirring everything together and heating for an additional minute. Garnish the dish with minced Italian parsley and lemon slices before serving.
Notes
- Use kosher salt as specified for balanced seasoning; adjust according to taste.
- Keep an eye on the butter while cooking chicken to avoid burning and bitterness.
- Trim asparagus ends for the best texture.
- Adjust sriracha quantity to control the heat level of the dish.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
