Garlic Butter Chicken is a quick and easy recipe that combines chicken and baby potatoes with fresh garlic, butter, and mozzarella cheese. It pulls together quickly, making it an ideal protein-packed weeknight meal.

This delicious, easy chicken recipe is one of my son’s favorites and perfect for busy weeknights. The chicken is moist, tender, and flavorful. For the perfect meal, serve with a side of roasted asparagus, sauteed green beans, or garlic butter mushrooms.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
- Baby potatoes: I use Melissa’s Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes
- Butter: Unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, cut back on the amount of added salt.
- Red pepper flakes: If you have a delicate palate, skip the crushed red pepper and go for something milder like rosemary, thyme, or Italian seasonings.
- Cheese: Mozzarella, Italian blend cheese, or any combination of these.
How to make Garlic Butter Chicken
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and place them in a casserole dish. Top with potatoes.
- Cook the garlic in the melted butter. Move the skillet off the heat and let the butter mixture cool for a few minutes.
- Pour it over the chicken and lightly sprinkle with red pepper flakes and dried parsley. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Top the chicken with an Italian blend and mozzarella. Place back in the oven and bake until the cheese is fully melted. Turn the broiler on for the last minute of cooking and lightly brown the top.

Preparation Tip
- Make sure you do not overcook the garlic. It only needs a minute or so in the butter on low heat. Minced garlic cooks very quickly and burns easily. Burnt garlic tastes bitter.
- You can increase the cheese or decrease the cheese depending on your taste. Try a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese right before serving.
- Cooked chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees.
- For a low-carb meal, skip the baby potatoes and replace them with bite-sized pieces of veggies like zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, and cauliflower.
What To Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken
- Salad: Italian salad, tomato salad, or Asian cucumber salad
- Vegetables: Creamed spinach, Bacon wrapped asparagus, or Roasted cauliflower
- Bread and Rolls: drop biscuits, beer bread, or hush puppies

More Chicken Recipes

Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- I lb. baby potatoes if larger than one-inch slice in half
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or less to taste
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup shredded Italian blend cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and place in a single layer in a casserole dish. Top with baby potatoes.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Pour garlic butter over chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle with half the crushed pepper and half the dried parsley.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until chicken is almost cooked through. Top evenly with both kinds of cheese and the rest of the red pepper flakes and dried parsley. Bake an additional 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Turn the broiler on for the last minute of cooking to lightly brown the tops but stay close by as broilers are unpredictable.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warmed through.
- To freeze, first cool completely. Then add it to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Nutrition
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Christina
Hi Beth!! Can you use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Beth Pierce
Yes you most certainly can Christina!!
Christina
Tried it without the potatoes. Really liked it! Will make with tiny potatoes next time. Thanks!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it!!
Holli
I have made this previously and we absolutely love it. My question is, can I prepare this dish and freeze it okay?
Thank you!
Beth Pierce
I have not tried to freeze this dish but I have no reason to believe that it will not freeze well. Let us know how it turns out Holli!
Michelle
Do you cover with aluminum foil before baking or do you bake it uncovered?
Beth Pierce
Uncovered. Please note it might require a few more minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts and the size of the potatoes!
Vickie Asard
Made this tonight. Delicious. I left out the potatoes and served it with red peppers stuffed with spinach and cheese.
Beth Pierce
That sounds delicious! Low carb and keto friendly!
Becky Hardin
OH my Stars!!! This chicken is the bomb!! So full of flavor and tender!
Cheryl S
I have chicken out for dinner tonight, now I know what I’m going to do with it!! This looks delicious!
Ashley F
This chicken is completely delicious! Can’t wait to make it again!
aimee
Going on our menu this week. Looks fantastic!
Cyd
I have some teenagers who are crazy for this garlic butter chicken recipe!