A. Prepare and Season the Chicken

Start by cutting your chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook evenly and quickly. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat each piece thoroughly.

Let the chicken sit for about 5–10 minutes while you prepare the asparagus. This gives the seasonings time to absorb into the meat for even more flavor.

B. Cook the Asparagus

In a large skillet or sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the asparagus and season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until the asparagus is bright green and just tender-crisp. You don’t want to overcook it—retaining a bit of crunch helps balance the buttery richness of the dish.

Transfer the asparagus to a plate and set aside.

C. Sear the Chicken Bites

In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer (cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the pan). Sear for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden brown is cooked through. The outside should be slightly crisp, while the inside remains juicy and tender.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside with the asparagus.

D. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

Reduce the heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant (careful not to burn it). Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley.

E Combine and Finish

Return the chicken and asparagus to the pan. Toss to coat everything in the garlic butter sauce and heat through for 1–2 more minutes.