These Ranch Chicken Bites are one of my family’s ALL TIME Favorite recipes! They are tender, delicious, easy to make and get devoured every time! The Ranch Chicken is made with a homemade blend of seasonings and cooked in a skillet so that the chicken stays perfectly tender on the inside and gets that perfect sear on the outside.
Ranch Chicken Bites Recipe
These Ranch Chicken Bites are the perfect easy chicken dinner and can be served on their own, or can be used to top salads, sandwiches, wraps, baked potatoes and more! Read on for all of the details of this high protein, low carb, gluten free wonder meal.
The best part of this Ranch Chicken recipe is the simplicity.
You grab 3 ingredients and a skillet and can bang this out in about 15 minutes flat. My kids love these because they are like chicken nuggets. We love them because they are super wholesome and extra delicious.
I also have been known to double or triple the recipe to keep these on hand for meal prep. You can make so many awesome things from this chicken that I will share with you below.
Make sure to whip up a big batch of homemade ranch seasoning to keep on hand and make these tonight and then as often as possible after that!
Recipe Notes
This is a super simple recipe with only a few ingredients. I am going to walk through a few tips and notes here to hopefully answer any questions that may come up while you are cooking. There is a full recipe card with nutrition info at the bottom of this post.
Ranch Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken breast- This is about 3-4 average sized chicken breasts. You can also use chicken tenderloins, chicken thighs, or other boneless, skinless cuts of chicken.
- Homemade ranch seasoning– This homemade ranch seasoning really is the “secret sauce” to this recipe. You could also try store bought ranch seasoning, but I find that making a big batch of the seasoning and keeping it on hand is totally the way to go! You can use it for so many things from . veggies, to potatoes, to these chicken bites!
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Recipe Step by Step
To start, trim the chicken breast.
Next cut the chicken breast into 1 inch pieces, keeping the size as consistent as possible.
Place the chicken bites with the oil and seasonings in a bag or container and make sure everything is evenly coated.
Cook the ranch chicken bites in a skillet with hot oil until cooked through.
Recipe Tips
- Keep the size consistent. To allow the chicken to stay most tender and juicy, keep the size you cut the chicken bites into very similar. This allows them to cook at the same rate and be done at the same time.
- Make sure the pan is hot! To get that delicious and flavorful sear on the outside, you want to make sure the pan and oil is hot before adding the chicken bites.
- Don’t over crowd the pan. If there is too much chicken in the pan, it will steam instead of sear. If your skillet isn’t big enough to give the chicken room, cook it in batches so that you can get the best results.
What to serve with Ranch Chicken
The beauty of this recipe is that it can go with just about ANYTHING! So again, it makes the perfect throw it together quickly recipe because you can just work with what you have got. Here are some of my favorite side ideas for inspiration. There are both classic sides and some awesome low carb serving options.
Side dish ideas
- Potatoes – You can do mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes (definitely try these if you have time), or even baked potatoes
- Broccoli Slaw– We love this fresh side salad and even the kids will eat this one!
- Pasta- Anything from pasta salad, to mac & cheese, to garlic butter pasta will work well as a side here
- Rice, quinoa or your favorite grain
- My favorite corn casserole recipe!
Low Carb Serving Ideas
- Steamed broccoli- We always seem to have frozen broccoli in the freezer so this makes a great go to side for this meal.
- Sautéed green beans– You can have this side made in 10 minutes and it is so delicious!!!
- Salad- You can do a side salad or a big entree salad and pop the chicken right on top!
- Roasted Cauliflower- Try my Ranch Parmesan Cauliflower or my Whole30 Roasted Cauliflower
You can choose one side, or pick a few for a well rounded meal. Either way, there are tons of delicious options from simple to more elaborate so hopefully you will find something great. If you like to serve this with something I missed, I would love for you to leave me a comment and let me know so I can try it out! I am always looking for new ideas!
Ranch Chicken FAQ’s
Is this Ranch Chicken recipe gluten free, dairy free, low carb etc?
Yes! This recipe is delicious and wholesome. It is not only low carb, low fat, and high protein, but it also accommodates many special dietary needs such as gluten free and dairy free as long as you use the homemade ranch seasoning listed.
Can I use other cuts of chicken?
Yes! You can use other cuts of chicken and also can make this as whole chicken breasts instead of cutting into bites. All will be delicious, but the cooking time will vary if you change the size or cut of the meat. I prefer to do the bites because it helps it to cook so quickly.
Can I freeze this Ranch Chicken Recipe?
Yes! This recipe can be frozen before or after cooking. You can combine the chicken with the seasoning and oil and then freeze, or cook the chicken and freeze leftovers to reheat and quickly use to make a meal.
Can I double or triple this recipe?
You can easily double or triple the recipe by multiplying the ingredients by 2 or3, however you will still probably need to cook it in batches as it will get the best result when it is in a single flat layer in the pan.
What to do with Ranch Chicken Leftovers (And Meal Prep ideas!)
This Ranch Chicken not only makes a great easy dinner, but the leftovers also make some killer meals the second time around!
You can store leftover chicken in an airtight container:
- In the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- In the freezer for up to 1 month
When you are ready to make a meal, here are some of my favorite ideas!
- Ranch Chicken Pitas– Stuff the ranch chicken bites in a pita with romaine lettuce, tomato, red onion and cucumber. Top with ranch dressing.
- Ranch Chicken Salad– On a bed of mixed greens, add ranch chicken bites, cucumber, bell pepper, shredded carrots, croutons, and cheddar cheese, top with ranch dressing.
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Wraps– In a large tortilla, add ranch chicken bites shredded lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, and black beans. Drizzle with ranch dressing and BBQ sauce.
- Baked Potatoes- Pile this over a baked potato stuffed with butter, sour cream, cheese, drizzled with ranch and topped with bacon.
- Grain bowls– Use rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or your favorite grain. Top with your choice of diced veggies, chicken and drizzle with ranch. One of our favorites!
- Tacos– Use this as a filling in tacos! Try adding some crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese and avocado then drizzling it with ranch.
- Sandwich– Pile up a sub with your favorite toppings or do something fancy like a twist on a BLT or a Chicken Bacon Avocado drizzled with ranch.
More Easy Recipes
I really hope you come to love this recipe as much as my family does. I could probably just put this on rotation through all the different ideas I shared and never make anything else and my family wouldn’t even complain!
Here are a few more dinner recipes that my family loves just as much!
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Skillet
- Chicken Street Tacos
- Crustless Chicken Pot Pie
- Mississippi Chicken
- Cheddar Bay Chicken Pot Pie
- Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
- Ground Turkey Teriyaki Stir Fry
- French Onion Meatballs
- Garlic Butter Chicken Bites.
Ranch Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 2 tbsp homemade ranch seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into 1-2″ chunks. Put them in a container with 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp ranch seasoning. Stir to coat with seasoning. Let rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat remaining oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and spread into a single flat layer. Let cook 4-5 minutes without stirring or moving the chicken. Then flip the pieces over and cook an additional 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp)
- Serve hot with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- You can also use chicken tenders, chicken thighs, or other cuts of meat, however the cook time may vary.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the:
- Refrigerator for 3-4 days
- Freezer for up to a month
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