10+ Chicken Starter Recipes to Impress Your Guests Easily

Chicken starters really set the tone for any gathering. They’re small, bold, and honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a tasty bite or two before the main event?

You can whip up chicken starters that are both fun and super easy—no need to stress over fancy ingredients or hours in the kitchen. These recipes work for everything, from chill snacks to something a bit more special.

You’ll find options for every mood: spicy, mild, garlicky, or whatever you’re craving at the moment.

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1) Chicken 65 – spicy deep-fried chicken bites

Chicken 65 is a South Indian classic—spicy, crispy, and addictive in the best way. You marinate bite-sized chicken pieces in yogurt and spices, then deep fry them until they’re golden and crunchy.

Curry leaves and green chilies add that signature punch. It’s a crowd-pleaser at parties, or just when you want something with a kick.

You can dial the spice up or down, depending on your mood. The magic is in the contrast: juicy inside, crispy outside.

Ingredients

• 500g boneless chicken, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• Salt to taste
• Curry leaves
• 2 green chilies, slit
• Oil for deep frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix chicken with yogurt, chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, and salt. Let it marinate for an hour.
2. Heat oil in a deep pan to about 350°F (175°C).
3. Deep fry the chicken until golden and cooked through—about 5-7 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
4. Toss in curry leaves and green chilies for a quick fry.
5. Mix the fried chicken with those crispy leaves and chilies. Serve hot.

If you want the full breakdown, check out this Chicken 65 recipe.

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2) Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – pan-seared in garlic butter sauce

Garlic butter chicken bites are a weeknight lifesaver. Cut your chicken into small pieces and pan-sear them until they’re golden.

The magic happens when they soak up that rich garlic butter sauce. You don’t need a ton of ingredients, but the flavor feels pretty special.

Use chicken thighs if you like things extra juicy, or breasts if you want it lighter. Just make sure everything cooks evenly.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
4. Toss in the garlic for the last minute or so, just until fragrant.
5. Serve warm, making sure to spoon over that buttery sauce.

Want more details? Here’s a solid garlic butter chicken bites recipe.

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3) Crispy Chilli Chicken – tossed in a tangy chili sauce

Crispy chilli chicken hits all the right notes—crunchy, saucy, and just spicy enough to keep you reaching for another piece. Coat and fry the chicken until it’s golden, then toss it in a tangy sauce with soy, garlic, ginger, and chilies.

You can tweak the heat to your liking. Air-frying works if you’re feeling healthy, and the crunch still holds up.

Chopped onions and spring onions on top? Yes, please.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast or thigh pieces
• Cornstarch or flour
• Soy sauce
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Fresh green or red chilies
• Onion
• Spring onions
• Oil for frying
• Vinegar
• Sugar or honey

Cooking Instructions:

1. Marinate chicken in soy sauce and a bit of salt.
2. Coat with cornstarch or flour.
3. Fry at 350°F (175°C) until crisp and golden.
4. Drain and set aside.
5. In a pan, sauté garlic, ginger, and chilies.
6. Add soy sauce, vinegar, and a touch of sugar or honey.
7. Toss the chicken in the sauce until coated.
8. Top with onions and spring onions. Serve hot.

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4) Spicy Garlic Chicken – with bold garlic and chili flavors

If you crave big flavors, spicy garlic chicken delivers. Cook the chicken until crispy, then toss it in a punchy sauce loaded with garlic and chili.

It’s quick, satisfying, and works as a snack or a starter. Serve it with rice or noodles if you want to make it a meal.

The fresh garlic and chili give it just the right amount of heat—enough to wake up your taste buds, but not so much you regret it.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2-3 dried red chilies, chopped
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for crispiness)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss chicken with cornstarch and a pinch of salt.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Cook chicken until golden and crispy, 6-8 minutes.
4. Add garlic and chilies, stir for a minute until fragrant.
5. Mix in soy sauce and honey.
6. Coat chicken well and cook for 2 more minutes.
7. Serve warm.

Want to see it step by step? Check out this spicy garlic chicken recipe.

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5) Chicken Tikka – marinated in yogurt and tandoori spices

Chicken tikka is all about that spiced yogurt marinade. The chicken soaks up the flavors and turns out super tender.

Use boneless chicken breast cubes for easy handling. The marinade usually has yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and tandoori spices.

Grill or bake the chicken until it’s cooked and a little charred. Skewers make it feel just a bit fancier.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons tandoori spice mix
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix yogurt, lemon juice, tandoori spices, garlic, ginger, and salt.
2. Add chicken cubes, coat well, and marinate for at least an hour (overnight is even better).
3. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
4. Thread chicken onto skewers, place on a tray.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cooked and slightly charred.
6. Serve with chutney or lemon wedges.

Need more tips? Here’s a solid chicken tikka recipe.

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6) Butter Garlic Chicken – creamy and buttery chicken starter

Butter Garlic Chicken is simple but hits the spot. The creamy garlic sauce coats every piece, making the chicken soft and packed with flavor.

Melt butter, cook the chicken, then add garlic and cream. The sauce comes together fast, and you don’t need anything fancy.

You can serve this as a snack or a light appetizer. The sauce is rich but not too much—it’s kind of addictive, honestly.

Ingredients

• 400g boneless chicken
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1¼ teaspoons pepper
• 2 tablespoons corn flour (optional)
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
2. Heat butter in a pan over medium.
3. Cook chicken until browned.
4. Add garlic, cook for a minute or two.
5. Stir in cream and pepper.
6. Mix corn flour with a little water and add to thicken if you want.
7. Cook 3-4 more minutes until sauce is creamy and chicken is cooked through.
8. Serve warm.

Want to watch someone make it? Here’s a Butter Garlic Chicken recipe video.

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7) Andhra Chicken Majestic – Andhra-style marinated fried chicken

Andhra Chicken Majestic brings that spicy, tangy vibe from Andhra Pradesh. You marinate the chicken in buttermilk and spices, letting it get all tender and flavorful.

After marinating, coat the chicken in cornflour and more spices. Fry it up until the outside is crispy, but the inside stays juicy.

Ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, and a squeeze of lemon really set this one apart. Serve it with onion rings and lemon wedges for extra zing.

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp oil
• Lemon wedges (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Marinate chicken in buttermilk and salt for 4 hours.
2. Add egg, cornflour, ginger-garlic paste, oil, and green chilies. Mix well.
3. Heat oil for frying.
4. Fry chicken on medium heat until golden and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
5. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

Curious? Here’s a Chicken Majestic recipe for more details.

8) Chicken Chilli Dry – Indo-Chinese style spicy dry chicken

Chicken Chilli Dry is that spicy, crispy starter you crave when you want something bold. You get tender fried chicken pieces tossed up in a tangy sauce—garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and chilies all doing their thing.

It’s got a nice balance of heat and flavor but won’t leave your hands a mess. This dish is a favorite in Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Perfect for parties or just a quick snack when you’re hungry and impatient. The chicken stays crispy even after you coat it in the spicy sauce, so every bite hits the spot.

You don’t need anything fancy. Grab some soy sauce, chilies, and you’re halfway there.

Ingredients

• 500g boneless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2-3 green chilies, sliced
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chili sauce
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 2 tsp cornflour
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix chicken with cornflour, salt, and a splash of water to coat.
2. Deep fry the chicken pieces until they’re golden and crispy. Set them aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Toss in ginger-garlic paste and chilies.
4. Add soy sauce, chili sauce, and vinegar. Give it a good stir.
5. Throw the fried chicken into the pan and coat it all in the sauce. Serve it hot.

9) Garlic Chilli Chicken – a perfect mix of garlic and chili

This one’s all about garlic and chili—strong flavors, big aroma. You’ll get a warm, tasty starter that honestly works any time.

It’s quick to make and honestly feels like you ordered it from a restaurant. Slice the garlic thin so it really perfumes the oil.

Fresh chilies or dried, use whatever you’ve got on hand for the heat. Golden onions add a hint of sweetness to keep things balanced.

You stir-fry the chicken on high heat, so it ends up juicy but with those crispy edges. This is perfect when you want something fast—maybe 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients:

• 500g boneless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 6-8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 2-3 fresh red chilies, sliced (adjust to taste)
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp soy sauce (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add garlic slices and let them turn golden.
3. Toss in onions and chilies; cook until the onions soften.
4. Add chicken and stir-fry until it’s cooked through, about 7-10 minutes.
5. Season with salt and soy sauce, then stir again.
6. Serve hot as a starter.

10) Chicken Stir Fry – quick marinated chicken with soy and cornflour

You can whip up a simple chicken stir fry by tossing bite-sized chicken pieces with soy sauce and cornflour. That cornflour really keeps the chicken tender and gives it a satisfying texture.

Let the chicken soak in the marinade for about 15 to 30 minutes. It’s not a long wait, but it makes a difference.

After marinating, throw the chicken into a hot pan and cook it fast over high heat. I like to add bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas for crunch and color.

Stir-frying keeps everything crisp and the flavors bright. You get a meal that feels fresh, not soggy or overcooked.

Honestly, you can have this dish on the table in no time. Perfect for those evenings when you just want something tasty without a fuss.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into small pieces
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas)
• 1 tbsp oil (vegetable or sesame)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix soy sauce and cornflour in a bowl.
2. Add chicken, toss to coat, and let it marinate for 15-30 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat (around 375°F/190°C).
4. Cook chicken until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Add vegetables and stir-fry until they’re crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes.
6. Serve hot with rice or noodles.

If you want a few more ideas or tips, check out this Chicken Stir Fry Recipe.