Learning how long to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer is a real time saver. The result is tender, juicy, and full of flavor that your whole family will enjoy. This simple 6-step method is so easy, and you can customize with your favorite seasonings.
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance in recent years, and for good reason. They allow you to cook delicious, crispy meals with less oil and in a fraction of the time it takes to cook using traditional methods. One food that can be cooked to perfection in an air fryer is frozen chicken.
We even have a chart on how long it takes to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer for perfect results every time. Keep reding as it is below.
Why Cook Frozen Chicken in an Air Fryer?
Before we dive into how to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer, let’s take a moment to talk about why you might want to do so. There are several benefits to cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer:
Saves Time: Cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer is much faster than using a conventional oven. This is because the air fryer circulates hot air around the food, cooking it quickly and evenly.
Healthier: Air fryers use less oil than traditional deep frying methods, making them a healthier option. Additionally, by cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer, you don’t need to add any oil to the chicken, which further reduces the calorie count.
Tasty and Crispy: Cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer results in a crispy and delicious exterior, similar to what you’d get with deep frying. However, the inside remains juicy and tender.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in an Air Fryer?
Whether you’re a seasoned pro in the kitchen or a beginner cook, these tips and tricks will help you achieve juicy and flavorful chicken every time.
Now that we know why cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer is a great idea, let’s get into the specifics of how long it takes to cook it. The exact cooking time will depend on a few factors, including the thickness and cut of the chicken, as well as the brand and model of the air fryer.
However, as a general guideline, frozen chicken should be cooked in an air fryer at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. With the internal temperature of the chicken reaching 165°F.
Ready to make the melt-in-your-mouth tender chicken? Let’s do it!
Here’s a step-by-step guide to cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer:
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer and Prep the Meat
Before cooking the frozen chicken, preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3-5 minutes.
Pound chicken to ½ inch thickness or cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise to make thinner. To pound the meat, use a meat mallet, soup can, or rolling pin. Pounding the chicken also helps tenderize the meat.
If you are cooking bone-in chicken, skip this step.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
While the air fryer is preheating, rub the meat with a thin layer of olive oil. Season the frozen chicken with your preferred seasoning. You can use a simple combination of salt, pepper, and paprika or get creative with a spice blend. We have a few ideas for you in the recipe below.
Step 3: Place the Chicken in the Air Fryer Basket
Once the air fryer has preheated, place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer basket. Make sure to have a single layer and leave some space between each piece so that the hot air can circulate freely.
Step 4: Cook the Chicken
Cook the frozen chicken in the air fryer at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes for a medium size breast that is ½-inch thick. (See the chart for cooking times for other sizes and thicknesses of meat). Halfway through cooking, flip the chicken over to ensure even cooking on both sides.
Step 5: Check the Internal Temperature
The best way to ensure that the chicken is cooked to the appropriate temperature is by using a digital meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.
Step 6: Rest the Chicken
Once the chicken has finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures that the chicken remains juicy and tender.
Serve with a side of Garlic Butter Sauce
Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken in an Air Fryer
It’s important to cook the chicken long enough to be done, but not too long or you will end up with a flavorless disaster. Undercooked chicken is not safe to eat. Whereas overcooked chicken can end up dry, rubbery, and tough.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer:
Do Not Defrost: Unlike other cooking methods, it is not necessary to defrost the frozen chicken before cooking it in an air fryer. In fact, defrosting the chicken can result in a less crispy exterior.
Use thin cuts of chicken: Thin cuts of chicken take less time to cook than thick cuts. Consider slicing thicker cuts of chicken in half to reduce the cooking time. Pro Tip. If you cook your chicken from frozen, you will want to do some prep work before you freeze your meat by slicing and then freezing.
Similar-size meat pieces: Use similar-sized meat pieces so that they are ready at the same time. If some are too small, they will overcook if left in the air fryer for the same time as the larger pieces. When chicken is overcooked, it gets dried out and tough. Alternatively, you can just remember to remove the smaller pieces sooner.
Season the chicken: Seasoning your chicken is the most important aspect to a flavorful piece of chicken. It’s important to rub the outside of your frozen chicken breasts or cuts with your favorite seasonings.
Flip the chicken halfway through cooking: Flipping the chicken halfway through can really help make the chicken cook evenly on both sides and all around.
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature: It is important to always check the temperature of your meat to be sure it is safe at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it also important not to overcook the chicken as it gets dried out and tough.
In conclusion, cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer can be a quick and convenient way to prepare a delicious meal.
However, it’s essential to ensure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly to avoid any potential health risks.
Following the recommended cooking times and temperatures and using a meat thermometer to verify the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F can help ensure that the chicken is safe to eat.
How to Season Baked Chicken Breasts
Experimenting with different seasonings and marinades can also add flavor and variety to your meals. With a little practice and patience, cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer can be a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
Simple Seasoning. To season baked chicken breasts or other Chicken Meat, you can start by rubbing them with olive oil or melted butter. Then, sprinkle a mixture of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika over both sides of the chicken.
Italian Seasoning adds lots of great flavor to this dish.
Cajun seasoning is a delicious combination of spices. Mix in a small bowl, 1 teaspoon of each: paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon cayenne. Rub the chicken with olive oil and rub it with the Cajun spice mix.
Brown Sugar and Herb Chicken Seasoning Rub. Mix brown sugar, dried oregano or thyme, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the chicken pieces with olive oil, then generously rub on the seasoning mix. (recipe below)
How Long to Cook Chicken in an Air Fryer at 375 Degrees Fahrenheit Chart
The amount of time it takes to cook chicken in an air fryer will vary based on the size of your chicken breasts or other chicken meat pieces, both bone-in and deboned.
- Small Breasts or other Chicken Meat (5 to 7 ounces): 8 to 10 minutes
- Medium Breasts or other Chicken Meat (8 to 10 ounces): 11 to 15 minutes
- Large Breasts or other Chicken Meat (11 ounces or more): 16 to 25 minutes
Chicken Cooking Times in an Air Fryer by Thickness
- ½ inch thick = 8 to 10 minutes
- 1 inch thick = 11 to15 minutes
- 1 ½ inches = 20 to 22 minutes
- 2 inches = 28 to 30 minutes
You do need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
When stored in an airtight container, cooked chicken will last in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Raw chicken that is thawed and refrigerated will only last 2 days.
However, both cooked chicken and raw chicken will last up to 4 months in the freezer. When stored in a heavy duty freezer safe plastic bag or airtight container. Make sure to label container with ingredients and the date.
What to Serve with Chicken?
Some great options to serve with chicken are roasted vegetables, Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans, Asparagus in Air Fryer Recipe, rice or quinoa, a green salad, pasta, potato salad, or baked sweet potatoes.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 4 6 ounce Chicken Breasts sliced or pounded to 1/2 – inch thick, or other chicken pieces
- 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
Chicken Seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano Thyme or other herb choice
- 1/2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- The cooking times for this recipe are assuming a medium 6 ounce chicken breast is used. If using a larger or smaller breast, refer to the cooking time chart. This recipe also works for other chicken meat pieces, boneless and bone-in.
- Pound chicken to ½ inch thickness or cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise to make thinner. To pound the meat, use a meat mallet, soup can, or rolling pin. Pounding the chicken also helps tenderize the meat.
- If you are cooking bone-in chicken, skip this step.
- In a small bowl mix the Chicken Seasoning ingredients, paprika, dried oregano, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Lightly brush with olive oil and rub the chicken seasoning on each side. Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer basket. Make sure to have a single layer and leave some space between each piece so that the hot air can circulate freely.
- Cook the frozen chicken in the air fryer at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes for a medium size breast that is ½-inch thick. (See the chart for cooking times for other sizes and thicknesses of meat). Halfway through cooking, flip the chicken over to ensure even cooking on both sides.The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
How to Season Baked Chicken Breasts
Simple Seasoning.
To season baked chicken breasts, you can start by rubbing them with olive oil or melted butter. Then, sprinkle a mixture of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika over both sides of the chicken.Italian Seasoning.
Adds lots of great flavor to this dish.Cajun seasoning.
Is a delicious combination of spices. Mix in a small bowl, 1 teaspoon of each: paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon cayenne. Rub the chicken with olive oil and rub it with theCajun spice mix.
Brown Sugar and Herb Chicken Seasoning Rub. Mix brown sugar, dried oregano or thyme, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the chicken pieces with olive oil, then generously rub on the seasoning mix.How Long to Cook Chicken in an Air Fryer at 375 Degrees Fahrenheit Chart
The amount of time it takes to cook chicken in an air fryer will vary based on the size of your chicken breasts and the thickness.• Small Breasts or other Chicken Meat (5 to 7 ounces): 8 to 10 minutes
• Medium Breasts or other Chicken Meat (8 to 10 ounces): 11 to 15 minutes
• Large Breasts or other Chicken Meat (11 ounces or more): 16 to 25 minutes
Chicken Cooking Times in an Air Fryer by Thickness
½ inch thick = 8 to 10 minutes
1 inch thick = 11 to15 minutes
1 ½ inches = 20 to 22 minutes
2 inches = 28 to 30 minutes
You do need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
