Did you forget to defrost the chicken for dinner tonight? I got you! This Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer is going to be your new best friend – it’s simple, flavorful, and oh-so-juicy! Perfect for last-minute main dishes, salads and wraps, meal prep, and more.
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Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast Recipe
- 🥂Make it A Rosy Moment
- Important Ingredients
- Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Full Recipe Below
- Step by Step Instructions
- Top Tip
- How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Tips for the Perfect Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
- Storage Directions
- 💡 Recipe FAQ
- Related Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 📖 Recipe
When it comes to quick, tasty, and healthy meals, the air fryer always comes through, and this frozen chicken in the air fryer is no exception! After a simple but delicious seasoning blend, the air fryer cooks the frozen chicken breasts in less than 30 minutes; no need to remove the chicken from the freezer to thaw it ahead of time!
Make this succulent air fryer frozen chicken breast a complete meal by serving it with BBQ smashed red potatoes, roasted vegetables, or any of your favorite side dishes. It’s also perfect on green salads, such as Panera Green Goddess Cobb Salad, Chopped BLT Salad, or Mango Avocado Salad!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast Recipe
Here are just a few of the many reasons you’ll love this super juicy chicken recipe!
- Incredibly juicy and tender. The olive oil and seasoning blend forms a coating around the frozen chicken, locking in the moisture and juices, resulting in chef’s kiss-worthy chicken!
- Ready in a snap. With only 5 minutes of active cooking time, the air fryer does the rest of the work for you, making this air fryer chicken recipe perfect for busy nights or last-minute dinners.
- Healthy and flavorful. Seasoned with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper, these common pantry staples add savory dimension while keeping the chicken low-carb, keto, gluten-free, and paleo.
🥂Make it A Rosy Moment
Cooking frozen chicken in the air fryer is the ultimate lifesaver, but let’s turn this simple hack into something special. Here are three ways to make it a rosy moment:
- Weeknight Chicken Parm – Top the flavorful chicken with marinara and mozzarella, then pop it back in the air fryer for a melty finish. Serve with homemade dutch oven bread and a side of whipped feta & hot honey. for an easy Italian-inspired dinner at home.
- Bistro-Style Brunch – Slice the chicken and serve it over a bed of arugula with shaved Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Or layer it inside my Panera Frontega Chicken Panini for an extra special sandwich!
- Poolside Lunch – Take the air fried chicken and chop it up, add it to a chicken salad, and serve alongside my Sweet Tea Lemonade Cocktail for the perfect poolside lunch experience!
Important Ingredients
Get a delicious protein on the table in no time with these common and easy-to-find ingredients.
- Frozen Chicken Breasts - Choose boneless skinless chicken breast for this air fryer recipe. If needed, you can also make it with boneless skinless chicken thighs, following the directions below.
- Paprika - For mildly seasoned chicken, use sweet paprika. For smoky or spicy notes, use smoked or hot paprika.
- Salt and Black Pepper - This classic seasoning duo enhances the chicken’s flavor while locking in its moisture.
- Olive Oil - Not only does this keep the chicken from sticking to the air fryer basket, but it also seals in the chicken juices. Use a good-quality olive oil if possible; if needed, you can substitute avocado oil.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Add your own twist to the seasoning blend by making any of the following spice mixtures:
- Italian seasoning. Add 1 teaspoon of the seasoning for a herbaceous note, perfect for topping pasta and adding to paninis!
- Garlic Powder. Make it more savory by adding 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Lemon Pepper. Prefer a light and bright citrus flavor? Swap 1 tablespoon of your favorite lemon pepper seasoning for the salt, pepper, and paprika.
Full Recipe Below
Find the full list of ingredients & measurements below!
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, and paprika. Remove the chicken from the freezer. Brush both sides of it with olive oil and sprinkle with the spice mixture.
- Step 2: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the chicken breasts to the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the internal temperature reads 165°F with a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken, let it rest for 5 minutes, and then slice and serve!
Top Tip
Juicy and succulent chicken comes down to two things: seasoning well with salt (it’s a crucial flavoring agent) and cooking it until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Overcooking it results in dry or tough chicken; undercooking it is not safe.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
The specific cooking time for your chicken will depend on its size and thickness. The breasts I used for this recipe were 1 inch thick (roughly 4-5 ounces), but larger or thicker pieces will need more cooking time:
- 4-6 Ounces (1 Inch Thick): 20 minutes
- 6-8 Ounces (1 ½ Inches Thick): 25 minutes
- 8-10 Ounces (2 Inches Thick): 30 minutes
Always check the chicken for doneness with an instant-read thermometer. Start checking each chicken breast in the thickest part of the breast during the final 5 minutes of cooking time and adjust the cooking time as needed. Once it has reached 165°F, it is safe for consumption.
Tips for the Perfect Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
Anyone can make tender and flavorful juicy chicken breasts from frozen; just follow these few simple tips!
- Preheat the air fryer with the basket installed. A hot appliance and basket allow the chicken to begin cooking as soon as it hits the basket. Just as you need to preheat the oven, you need to preheat the air fryer.
- Season liberally. The salt and spices not only enhance the chicken’s flavor, but the salt helps lock in moisture. Do not reduce it unless following a low-sodium diet.
- Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time. This allows the chicken to cook and brown evenly.
- Let the chicken rest. Once the chicken is done, transfer it to a plate or cutting board to rest for 5 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute in the chicken, making it ultra juicy. To keep the chicken hot while it rests, tent it loosely with aluminum foil or cover it with a large upside-down bowl.
- If needed, cook in batches. Get ahead on meal prep by making a double (or triple!) recipe. Just be sure to cook in multiple batches if your air fryer basket cannot accommodate all the chicken without overlapping.
Storage Directions
Once cooled to room temperature, leftovers can be kept covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight or on low heat in the microwave.
Reheat the leftover chicken breast in a 350°F air fryer for 3-5 minutes or in short bursts in the microwave.
💡 Recipe FAQ
Yes! It is perfectly safe to do following the storage directions listed above.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken tenders or chicken thighs following this method. Start checking the chicken tenders for doneness at around 10 minutes and the chicken thighs at around 15 minutes, adding extra time as needed.
You can also make frozen chicken wings in the air fryer. Check out my Air Fryer Chicken Wings post for the complete directions.
Yes. To defrost (instead of cook) frozen chicken in the air fryer, place it in an air fryer basket sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and air fry at 300° degrees for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts, until thawed.
If you tried this Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
📖 Recipe
Frozen Chicken In Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts 3 chicken thighs I use breasts that are about 1 inch thick.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees while you prep the chicken.
- Remove the chicken from the freezer and set on a plate.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and flip over, coat the other side with olive oil.
- Season each side of the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Place the chicken breasts (2-3 at a time) in the air fryer basket.
- At 400 degrees for 20 minutes, cook the chicken. Flip them over halfway into the cook time.
- Around the 18 minute mark, check the internal temperature of the chicken. You want it to be 165 degrees before it's fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken and let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
- Slice and serve!
Notes
- Refrigerator: Once cooled to room temperature, leftover chicken can be kept covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: You can also freeze the chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight or on low heat in the microwave.
- Reheating: Reheat the leftover chicken breast in a 350°F air fryer for 3-5 minutes or in short bursts in the microwave.
- Preheat the air fryer with the basket installed. A hot appliance and basket allow the chicken to begin cooking as soon as it hits the basket. Just as you need to preheat the oven, you need to preheat the air fryer.
- Season liberally. The salt and spices not only enhance the chicken’s flavor, but the salt helps lock in moisture. Do not reduce it unless following a low-sodium diet.
- Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time. This allows the chicken to cook and brown evenly.
- Let the chicken rest. Once the chicken is done, transfer it to a plate or cutting board to rest for 5 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute in the chicken, making it ultra juicy. To keep the chicken hot while it rests, tent it loosely with aluminum foil or cover it with a large upside-down bowl.
- If needed, cook in batches. Get ahead on meal prep by making a double (or triple!) recipe. Just be sure to cook in multiple batches if your air fryer basket cannot accommodate all the chicken without overlapping.
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