How Long to Air Fry Frozen Chicken for Perfectly Cooked Meat

Air frying frozen chicken is a quick and easy way to put a healthy meal on the table any night of the week. With just a few minutes of prep time, you can make juicy, flavorful chicken in your air fryer without having to wait for it to thaw But how long exactly should you cook frozen chicken in the air fryer to make sure it’s fully cooked and safe to eat?

As a busy mom who relies on my air fryer for quick weeknight dinners, I’ve perfected the method for air frying frozen chicken parts from scratch. In this article, I’ll share my tips on cook times so you can air fry frozen chicken breasts, thighs, wings, and more with perfect results every time.

Factors That Affect Cook Time for Frozen Chicken

There are a few key factors that impact how long you need to cook frozen chicken in the air fryer:

• Type and size of the chicken pieces – Chicken breasts generally take longer than chicken thighs or wings since they are thicker. Larger pieces like bone-in breasts or whole legs take longer than smaller boneless cuts.

• How much chicken: It takes longer to cook when there is more chicken in the air fryer basket because the hot air has to work harder to move around all the chicken. Don’t overcrowd.

• Temperature setting – Higher temperatures will cook the chicken faster. I recommend 375-400°F for frozen chicken.

• Type of air fryer – The wattage and size of your particular model will affect cook times. My cook times are based on a medium 5.8 qt air fryer.

• Internal temperature – Chicken should always be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any bacteria and make it safe to eat.

• Frozen or thawed – Obviously frozen chicken takes nearly twice as long to cook through compared to thawed. My times are for air frying directly from frozen.

Let’s talk about the best times to air fry different kinds of frozen chicken so you can quickly look them up.

Frozen Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts are a versatile, lean protein choice perfect for everything from healthy weeknight dinners to easy meal prep lunches. Here is how long you should air fry frozen chicken breasts based on size:

• Small (4-6 oz): 15-18 minutes at 375°F
• Medium (6-8 oz): 18-23 minutes at 375°F
• Large (10-12 oz): 23-28 minutes at 375°F

First, air fry the frozen breasts for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are mostly cooked through and thawed. Then, spray or brush them with oil and season them with any herbs or spices you like. Cook for another 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how thick they are.

I like to use my instant read thermometer to make sure the breasts are done because they are easy to overcook. As soon as they reach 165°F inside, take them out. For always juicy air-fried chicken breasts, let them rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Frozen Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are my favorite cut to air fry because they stay so moist and tender even when cooked from frozen. Follow these guidelines when air frying frozen chicken thighs:

• Boneless thighs: 18-22 minutes at 375°F
• Bone-in thighs: 22-28 minutes at 375°F

As with breasts, partially cook the frozen thighs first before adding any oil or spices. Thighs are more forgiving than breasts when it comes to overcooking, but I still recommend pulling them once they reach an internal temp of 165°F.

Frozen Chicken Wings

Crispy air fried chicken wings make a delicious appetizer or game day snack. Here is how long to cook frozen wings in the air fryer:

• Drumettes: 18-22 minutes at 400°F
• Flats: 15-18 minutes at 400°F
• Whole wings: 20-24 minutes at 400°F

Make sure wings are cooked through and register 165°F internally. The skin will crisp up beautifully in the hot air fryer and get deliciously browned and crispy.

Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters

Chicken leg quarters or whole leg pieces take the longest to cook since they contain both the thigh and drumstick. Follow these air fry times:

• Small: 25-30 minutes at 375°F
• Medium: 30-35 minutes at 375°F
• Large: 35-40 minutes at 375°F

I love using leg quarters for easy weeknight meals because they contain both white and dark meat. Apply seasoning after partially precooking from frozen just like the other chicken parts.

Tips for Air Frying Frozen Chicken

Follow these tips for the juiciest, safest air fried frozen chicken every time:

• Always let chicken rest 5 minutes before cutting to prevent juices from running out.

• Use an instant read thermometer to check internal temperature and prevent overcooking.

• Don’t overcrowd the basket – cook chicken in a single layer with space between pieces.

• Flip or shake halfway through cooking for even browning and thorough thawing.

• Lightly oil and season after partially precooking from frozen to prevent burning.

• Add a few minutes to the cook time if air frying with a breading or heavy sauce coating.

• Adjust cook times as needed based on the wattage and size of your particular air fryer model.

• When in doubt, cook frozen chicken a little longer than the minimum time to ensure it reaches safe internal temperature.

Make Your Best Air Fried Chicken Yet

Now that you know exactly how long to cook different cuts of frozen chicken in the air fryer, you can start whipping up quick and healthy meals any night of the week.

Refer back to these air fry times and temperature guidelines for easy reference. Before you know it, you’ll have the method down and be making insanely juicy, tender air fried chicken like a pro.