This air fryer recipe for cooking frozen chicken breasts has saved me a lot of time and helped me make dinner from frozen many times.
I’m going to tell you everything I know about making sure frozen chicken is fully cooked, such as when and how to season it, how long to cook it, and more.
Cooking frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table fast. But how long should you cook them to ensure they are fully cooked and safe to eat? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about timing for air frying frozen chicken breasts so you can nail the perfect cook time every time.
Overview of Cooking Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
Since it can make crispy fried foods with little to no oil, the air fryer has become very popular in recent years. Because of this, it’s a great choice for cooking frozen foods like chicken breasts. The hot air quickly defrosts the chicken while it cooks all the way through.
Key benefits of using an air fryer for frozen chicken breasts
- Super fast cooking times compared to oven
- No need to defrost beforehand
- Chicken comes out tender and juicy inside with crispy exterior
- Healthier than deep frying; uses less oil
- Easy cleanup
When it comes to timing though, there are a few factors to consider that can impact total cook time. Let’s take a look.
What Impacts Cooking Time for Frozen Chicken Breasts
The cooking time can vary quite a bit depending on a few key factors:
Size of the chicken breasts
- Smaller pieces will cook faster
- Larger, thicker pieces will take longer
Bone-in vs boneless
- Boneless breasts cook quicker
- Bone-in will take more time
State of doneness
- Partially thawed may cook faster
- Completely frozen solid will take longest
In general, it takes longer to cook thicker boneless chicken breasts because the heat has to go all the way to the inside.
Recommended Time Range for Air Frying
Taking those variables into account, here are some general time ranges for air frying frozen chicken breasts:
- Small boneless breasts (4-6 oz): 15-18 minutes
- Medium boneless breasts (6-8 oz): 18-22 minutes
- Large boneless breasts (8-12 oz): 22-28 minutes
- Bone-in breasts: Add 3-5 minutes
For best results, I recommend cooking frozen boneless chicken breasts for 25-30 minutes at 360°F in the air fryer. This allows time for the inside to fully cook through without drying out the exterior.
Always check internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving. Chicken should reach 165°F at minimum for food safety. Once the time is up, if it’s still not done, just put it back in the air fryer for another two to three minutes until it’s done.
Tips for the Best Results with Frozen Chicken
Keep these things in mind to make sure your air-fried frozen chicken breasts are perfectly cooked:
- Let the air fryer fully preheat before adding chicken
- Don’t overcrowd the basket – cook in batches if needed
- Brush or spray chicken with oil before cooking for even browning
- Flip chicken halfway through cooking for even doneness
- Use meat thermometer to confirm doneness before serving
- Allow chicken to rest 5 minutes before slicing for juiciest texture
If you follow the recommended cook times and techniques, you’ll be rewarded with wonderfully juicy, tender chicken breasts in record time using your air fryer. Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier!
Can You Cook Chicken From Frozen in the Air Fryer?
Believe it or not, you can cook frozen chicken without thawing it first. In fact, the air fryer is one of my favorite kitchen helpers for nights when a 30-minute dinner is all I have bandwidth for.
If you’re like me and always frozen chicken breasts are your go-to ingredient for making delicious chicken dinners, then you’re going to love this cooking method which works with plain breasts or frozen marinated chicken breasts. And yes, you can even make frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer!.
The best part is that the air fryer can help you prevent freezer-burned chicken by using up your uncooked stash! And now that you know it’s possible, let’s get to it.
The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes a simple way to season frozen chicken breasts when cooking them in the air fryer. Here are a few notes regarding the breasts and seasonings:
- When you buy frozen chicken breasts, they are usually about the same size in the package as when you freeze them yourself. You can cook both in an air fryer, but the times will depend on how thick the pieces are.
- To season, a simple mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder works well. You can use olive oil that has been mixed with your favorite spices. More on when to season them below.
How Long To Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
Frozen chicken breasts can take anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 400F. When I’m in a hurry, I cook frozen butterflied chicken breasts instead, which are only half as thick.
These cooking times are rough estimates for how long frozen chicken breasts need to cook all the way through when measured at their thickest point. For more information on frozen breast thickness, read on.
| Frozen Chicken Breast Thickness | Air Fryer Time |
|---|---|
| Thin – ½ inch | 10 to 12 minutes |
| Medium – 1 inch | 15 to 18 minutes |
| Thick – 1 ½ inches | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Thick – 2 inches | 30 to 35 minutes |
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
FAQ
How long do I cook a frozen chicken breast in the air fryer?
Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on both sides. Put the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook at 360 degrees F until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165 degrees F, 18 to 20 minutes.
How long should I cook a frozen chicken breast for?
You should cook chicken from the freezer for half as long as you would cook chicken that hasn’t been frozen. The average unfrozen chicken breast weighing 5-7 ounces usually takes 20-30 minutes at 350°F. So for a frozen chicken breast, you’re looking at 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breast.
How long to cook chicken breast in an air fryer at 400 degrees?
For 8 minutes, air fry the chicken at 400° F. Then, flip the chicken over and cook for another 5 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. Jun 24, 2024.
How long to cook chicken breast in air fryer not frozen?
For fresh chicken, I use these air fryer guidelines:1-inch thick: 15 minutes at 375ºF. 1 1/2-inches thick: 22 minutes at 375ºF. 2 inches thick: 30 minutes at 375ºF.
How long do you cook frozen chicken in an air fryer?
The cooking time for frozen chicken breast in an air fryer varies depending on the thickness of the chicken. As a general guide, you can follow these cooking time guidelines: 1. For a chicken breast that is 1/2 inch (1. 3 cm) thick, cook for approximately 10-12 minutes. 2.
Can You air Fry frozen chicken breast?
This easy method for Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast turns a frozen chicken breast into a tender and juicy part of lunch or dinner in just 30 minutes or less. Great for any air fryer or Ninja Foodi! Preheat the air fryer. Turn the air fryer to a temperature of 375F and preheat for 3-5 minutes. You do not need to grease the basket.
How long to cook chicken breast in air fryer?
Sprinkle this seasoning mix over the chicken breasts, ensuring they’re evenly coated. Transfer the seasoned chicken breasts to the preheated air fryer and cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time will vary from 12 to 28 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
How to air Fry frozen chicken?
Turn the air fryer to a temperature of 375F and preheat for 3-5 minutes. You do not need to grease the basket. Season the chicken breast. Spray a little of your favorite cooking oil on the chicken, and then sprinkle it with a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, or your other favorite seasoning. Air fry frozen chicken.
Can You thaw cooked chicken breast in an air fryer?
If you grilled or pan-seared chicken breasts and froze them, already cooked, for future meals, you can use the air fryer to thaw and reheat them. Technically they’re already cooked. To make a meal with frozen and cooked chicken breasts, first, preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes.
How do you cook chicken in an air fryer?
Turn the air fryer to a temperature of 375F and preheat for 3-5 minutes. You do not need to grease the basket. Season the chicken breast. Spray the chicken with a light coating of your favorite cooking oil, then season lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika or your favorite seasoning. Mine is my homemade ranch seasoning!