How to cook chicken from frozen. I don’t know about you, but I always forget to take my chicken out to thaw before I cook it. Since you are reading this, I think you may have the same problem.
But it’s ok, I have been cooking my frozen chicken breasts using this trick for years and honestly never looked back. Now I never sweat if I forgot to leave them to thaw, actually I don’t think I ever do anymore now that I have this little recipe up my sleeve.
Follow along to learn a really simple and quick way to cook frozen chicken that is juicy, tender, and full of great flavor. My kids call this “The Yummy Chicken” recipe. And that pretty much is all that needs to be said. Let’s dig in.
Deep frying frozen chicken breasts can be a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious, crispy meal. However, knowing exactly how long to deep fry frozen chicken breasts is key to achieving the ideal texture – tender and juicy on the inside with a crispy, golden brown exterior.
As an avid home cook and food blogger, I’ve deep fried my fair share of frozen chicken breasts. Through trial and error, I’ve learned the right techniques and timing needed to nail perfectly cooked fried chicken every time.
In this article, I’ll share everything I know about deep frying frozen chicken breasts including
- Benefits of deep frying frozen chicken breasts
- Step-by-step process
- Oil temperature and fried chicken safety
- How long to fry bone-in vs boneless breasts
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Delicious seasoning and coating ideas
After reading, you’ll be able to deep fry frozen chicken breasts like a pro! Let’s get fried.
Why Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Breasts?
One of the fastest and easiest ways to cook frozen chicken breasts is to deep fry them. It keeps the moisture in and gives the meat a tasty crispiness. Here are some of the benefits:
-
Fast cooking time – Frozen chicken breasts deep fry in just 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness Much faster than oven baking
-
Tender and juicy – The hot oil quickly sears the outside of the chicken, sealing in the juices.
-
Ideal texture – Deep frying makes the exterior incredibly crispy and crunchy.
-
Brings out the flavor—The hot oil lets you add tasty flavors to the chicken skin.
-
Convenience – You can cook frozen chicken breasts straight from the freezer, no thawing required.
Because of these reasons, deep-frying makes a simple dinner during the week that requires little work and clean-up. Now let’s get into the step-by-step process.
How to Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Breasts – Step by Step
Here is a simple 6 step process for perfectly deep fried frozen chicken breasts:
1. Prepare the Chicken
-
For boneless breasts, pat dry with paper towels and pound them to an even 1/2 inch thickness. This ensures even cooking.
-
For bone-in breasts, simply pat dry – no pounding required.
-
Season all over with salt, pepper, spices, herbs, etc. Seasoning before cooking really boosts the flavor.
2. Set Up the Fryer
-
Use a deep fryer, dutch oven, or heavy pot filled with 2-3 inches frying oil.
-
I prefer peanut, vegetable, or canola oil for frying chicken. Olive oil can burn at high heat.
-
Clip a deep fry thermometer to the side of the pot to monitor oil temperature.
3. Heat the Oil
-
For frozen chicken breasts, heat oil to 350°F to 375°F. This allows the exterior to cook quickly without burning.
-
Let the oil fully preheat before adding chicken. Test with a pinch of coating or breadcrumbs. It should sizzle immediately.
4. Coat the Chicken (Optional)
-
For crispy, flavorful skin, coat with:
-
Flour – For simple, light crispness. Season the flour.
-
Cornstarch – Crisps up nicely without heavy breading.
-
Breadcrumbs – Yields a thick, crunchy coating. Panko are best.
-
Batter – For an extra crispy and flaky coating. Use your favorite fried chicken batter recipe.
5. Fry the Chicken
-
Use tongs to gently lower chicken pieces into hot oil, skin side down first.
-
Fry boneless breasts for 6-8 minutes per side. Bone-in for 8-10 minutes per side.
-
Fry in batches without overcrowding. Overcrowding drops oil temp.
-
Flip halfway through. Chicken should be deep golden brown when done.
6. Check for Doneness
-
Breasts are done when golden brown and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part reaches 165°F.
-
Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Temperature will rise another 5°F as it rests.
And that’s it! With these simple steps you’ll achieve perfectly fried frozen chicken breasts every time.
Now let’s talk about deep frying safety and timing.
Deep Fried Chicken Safety Tips
When working with large amounts of hot oil, safety should always be the top priority:
-
Use a pot with high sides to minimize splatter.
-
Keep flammables away from the heat source. Never leave oil unattended.
-
Allow oil to fully preheat before adding food. Temperature drops when adding cold items.
-
Slowly lower food into oil to prevent splashing.
-
Use a cooking thermometer to monitor oil temp. Overheated oil can ignite.
-
Cook to proper internal temperature (165°F) to eliminate bacteria.
-
Allow oil to cool completely before disposal. Hot oil can cause severe burns.
Following these tips will keep you safe while deep frying at home!
Fried Chicken Cooking Times
The thickness of the chicken breast and whether it has bones will determine the frying time needed.
For boneless, skinless chicken breasts:
-
1/2 inch thick – 6-8 minutes per side
-
3/4 inch thick – 8-10 minutes per side
-
1 inch thick – 10-12 minutes per side
For bone-in chicken breasts:
-
Smaller breasts – 8-10 minutes per side
-
Larger breasts – 10-12 minutes per side
Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature when frying time is up. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches 165°F. If undercooked, fry for 2-3 additional minutes.
For evenly cooked chicken, fry in small batches and do not overcrowd the pot. Overcrowding causes the temperature to drop drastically.
Now let’s look at ways to add flavor with spices, herbs, and coatings.
Seasoning and Coating Ideas
One benefit of deep frying is infusing flavor right into the chicken. Here are some of my favorite ways to season and coat before frying:
-
Plain flour – Season with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme, etc.
-
Cornstarch – Toss chicken in cornstarch seasoned with garlic powder, cayenne, sazon, etc.
-
Panko breadcrumbs – Combine panko with parmesan cheese, italian herbs, cajun seasoning.
-
Spice blends – Use store-bought blends like ranch, lemon pepper, taco seasoning, etc.
-
Sauce dippers – Serve with bbq sauce, honey mustard, blue cheese, etc. for dipping.
-
Herbed buttermilk soak – Soak chicken in buttermilk with garlic, rosemary, dill. Discard buttermilk after soaking.
Get creative with your favorite spices and flavors! The seasoning possibilities are truly endless.
Common Deep Frying Mistakes
While deep frying chicken is relatively simple, there are a few common mistakes that can happen:
-
Not heating oil hot enough before frying. This causes chicken to absorb oil rather than seal and crisp.
-
Overcrowding the pot. Too much chicken at once drops the oil temperature drastically.
-
Not monitoring temperature. Oil temp should stay between 325°F-350°F for ideal frying.
-
Not patting chicken dry before frying. Excess moisture causes heavy splattering.
-
Not giving chicken space after frying. Chicken needs to rest 5 minutes to allow heat to distribute evenly.
Let’s Get Frying!
Be sure to experiment with fun seasoning blends and coatings to customize the flavor. The crispy, juicy fried chicken possibilities are endless! If you have any other tips or tricks for deep frying chicken breasts, please share them in the comments. Enjoy!
The BEST way to Cook Frozen Chicken
Most of the meals I cook during the week require either chicken breasts or ground beef. Another thing I do wrong is forget to thaw my ground beef ahead of time. A pressure cooker makes that easy to do.
I do not like using the pressure cooker for chicken though. It never gives me the golden brown, tender, and flavourful chicken I am craving. This recipe is just as fast though and so so easy. You will have perfectly cooked chicken in no time.
It’s hard to call this a recipe, but it truly is a family favourite now and totally changed my life when it came to the stress of cooking chicken so I had to share.
You can leave chicken breasts or any other type whole or shred them at the end and use them in casseroles, chicken salad, enchiladas, you name it. This is a great way to cook frozen chicken. The only thing it won’t work for is breaded chicken.
Ingredients for the BEST way to cook your frozen chicken
- Frozen chicken breasts (or any cut of your choice)
- 2-3 tbsp of butter for 4-6 chicken breasts
- 3-4 tbsp of olive oil
- 1-2 cartons of chicken stock
- salt if you have low salt chicken stock
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast (No Thawing)
FAQ
Is it safe to deep fry frozen chicken?
Yes, you Can Fry Frozen Food. Just keep in mind to remove any extra ice before cooking. To make sure the dish is cooked through, adjust the cooking time. A frozen fry will cook more quickly, but at a substantial cost in terms of increased oil absorption and decreased fry quality.
How long does it take to deep fry chicken breast at 350 degrees?
Roll them in the spicy flour mixture. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a deep fryer and drop the chicken pieces in, one at a time with tongs careful not to splash hot oil. Fry the chicken for 12 to 15 minutes, until it is golden brown and cooked through.
Can I immediately fry chicken if it is frozen?
Yes, you can cook chicken directly from frozen as well. By avoid thawing, you lock in extra moisture inside the chicken. Before serving the chicken, it’s very important to make sure the inside isn’t less than 165 F. Take a reading with a digital instant read thermometer to determine safe temperature.