How To Cook Chicken From Frozen in the Air Fryer

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer?

If you’ve been to Fabulessly Frugal before, either here or on YouTube, then you have learned how to make a perfectly juicy chicken breast in the air fryer. In my opinion, air fryer chicken is the best. But did you know you can also cook frozen chicken in the air fryer? It may take a little longer than a thawed chicken breast, but the results are just as amazing!

Plus, while the air fryer is doing the leg work of making the frozen chicken, you can whip up your favorite side dishes to make an easy dinner for the family.

Make this recipe with me in this YouTube video! 

Ingredients and Supplies needed to make Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer:

Ingredients:

• Frozen chicken tenders
• Oil – avocado oil or olive oil
• Favorite seasoning

Supplies:

There are two things you need to make the best chicken from frozen in the air fryer. 

1. Instant Read Thermometer

You cannot make chicken, or any meat, without using an instant read thermometer. Because all air fryer makes and models are different, your cooking time and temperature may be different than what I suggest in this post. My favorite air fryer is a Cosori 5.8 qt. As such, I base all my recipes off this model.

That being said, you need an instant read thermometer to know when your chicken will be done. Overcooked or undercooked chicken is just no fun!

And, you can get this FREE download of the internal temperatures of all meats, seafoods, and baked goods. Download yours today and hang it up on the fridge for perfect air fryer cooking!

2. Frozen Chicken Tenders

While you can adapt this recipe for any type of chicken, I love using chicken tenders because they cook so much quicker from frozen in the air fryer. If you are using a chicken breast, you will need to watch your chicken closely and most likely increase the cooking time. Use your instant read thermometer for best results!

Type of seasoning to use:

• BBQ seasoning
• Lemon pepper
• Cajun seasoning
• Italian seasoning
• Or a homemade seasoning blend with your favorite seasonings like onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and more.

Type of chicken to use:

While I love using the chicken tenders (mostly because they will air fry faster), you can also use whatever chicken you have in the freezer like frozen chicken breast, frozen chicken wings, chicken thighs or your favorite cut of chicken.

How to temp the chicken:

Make sure to temp the thickest part of the chicken to make to that you will not have any part of the chicken still raw and unsafe to eat. You will need the chicken to be between 160-165°F or 71-74°C to be safe to eat.

How to make Chicken From Frozen in the Air Fryer:

Step 1: Prep chicken

First, you will need to rinse any ice off of the chicken tenders. Next, lightly spray the chicken with avocado oil. Then, season them to your taste. Check down below for a tasty homemade BBQ seasoning or any other variations of seasonings. 

Step 2: Air fry chicken

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. The amount of chicken you are able to cook depends on the size of your air fryer. I’ve been able to do 5-8 chicken strips. Be sure to space the chicken evenly in the basket, making sure they don’t overlap.

Close the air fryer basket and cook the chicken at 360°F or 180°C for 15 minutes. You do not need to preheat the air fryer! After 15 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads between 160-165°F or 71-74°C. Tent the chicken for 5-10 minutes to let it finish cooking. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches the temperature of 165°F or 74°C.

Homemade BBQ Chicken Seasoning

I love this seasoning mix because it is easy to throw together with my household spices. I usually make this big batch and store the leftovers for a future BBQ chicken recipe.

Homemade BBQ Seasoning:

• ¼ cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Mix together the ingredients and store in an air tight container. Apply the seasonings liberally to your chicken!

More chicken recipes:

If you love using the air fryer to make chicken as much as I do, check out these other air fryer chicken recipes!

• Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Dinner Recipe
• The Easiest 5 Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken Dinner
• How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
• Easy and Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Final Thoughts

Making quick, delicious, and simple dinners is one of my favorite ways to use my air fryer. This frozen chicken in the air fryer recipe is just another great example of how cooking has become easier thanks to the air fryer! What quick and easy dinner recipes do you like to make in the air fryer?

My favorite air fryer recipes!

• Air Fryer Mini Cheesecakes
• Quick & Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
• Air Fryer Raspberry French Toast Cups with Raspberry Lemon Syrup
• How to Make Air Fryer Bread

Air fryer tips and tricks

• Air Fryer 101
• Learn these common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer
• FREE Download → Air Fryer Tips & Temps
• Air Fryer Buying Guide
• Watch Fabulessly Frugal YouTube Channel for Air Fryer Recipes

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer

Cooking with the air fryer just got a whole lot better thanks to this simple hack of how to cook chicken from frozen in the air fryer!

4.67 / 5 ( 6 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 26 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Serves: 5

Adjust Servings: 5

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 5-8 Frozen, skinless raw chicken tenderloin
• Avocado oil
• Seasoning to taste. See BBQ chicken seasoning recipe suggestion.

Homemade BBQ Chicken Seasoning

• ¼ cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayeene pepper
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

Chicken From Frozen

• Wash with water any ice off of the chicken and pat dry.
• Lightly spray the chicken with avocado oil. Then season them to your taste.
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket (the amount of chicken you are able to cook depends on the size of your air fryer. Place them evenly spaced in the basket, making sure they don’t overlap).
• Cook at 360 °F for 15 minutes, no need to preheat. After 15 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 160-165°F/71.1-73.8°C.
• Tent the chicken for 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches safe temperature of 165 °F.

Homemade BBQ Chicken Seasoning

• Combine ingredients together and mix well.
• Store any leftover mix in an air tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1186mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g

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