Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Learn my favorite way to transform a frozen chicken breast into a tender, juicy meal in just 30 minutes or less using this simple air fryer method! Perfect for any air fryer or Ninja Foodi, this technique is great for making a quick and healthy protein for lunch, dinner, or meal prep!
Learning that you can cook meat directly from frozen in the air fryer truly made my healthy family meal prep SO MUCH EASIER!
These days I use the air fryer to cook frozen scallops, meatballs, pork chops, chicken legs, hot dogs, hamburgers . . . you name it! If it’s frozen, it has graced the presence of my trusty Ninja Foodi.
Not only does it eliminate the need to plan ahead and thaw or defrost your chicken, but it also locks in moisture while browning the outside slightly. Using your favorite seasoning and cooking in one go makes dinner time swift and simple!
This was sooooo good! I used bbq instead of the seasoning recommendation but it came out so juicey and perfect! I went right from the freezer to the air fryer but mine took closer to 50 min to cook! My breasts were large and stuck together at first so I think that’s why? Either way! Thank you! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Esther Purcey
🥣What You’ll Need
- Frozen Chicken Breast – There 2 different types of frozen chicken you can use. One is the bagged chicken that comes already frozen. These are in the frozen section with popular brands such as Great Value, Perdue, and Tyson. You can also use fresh chicken breast that you’ve frozen yourself.
- Oil & Seasonings – This is an optional step, but seasoning the chicken while it’s frozen helps create a tender inside and great flavor. I used avocado oil along with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to season the frozen chicken breast.
📖How Cook Frozen Chicken Breast In Air Fryer
1️⃣ 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.
2️⃣ 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!
3️⃣ Air fry frozen chicken. Add seasoned frozen chicken to the air fryer and set a timer for 30 minutes. You may not need to use all of this cooking time. Depending on the size, check at the 12-15 minute mark and decide if it needs a bit longer. Chicken is cooked fully when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
4️⃣ Serve. Once chicken is cooked through, remove from the air fryer with tongs and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
⏲Best Time & Temperature For Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
How long do you cook frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer? Generally you can expect 12-15 minutes per inch of thickness at a temperature of 350F. You do not need to flip the chicken breast halfway through cooking time unless you’d like to.
| Type of Chicken | Cooking Time | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen Precooked Chicken | 12-15 minutes | 375°F |
| Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast | 12-18 minutes | 375°F |
| Frozen Chicken Tenderloins | 9-10 minutes | 400°F |
| 1 inch thick Raw Chicken Breast | 15-20 minutes | 375°F |
| 2 inch thick Raw Chicken Breast | 25-30 minutes | 375°F |
🛍Frozen bagged raw chicken: Pre-frozen chicken breast from the store usually takes less time than a fresh chicken breast that has been frozen. This is because they are usually a bit thinner and smaller than fresh. Either way, use the size guide for recommended time and temperature.
👩🏻🍳Expert Tips For Cooking Frozen Chicken Breast
- Use an air fryer parchment paper liner. This will save so much time with cleanup and helps keep the chicken breast from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Spritz with oil for browning. Spraying or brushing a thin layer of olive oil or avocado oil on the top will help get a golden brown outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy. The best oil for the air fryer is avocado oil!
- Season halfway through. For even more flavor, sprinkle some seasoning on halfway through cooking time after the outer icy layer defrosts to add even more flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Since every air fryer is different and every chicken breast has a different thickness, its possible to undercook your chicken. Use a simple kitchen thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest. After its cooked through, remove it with tongs and let it rest for 3-5 minutes to make sure the juices have time to evenly redistribute throughout the chicken.
♻Storing & Reheating
Storing: Air fried chicken breast will stay fresh in an airtight container for 3-4 for days in the fridge.
Reheating: You can reheat air fried chicken breast by placing them back in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 350 F until heated through and crispy.
❔FAQ
You don’t need to, but flipping it will brown it evenly on both sides and possibly help it cook faster.
You can cook various cuts like thighs, wings, or drumsticks. Just adjust the cooking time and temperature according to the thickness and type of the chicken.
Yes, but make sure they are arranged in a single layer with space between them for proper air circulation. If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
It’s best to add sauce in the last few minutes of cooking to prevent it from burning. This will give you a flavorful glaze without charring it.
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Breast frozen
Seasoning
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 pinch Paprika
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Air fry frozen chicken. Add seasoned frozen chicken to the air fryer and set a timer for 30 minutes. You may not need to use all of this cooking time. Depending on the size, check at the 12-15 minute mark and decide if it needs a bit longer. You can flip with tongs halfway if you'd like. Chicken is cooked fully when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Serve. Once chicken is cooked through, remove from the air fryer with tongs and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
⏲Best Time & Temperature For Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
How long do you cook frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer? Generally you can expect 12-15 minutes per inch of thickness at a temperature of 350F. You do not need to flip the chicken breast halfway through cooking time unless you’d like to.- Frozen Precooked Chicken – 15-20 minutes at 375F
- Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast – 12-15 minutes at 375F
- 1 inch thick Raw Chicken Breast – 15-20 minutes at 375F
- 2 inch thick Raw Chicken Breast – 25-30 minutes at 375
I just found out you can cook chicken from frozen – amazing!
I’m so glad this worked! I usually make the frozen-solid chicken thighs in the InstantPot, but mine was not clean and I really did not feel like using the oven. I was worried they might turn out too dry being under the Air Fryer’s broiler element, but they actually turned out just right since I used plenty of olive oil. Thanks for sharing.
At that high a temperature, won’t the chicken cook too fast on the outside before the inside defrosts? (I’m new to all this. IDK).
This was sooooo good! I used bbq instead of the seasoning recommendation but it came out so juicey and perfect! I went right from the freezer to the air fryer but mine took closer to 50 min to cook! My breasts were large and stuck together at first so I think that’s why? Either way! Thank you!