Can You Cook Frozen Chicken In An Air Fryer?
Air fryers have been a revolutionary appliance in the past years, and their popularity keeps increasing as more people discover the advantages of these devices.
An air fryer uses hot air, instead of direct heat, to cook your food and requires little or no oil. The amount of fat, or lack, depends on the dish you want to make and your personal preferences. However, this device is made to cook food with no oil, which is a healthier option than traditional stove and oven cooking.
If you are looking for a fast yet healthy meal, cooking chicken in the air fryer might be a great choice. And you can even cook frozen chicken like that, which makes this option even more convenient.
You can successfully cook chicken in the air fryer, which is extremely easy! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about successfully cooking frozen chicken in an air fryer!
The best way and how to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer
There is no need to look any further if you are interested in finding the best way to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer because we have the easiest and most delicious recipe!
Step 1. Preheat your air fryer
You first want to preheat the air fryer to a temperature of 400 degrees F, so it will be ready to cook the chicken.
Step 2. Put your chicken in the air fryer basket
You can get the chicken frozen and put it straight into the basket of your air fryer. There is no need to add oil. Preheating the oven is essential if you want your chicken to cook evenly and not get burned spots.
Step 3. Turn on the air fryer
Once you put the chicken in the air fryer, all you have to do is turn the air fryer on. Let the chicken breast cook for about 20 minutes. Note that if you are making chicken legs, you want to give them between 25 and 28 minutes to cook all the way through.
Step 4. Serve
When the air fryer notifies you that your chicken is done, pull it out of the basket and give it a few minutes to rest before serving it.
How long do you cook frozen chicken in an air fryer?
The time you need to cook chicken in the air fryer depends significantly on the type of chicken meat you want to make and its size and thickness.
After 20 minutes of cooking in the air fryer, you should check your chicken. If the chicken needs more time, let it cook more. Also, a thin piece of the chicken breast might be done as fast as ten minutes.
| Chicken thickness | Cooking time |
| 1/2 inch | 10 minutes |
| 1 inch | 15-20 minutes |
| 1 ½ inches | 20-22 minutes |
| 2 inches | 22-30 minutes |
Can you cook chicken breast frozen in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken breast in the air fryer. This is one of the essential advantages of this device. It can help you save a lot of time. While there are several ways to cook frozen chicken, such as on the stove or in the oven, the best and easiest way is in the air fryer.
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
You can put raw chicken, frozen or defrosted, in the air fryer and cook it the way you want to. Raw chicken will cook faster than frozen chicken, so you might have to reduce the cooking time by a few minutes. But you will obtain a well-done chicken by simply putting it raw in the air fryer basket and letting it cook.
Will air-frying chicken defrost it fast?
While the air fryer will defrost the chicken as part of the cooking process, it is not recommended to use the air fryer to defrost your chicken. You can cook chicken from frozen in such a device, but if you only want to thaw the meat, it is much better to let it defrost in the refrigerator.
Also, if you have pre-cooked frozen chicken, it is not a good idea to defrost it in the air fryer. This is because the air fryer will not only thaw it but also cook it more. If you add pre-cooked meat to your air fryer, set the temperature at a low level, such as 250 degrees F, and give it five minutes to start with. This will only defrost it and not overcook it. Adjust the time according to the thickness of the meat.
If you want to defrost your raw chicken but not cook it, you can try using the air fryer at its lowest temperature, which usually is about 110 degrees F, for ten minutes. You want the temperature too low to cook the meat but still good enough to defrost it. But note that even in this case, you take the risk of cooking your chicken at least partially. You can always check during the process to see when your meat is thawed so you can stop the cooking time if you want to avoid cooking it further.
Should I put oil on the chicken before air frying?
Even though the concept of the air fryer requires no oil to cook the food, adding a few drops of cooking oil is still a great idea. You can also use cooking spray instead of oil if you prefer it.
Adding a little oil to your food will help it acquire the golden color and the crisp it would get on the stove or in the oven. However, be careful not to add too much oil because it can make your food saggy and give it an unpleasant texture.
Does the chicken need to be flipped in Airfryer?
Flipping your chicken in the air fryer is not mandatory, but it can help ensure that the meat gets cooked evenly. Using an air fryer is, from the get-go supporting a cooking style that requires no flipping or shaking. But if you flip your chicken halfway through the cooking process, it will get cooked on all parts and have a better texture overall.
Depending on what you’re cooking, you should mix, stir or shake your food once during the cooking process. But this is not mandatory, and it is entirely up to your preferences and the types of dishes that you are making in your air fryer.
What’s the best way to cook frozen chicken?
If you want to cook frozen chicken, you have several options. This type of chicken can be cooked on the stove, in the oven, or the air fryer. The air fryer method is the most popular as it brings significant advantages.
The air fryer is the quickest method to cook chicken from frozen. So, if you are in a hurry, this could be a great advantage. It is also straightforward to cook your chicken frozen in the air fryer, considering that all you have to do is put it in the basket, set the air fryer, and let it cook.
By cooking frozen chicken in the air fryer, you avoid having a greasy chicken since you will use very little or no oil.
The texture of your chicken will be tender and juicy as long as you don’t overcook it. The circulating hot air ensures that your chicken is crispy on the surface and has that golden shade everyone loves.
Chicken cooked from frozen in the air fryer will also have a delicious taste as it will be crispy and evenly cooked, and the seasonings you add to it will complete the entire flavor profile.
We must remember that air-fried frozen chicken is also healthier than any other method of cooking such a dish.
Cooking your chicken in the air fryer will leave you much less to clean up afterward. Usually, all you have to do is put the air fryer basket in the dishwasher, and you are done. There is no pan to clean, no grease to get rid of, and no baking paper to throw away.
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
If you want to use aluminum foil when you cook with the air fryer, you will be glad to know that you can do that. However, you need to ensure only to put the aluminum foil on the basket. Please don’t cover the meat or wrap it up in aluminum foil because the hot air of the air fryer needs to get in direct contact with the food to be most efficient in cooking it.
If you are cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus, or peppers, you shouldn’t use aluminum foil because the acid reacts with the aluminum. The quality of your dish will be altered. Choose classic parchment paper to add a layer between your food and the air fryer basket.
Can you air fry frozen chicken wings?
Chicken wings are as famous, if not more popular, than chicken breast. And you will be happy to find out that you can also use your air fryer for cooking frozen chicken wings. Even if you can cook chicken wings frozen in the air fryer, giving them 15 minutes to start thawing before you add them to the basket is still recommended.
Step 1. Prepare the basket
Use oil or cooking spray to coat the surface of the air fryer basket. Make sure you add only a little of it, as you only want to ensure the wings don’t stick. You don’t want the oil to alter the taste of your branches or make them greasy.
Step 2. Put the wings in the basket
When you place the chicken wings in the air fryer, add them in one layer to receive the same hot air.
Step 3. Set your air fryer
For chicken wings, you will need a temperature of 400 degrees F. Let them cook for about ten minutes.
Step 4. Flip the wings and season them
When ten minutes pass, use a spatula to flip each wing and add the seasonings. Let them cook for another 16 minutes. Ideally, you want to convert them every four to five minutes, so they get cooked evenly on all sides.
Step 5. Serve!
Take your chicken wings out of the fryer and sprinkle some chopped parsley on top of them. Give them two to three minutes to rest and enjoy!
Best chicken breast recipe using an air fryer
If you want to make a juicy, tender, and tasty chicken breast in the air fryer, here is the best recipe!
To make this recipe, you will need very few ingredients, but it is essential to use quality ones to make the most out of your dish. You only need chicken breast, olive oil, seasonings, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
The olive oil adds a gentle flavor to your chicken breast, preventing it from sticking to the basket’s surface. But a cooking spray would be just as good if you don’t want to use oil. Also, when you choose your seasoning mix, note that Italian seasonings tend to be the best for chicken, and you can find them in almost all grocery stores at affordable prices.
Step 1. Preheat the air fryer
The first thing to do is to preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. This will ensure that your chicken receives the temperature it needs to cook exactly how you want it.
Step 2. Prepare your chicken breast
Coat the chicken breast with olive oil or cooking spray. Mix all the spices and seasoning in a bowl and add them to the chicken. They would stick to all the chicken breast parts if you coated them well with oil beforehand.
Step 3. Air fry the chicken breast
Air fry the chicken breast for ten minutes. Then flip it on the other side and cook it for another ten minutes.
Step 4. Serve
When your chicken is done, its internal temperature should be 165 degrees F. take it out of the air fryer and let it rest for two minutes before serving.
Bonus tips for the best chicken cooked in an air fryer
If you want to make sure that your chicken is perfect and amaze all your guests with a healthy and tasty meal, here are some valuable tips to keep in mind!
Space the chicken out. Don’t put the pieces of meat next to the other with no space between them. Make sure not to layer them, either. You want the hot air to circulate evenly to all the chicken pieces, and you can only achieve that if they are all exposed to it equally.
Season your chicken generously. Seasoning your chicken is crucial if you want it to have a great flavor profile. And if you wish to use the seasoning mix you use to stick to the meat, you will have to add a layer of oil or cooking spray before you sprinkle the combination of herbs, salt, and pepper.
Flip the chicken. Even if this is not required, you will increase your odds of having an evenly cooked chicken. You don’t have to flip it too much. Turning the meat on the other side halfway during the cooking process should be enough. Use a spatula when you are flipping the meat rather than a fork or knife so you don’t scratch the air fryer basket.
Brine the chicken. If you want moist and full-of-flavor chicken meat, consider bringing it before you air fry it. This might not be a great option if you are in a hurry, but if you have some time on your hands, letting your chicken to brine for about one hour before air frying it could make all the difference in your final dish.
Check your chicken. Even if you allow your chicken to cook for the recommended time and at the recommended temperature, it is still essential to check it before you decide whether it is well done.
Use a fork to stab the meat and see if the juice that comes out is clear, which indicates that the meat is done. Or, even better, use a meat thermometer and only stop the cooking process when the meat reaches the temperature of 165 degrees F.
Final thoughts
Air fryers can be great alternatives to stoves and ovens as they help you cook your food faster and with little to no extra oil. You can get creative with the recipes you prepare at your air fryer, and you will impress all your guests with delicious dishes.
When it comes to chicken, getting a juicy, tender texture might be challenging. But if you follow the tips in this guide, you will obtain just that, and you will never cook your chicken in any other way!
Pair your chicken with a fresh salad, baked veggies, or traditional fries or mashed potatoes, and you will have a complete and tasty meal that takes little time to make.
