Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts (Juicy, No Thaw Method)
Yes, you can actually cook frozen chicken breasts in air fryer, and they turn out surprisingly I do this all the time on busy weeknights when I forget to thaw the chicken, and this method gives me tender, flavorful results in about 30 minutes, with only a few simple steps.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer I used Ninja XL
- 1 measuring spoons
- 1 meat thermometer
- 1 sheet foil
Ingredients
- 2 ea frozen chicken breasts ($6.00)
- ¼-½ teaspoon salt ($0.01)
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil ($0.50)
- 1 teaspoon paprika ($0.10)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder ($0.05)
- ½ teaspoon dried basil ($0.10)
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder ($0.05)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ($0.05)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer for 3-4 minutes. For now, season both sides of each chicken breast with only salt.
- Spray air fryer basket with the non-aerosol cooking spray or brush it lightly with oil. Place two frozen chicken breast in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry at 375℉ for 10 minutes, flipping them once half way through.
- The chicken should be mostly thawed now. Remove from the basket, rub with olive oil and spices and return it to the air fryer. Cook for another 13-20 minutes at 400℉, or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉.
- Wrap cooked chicken in foil and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Do not add seasonings all at once, because they will not stick well to the frozen chicken..Use only salt for the initial cooking time. Season with the rest of spices and herbs after the chicken is mostly thawed.
Thicker chicken breasts may need up to 20 minutes of cooking time. It is better to use the meat thermometer to check doneness.
Use stronger seasonings for frozen chicken. Cooking from frozen creates steam, so bold flavors like Cajun, taco or jerk create the best results.
Wrap cooked chicken in foil and let it rest for 5 minutes for the juiciest results.
Nutrition
Serving: 6ozCalories: 211kcalProtein: 35.5gFat: 6.7gSodium: 343mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!