Cooking frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer is a quick and hassle-free way to get dinner on the table fast! No need to thaw – just follow this simple recipe for perfectly cooked chicken every time
“This recipe is a keeper! I used chicken tenders and they were about the same size. I used all of the spices except parsley because I didn’t have any, but it was perfectly seasoned. It tasted great. The chicken was moist and tender.”
The Easy Way to Cook Frozen Chicken
This simple air fryer recipe will show you exactly how to cook frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer. And the best part is that they will be delicious!
We’re seasoning the chicken breasts with a simple spice blend, but you can feel free to change the flavors up if you like to suit any style of meal.
Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer can be sliced up to add to a caesar salad, top tasty tacos or air fryer tostadas, or make chicken sandwiches on rolls or air fryer biscuits.
Ingredients List
- Frozen Chicken Breasts – Don’t thaw the chicken for this recipe! When you freeze your chicken, be sure to freeze each breast individually, so they aren’t all stuck together. This works best that way.
- Olive Oil – To create a beautiful crust on the outside of the breasts, a bit of oil is all you need.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika make the tastiest spice rub for frozen chicken breasts.
Steps to Make
- Add the frozen chicken breasts to a bowl, and drizzle them with olive oil.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl, stirring to evenly distribute them.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken breasts and toss to combine.
- Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving plenty of room around each piece.
- Air Fry at 390°F/200°C for 18-22 minutes, flipping the chicken over halfway through. Cook until the internal temperature of each piece is 165°F/74°C.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Frozen Chicken Air Fryer Recipe Tips
- You do not need to thaw the chicken! If your chicken is already thawed, please follow our air fried chicken breast recipe instead.
- If your frozen chicken breasts are stuck together, add them to a plastic bag and submerge it in warm water for a few minutes. Then carefully pull the breast apart with a fork.
- Feel free to use your hands to rub the oil and spices all over the chicken breasts. Since they’re frozen, the oil may not want to spread on its own.
- Chicken breasts come in different sizes, so you may need to add more time to this recipe if yours are particularly thick.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check to be sure that the internal temperature of each breast is at least 165°F/74°C before serving.
- Try other flavors! Our recipes for air fryer smoky chicken, sweet and spicy chicken, and sticky ginger chicken can all be made with frozen chicken breasts instead. Just use the ingredients listed in the recipe, but cook the chicken using the time and temp listed here.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Frozen Chicken
Use air fried chicken breast for meal prep! Cook once and have lunch ready for a few days. Slice the chicken and add to salads or sandwiches, or pack in boxes with air fryer sweet potatoes for a healthy protein packed lunch.
For dinner, pair this easy chicken recipe with your favorite simple side dishes. I love air fryer chicken with green beans and mushrooms or a summer zucchini bake.
Air fryer frozen chicken makes a wonderful meal starter too. Cut it up and turn it into chicken alfredo penne, or your favorite chicken casserole.
FAQs
Frozen chicken breasts will take 18-20 minutes to cook fully in the air fryer at a high temperature of 390°F. Since air fryers and chicken breasts can vary, you may find that you need more or less time than this for yours.
Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches a temperature of 165°F (74°C). I recommend using a kitchen thermometer to test the temperature of your chicken at the end of the cook time. Add additional minutes to the cook time if needed.
Anything you enjoy is fair game when it comes to seasoning chicken! Try Italian seasoning and garlic, or add cumin and chil powder for a taco-style flavor. Use poultry seasoning and salt to make a simple homestyle chicken breast that’s delicious with mashed potatoes and stuffing!
Yes! It’s important to let the chicken rest after it’s done cooking. The rest time gives the juices in the meat the ability to redistribute into the center of the meat so that they won’t all rush out when you slice into it.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
There are so many delicious ways to prepare chicken in the air fryer!
If you like breaded chicken, you’ll love our recipes for Air Fryer Boneless Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets, and homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
Love dark meat? See how we make Chicken Thighs in the air fryer and Air Fryer Chicken Legs.
Of course, you’ll want to know how to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings. This machine was made to cook game day appetizers!
Frozen Chicken Breast Air Fryer
Equipment
- Large Bowl
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs frozen chicken breasts boneless and skinless, about 3-4 chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place the frozen chicken breasts in a bowl. Cover with olive oil.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to combine.
- Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in two batches if need be.
- Air fry at 390°F/200°C for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165F.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- My chicken breasts were 8 ounces each and about 1 inch thickness. If your chicken breasts are thinner, they will take less time to cook.
- You do not need to thaw your frozen chicken breasts. Cook them directly from the freezer.
- If your frozen chicken breasts are stuck together, add them to a plastic bag and submerge it in warm water for a few minutes. Then carefully pull the breast apart with a fork.
- Feel free to use your hands to rub the oil and spices all over the chicken breasts. Since they’re frozen, the oil may not want to spread on its own.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check to be sure that the internal temperature of each breast is at least 165°F/74°C before serving.
- Try other flavors! Your favorite spices can be used in place of or in addition to the seasonings listed here.
Thankyou, a million times thankyou!
Yep, I did the silly thing of not taking my chicken out of the freezer for dinner, so of course it was a mad panic when I got home from work.
Turned to the internet and was so happy to find your post!
Not only did you save dinner, you saved me the embarassment of having to explain to my wife why she couldn’t have the meal I’d promised her! LOL
Hi Shirley! I’m totally with you on that – I’ve done that more times than I care to admit lol.
Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed the frozen chicken breast! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe, however I found that I needed double the amount of time. I have a Ninja Foodi, I cooked frozen breasts at 390* on the “aircrisp” mode and it took 42 mins to reach 165* internal temp.
Thanks for letting me know. Each machine does run a bit different :). These temps were starting temps for a Cosori 🙂 Thanks for letting us know what it was for your Ninja Foodi machine that will help other readers a lot! 🙂 I appreciate you sharing 🙂
This recipe is a keeper! I used chicken tenders and they were about the same size. I used all of the spices except parsley because I didn’t have any, but it was perfectly seasoned. It tasted great. The chicken was moist and tender.
Awesome! Glad you liked them and thanks for the love!