Chicken breasts go from frozen solid to perfectly cooked in the Ninja Foodi! Keep this recipe for Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Breasts handy for the next time you forget to defrost dinner.
NINJA FOODI FROZEN CHICKEN BREASTS RECIPE
This is the only recipe you'll need for making Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Breasts! The Ninja Foodi Multi-cooker does a lot of things well, but when it comes to frozen chicken, the air fry function is one you want.
This chicken is cooked directly from the freezer in the Ninja Foodi! Throw it in the Foodi Cook and Crisp basket, and use the Crisping Lid to get perfectly cooked chicken breasts without ever needing to figure out how to use a pressure cooker.
Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Breasts are perfectly seasoned, juicy, and tender.
Whip up a batch of mashed potatoes and microwave some frozen veggies. Dinner will be ready in no time at all.
We love air frying with the Ninja Foodi! You'll probably be adding this recipe for frozen chicken to your regular meal rotation, and you should also include Ninja Foodi Salmon and Ninja Foodi Pork Chops.
Is your chicken already defrosted? Go to the Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast recipe instead.
INGREDIENTS FOR FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST IN NINJA FOODI
You need frozen chicken and a handful of seasonings to make this tasty version of chicken in the Ninja Foodi.
Frozen Chicken Breasts: You can make this recipe with fresh chicken that you have previously frozen, or with chicken breasts that you buy already flash frozen. 2 large breasts fit perfectly in the Ninja Foodi air fryer basket.
Olive Oil: A thin coat of olive oil adds flavor, holds the moisture in and helps to adhere the seasonings to the frozen chicken breast. It also allows the chicken to get browned and beautiful.
Garlic Salt and Onion Powder The majority of the spice blend for frozen chicken breasts is made up of these two savory flavorings.
Spices: To round out the perfect blend of seasonings for our frozen chicken breasts, add paprika, dried dill, dried parsley, and black pepper.
If you have any questions about making frozen chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!
HOW TO MAKE FROZEN CHICKEN BREASTS IN NINJA FOODI
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F/180°C for five minutes. While that's happening, mix together the salt, pepper, and spices.
- Use your hands or a brush to coat the chicken breasts with olive oil. Then sprinkle the spice mixture on top of each piece of chicken evenly.
- Place the chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi and cook on the air fryer setting as directed in the recipe card. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Once cooking has finished, allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above, and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions for Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Breasts, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH NINJA FOODI FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST
Air Fryer chicken seasoned with dill and parsley is super flavorful but versatile enough to be delicious with all types of side dishes. You can make your sides in the Foodi too!
Try making Frozen Garlic Bread in the air fryer, it only takes a few minutes!
Add a veggie side, like Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli or Air Fryer Green Beans.
Make things simple, and cook up some french fries in the air fryer!
AIR FRYER FROZEN CHICKEN - TIPS FOR THE NINJA FOODI
Seasonings: The seasoning blend I use on these frozen chicken breasts creates a savory, herb-crusted chicken that goes well with any of your favorite side dishes. You can feel free to use any of your favorite spices, herbs, and flavorings though. Try lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, or grill seasoning blends.
Don't Crowd the basket: The Foodi air fryer basket can cook two large chicken breasts comfortably. Be sure that the chicken pieces don't overlap or need to touch each other too much. This will prevent them from browning and cooking evenly.
Let the Chicken Rest: If you are used to eating air fryer chicken breast that is dry, it may be because you aren't letting it rest. After a ride in the air fryer, the chicken breast needs a few minutes to compose itself and redistribute the juices.
HOW LONG TO COOK FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST IN THE NINJA FOODI
When you are using the ninja foodi to air fry frozen chicken breasts, the cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts. It can also vary based on how frozen the chicken is.
I suggest that you cook frozen chicken breasts in a Ninja foodi that has been preheated to 360°F for 10 minutes. Check them, and add more time as needed.
- Thinner or smaller chicken breasts may be done in 10-15 minutes
- Thicker, larger chicken breasts may need as much as 25 minutes to cook through completely.
An instant-read thermometer, inserted into the center of the chicken breast, is the fastest and easiest way to be sure that your chicken is done. Cook until the internal temperature is 160°F/74°C.
Because we are letting the chicken rest for 5 minutes, you can stop cooking when the chicken reaches 155°F, as it will continue to cook as it rests.
HOW TO STORE NINJA FOODI CHICKEN BREASTS
After cooking frozen chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. This chicken recipe is great for meal prep lunches.
You can also freeze air fried chicken in a freezer safe container for up to three months.
CAN I COOK FROZEN CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER?
I love the air fryer because it can cook frozen chicken, or fresh chicken, and does it perfectly every time. Frozen chicken can be air fried in the Ninja Foodi, it just takes a few extra minutes.
HOW MANY CHICKEN BREASTS CAN I AIR FRYER IN THE NINJA FOODI?
Two chicken breasts fit well in the foodi air fryer basket. Any more than that and you may find that they need to overlap or touch too much. You might be able to fit three small pieces of chicken.
It's important that you allow room for air to circulate around each piece of chicken, so please avoid any urge to overfill the basket.
If you have more than 2 frozen chicken breasts to cook, make them in batches, cooking two at a time until all of your chicken is done.
IS IT BETTER TO USE THE AIR FRYER OR PRESSURE COOKER FOR CHICKEN BREASTS?
With the Ninja Foodi Multicooker, you have a lot of options. This machine pressure cooks, air fries, steams, and more! When it comes to chicken breasts in the Foodi, I prefer to air fry them. They come out juicy, tender, and browned on the outside.
Use the pressure cooker function of your Ninja Foodi to prepare saucy or wet chicken recipes, like Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa Stew.
IS AIR FRYER CHICKEN HEALTHY?
Chicken cooked in the air fryer is healthy! This recipe for making frozen chicken in the Ninja Foodi uses less oil than other cooking methods like pan-frying, and cooking in an air fryer basket allows fat to drain away from the chicken as it cooks. Plus, this is a non-breaded air fryer chicken recipe, so it's low carb and keto-friendly.
WHICH NINJA FOODI SHOULD I BUY?
Ninja makes a lot of different products that all do similar things, so shopping for a Ninja Foodi to use as an air fryer can get confusing.
Read reviews for the Ninja Foodi from real users like you! We polled our Facebook groups to find out what people really thought about the Ninja Foodi. Spoiler alert: Most people really like air frying in a Ninja Foodi!
When we wrote that post last year, the newest Ninja foodi multi-cooker was a 9-in-1. Now the Foodi models are marketed as 11-in-1, 12-in-1, and 14-in-1! The technology just continues to improve.
The newest Ninja Foodi model right now is the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with Smart Lid. It comes in a 6.5-quart size and a larger 8-quart size. This model will run you between $200 and $250.
I'm cooking using an older Foodi model, and that one is still available at a much more economical price.
WHAT ELSE CAN I AIR FRY IN THE NINJA FOODI?
Once you've mastered frozen chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi, feel free to branch out to other meats and seafood! Try more of our Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Recipes:
Ninja Foodi Pork Chops: Use this recipe to cook perfect, juicy pork chops in just a few minutes.
Ninja Foodi Chicken Wings are super easy to make, and the perfect game day snack at home.
Make a healthy fish dinner with my Ninja Foodi Salmon Recipe.
For breakfast or adding to sandwiches, Bacon in the Ninja Foodi is easy and low-mess.
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
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Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi Multicooker
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts frozen
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F/180°C for five minutes. While that's happening, mix together the garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, dill, dried parsley, and black pepper.
- Use your hands or a brush to coat the chicken breasts with olive oil. Then sprinkle the spice mixture on top of each piece of chicken evenly.
- Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook at 360 degrees on the air fryer setting for 10 minutes.
- Test the chicken using an instant read thermometer. If it has reached an internal temperature of 155°F, you can stop cooking. If it has not, continue cooking at 5 minute intervals until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes. This will bring the chicken to it's final safe temperature of 165°F/74°C, and keep the meat juicy.
Notes
- After cooking frozen chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. This chicken recipe is great for meal prep lunches.
- Cook the chicken to just under 160°F, and then let it rest for 5 minutes. The chicken will continue to cook as it rests.
- The amount of time needed to cook frozen chicken in the ninja foodi will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. Smaller pieces may be done after 10-15 minutes, while larger ones can take up to 25 minutes.
- There's no need to flip the breasts over.
- Avoid crowding the basket.
- Adjust the seasonings to include any of your favorites.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Alexa Reynolds
I found your recipe just in time! Was scrolling through the air fryer site yesterday and remembered to check how my defrosting chicken was getting on...I hadn't taken it out of the freezer! I'm going to blame "baby brain"! So now thanks to your site, dinner is saved (THANK YOU!) and I didn't need to go out in the rain to get some extra groceries in!
The seasonings you suggested were just perfect, and I personally wouldn't change a single thing!