Save time with this Frozen Chicken Breast in Air Fryer recipe. From freezer to dinner table in 30 minutes, your delicious, juicy chicken breasts are cooked to perfection.
This frozen chicken breast in air fryer is super easy to make with minimal clean up. Perfect for busy weeknights, you get a healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy that’s ready in no time.
If you did remember to defrost your chicken, try this air fryer chicken breast recipe instead. A Sunday favorite for my weekly meal prep.
Other quick and easy weeknight favorites are pan fried chicken breast and garlic butter chicken breast. Chicken doesn’t have to be boring or dry!
Ingredients and Notes
Air fryer frozen chicken breast is infused with simple seasoning, making it a versatile addition to any meal. You will need only 5 simple ingredients to make it!
Bonus – use any favorite seasoning mix or dry rub you love.
- Frozen boneless skinless chicken breast: I used around 1-inch thick boneless chicken breasts. If your chicken is larger or smaller you may need to adjust the total cook time. See timetable below.
- Oil of choice: I use olive oil or avocado oil.
- Seasoning blend: Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
Here is a quick step-by-step summary how to make frozen chicken breasts in air fryer. There is full recipe card below.
I use a large Cosori air fryer. All air fryers cook differently, be sure to carefully read each recipe before cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer and prep chicken: Preheat to 360 degrees F for five minutes. Add the frozen chicken breasts to a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Using your hands, rub until all chicken breasts are evenly coated.
- Season chicken breasts: Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Air fry frozen chicken breast: Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in a single layer leaving a little space between each breast. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, more if chicken is thicker. No need to flip them or shake the basket.
- Check the temperature: Open the air fryer basket and insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast, make sure it has reached an internal temperature of at least 150 degrees F.
- Rest and serve: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. Insert meat thermometer again to make sure it reads a minimum of 165 degrees F. Your quick dinner is ready to serve!
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Air Fryer?
Cooking air fryer frozen chicken breasts in air fryer takes a few minutes more than cooking fresh chicken breasts.
How long to cook frozen chicken breast in air fryer depends on the thickness of your chicken breasts, and will take up to 30 minutes. I used chicken breasts that were quite small, around 1-inch thick, so they needed 15 minutes.
- 1/2 inch thick – about 10 minutes
- 1 inch thick – about 15 minutes
- 1 1/2 inches thick – about 20-22 minutes
- 2 inches inches thick – about 28–30 minutes
I highly recommend using an internal-read thermometer. This way you can know exactly when it’s cooked to the minimum safe temperature, as per food safety website, of 165 degrees F.
Make sure to check each chicken breast in the center of the thickest part.
Tips for Best Results
The air fryer does a wonderful job turning frozen food into a delightful, healthy meal. Here are some tried and true tips for frozen chicken breast in air fryer.
- Use breasts of similar size: Try to use smaller, similar sized breasts to ensure even cooking in less time. If the chicken breasts are different sizes, the smaller pieces may start to get dry before the bigger pieces are cooked.
- Do not stack: The hot air needs to circulate around the chicken to cook effectively. Overlapping or stacking is not recommended when air frying chicken.
- Make sure chicken pieces are separated: If your frozen chicken breasts are stuck together, run them under cold water for about 5 minutes. Carefully pry apart using a fork or knife.
- Let chicken rest: Once cooked, transfer the air fried chicken to a large plate, cover with aluminum foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. This allows the juices to settle and redistribute.
- Don’t skip the oil: The oil keeps the spice coating on the chicken breast and forms a delicious crust.
- Use your hands to rub each breast in oil: This is the best practice to evenly coat the chicken breast, and helps the seasonings stick to them.
Seasoning
You can customize this easy recipe using your favorite chicken seasonings, the possibilities are endless!
- I used homemade Italian seasoning substitute. Making your own is easy, cheap, and you’ll know exactly what’s in it.
- You can also use all purpose seasoning. A wonderful mix of herbs and spices that adds a lot of flavor.
- Salt and pepper for an easy, three-ingredient entrée.
- Add garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika for a Mexican-inspired dish.
- Season with Cajun if you want to add some heat.
Serving Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Never be stuck wondering what’s for dinner because you forgot to thaw the chicken in the morning. This flavorful chicken is ready to be used in a variety of dishes and with many delicious side dishes!
- Serve as the main protein for dinner. It’s delicious plain or with your favorite sauce.
- Serve alongside rice and seasonal vegetables like these delicious oven roasted asparagus recipe.
- Set beside sweet potato fries or a baked potato for a simple dinner.
- Shred to use in cheesy chicken quesadilla or healthy chicken enchiladas.
- Slice it and add to your favorite salad recipe for a main dish salad, or meal prep your healthy lunch.
- Cut leftovers into cubes and use in chicken spinach pasta.
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Refrigerate leftover chicken breast in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Keep it whole for juiciest results. Be sure to move it to the refrigerator within 2 hours for food safety.
Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months. Cool the chicken completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Sliced or shredded chicken will thaw faster and can be added to meals immediately.
You can thaw cooked frozen chicken in the refrigerator overnight before eating or reheating.
Reheat: The air fryer is amazing at reheating food. Here’s how to reheat chicken breast in air fryer.
FAQs
Yes. Unlike chicken in the slow cooker, it cooks fast and is not slowly thawing in a warm environment.
No. Forget to take the meat out in time? No problem! You can cook the frozen chicken directly in the air fryer.
No. The grated rack helps the hot air hit all sides of the chicken breasts making sure it’s cooked all the way through and crisp evenly.
Use an instant read thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked to the safe temperature of 165 F for chicken.
Yes. Try one of these healthy chicken marinades made with simple ingredients you have on hand.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Be sure to browse all of our air fryer recipes for more ideas.
More Frozen Foods to Cook
- How to cook frozen chicken breasts in Instant Pot
- How to cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts frozen
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 360 F. In a large bowl, add frozen chicken breasts and oil, and using your hands mix until all chicken breasts are coated in oil evenly.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Add seasoned chicken breasts in air fryer in a single layer and not touching. Air fry for 15 minutes, no need to turn or shake. Please see table in notes for cook times.
- Open the basket and make sure internal read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads minimum 150 degrees F. Transfer onto a platter, cover with tin foil and let rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to settle. Check with thermometer again and make sure it reads 165 F. Your chicken is ready.
- Slice against the grain and serve as you wish.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Reheat in a lidded pot with a splash of water or broth to ‘steam’ them until warm.
- Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- 1/2 inch thick – about 10 minutes
- 1 inch thick – about 15 minutes
- 1 1/2 inches thick – about 20-22 minutes
- 2 inches inches thick – about 28–30 minutes
I tried this method and it worked!
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback!