Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces (348g) chicken breasts (two average sized boneless and skinless chicken breasts); ¼ teaspoon olive oil ( or calorie-controlled cooking spray); seasonings (optional and of your choice)

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This Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast recipe goes from frozen to table in about 15 minutes! Cooking frozen chicken in the air fryer is so easy, and it turns out tender, juicy, and flavorful every time.

Suitable for Gluten Free, Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Post may contain affiliate links. For more information, check my disclosure

the completed air fryer frozen chicken breast sliced and ready to serve

Friends, Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast is the answer you’ve been seeking for those too-busy-to-cook days. Busy days get the best of us now and again, and we find ourselves totally unprepared when dinner time rolls around. No matter how many times you open the fridge and look inside – a cooked meal will not appear.

Thankfully, cooking frozen chicken breast in the air fryer is the perfect solution. In just minutes, you will have juicy, flavorful chicken breast ready to serve from frozen!

Cooking frozen chicken is so easy with the Air Fryer and is one of the most family friendly meals you can make. It is great to whip up to eat as is, in salads, shredded over soup, sandwiches, and as a main course.

This quick and delicious chicken comes out perfectly cooked with a delicious and slightly crispy exterior, and it goes with just about anything. You can use unseasoned frozen chicken breasts, or freeze seasoned chicken to make the process even simpler.

And if you love chicken as much as I do, then you’ll want to check out this Air Fryer Whole Chicken, these crispy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings, and totally kid-approved Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets.

You might also like this post on how to Reheat Fried Chicken In Air Fryer or even how to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In Air Fryer. Because chicken + air fryer = easy meal solutions!

top down view of the cooked air fryer frozen chicken breast sliced and served on a white plate

Why Make This Recipe

Frugal – Skip the takeout and save a little money.
Easy – Simply pop the chicken in the air fryer, flip and serve!
Versatile – Chicken goes with everything, so it’s the perfect last-minute meal.
Diet Friendly – Suitable for gluten free, low carb, Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 diets.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken breasts – this recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breast and they turn out tender and juicy. You cook the frozen chicken breasts directly in the air fryer, no need to thaw them first.
Oil – use either olive oil or cooking spray.
Optional – I suggest seasoning before you freeze them. You can use a dry rub, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, a marinade, or your favorite seasoning mixture.

Ready to learn how to make frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer? Gather your ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
Spritz frozen chicken with oil, season as desired, and place in the air fryer basket.
Air Fry for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 more minutes.
Check the internal temperature and cook a few more minutes if needed.
Transfer to a plate and allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.

image collage showing how to make frozen chicken breast in air fryer

Frozen Chicken Air Fryer Suggested Cooking Times

½ inch (1.2 cm) thick – 10 minutes
1 inch (2.5 cm) thick – 15 minutes
1 ½ inches (4 cm) thick – 20-22 minutes
2 inches (5 cm) thick – 28–30 minutes

Chef’s Tip: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.

the finished air fryer frozen chicken breast sliced and on a plate

Expert Tips

Leave space between the chicken pieces in the air fryer. Don’t allow them to touch, and don’t stack them, lay them in a single layer.
Use similar-sized pieces of chicken for even cooking times. If they are different sizes, then separate and cook similar sizes at the same time.
Smaller pieces of chicken will cook quicker.
Pre-frozen chicken is usually more even in size than fresh chicken that has been frozen and will cook more evenly. If you buy chicken to freeze, cut it to an even thickness or pound it with a meat mallet before freezing.
Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
Let the meat rest for at least 10-15 minutes on a cutting board or serving platter before slicing. You want to make sure to maintain juices in the meat so it is juicy.
I recommend slicing the meat thinly and against the grain.
Air fryer temperatures vary slightly depending on the make and model. Use the cooking time listed as a guide, check to ensure the chicken has reached the correct temperature, then adjust as needed.

top down view of two cooked frozen chicken breast inside the air fryer basket

Delicious Variations

Swap Your Seasonings – sprinkle on any of your favorite seasonings to give the chicken a different flavor. Use garlic powder, paprika, dried herbs like oregano and basil, and of course, salt and pepper. You can also make an oil and seasoning mixture to coat the frozen chicken with before cooking.
Serve Different Sides – chicken is incredibly versatile and can be served with so many things. Try pasta, rice, veggies, and potatoes, or even make a delicious chicken sandwich.
Use in other Recipes – this air fryer chicken can be used in many great recipes. Cooked chicken turned into soups, pasta, casseroles is a great dinner solution. Or use it to make shredded chicken and add to tacos, fajitas, and more.

Make Ahead And Storage

Prep Ahead – The best part of this frozen chicken breast recipe is that you don’t have to prep ahead! If you buy chicken in bulk, you can season it with spices or a marinade before freezing and skip the seasoning step when you cook in the air fryer.
Store – Leftovers should be eaten within 3 days. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freeze – Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in the freezer. It is not recommended to thaw, reheat chicken breasts and then refreeze multiple times.

seasoned chicken breast in a storage bag and ready to freeze

FAQs

How Long Do You Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Air Fryer?

It only takes a few extra minutes to cook from frozen, but you should plan on at least 15 minutes per 1 inch (2.5 cm) of thickness. Thinner chicken may cook quicker, while thicker chicken breasts may take a bit longer. See our cooking time chart above.

How Do I Know When The Chicken Is Done?

Always check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breasts.

Can I Cook Frozen Bone In Chicken Breast?

Yes, but the cooking times will be much longer. It can take between 40 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breast.

Can You Put Frozen Chicken in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you don’t have to defrost chicken breast before air frying. Frozen chicken breast can go straight from freezer to air fryer to table in just minutes, no thawing required!

a plate filled with the cooked air fried frozen chicken breast, one which has been sliced

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Serving Suggestions

There are so many delicious family-friendly recipes and sides you can serve this with! Here are a few of my favorites;

Weight Watchers Points

There is just 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in a serving of this (and 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints if you replace the olive oil with no-calorie cooking spray).

Thank you for reading my frozen chicken breasts air fryer recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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5 from 4 votes