How many times have you forgotten to take the frozen chicken out of the freezer? Forgetting to remove the chicken from the freezer is probably the worst cooking-related mistake that can ruin a delicious meal.
Don’t worry about the hassle of cooking frozen chicken; there are three simple ways to do it in less than 40 minutes that will prevent your dinner from going horribly wrong.
Our Instant Pot is our go-to appliance for making chicken in the shortest amount of time possible; who can resist a delicious homemade dinner that only takes a few minutes to prepare? The oven and the air fryer both work well, and we’ll show you how to cook frozen chicken in an Instant Pot in the section below!
We have three quick and simple freezer-to-plate techniques that will turn your tough, crumbly frozen chicken into tender and juicy meat with little effort, whether you are craving pasta with creamy sauce or a crispy salad topper. We want to make sure you can quickly prepare dinner using frozen chicken!
Additionally, we’ve included some recipes that use frozen chicken. Here are a few of our favorites: Crescent Chicken Roll-Ups, Pizza with BBQ Chicken, and Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
The most conventional method of cooking frozen chicken is in the oven. Don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer or an instant pot; you can still get flavorful, moist chicken. Although it takes a little longer than the others, this approach is effective.
The air fryer method cooks the chicken so well and is quicker than using an oven. You might not be able to fit as many chicken breasts in the basket of your air fryer as you could in an oven depending on its size. Three chicken breasts could fit in my air fryer. I like to top frozen chicken cooked in an air fryer with breadcrumbs, but you can omit them if you prefer.
My preferred method for cooking frozen chicken in the instant pot It turns out so moist and is ideal for slicing or shredding chicken. You will need a trivet for this method. Trivets are typically included with instant pots, but I misplaced mine and had to purchase one at Target. The chicken will essentially boil instead of steam if you place it directly into the broth or water without using a trivet, and the texture will be more rubbery. See the recipe card below for our instant pot method!.
Four Key Steps to Cooking Chicken from Frozen
Is It Safe to Cook Chicken from Frozen?
The USDA claims that you can safely cook frozen chicken breast as long as you abide by a few guidelines. First, make sure to allow your chicken to cook for at least twice as long as it would if it were thawed. For instance, a recipe that calls for cooking chicken for 20 minutes when it is thawed will take about 40 minutes to prepare when the chicken is still frozen. Second, never use this method with a large lump of chicken that has been frozen together; rather, use individual chicken pieces that can be spread out into an even layer to cook safely. Finally, check that the breasts have reached 165°F using an instant-read thermometer as you would with any chicken dish.
Additionally, chicken cooked from frozen is still delicious and will have the tender chicken texture we expect from breasts thanks to a few pantry staples. Although it won’t be as juicy as chicken that has properly thawed, it also won’t be inedible rubber.
Roasting Is the Secret to Chicken Breasts from Frozen
After experimenting with a few methods, I can say that oven roasting is the quickest and most dependable way to prepare chicken breasts from frozen. The chicken breasts are cooked as quickly and efficiently as possible from all sides thanks to the high heat of the oven and the placement of the breasts in a single, even layer. The only drawback to roasting may be that it leaves a chicken breast unadorned, but fortunately, we also have a delicious fix for that.
FAQ
Can you cook partially frozen chicken breast?
As long as you adhere to a few general rules, you can safely cook frozen chicken, claims the USDA. Use your oven or stovetop and simply increase your cooking time by at least 50% to transform your frozen chicken into a fully cooked, safe to eat dinner without having to go through the thawing process.
Can I cook chicken if not fully defrosted?
Before cooking, food should be completely defrosted (unless the manufacturer specifically instructs you to cook from frozen or you have a proven safe method). Food that is partially or still frozen will take longer to prepare.
How long does it take to bake frozen chicken breast at 400?
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place frozen chicken breasts in a sizable baking dish without interlocking them. Bake for 20 minutes with a lid or a foil covering.
What happens if you cook partially defrosted chicken?
A partially frozen chicken can be cooked, but it will become less tender more quickly. So if you plan to cook a partially frozen chicken, I advise keeping a close eye on it and waiting until it is completely done to remove it from the oven.