Name: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2-3 frozen, skinless chicken breasts (whatever will fit in your air fryer in one layer); 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon hot or smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Yum

Air fryer frozen chicken breast is the quickest and easiest way to get tender, juicy chicken breasts with minimal effort. It takes less than 30 minutes, and with just a simple seasoning, you’ll be feeding the whole family a healthy and satisfying meal.

I don’t know about you, but once summer ends and school begins, life gets busier and busier. I’m always looking for the easiest way to feed my family nutritious meals, and using frozen chicken in the air fryer is a lifesaver on busy weeknights.

With only pantry seasonings, this recipe makes dinners super simple yet satiating, especially when served with your family’s favorite side dishes. If you’re into BBQ, then you definitely want to try this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken recipe.

There are many ways you could use these air fryer frozen chicken breasts if you’re looking for a twist. Try it with this Cajun Chicken Pasta for a healthier pasta dish with a cheese-based sauce. Or, for a quick lunch, use the chicken breast in these Cream Cheese Quesadillas.

Plus, if you’re following a keto or paleo diet, then this recipe is a must-make.

Using the air fryer eliminates having to defrost the chicken breasts, (how many times have we all forgotten to do this 😁), and it just makes cooking dinner so much easier with fabulous results every time.

Ingredients:

Frozen, skinless chicken breasts
Olive oil
Salt
Hot or smoked paprika
Granulated garlic
Black pepper

Here are the baking times for different-sized chicken breasts:

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

Tips:

Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s done. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken. When the temperature reaches 165 °F (74°C), it’s done. Let it sit for 5 minutes to rest, then cut and serve.
Just remember the cooking time depends more on the thickness of the breast than the weight.
Mix the spices together and apply the seasoning liberally on both sides of the chicken breasts.
Don’t overlap or stack the chicken breasts in the air fryer. Leave a little breathing room in between each breast for best results. If cooking for a larger group, just cook them in batches.
Be careful when putting the breasts in the air fryer. Because it is preheated, it can be quite hot, so take care when placing them in the basket.
When the chicken breasts are ready, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a plate. If you leave them in the basket they will continue to cook and you will have overcooked, dry chicken for dinner.
Using frozen chicken breasts only takes a little more time than using fresh chicken. Just make sure you take the temperature to ensure it’s cooked thoroughly.
Use similar-sized chicken breast with the same thickness, so they each cook evenly and are ready at the same time.
Spray the chicken with a little oil, but if you don’t have a sprayer just use a teaspoon of oil and spread it evenly.
Before you slice the chicken, let it sit for 5 minutes before you slice it. Slicing it directly after removing the chicken will make the juices run out, leaving the chicken less tasty.
Remember that not all air fryers are the same. When you flip the chicken breasts take note as to how quickly it cooked and adjust the time accordingly.

How to store leftovers

Keep these air fryer chicken breasts stored in an airtight container for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, just place them back into the air fryer at 360°F (182°C) for about 5 minutes and enjoy.

What kind of oil can I use?

Extra virgin olive oil and vegetable oil are best for this recipe. They have low smoke points and work great in the air fryer.

If you’re interested in learning about the best oils for air fryers, I found a comprehensive post of the Best Oils for Air Fryer from the Air Frying Foodie that you might want to save for future reference.

Why use the air fryer?

Using an air fryer is so convenient, it’s energy-efficient and it takes less oil and less time. It’s perfect for frozen foods because you don’t have to defrost them.

While the chicken is cooking, it gives you enough time to make this tasty Carrot Rice, which goes great with this chicken!

You don’t have an air fryer yet?

I was very hesitant to buy one, but once I did, I understood the frenzy. In the photos, you see the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer. It has a round basket and works nicely.

I love this countertop version Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry. It does just about everything and has a sleek design that doesn’t take up too much space.

And the air fryer is great for baking in small batches, so if you want a quick sweet treat, you should try these Air Fryer Brownies or these Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Looking for other air fryer recipes? Check out this Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer recipe. They make great snacks or a quick and easy, fun family meal.

You can also try these Frozen Chicken Wings in the air fryer. They’re just as easy, just pop them in the air fryer, slather them in spicy sauce and have a finger-licking good dinner.

Or for an Asian twist, try this Air Fryer Sesame Chicken. It’s a great addition to busy weeknight meals.

And if you just don’t want to buy one, then these Moist Chicken Cutlets in the Oven are a great choice!

Do I have to use oil?

If you want to reduce the oil, just spray the basket lightly so the breasts don’t stick to the surface of the air fryer basket.

I prefer to spray a little oil on the chicken which helps the spices stick nicely, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Just don’t overcook the chicken or it could be dry.

Do not use PAM or any aerosol spray in your air fryer. Aerosol sprays are known to chip the air fryer baskets because they have harsh ingredients that ruin the coating. If you don’t have an oil sprayer, it’s definitely worth investing in if you have an air fryer. That way you can use natural oils and have healthier meals.

What if I don’t have frozen chicken breasts?

Not a problem, just lightly spray fresh chicken breasts with oil, rub on the seasoning and follow the cook time chart above minus a couple of minutes. It’s always best to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

When using a thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the chicken. When the temperature reaches 165 °F (74°C), it’s done. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

Just remember the cooking time depends more on the thickness of the breast rather than the weight.

If you have a lot of chicken breasts and you want to freeze your own, it’s easy, but do it safely.

How to freeze chicken breasts

It’s important to freeze each breast individually so they don’t stick together.

You can vacuum seal each chicken breast in a separate bag or use a freezer-friendly zip-locking bag, but make sure the pieces don’t touch. Or to avoid pieces sticking together you can:

Pound the chicken to the same thickness.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place each chicken breast on the baking sheet leaving a little room in between each piece.
Cover it with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours.
Remove the chicken from the freezer and place each frozen breast in a freezer bag.

This method freezes each breast individually, and you don’t run the risk of them sticking together as you would if you just threw the chicken breasts in a bag and put them directly into the freezer.

What to serve with chicken breasts:

This Panzanella Salad is a hearty, Tuscan-style bread salad that would be fantastic with these air fryer chicken breasts.
I love sneaking in extra nutrition, and this Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese is amazingly creamy and no one will know that it’s healthier with the sweet potatoes.
Speaking of sweet potatoes, this Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Salad is delightful.
Good ol’ Mashed Potatoes are a fantastic pair with chicken breasts. These are dairy-free, but if you can have dairy, I’ve listed traditional ingredients, as well.
These yeast-free Dinner Muffins are great and they’ll stay soft and fluffy for days so you can have a quick and easy slider during the week.
And if you’re aiming to please, these Air Fryer Carrot Fries are healthy or try these super cheesy Air Fryer Garlic Fries.

Air fryer chicken is my new favorite cooking hack! It makes a fantastic meal in minutes and is perfect every time. Should you prefer to make a whole chicken, check out this Air Fryer Whole Chicken!

Did you try this recipe? If so, I want to hear all about it! Leave a comment below or take a pic and tag #easywholesome on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, so I can easily find them. Have fun and eat well.

frozen chicken breasts in air fryer basket

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