Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs: Is It Possible?

Cooking frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, healthy meal on the table. You can cook chicken thighs from frozen, with no need to defrost them first, and they will still turn out tender and juicy.

How to cook frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer

What you'll need:

• Frozen chicken thighs (ideally bone-in and skin-on, but boneless and skinless will work too)
• Your choice of seasonings (e.g. salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning)
• Oil or cooking spray (optional)
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to around 360-380°F.
• Place your frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin-side up. If your thighs are stuck together, run them under cool water to separate them, then pat dry with paper towels. Poke the skin once or twice with a fork.
• Spray or brush the chicken thighs with oil or cooking spray (optional).
• Season the chicken thighs generously with your chosen seasonings, ensuring both sides are coated evenly.
• Cook the chicken thighs for 20-30 minutes at 360-380°F. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the thighs to ensure even cooking.
• After the initial cooking time, check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer. The safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F. If the thighs haven't reached this temperature, continue cooking for an additional 5-10 minutes, depending on their size.
• If you want extra crispy skin, increase the air fryer temperature to 380-400°F and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
• Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips:

• For best results, choose chicken thighs of similar size so they cook at the same rate.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket—cook the thighs in batches if necessary.
• Always pat dry the chicken before seasoning to ensure a crispy exterior.
• You can add a sauce, like BBQ sauce, during the last 5 minutes of cooking and crank up the heat to the air fryer's highest setting.
• Leftover chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or frozen for up to six months.

Variations:

• For a simple, tasty seasoning, try a blend of onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper.
• For a zesty twist, try lemon pepper seasoning.
• For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili powder to your seasoning blend.
• For an Asian-inspired dish, try marinating the chicken in eel sauce, katsu sauce, or bulgogi sauce before cooking.

Enjoy your juicy, tender, and crispy air-fried chicken thighs!

How long to cook frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer and it's very easy to do. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs and whether they are boneless or bone-in.

For medium-sized chicken thighs, cook for 25-35 minutes and for big-sized thighs, cook for 30-40 minutes. If you are using an air fryer like the Cosori 5.5L XL, you can cook about 6 chicken pieces at once.

Here's a simple recipe for cooking frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

• 6 frozen chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning
• Salt and black pepper
• Cooking oil

Method:

• Place the frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side up.
• Spray the top of the chicken with cooking oil.
• Season with salt and black pepper, and sprinkle the all-purpose seasoning on the chicken.
• Flip the chicken and repeat the seasoning process.
• Cook the frozen chicken thighs for a total of 20-30 minutes at 180C/360F, depending on their size and thickness. Flip them halfway through the cooking time.
• If you're not sure if the chicken is cooked, check with an instant meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165F/74C.
• If the skin isn't as crispy as you'd like, increase the temperature of the air fryer to 190C/380F for another 3-5 minutes.

Tips:

• You can use any seasoning of your choice.
• There is no need to preheat the air fryer or defrost the chicken.
• Clean-up is easy as you can do all the prep in the air fryer basket.
• The chicken is fully cooked when the juices run clear without any blood in sight.
• Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Can you cook frozen boneless chicken thighs in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen boneless chicken thighs in an air fryer. It is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, juicy, and tender meal on the table in around 30 minutes.

How to Cook Frozen Boneless Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer:

Firstly, you will need to preheat your air fryer to a temperature of around 350-400°F/180-200°C. Most recipes suggest that you do not need to preheat your air fryer, but it is beneficial for getting the best results.

Next, you will need to prepare your chicken thighs. Separate any thighs that are stuck together by running them under cool water. You can also use this opportunity to rinse off any ice or frost that has formed on the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and then place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not stacked on top of each other. Spray the chicken thighs with a little oil and season with salt and pepper, or a seasoning blend of your choice.

Now your chicken is prepared, place the basket in the air fryer and cook for around 20-30 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken thighs. Flip the thighs halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly.

Your chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C. You can check this with an instant-read meat thermometer.

Tips:

• For extra crispy skin, increase the temperature of the air fryer to 380-400°F/190-200°C for the final 3-5 minutes of cooking.
• If you are cooking more than a couple of chicken thighs, you may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket.
• You can use frozen chicken thighs that are either bone-in or boneless, but bone-in thighs are less likely to dry out during cooking.
• If you are cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs, reduce the cooking time to around 25-28 minutes.

How to get the skin of chicken crispy in an air fryer

How to Get Crispy Chicken Skin in an Air Fryer

Getting chicken skin crispy in an air fryer is a great way to make a tasty, crunchy snack or meal. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect crispy chicken skin:

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Skin

Start by patting the chicken skins dry with a paper towel. You can use skin from chicken thighs or breasts, and it's best to have around 8 pieces of skin. If you're using skin from chicken thighs, you can keep them bone-in or remove the bones, depending on your preference.

Step 2: Season the Chicken Skin

Sprinkle salt on both sides of the chicken skins. You can also add other seasonings like garlic salt, black pepper, onion powder, smoked paprika, or cayenne pepper. However, it's important to note that additional seasonings besides salt may burn in the air fryer, so it's best to add them after cooking.

Step 3: Place the Chicken Skin in the Air Fryer

Place the chicken skins in the air fryer basket, making sure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. If you have a cooking rack, you can place it in the air fryer first and then put the chicken skins on the rack, skin-side down.

Step 4: Set the Temperature and Time

Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F/200°C. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken skins, but it usually takes around 12-15 minutes for them to get crispy.

Step 5: Flip the Chicken Skins

After about 6 minutes of cooking, use tongs to flip the chicken skins over so that they cook evenly on both sides.

Step 6: Check for Doneness

After 12 minutes of total cooking time, check the chicken skins. They should be golden and crispy. If they still look a little flabby, add another minute or two to the cooking time.

Step 7: Remove and Drain the Chicken Skins

Once the chicken skins are crispy, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack or paper towel to drain any excess oil and cool down.

Step 8: Season and Serve

Now is the time to add any additional seasonings you desire. You can also cut the chicken skin into bite-sized pieces and use them as a crunchy topping for salads, stir-fries, or noodles. Enjoy your crispy chicken skins as a snack or side dish!

Tips:

• You can line the bottom of the air fryer with foil or parchment paper before placing the chicken skins in to make cleanup easier.
• If you want to reduce the cooking time, you can separate the skin from the chicken and place it directly in the air fryer without any bones or meat attached.
• For extra crispy skin, you can place the chicken skins in the fridge uncovered overnight before cooking to reduce their water content.

How to store leftover frozen chicken thighs

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer. It is very easy to do and the result is surprisingly flavorful, tender, and juicy chicken with a crispy skin.

Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and consumed within 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3-6 months.

When storing leftover chicken, it is important to follow proper handling and food safety practices to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Here are some tips for storing leftover chicken thighs:

• Use an airtight container: Place the leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent contamination and leakage.
• Refrigerate promptly: Do not leave cooked chicken at room temperature for more than 30 minutes to an hour. Store leftovers in the fridge within this timeframe to maintain food safety.
• Label and date: If freezing leftover chicken thighs, be sure to label and date the container or bag before placing it in the freezer.
• Thaw safely: When ready to consume frozen leftovers, thaw them safely in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave. Do not leave frozen chicken at room temperature to thaw as it can enter the bacterial growth danger zone.
• Reheat properly: Reheat leftover chicken thighs in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes, or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. You can also reheat chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth or water to prevent drying out.

Frequently asked questions