Emilie Meyer
Cooking frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty, juicy, and tender meal. It's a convenient option for those who forget to defrost their meat, and it produces moist and tender chicken with a crispy skin. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs, whether they have the bone in or are boneless, and the type of air fryer being used.
Cooking Frozen Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken Thigh Type | Boneless and skinless, or bone-in and skin-on |
| Chicken Thigh Preparation | Frozen |
| Oil | Olive oil, avocado oil, or cooking spray |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, lemon pepper, garlic powder, onion granules, smoked paprika, dried parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or BBQ sauce |
| Air Fryer Temperature | 390-400°F (200°C) |
| Cooking Time | 12-30 minutes |
| Internal Temperature | 165°F (74°C) |
| Calories | 177-249 |
| Protein | 18-24 g |
| Fat | 10-13 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9 g |
| Cholesterol | 97 mg |
| Sodium | 308-402 mg |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in cooking frozen chicken thighs. It ensures your chicken cooks evenly and gives you the crispiest, most delicious results. If your air fryer has a preheat setting, use that. If not, manually set it to 395°F (200°C) or 400°F and preheat for 3 to 5 minutes.
Preheating your air fryer is especially important when cooking frozen meats, as it helps them to thaw more evenly. It also ensures your chicken thighs develop a nice crispy skin. If you don't preheat your air fryer, your chicken thighs may cook unevenly and you may end up with rubbery or tough chicken.
When preheating your air fryer, ensure the basket or tray is inside. You can spray the basket with cooking oil to help the chicken skin crisp up. If your chicken thighs are frozen together, separate them before preheating your air fryer. They will cook unevenly if they are still connected.
Preheating your air fryer for just a few minutes will ensure your chicken thighs cook evenly and develop a nice crispy skin. It's a simple step, but it makes a big difference in the final result.
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Oil and season the chicken
When it comes to seasoning chicken thighs for the air fryer, you have a lot of options. You can use salt and pepper as a base, or get creative with spices like onion and garlic granules, smoked paprika, dried parsley, and oregano. If you're short on time, a store-bought seasoning blend or your favourite herb mix will also do the trick.
Before seasoning, it's important to prepare the chicken thighs properly. If they are frozen in one solid block, you'll need to separate them by running them under some water until they break apart. This is important because cooking times can vary depending on the size and shape of your chicken thighs, and you don't want them to cook unevenly.
Once your chicken thighs are separated, it's time to oil and season them. You can use olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, or another oil of your choice. Brush or spray the oil onto the chicken thighs, making sure to coat them evenly. This step will help the seasoning stick to the chicken and give you that crispy skin we all love.
Now it's time to season the chicken thighs generously and make sure the spices coat all sides of the chicken. You can use your hands to rub the spices in or toss the chicken thighs in a bowl to ensure an even coating. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try marinating the chicken thighs in Italian dressing or buttermilk before patting them dry and seasoning. This adds an extra layer of flavour and moisture to your dish.
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Place chicken in the fryer
When you're ready to cook your frozen chicken thighs, start by preheating your air fryer. Preheating is important as it helps to ensure your chicken cooks evenly and crisply. Set your air fryer to 390°F–400°F (200°C) and allow it to preheat for about 3 minutes.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chicken. If your chicken thighs are frozen together in a block, you'll need to separate them. You can do this by running them under a tap until they can be pulled apart. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then place the individual thighs into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle or spray the chicken with oil, then sprinkle over your chosen seasonings. Toss the chicken in the bowl or gently mix with tongs until everything is coated evenly.
Now it's time to place the chicken in the fryer. Transfer the seasoned chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with space between them. The chicken should not be overlapping or touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the thighs in batches.
Close the air fryer and cook the chicken for 5 minutes at 390°F (200°C). After 5 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for another 6–8 minutes at the same temperature. The total cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken thighs, as well as whether they are boneless or bone-in. Boneless chicken thighs will cook faster, while larger, bone-in thighs may take up to 40 minutes.
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Cook for 15 minutes
Cooking frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. After preheating your air fryer, the first step is to place the frozen chicken thighs in the basket and cook them for 15 minutes until they are almost thawed. It is important to ensure that the chicken pieces are not overlapping in the basket, as this will cause them to cook unevenly. You can also choose to coat the chicken with a little oil and your desired seasoning before placing them in the air fryer, which will help the seasoning stick to the chicken and give it a crispy skin.
During the first 15 minutes of cooking, you can prepare the chicken by coating the thighs with oil and seasoning. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, dried parsley, or oregano. You can also use a simple combination of salt and pepper as a base and add other seasonings of your choice. Olive oil or avocado oil are good options to use, as they can help the seasoning stick to the chicken and create a crispy skin.
Once the chicken thighs have cooked for 15 minutes and are almost thawed, you can proceed to the next step. If your chicken thighs were stuck together when you first placed them in the air fryer, they should now be easy to separate. You can then coat them with oil and season them before continuing to cook.
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Flip and cook for 12-15 minutes
After you've preheated your air fryer, placed the frozen chicken thighs in the basket, and seasoned them, it's time to flip them and cook for another 12-15 minutes. This step is crucial to ensure even cooking and browning on both sides of the chicken thighs.
When flipping the chicken thighs, use kitchen tongs or a spatula to avoid piercing the meat, as this can cause it to lose moisture and affect the final texture. It is important to only flip the chicken thighs once during this step, allowing them to cook thoroughly on each side.
While the chicken thighs are cooking, you can prepare any side dishes or sauces to accompany your meal. Some great side dish options include roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad. For sauces, consider barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or a simple herb dip.
Additionally, this is a good time to sanitise your kitchen surfaces and wash any utensils used to handle the raw chicken. It is important to maintain good hygiene practices when handling raw meat to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken thighs, as well as the specific model of your air fryer. Thicker chicken thighs or those with bones and skin may require a few extra minutes of cooking time.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 18-30 minutes to cook frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer, depending on the thickness of the thighs, whether they have skin on, and the type of air fryer being used.
The temperature range for cooking frozen chicken thighs in an air fryer is between 360F and 400F.
You can season frozen chicken thighs with a variety of seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion granules, paprika, parsley, oregano, or lemon pepper seasoning.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While preheating, add the frozen chicken thighs to a bowl and drizzle with oil and seasonings. Toss the thighs until they are evenly coated. Place the coated chicken thighs in the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 18-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
