How to Cook Chicken From Frozen (2024)

We all want to be the person who remembers to thaw their chicken prior to dinnertime, but most of the time, thawing is an afterthought. Fortunately, you can cook chicken straight from frozen using a number of different methods.

Learn the best methods for cooking chicken from frozen, and which methods to avoid. Plus, find cooking times and temperatures for chicken breasts, thighs, wings, and more.

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Without Thawing It?

Any time you're handling raw meat, whether frozen or fresh, safety should be top of mind. Fortunately, we can all take a collective sigh of relief, because the USDA says it is fine to cook chicken from frozen, just keep in mind that the cooking time will be about 50 percent longer.

However, chicken should never be cooked from frozen in a slow cooker or microwave. The former cooks too slowly, allowing the meat to spend too much time in what's known as the temperature danger zone, the range between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F in which bacteria is most likely to grow. The latter quicks food too quickly, meaning the interior of the chicken may not have enough time to reach the safe minimum internal temperature (165 degrees F), before the rest of the chicken is done. You can defrost meat in the microwave, but it will need to be cooked immediately after so that it is not left in the danger zone for too long.

How to Cook Chicken From Frozen 4 Ways

Each of these methods allows you to safely cook chicken directly from frozen, no thawing necessary. Do keep in mind that cooking time will be about 50 percent longer than if cooked from fresh, and always use an instant-read thermometer to make sure your chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Oven

Roasting chicken in the oven from frozen is the same as from fresh, just with longer cooking times. We suggest cooking frozen chicken at a lower temperature than you would fresh, about 350 to 365 degrees F, to balance out the increased cooking time.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven.
Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Brush the chicken with oil, seasonings, and/or sauces of your choice.
Roast uncovered. See below for approximate cook times for frozen chicken.
Test for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. Insert into the thickest part of the meat. Once it reads at least 165 degrees F, it's done.
Allow the meat to rest 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Oven

These approximate cooking times are based on an oven temperature of 350 degrees F, and a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Frozen chicken breasts (boneless), 4 to 6 ounces: 30 to 45 minutes
Frozen chicken breasts (bone-in) 6 to 8 ounces: 45 to 60 minutes
Frozen chicken thighs, 4 to 8 ounces: 60 to 75 minutes
Frozen chicken tenders, 2 to 4 ounces: 28 to 33 minutes
Frozen chicken wings, 2 to 3 ounces: 45 to 60 minutes
Frozen chicken drumsticks, 4 ounces: 53 to 68 minutes

How to Cook Frozen Chicken on the Stovetop

Frozen chicken also does well simmered on the stovetop. Although you can sauté it, the extended cooking time does make it easy to char the outside without fully cooking the inside. That's why we recommend instead simmering it in a pan sauce, jarred sauce, or broth. Plus, a moist sauce will give you a juicer result.

Instructions:

Place the chicken in a sauté pan or pot. Season as desired.
Cover the chicken with broth and/or sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for the specified time below, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken on the Stovetop

Frozen chicken breasts (boneless), 4 to 6 ounces: 38 to 45 minutes
Frozen chicken breasts (bone-in) 6 to 8 ounces: 53 to 68 minutes
Frozen chicken thighs, 4 to 8 ounces: 60 to 75 minutes
Frozen chicken wings, 2 to 3 ounces: 53 to 68 minutes
Frozen chicken drumsticks, 4 ounces: 60 to 75 minutes

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

As expected, the Instant Pot makes cooking chicken straight from frozen fast and easy. For more details, read our guide to cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot.

Instructions:

Place frozen chicken in the inner pot in a single layer with no overlap.
Sprinkle chicken with desired seasonings.
Add a cup of broth to the pot.
Use the "manual" button to cook on high pressure for the specified cooking time below.
Allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 5 minutes, and then release the remainder of the pressure by doing a quick release.
Let the meat rest 10 to 15 minutes before slicing or shredding.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

Frozen chicken breasts (boneless), 4 to 6 ounces: 10 to 15 minutes
Frozen chicken thighs, 4 to 8 ounces: 13 to 15 minutes
Frozen chicken tenders, 2 to 4 ounces: 6 minutes
Frozen chicken wings, 2 to 3 ounces: 12 minutes
Chicken drumsticks, 4 ounces: 12 minutes

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer

The air fryer acts as a mini convection oven, circulating hot air around the food until it's cooked through and crisp on the outside. Just be sure not to stack the chicken on top of one another.

Instructions:

Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F.
Rub the chicken with oil and season as desired.
Add chicken to the basket and cook, shaking or flipping halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Read below for approximate cooking times.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer

These cooking times are based on an air fryer temperature of 360 degrees F, and an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Frozen chicken breasts (boneless), 4 to 6 ounces: 18 to 20 minutes
Frozen chicken thighs, 4 to 8 ounces: 20 to 22 minutes
Frozen chicken tenders, 2 to 4 ounces: 13 minutes
Frozen chicken wings, 2 to 3 ounces: 28 to 30 minutes
Frozen chicken drumsticks, 4 ounces: 25 to 30 minutes

Related:

How to Quickly and Safely Thaw a Frozen Chicken Breast
100+ Quick and Easy Main Dish Chicken Recipes
Browse our entire collection of Chicken Recipes.

FAQs

How to Cook Chicken From Frozen? ›

Having tried a few techniques for cooking chicken breasts from frozen, I can say that oven-roasting is the fastest and most reliable method. The high heat of the oven, combined with putting the chicken breasts in a single even layer, cooks the chicken from all sides as quickly and effectively as possible.

What is the best way to cook frozen chicken? ›

Can I cook frozen chicken without thawing? ›

Great news, according to the USDA, it is totally safe — you just have to keep in mind that frozen chicken will take about one and a half times longer to cook than thawed chicken. But does chicken breast from frozen even taste good?

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How long to cook partially frozen chicken breast at 400 degrees? ›

Average-sized frozen chicken breasts (5-7 oz) may take between 40-45 minutes to bake, depending on your oven temperature. We recommend 400°F, which is hotter than some recipes may call for.

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Can you cook chicken straight from the freezer? ›

When cooking chicken straight from the freezer, you want to cook for 50 percent longer than you would with unfrozen. The average unfrozen chicken breast weighing 5-7 ounces usually takes 20-30 minutes at 350°F. So for a frozen chicken breast, you're looking at 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breast.

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Is it safe to cook frozen chicken directly? ›

Information. Raw or cooked meat, poultry or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. For example, if fresh meat takes one hour to cook, the same meat cooked frozen would take 1 1/2 hours.

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What happens if chicken is not fully defrosted before cooking? ›

If food is still frozen or partially frozen, it will take longer to cook. The outside of the food could be cooked, but the centre might not be, which means it could contain harmful bacteria.

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What not to do when defrosting chicken? ›

However, as soon as they begin to thaw and become warmer than 40 °F, bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to multiply. Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Should I defrost frozen chicken before cooking? ›

That's where freezing comes in. Freezing chicken extends the meat's shelf life by a wide margin, letting you wait to cook it until you're ready. However, frozen chicken needs to be defrosted before it's ready to cook. Otherwise, the bird won't cook fully, making it unsafe to eat.

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Can you cook chicken if still a little frozen? ›

Can You Cook Chicken Without Thawing It? Echeverria says you can safely cook chicken without thawing it, but she admits it can be tricky to cook it evenly. Often, the outside of the chicken will finish cooking while the interior meat will still be frozen and raw.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

Chicken breasts cook faster at 400 F than 350 F, which is a benefit. However, baking chicken at a higher temperature will increase the risk of drying the chicken breast out.

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How to cook frozen chicken breast in the oven without? ›

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place frozen chicken breasts in a large baking dish so that they aren't overlapping. Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and season with seasoning salt and pepper.

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How soon do you need to cook chicken after taking out of freezer? ›

Information. While foods are in the process of thawing in the refrigerator (40 °F or less), they remain safe. After thawing, use ground meats, poultry, and fish within one or two additional days, and use beef, pork, lamb or veal (roasts, steaks, or chops) within three to five days.

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How do you tell if frozen chicken is fully cooked? ›

The same signs of doneness apply to chicken that started from frozen, too. The internal temperature should reach 165 °F (74 °C), the juices should run clear, and there should be no shiny pink spots showing inside.

How do you cook frozen chicken without drying it out? ›

Place the chicken on a pan in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. Brush periodically with olive oil to keep the chicken moist. It will take approximately 60 minutes to cook 8 ounces of chicken all the way through. Use an oven thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be at 165.

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How do you make frozen chicken taste better? ›

When I'm baking frozen chicken breasts, I like to give them a 20 minute head start in the oven, and then go in and add some seasoning or sauce. I find that it sticks better to chicken that is not frozen solid, and if I am using sauce it doesn't burn with the long cook time.

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Should I rinse frozen chicken before cooking? ›

Don't Wash Your Chicken! Washing chicken, even with a slow stream of water, can cause dangerous germs to splash from the raw meat onto other surfaces. These germs can then get onto other foods, like lettuce, that will not be cooked to kill germs before eating.

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How do you prepare frozen cooked chicken? ›

Put the cooked frozen chicken on a baking sheet or in a dish that can go in the oven. The chicken should be heated in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it achieves a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C), internally. You might wish to use foil to conceal it.

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