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

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? ›

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.

Can you cook chicken straight from frozen? ›

Learn More ›

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 to cook chicken that's still a little frozen? ›

First, plan to cook your chicken for at least twice as long as you might cook thawed chicken — for example, a recipe that calls for a 20-minute cook time with thawed chicken will require about 40 minutes with still-frozen chicken.

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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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Does chicken have to be 100% defrosted before cooking? ›

If you're stuck on how to defrost chicken, the main thing is to make sure it's thoroughly defrosted before cooking (at room temperature or in the microwave using the defrost setting), unless you're using specially-prepared products.

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What happens if you don't defrost chicken and cook it? ›

You can cook frozen chicken without thawing if you simply don't have the time. However, it needs about 50% more cooking time. Cooking frozen chicken also causes excess moisture to be released. This method works best for recipes that call for braising or slow cooking rather than sautéing or frying.

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How do you cook frozen cooked chicken? ›

Turn on the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). 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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How long to cook frozen chicken on the stove? ›

Saute:

Preheat skillet over medium heat. Oil or Non-stick pan spray can be used to prevent sticking.
Place frozen chicken in skillet, cover pan and cook for 10 minutes.
Flip chicken, cover pan and cook for additional 10 minutes, or until minimum internal temperature measured using instant read thermometer reaches 170°F.

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Is it okay if chicken cooks a little while defrosting? ›

When microwave-thawing meat and poultry, plan to fully cook it immediately because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present would not have been destroyed and may have reached optimal temperatures for bacteria to grow.

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Can you thaw chicken in hot water? ›

If you only have a few hours to thaw your chicken, you can use cold water to defrost it. Never thaw meat at room temperature or in hot water. According to the USDA, as soon as meat reaches 40 degrees F, it enters the food "Danger Zone," where bacteria can multiply and make it unsafe to eat.

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Is it okay to bake slightly frozen chicken? ›

Maybe you got your chicken in the fridge on time, but it didn't thaw all the way. There's no need to order takeout. You can bake your partially frozen chicken as planned, but you may need to increase the cooking time.

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How to tell if chicken is thawed enough to cook? ›

To check if your chicken is thoroughly defrosted, cut a small slit in the thickest part of the breast or thigh. Insert your finger – the flesh should be soft and no ice crystals should remain. If you feel ice crystals or the flesh is solid you will need to continue defrosting.

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How to tell if frozen chicken is undercooked? ›

Poke the Meat

If the juices are red or have a pinkish color, your chicken may need to be cooked a bit longer. Some home cooks don't like this method because chicken shouldn't be consumed below 165°F (so you need a thermometer).

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Can you defrost chicken and cook straight away? ›

Use the microwave

This is the fastest method, but remember: Chicken must be cooked immediately after you thaw it using a microwave. That's because microwaves heat poultry to a temperature between 40 and 140ºF (4.4 and 60ºC), which bacteria thrive in.

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What happens if chicken starts to cook while defrosting? ›

The USDA warns that defrosting large cuts of meat in the microwave can lead the outside to warm faster than the middle and may cause some areas to begin cooking or warm enough to develop harmful bacteria. You can and should fully cook unevenly defrosted chicken immediately after defrosting.

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Can you cook fully cooked frozen chicken? ›

Yes, frozen cooked chicken can be cooked directly from frozen. However, it is important to follow the proper cooking instructions to ensure it is cooked thoroughly and reaches a safe internal temperature.

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