No need to worry about thawing your chicken with this easy frozen chicken in the air fryer recipe! It’s coated in a delicious garlic and herb seasoning blend that will instantly become a family favorite.
Frozen Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer
Quick and easy recipes for busy weeknights are truly my favorite. Ones where I don’t have to plan ahead, and can just pull something out at the last minute and know that my family will love it – those recipes keep my house running smoothly.
These chicken thighs go straight from the freezer to a bowl for a quick seasoning, then straight into the air fryer without any thawing needed. Air frying bone-in frozen chicken couldn’t be any simpler, and it’s ready in just about 25 minutes – the perfect amount of time to throw together a quick side dish to serve it with.
They’re flavored with a seriously tasty homemade spice blend that’s so simple. Just a bit of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper is all you need to totally elevate the flavor of your chicken. You’ll end up with juicy, tender meat and perfectly crispy skin. It quickly became a family favorite in my house, and I’m sure everyone in your family will be asking for seconds!
Ingredients
Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs are so forgiving to cook. The extra fat keeps them moist even if you cook them a bit too long. That’s why I love having them on hand to air fry from frozen. I prefer bone-in, skin-on thighs because they have more flavor. If you have boneless, skinless thighs, this recipe will still work, you’ll just need to adjust the cooking times down.
Olive Oil: This is the fat we’re using to coat the chicken thighs. It both helps the chicken get delicious, crispy skin, and it helps the seasonings stick to the chicken better. Feel free to swap this for your favorite cooking oil.
Italian Seasoning: This seasoning blend is a super easy way to add tons of savory flavor easily. Feel free to use a homemade Italian seasoning blend or a store bought one, just make sure it’s still fresh. Even though dried herbs last longer, they still start to lose their flavor after about 6 months.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These aromatics add lots of concentrated flavor. I prefer using powders, instead of fresh minced garlic and onion, when I’m using the air fryer because then I avoid the risk of burning the fresh garlic and onion. Plus, it’s easier, which is always welcome in my house!
Paprika: Paprika is one of my favorite spices to use on chicken. It adds a beautiful color and a subtle sweetness. If you want to get a smoky, almost grilled flavor, try using smoked paprika instead.
Salt and Pepper: Salt enhances all of the other flavors in this dish, and pepper adds a subtle heat that balances out the richness.
Alternative Ingredients
- Taco Seasoning: This would be a great substitution if you’re planning to serve the chicken in tacos or burritos, and it would taste great with beans and tortillas. I love using our homemade chicken taco seasoning.
- Cajun Seasoning: If you like a little heat, this would be a delicious way to season the meat. Try serving this version alongside rice, cornbread, or coleslaw.
- BBQ Seasoning: For people that like a savory, sweet, and smoky flavor, try making your own BBQ seasoning with brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika.
- Mediterranean Seasoning: For a brighter, fresher flavor, try coating the chicken in some of this Mediterranean seasoning. To elevate the flavor even more, squeeze fresh lemon juice over it before serving.
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer
Before You Begin: The frozen chicken thighs need to be separated for this recipe to work. If you’re trying to air fry one large clump of stuck together frozen meat, this recipe won’t turn out well. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Make the Spice Blend: Preheat the air fryer. While the air fryer is preheating, mix all the spices and herbs together in a small bowl.
Season the Chicken: Coat the chicken in the oil, then sprinkle the seasoning over top and mix to evenly coat the chicken in the seasoning.
Air Fry the Chicken: Place the chicken in the preheated air fryer basket, skin side down. Air fry for a bit.
Finish Cooking: Carefully flip the chicken over, so it’s skin side up, and finish cooking until the internal temperature without touching the bone reads at least 165F on an instant read meat thermometer (but I think it tastes even better at 185-190F). If you want crispier skin, turn the air fryer temperature up, and air fry for a few more minutes. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Separate the Chicken Before Cooking: If your meat is frozen with the thighs all stuck together, thaw it just enough to break them apart. The chicken in this recipe needs room for the air to circulate around each thigh in order for the meat to cook evenly.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Giving each thigh space for the air to circulate around it is critical for developing the golden brown color and delicious, crispy skin.
- Gauge Doneness Using a Meat Thermometer: This is especially important with this recipe. Since we’re starting with frozen meat and chicken thighs can vary quite a bit in size, don’t just rely on cook times to assess whether or not the chicken is done. Use a meat thermometer and check it at the thickest point without touching bone. It needs to be 165F in order to be safe to eat, but tastes even better at 185-190F because that gives the fat a chance to render.
Can You Put Frozen Chicken In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! The air fryer cooks chicken quickly enough to be able to safely cook it from frozen. The key is to make sure that any frozen meat you’re using was frozen with the pieces laid flat and separate from each other. If you’re trying to air fry frozen meat that’s stuck together, or even folded over on itself, the meat won’t cook evenly.
Is It Better To Air Fry Frozen Or Thawed?
I love the air fryer because it allows me to cook frozen chicken without having to worry about planning ahead and thawing it in advance. It’s especially great at cooking frozen chicken thighs because you don’t need to worry too much about accidentally overcooking the chicken – even if you overcook it, it will likely still be juicy and delicious. That being said, you do have more control over cooking to the exact temperature you want when you’re starting with thawed chicken. I find that this matters more for chicken breasts though.
How Long Do You Cook Frozen Thighs In An Air Fryer?
It depends on whether or not you’re cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs or bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. This recipe uses bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and takes about 25 minutes to cook the chicken. Since the size of chicken thighs vary, and frozen meat takes longer to cook, it’s important to check the internal temperature of the chicken rather than just relying on cooking times for this recipe. The internal temperature at the thickest point without touching the bone should read at least 165F to be safe to eat, though I prefer it between 185-190F.
Do I Have To Flip Meat In An Air Fryer?
Yes, it’s important to flip the meat halfway through cooking. It helps you achieve the best results by cooking the meat evenly and creates even browning.
What To Serve With Chicken Thighs
These make a quick and easy dinner served alongside buttery frozen peas or some Italian green beans, and a slice of honey butter cornbread, these diced potatoes, or some stovetop Velveeta mac and cheese.
Storing And Reheating
Let leftovers cool, then transfer them to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat them, reheat in an air fryer until the meat is warmed through and the skin is crispy.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Chicken Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other chicken recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Dutch Oven Chicken Breast
- Baked Panko Chicken
- Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
- Frozen Chicken Thighs Instant Pot
- Southern Chicken and Rice
- Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
BEST Frozen Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer (Quick Easy Recipe)
No need to worry about thawing your chicken with this easy and delicious frozen chicken in the air fryer recipe!
Ingredients
- 4 frozen bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
*A note before you start: The chicken thighs need to be separated. The recipe won’t turn out well if you’re trying to air fry one large clump of frozen meat.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350F for 5 minutes.
- To a small bowl, add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Place the frozen chicken thighs in a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. Toss to coat the thighs evenly in oil.
- Sprinkle the herb and spice mixture over the thighs. Toss to coat evenly in the spice blend, and gently press the seasonings into the chicken to help it stick.
- Once the air fryer has preheated, arrange the chicken thighs, skin side down, in the basket. Make sure there’s enough space around the chicken thighs for air to circulate, you don’t want them to overlap. Cook them at 350F for 13 minutes, then open the air fryer and carefully flip them so the skin side is facing up. Continue cooking them until they are golden brown, crispy, and reach an internal temperature at the thickest point without touching the bone of at least 165F on an instant read meat thermometer, about 10-13 more minutes (I actually prefer my thighs cooked to a higher internal temperature closer to 185-190F, so don’t worry if it goes over). The total cook time varies depending on the size of the chicken thighs.
- If you want crispier skin, turn the air fryer up to 380F and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Once it has finished cooking, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Let leftovers cool, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place the chicken thighs back in the air fryer at 350F for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 30.1gCarbohydrates: 1.5gFiber: 0.5gSugar: 0.1gProtein: 14.5g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
The next time you’re craving some crispy chicken thighs, don’t even worry about thawing them! Just pull them straight out of the freezer and make this tasty air fryer frozen chicken thighs recipe.
