Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

Learn how to cook frozen chicken thighs in air fryer with this easy and quick air fryer frozen chicken thighs recipe that will give you perfectly cooked, moist, tender, and flavorful chicken with crispy skin.

Can you cook frozen chicken thighs in air fryer? Yes, you can! Let me show you how to bake frozen chicken thighs in air fryer with this recipe that makes use of raw frozen chicken thighs with skin on and bone-in. It's so simple, quick, and tastes so good just as if you've used fresh. 

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs Recipe

Easy air fryer frozen chicken thighs recipe you will love! Air fried to perfection then brushed with bbq sauce to give tasty, sticky bbq chicken thighs.

I use this for when I forget to thaw chicken and let me tell you, it's magic! It's perfectly cooked at all times I've made it and I'll be sharing with you how to get the same result.

The chicken thighs are seasoned with a few dried herbs and spices, yet flavorful and tasty.

No need for marinating and unless you're told, you will not know it's cooked from frozen.

I used bbq sauce to glaze the chicken in the last 5 minutes of cooking time but you can use other sauces like peri peri sauce, buffalo sauce, honey soy, and others.

These baked frozen chicken thighs in air fryer are tender inside, and the skin crispy. It is flavorful, and delicious.

Related: Air fryer frozen chicken drumsticks

Ingredients

The detailed ingredient lists, measurements, and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chicken thighs - I have used frozen skin on, bone in thighs but you can use skinless, boneless chicken thighs too. Cooking time is listed for both.

Paprika

Garlic powder 

Onion granules

Pepper

Olive oil

Salt

Bbq sauce - optional

How To Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air fryer

Separate the thighs into individual pieces. If they are stuck together, run under water to deglaze and separate.

In a small bowl, mix the garlic powder, onion granules, paprika, pepper, parsley, salt, and oil. 

Brush the seasoning marinade all over the chicken thighs. 

Arrange the thighs in the air fryer basket with the skin side up. Arrange in a single file and not on top of each other.

Put the basket in the air fryer and air fry at a temperature of 170C for 18 minutes, bring out the basket, turn the chicken thighs then air fry for another 15 minutes. 

Brush the chicken with bbq sauce, making sure you cover all parts then air fry at a temperature of 180C/360F for another 4 minutes to crisp the skin.

Put off the air fryer, bring the basket out, and let the chicken rest for 4 minutes. 

Serve and enjoy.

Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer

To cook frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs in air fryer, follow this step by step:

Bring out the frozen chicken and remove all packaging.

Mix the garlic powder, paprika, onion granules, pepper, parsley, salt, and oil in a bowl.

Brush the seasoning mix all over the frozen boneless chicken thighs.

Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.

Set the air fryer to a temperature of 180C/360F and air fry frozen boneless chicken thighs for 20-25 minutes or till the internal temperature is at least 165F.

When cooked, bring it out of the air fryer, serve and enjoy.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air fryer

How long to cook frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer depends on the size of the chicken thighs, and the brand of AF you use. Temperature and cooking time varies slightly with the type of air fryer so you might have to adjust the recommended cooking time below:

For medium-sized bone in thighs, you should air fry at a temperature of 170C/ 340F for 30 -35 minutes.

For skinless boneless chicken thighs, air fry at a temperature of 170C/ 340F for 15-20 minutes.

Air frying at a low temperature ensures that it thaws and cook inside. Cooking at a high temperature might result in it being cooked and browned on the outside but uncooked on the inside.

For the chicken to be cooked and safe to eat, the juice in the chicken must run clear and there should be no blood around the bone.

It is also important that the internal temperature when checked with an instant thermometer should be over 165F/75C. Do not eat if the temperature is below stated as that might lead to food poisoning.

Serving Suggestions 

Below are some recommendations of what to serve with chicken thighs:

Air fryer potatoes, mashed potatoes

Steamed vegetables, pan fried vegetables

Spicy rice, flavoured rice, Jollof rice.

Pasta

Salads

Coleslaws

How To Store

Let it cool completely, then pack in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container, then store in the fridge where it will keep for up to 4 days. 

If you want to store it for longer then store it in the freezer where it will last for up to 6 months. 

It can be reheated in the air fryer, or microwave from frozen or thawed. 

To reheat from frozen in the microwave, put on a plate that is microwave safe, cover with a microwave dish cover then use the high settings of the microwave to warm it for 4 minutes or till warmed through.

To reheat in the air fryer, put the chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry at a temperature of 170C/ 340F for 4 minutes or till heated through.

Tips For Cooking Frozen Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer

• If the thighs are not in single pieces, run them underwater to separate them into individual pieces and pat dry before seasoning.

• If you are unable to separate them by doing the above, air fry for about 3 minutes at which point they should be easy to separate into individual pieces, rub with the seasoning mix and continue to air fry.

• Adjust the pepper quantity to how spicy you like your food.

• Remember to arrange the chicken in a single layer and not overcrowd the basket as overcrowding will lead to uneven cooking with some parts cooking better than the other.

• As air fryer brands vary with their temperature settings, you might have to adjust the temperature of your air fryer and it might also require you to cook for a lesser time or longer. 

FAQS

Frozen Breaded Chicken Thighs

If you want to know if you can cook frozen breaded chicken thighs, the answer is Yes! Air fryer is great for frozen food. To cook it in the AF, follow these directions:

Remove all packaging from the chicken thighs

Arrange the breaded thighs in the air fryer and air fry at a temperature of 180C/360F for 25-35 minutes or until the internal temperature is at least 165F and the inside is cooked and tender, and the outer crispy.

Tools

Measuring spoons

Bowl

Air fryer

Tong

Instant meat thermometer

Serving plates

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