Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer (Perfectly Cooked in 25 minutes or less)

Name: Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin on (£3.30)); 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp Cayenne pepper (leave out if you don't like heat); Salt and pepper

Can you cook frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer? Yes you can! And what a relief, because if you are anything like me, and sometimes forget to thaw the meat, then this is a lifesaver! Not to mention, you can air fry frozen chicken thighs in 25 minutes or less, so you don’t lose any time. Find out just how great this cooking method is below.

4 golden browned and seasoned chicken thighs on a blue tray with some green herbs.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love this recipe

Budget Friendly – Chicken thighs are a great budget friendly alternative to the more expensive chicken breast cut.

Versatile – The beauty of chicken is you can use just about any flavor combo to make this meal perfect for you and your tastes.

No Thawing Required – That’s right! You don’t have to thaw the chicken…at…all! What a time saver!

Easy Cleanup – Any time you use the air fryer, you will find that cleanup is a cinch.

Love chicken? You’ll love my Creamy Mustard Chicken (Best ever!), Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta or Easy Chicken and Chorizo Risotto.

Bone-in or Boneless Chicken thighs?

So you can cook either bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (which is what this recipe uses) or boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

Both are fantastic options, but I like using bone-in, skin on thighs because they are normally a bit cheaper, and also they produce more tender, juicy, flavorful meat. Plus, who doesn’t love crispy fried skin!

But if you are cooking frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer, those will work great as well. You will just need to reduce the cooking time by about 5-10 minutes.

Ingredients

Bone in, skin on chicken thighs – If your chicken thighs are all frozen together, be sure to run them under some water to separate them. They will cook better in the air fryer.

Seasoning – I like to use salt and pepper as a base.

Spray oil – A little bit of oil spray on the chicken will help the skin get nice and crispy.

See the recipe card for full details.

Variations/ Adaptations

The great thing about making air fryer frozen chicken thighs is that you could make them every night of the week but with different seasoning blends. Anything from poultry seasoning to cajun seasoning is great on these crispy thighs.

BBQ sauce is a classic on the grill, so why not add it to chicken in the air fryer as well? There are so many kinds of BBQ sauce that you could try a different one each time you make the thighs.

Serve a bowl of healthy soup as a starter. Try my Creamy Parsnip Soup, Easy Bacon and Lentil Soup or Easy Carrot and Coriander Soup.

How to make frozen chicken thighs in the airfryer

Preheat your airfryer for 3 minutes at 395°F (200°C).

Place the frozen chicken thighs, skin facing down, evenly across the airfryer basket so they aren’t touching. Pop in the airfryer to cook for 10 minutes at 360°F (180°C) (Image 1).
Combine 1 tbsp of rapeseed oil with the paprika, onion/garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper (Image 2).

2 step by step photos, the first with 4 raw chicken thighs, skin side down in an airfryer tray and the second with spices mixed in a small bowl.

3. After 10 minutes, flip the chicken with tongs so that the skin is facing up. Coat the skin with the spice/oil mix, then pop back into the airfryer for 15 -18 minutes at 360°F (180°C) (Image 3).

4. Cook and check the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C). Tip – for extra flavour, you can use the juices in the bottom of the airfryer basket to baste the skin when there’s 10 minutes left! Serve up and enjoy! (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with 4 rgolden browned chicken thighs, skin side up in an airfryer tray and the second with the thigh browned further.

Pour over some onion gravy or serve the chicken with my Easy Boursin Cheese Baked Pasta and Mediterranean Vegetables

Tips for the best result

Cook to 165℉ (74℃) internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh or until juices run clear.
Make sure there is space between the thighs in the air fryer for circulation. Do not stack or overlap the chicken thighs.
If the chicken thighs have been frozen into one solid block, separate them into single pieces by running water over them until they break apart.

4 chicken thighs covered in a seasoning and browned in an airfryer tray.

Frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs in air fryer

Air fryer frozen chicken thighs that are boneless and skinless are another great option for a quick weeknight meal. They are slightly lower in fat because they don’t have the skin, and they cook a little faster without the bone.

You will follow the same instructions for the bone-in chicken thighs, but reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes. The best way to make sure they are done is to check them for an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃ ) using a meat thermometer and that the juices are clear when you cut into them.

Here are some articles to help you with re heating: How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken: 7 Easy Ways, The Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Airfryer and The Best Way To Reheat Salmon

Serving Suggestions

Cooking frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer are so versatile you could pair them with just about anything to make a complete meal. Roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes sound perfect.

Or keep it simple with a salad and air fryer baked potato!

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

You can also freeze the leftover chicken thighs in the freezer for up to 3 months in a regular upright freezer or 1 year in a deep freezer.

To reheat, microwave in 10-15 second bursts until warmed through or you can also reheat them in the air fryer. Just preheat the air fryer to 350℉ (177℃ ) then place the chicken in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes if it is from the fridge or 5-6 minutes if it is from the freezer.

4 golden browned and seasoned chicken thighs on a blue tray with some coriander a wedge of lime.

FAQs

Can I air fry chicken thighs that are frozen together in a block?

I would suggest running them under cool water and breaking the block into individual chicken thighs before air frying them.

Is it better to thaw chicken before air frying?

You can thaw chicken before air frying but it is not necessary. Frozen chicken cooks perfectly fine in the air fryer.

Why is my air fried chicken dry?

More than likely it is overcooked. Different sizes of chicken thighs can vary the cooking time so the best way to know for sure when your chicken is done is to check it for an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃) in the thickest part of the thigh. If you go over this, you risk having dry chicken.

What if my chicken thighs were frozen in a deep freezer?

Cook them 10-15 minutes longer or until internal temperature is 165℉ (74℃) in