Make air fryer frozen breaded chicken breast for a quick and easy dinner. The chicken cooks up crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. You can make these breaded chicken breasts in an air fryer in a fraction of the time that it takes to bake them in the oven or deep-fry them.
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Whether you’re short on time and need an easy meal, or simply want a healthier alternative to traditional fried foods, air frying frozen foods is a good option.
Air fryers circulate hot air around food to make it crispy outside and moist inside, without the need for excess oil. This cooking method is especially useful for frozen foods, because it keeps in moisture and prevents the food from becoming overcooked.
You can air fry all kinds of foods like air fryer chicken nuggets, chicken patties, egg rolls, air fryer chicken tenders, and more.
Breaded chicken fillets are a fast food favorite, usually served in a sandwich, just like frozen chicken patties. Chick Fil A is one of the most popular fast-food restaurants to serve these delicious chicken sandwiches. You can try these chicken breasts in a breakfast biscuit sandwich.
Frozen breaded chicken breast can often turn out dry and flavorless if not cooked correctly. But luckily the air fryer comes to the rescue to help you cook perfect breaded boneless skinless chicken breasts.
I’ll show you how to air fry perfectly cooked frozen breaded boneless chicken breast. You can make crispy chicken breasts in the air fryer, from frozen, in less than 20 minutes.
Be sure to check out my post that has all the cooking times for the air fryer, organized by type of food.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast
- Preheat the air fryer before putting the chicken breasts in.
- Until you are ready to cook frozen breaded chicken breasts, keep them in the freezer. There’s no need to thaw the chicken.
- Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this chicken recipe, monitor the chicken and check on it 2 minutes before the cooking time is up. Adjust the recipe as needed.
- Larger or thicker pieces may take longer to cook. Adjust the recipe accordingly.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. For best results, place the chicken pieces in a single layer, without stacking them. This will get them to crisp evenly. If you have more chicken than will easily fit in the basket, cook them in a second batch.
- Flip the chicken pieces halfway through air frying.
- The chicken will turn a golden brown when done cooking. Measure the temperature of the largest piece with a digital meat thermometer. The general guideline is that the chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
🍴 SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Salad: Slice the chicken breast and serve over a salad for added protein.
- Chicken Parmesan: Line a baking dish with pasta sauce and place chicken breasts in the dish. Pour more sauce on the chicken and top with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese has melted. Serve over cooked spaghetti.
- Chicken Sandwich: Serve on a toasted brioche bun with sliced pickles, and your favorite sauce: Chick Fil A sauce, mayonnaise, sriracha mayo or honey mustard sauce. Optionally, you can add lettuce and tomato. Or bacon!
FAQS
You don’t need to use any oil in this recipe. I’ve never had the chicken breasts stick to the bottom.
Cook frozen chicken breast for about 16 to 19 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket once at 8 minutes.
I used Just Bare frozen chicken from Costco but also I’ve used Tyson chicken patties and Aldi red bag chicken breast. You can also use store brand chicken breasts from your grocery store. Just keep an eye on the chicken and check on it two minutes before the cook time is up.
This recipe was tested using Cosori air fryer.
Air fry the chicken for another 2 to 3 minutes, increasing the temp to 400 degrees F.
Yes, leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Reheat the chicken breasts by air frying them for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts
- Don’t thaw; keep the chicken frozen until ready to use
- Pre-heat the air fryer
- Place chicken breasts in the air fryer
- Cook chicken, flipping once halfway through cooking process
- Serve crispy air fried chicken with your favorite sauce and frozen sweet potato fries or french fries.
See recipe card below for details
✅ MY FAVORITE AIR FRYER ACCESSORIES
EVO oil sprayer is great for spraying oil on food. This is the best I’ve tried.
An instant-read thermometer is invaluable when air frying meats or frozen foods.
Perforated parchment sheets come in handy when making messy foods.
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions (See Note!)
- Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. **
- Add the frozen chicken to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 16 to 19 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping the chicken pieces over with tongs or a spatula at the 8 minute mark.
- Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and serve in a sandwich or wrap. Or cut into slices and serve over your favorite salad.
Notes
- * Nutrition information is for Just Bare Chicken. However, the same timings can be used for Tyson chicken breasts.
- Don’t thaw the frozen chicken before air frying.
- ** Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality.
- NOTE: Every air fryer’s cooking time will vary due to wattage and capacity. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the chicken and check on it 2 to 3 minutes before the time is up. adjust the air frying time as needed.
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Recipes
Patsy says
I purchased my first Air Fryer this week. So anxious to try your recipes. You explained the steps so clearly for each recipe that even a beginner, as I am, shouldn’t have any trouble. Thank you.
Neena Panicker says
Patsy, thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m glad you like the way I present the recipes!
Becca A. says
*Rating this 5 stars bc I’m praying this works as I’m doing it, though it’s not suggested at all in the recipe!
Q. Can you dredge and then air fry frozen plain chicken breast cutlets with the same results, or is it better to cook them half way and then coat and dredge them (and let them finish cooking)?
Thank you!
~Becca
Neena Panicker says
Becca, I hope it worked for you. I would think that dredging the frozen chicken breasts would make them soggy. I would probably thaw them and dry them first.