The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Craving chicken for dinner but only have some that’s frozen? Frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer are an option!
Similar to how you’d make fresh chicken thighs in the air fryer, these frozen thighs turn out just as juicy, crispy, and oh so tasty!
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
Before you run off to make air fryer frozen chicken thighs, have a read through these recipe tips so that you know what to expect:
- You do not need to thaw the chicken thighs first. You can use frozen chicken thighs. Just make sure that they are separated and don’t stick together.
- We used boneless and skinless chicken thighs. The cook time for thighs with a bone in and skin on will be slightly longer.
- The thickness of the chicken thighs will also affect the cook time. Thicker thighs will take longer to cook. Make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- We used basic spices including salt, pepper and garlic powder. Feel free to change the spices to suit your personal preferences.
Step by Step Instructions
If you want to see exactly how to make these frozen chicken thighs, you can follow these steps in this section.
For those who just want to get cooking and are wondering how long to cook frozen chicken thighs in air fryer, you can skip to the detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post!
First, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the air fryer is preheating, add the frozen chicken thighs into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Drizzle oil on the thighs, then sprinkle them with salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
Toss the frozen thighs in the bowl or gently mix them with tongs until everything is coated evenly.
Once the air fryer is heated, add the frozen chicken thighs into the air fryer in one layer. Try to have no overlap or else the chicken thighs might not cook/crisp evenly.
Air fry the frozen chicken thighs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-22 minutes total until fully cooked through and crispy on the outside.
Flip the thighs halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The exact cooking time varies based on the thickness of the frozen chicken thighs, if they have skin on, and based on which air fryer you have.
Once cooked, remove the chicken thighs from the air fry. Let them sit for a few minutes. Then serve and enjoy!
You can serve these thighs with sweet potato fries and a side of carrots for a well-rounded meal!
Storage Tips
Air-fried frozen chicken thighs are best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the fryer.
You can store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. They’ll last for 3-4 days like this.
To enjoy them again, you can eat them cold or reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes. We find the microwave works too – but might make the thighs a little rubbery.
Related Recipes
If you want to cook more frozen meat dishes in the air fryer, have a look these options:
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
- Frozen Cevapi in the Air Fryer
- Air Fried Frozen Cordon Bleu
- Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burger
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen chicken thighs, boneless skinless (approximately 4-6; see notes)
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While preheating, add the frozen chicken thighs into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle oil on the thighs, then sprinkle them with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss the frozen thighs in the bowl or gently mix them with tongs until everything is coated evenly.
- Once the air fryer is heated, add the frozen chicken thighs into the air fryer in one layer. Try to have no overlap or else the chicken thighs might not cook/crisp evenly.
- Air fry the frozen chicken thighs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-22 minutes total until fully cooked through and crispy on the outside. Flip the thighs halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact cooking time varies based on the thickness of the frozen chicken thighs, if they have skin on, and based on which air fryer you have.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken thighs from the air fry. Let them sit for a few minutes. Then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The frozen chicken thighs we used for this recipe were boneless and skinless. Thighs with bone-in and skin-on will take a little bit longer to cook.
- Again, the size of the chicken thighs can affect the cooking time. Never consume chicken that is not fully cooked. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
Air Fried chicken thighs or breasts cooked from frozen, but I have also used whole chicken chopped into 1/4’s, and added a slice of streaky smoked bacon to each 1/4, so it’s covering the chicken for the last 4-5 minutes of cooking time, which was then even more extra succulently juicy and amazing. The bacon works just as well with the Thighs or Breasts meat, and for an even more extra treat, I air fry ball’s made from Bubble & Squeak to replace or accompany Sweet or New Potatoes.