Last updated on April 29, 2022
Preparing frozen chicken is easy, and easier than you might think.
With the right approach, you can use the frozen chicken you have in the freezer without having to thaw it or buy fresh meat. Some of the important considerations in cooking frozen chicken breast safely and quickly include knowing the correct cooking time adjustments, using a marinade and choosing the right pan for cooking.
We go through the steps! Additionally, we share some tasty fried chicken recipes that you can try with frozen chicken.
Pro Tips for Preparing Frozen Chicken Breasts (Before You Start!)
Before you get started, consider these pro tips on how to cook frozen chicken breasts safely, quickly, and for optimal results:
1. If you have a choice, size your chicken breasts smaller rather than larger. This shortens cooking times, which increases the risk of the meat drying out.
2. It is important to keep meat that has been frozen together separate. You don't want to fry the frozen chicken breasts together. They should be individual pieces to ensure safe cooking and even cooking.
3. Marinate and add juice to prevent drying out. This applies both frozen and fresh, but is especially important when preparing frozen chicken breasts. Using a marinade can rehydrate the frozen meat and add flavor.
6 steps to successfully prepare frozen chicken breast
These steps will look familiar. Because many of the steps for cooking frozen chicken breasts are the same as cooking fresh chicken. There are just a few additional considerations and things to keep in mind to ensure the end result is juicy, tender and delicious.
Step 1 – Preheat the oven
Believe it or not, it's cookingtemperaturebecause frozen chicken breasts are the same as raw. So just follow the oven preheat instructions in your recipe as is. When baking, it is the cooking time that is different. You will probably need to add 40-50% extra baking time to a recipe. The thicker the chicken fillet, the longer the cooking time.
The key to success when cooking chicken (fresh or frozen) is finding the right combination of cooking time and temperature. The longer you cook at a lower temperature, the more you run the risk of dry meat. The higher the temperature, the more control you will have to do, but the cooking time will be faster and the meat may become more tender.
Step 2 – Prepare the chicken breast
You can even marinate it when it's frozen. Many people believe that the frozen chicken breast means that liquids cannot penetrate the meat. But that's not necessarily true.
As soon as the chicken leaves the freezer, the defrosting process begins. And the meat begins to absorb the liquids of a marinade and the seasoning properties of any dry rub. So it is important to prepare and season the frozen chicken breast in the same way as if it were fresh. Be sure to marinate in the refrigerator while thawing and store the thawed chicken in a sealed container or resealable bag.
Some great seasonings for baking frozen chicken include an Italian-inspired blend of herbs and spices (think marjoram, rosemary, oregano, parsley, and thyme). Or keep it classic with strong seasonings such as salt, pepper, smoked or sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powder and any other dried herbs you like.
Here's onerub dry for all purposesyou could try sprucing things up a bit!
Step 3 – Put it in a pan
A layer! Say it again, single layer! The key to consistency and uniformity when cooking frozen chicken breasts is not to overlap the meat. The frozen chicken takes longer to cook than thawed chicken. And if there is overlap, you risk more extreme cooking fluctuations near the end of the expected cooking time.
For example, the center of a frozen chicken breast may be cooked through, but the overlapping edges may still be frozen. This is a difficult scenario to overcome without overcooking parts of the meat and having to eat a dry chicken breast for your meal.
What kind of pan should you use? You can use your favorite baking pan. Consider covering it with aluminum foil to retain heat and liquids. Another good option is a Dutch oven. These pans are designed to retain heat and juices so that meat can be roasted easily, which can help prevent drying out.
Trin 4 – Tas
Baking average sized frozen chicken breasts (5-7 oz) can take anywhere from 40 to 45 minutes depending on the oven temperature. We recommend 400°F, which is hotter than some recipes call for. But with a little extra control, the higher temperature can prevent the meat from drying out (which can happen when you cook low and slow).
It only takes 20-25 minutes to make a thawed chicken breast of the same size. It's a good idea to estimate a 40-50% longer cooking time when following a recipe.
You can keep an eye on the internal temperature with a cooking thermometer. But you should always bake chicken until the thermometer reaches 165°F. Be sure to check all parts of the chicken as some areas may take longer to reach the all-important 165°F threshold.
Step 5 – Let it rest
When you've reached the temperature (not a degree more if you can help it), remove the chicken from the oven. The chicken stock should be clear.
Transfer to a new pan or cutting board, wrap the fried chicken in foil and let rest for five to ten minutes. This extra step ensures that the meat retains its juices and is nice and moist when you are ready to eat.
4 good recipes for cooking frozen chicken breasts
1. Simple recipe for fried chicken breast
This recipe uses a combination of fresh herbs, lemon juice and olive oil to ensure the juiciest chicken breast every time. It's a recipe you should have on hand if you need to deal with cooking frozen chicken breasts in the oven.
The ultimate fried chicken crowd-pleaser, thiseasy baked chicken breast recipeis one to try.
- 10 ingredients
- Total time: 40 minutes
2. Recipe for chicken breast with lemon pepper and brown sage butter
Perfect for learning how to cook frozen chicken breasts, this recipe is all juicy, peppery and citrusy. First fried in a skillet on the stove and then popped into the oven for the final part of cooking, this recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.
You can't go wrong with the flavors of this spicy fried chicken dish.
- 12 ingredients
- Total time: 25 minutes
3. Recipe for marinated chicken fillet with herbs and white wine
We designed this recipe specifically for cooking. This makes it suitable for using frozen chicken fillets. You can prepare and freeze meals for the coming week. Plus, thanks to the use of avocado oil and ghee with a variety of spices, this recipe is ideal for health-conscious eaters.
Want to know how to prepare frozen chicken breasts ahead of time for meal prep? We've got you covered.
- 10 ingredients
- Total time: 25 minutes (excl. night marinade)
4. Quick chicken salad recipe
This chicken salad recipe comes together quickly, as the name suggests. Cook your chicken first, then chop it finely and add it to this recipe. Mix the ingredients together with a ready-made green goddess dressing, dried cranberries, herbs and pistachios, and voila! It's a perfect way to use frozen chicken breasts.
This ready-made chicken salad is ideal for any meal or event you organize.
- 5 ingredients
- Total time: 30 minutes
If you're curious about more chicken cooking tips and tricks, check out these posts on oursJustCook-blog:
- 7 tips for perfectly cooked chicken
- How to cook juicy and tender chicken breasts every time
- How to fry chicken breast
- How to thin a chicken breast
- ButcherBox Guide to Baking Chicken
Olivia Groves
Olivia is a writer and content strategist from Charlotte. Olivia has over 6 years of experiencefreelance writingfor many different companies and publications focused on retail and consumer goods and services. When she's not writing, she can be found in her garden growing her own food and flowers.
