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    Home ยป Air Fryer Recipes

    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

    Published: April 16, 2023Updated: April 16, 2023 ยท This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Our Full Disclosure Policy for More Information

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    Cooking Methods
    • Air Fryer
    Recipe Time :37 minutes mins
    Servings: 2
    Difficulty Level :Easy

    Recipe Rating

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    You won't believe how delicious and juicy these air fryer frozen chicken thighs turn out! I'm not usually a big fan of cooking meat from frozen because the results can be less than great. However, using this step method for cooking meat from frozen is a game changer.  

    In about 30 minutes you can have tender, juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin right in your air fryer! Pair these crispy chicken thighs with some steam & crisped broccoli for a delicious low carb meal.

    Cooked chicken thighs golden brown in air fryer basket.

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    In this recipe post, I focus on chicken thighs, but you can use the step method to cook just about anything from frozen without sacrificing quality. For a detailed explanation of the step method, see my full article (coming soon): Cooking from frozen: Get great results using the step method. 

    I have applied this method over and over again with different types of meat and it works flawlessly as long as you understand the principles. 

    Find The Information You Need Quickly

    Toggle
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How Food Cooks in an Air Fryer
    • How to Air Fryer Chicken Thighs from Frozen
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • EASY Air Fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Frozen Chicken Thighs

    In this recipe, I use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs that are frozen. You can use any kind of chicken thighs that you have on hand, but the temperatures and times will be different. You can even use thawed chicken thighs and cook them in the air fryer, but here we are focused on frozen thighs. Although I used bone-in chicken thighs in this recipe, you can also use boneless chicken thighs and modify your times a little bit. My recommendation for the best results is to use thighs with the skin on, but you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs and refer to the chart below for temperatures and timings. 

    Like I said in the introduction paragraph, this step-method of cooking can be applied to all kinds of frozen meat, so be sure to check out the complete guide if you want to make frozen pork chops, frozen chicken breast, and a multitude of other frozen meats so you understand the principles behind deciding on timing and temperatures. 

    Seasonings

    I use a basic spice blend of onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme leaves, and salt and black pepper in this recipe. You can use any seasoning blend you like. 

    I do recommend using dry herbs instead of fresh in this recipe because many fresh herbs will burn during the air frying process.

    I spritz with oil just so the seasonings stick, but you can also spritz with water if you don't want to use oil. I used avocado oil, but olive oil or any kind of oil you like will work just fine. 

    ​You can also use this recipe for making a delicious bbq chicken by cooking the chicken like I do in the recipe and applying the BBQ sauce the last 5 minutes of cooking and cranking up the heat to the air fryers highest setting.

    How Food Cooks in an Air Fryer

    To get started, let's talk first about how food cooks in an air fryer and what variables may be present that will require some changes. 

    Basically, an air fryer is a convection-style oven that is usually smaller and more compact with a powerful fan that circulates hot air around the food you are cooking. Air Fryers are more efficient and do a better job at crisping than a traditional convection-style oven because there is less heat loss, but all air fryers are not created equal. 

    I use the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper and find the air fryer function works wonderfully. It is very comparable to the air fry function on the Ninja Air Fryers and the Ninja Indoor Grill air fry function. So, if you have a Ninja air fryer, you should be just fine with these instructions. However, make sure to check on your chicken during the air frying process and make adjustments in temp and timing as needed. Different styles and different brands of air fryers will cook differently, so I recommend taking some notes when you make something for the first time so you know what you did to get the results you want, and the next time you cook that same food, you can go on autopilot. 

    If you have been using your air fryer with other recipes and find you have to increase the temperature or time to get the best results for that recipe, then that will probably carry over to this recipe as well. Some air fryers are bigger, like the Ninja XL oven and don't always cook the same as smaller air fryers. The good news is it really doesn't matter what air fryer you are using for this recipe, you can adjust the step method to make perfectly cooked juicy thighs in any air fryer. 

    In cooking, there are always variables present. Understanding them and making adjustments is the difference between a recipe turning out perfectly for you or a complete failure. Always remember, recipes are guidelines only. As far as chicken thighs go, the thickness of the frozen chicken thighs are going to be a factor in how long they take to cook. The thicker they are, the longer it's going to take for the heat to reach the center and cook it. The fact that it's frozen only amplifies this and that is where the step method comes into play. If you have really thick chicken thighs, the second cooking step would be at a lower temperature and for a longer period of time. I definitely recommend an Instant read thermometer when cooking meat, whether from frozen or thawed. It is really the only way to have perfectly cooked meat every single time. Well... there is sous vide cooking, but that's a completely different topic. 

    How to Air Fryer Chicken Thighs from Frozen

    As with any other recipe, we first need to do the preparation. With this recipe, it is super easy. The only prep is getting the frozen chicken thighs out of the freezer!

    I like to put the frozen chicken thighs on a sheet tray, but you could also place them directly on your cutting board if you prefer.

    Seasoning

    I choose to season at the very beginning for the best flavor. However, spice rubs don't always like to stick to frozen food. To get around this, I use a little spritz of avocado oil. Olive oil or any kind of neutral-flavored oil will work just fine. You only need a little spritz, maybe a teaspoon for two chicken thighs.

    If you love air frying as much as I do, you know that having an oil spritzer is so helpful. You also may know that many don't work that great. I have tried out several brands and the ones that have never let me down are these: (affiliate link)EVO Oil Spritzers

    Spritz and season each side of the frozen chicken thigh. You can use my seasoning blend or whatever blend of seasonings you like. If you plan on using a sauce, like BBQ sauce, at the end, then maybe stick with simple salt and pepper or a BBQ-inspired seasoning.

    Preparing the Air Fryer

    This may vary depending on what style of air fryer you have, but most air fryers have an inner container or drawer and then a basket or a tray where you can elevate the food for better airflow.

    You will want to add 1 cup of VERY HOT water just before you are ready to air fry. The purpose of the hot water is to create a little bit of steam in the air fryer that helps thaw the chicken quicker so you don't have to cook with dry heat as long.

    This is what helps to keep the meat from drying out while you are getting it cooked to temperature.

    If you are using an oven-style air fryer, you can put a dish on the bottom rack and the hot water in the dish.

    Essentially, we are creating a combination of steam and air frying.

    If you have the Ninja Foodi with Smart Lid, you can absolutely use the steam/crisp function. You will still use the temperature step method, but your air frying time will be reduced. Start out at 400℉/200℃ for the first 5-7 minutes after the countdown starts and then decrease the temperature as stated in the recipe. If the time runs out at any time when you are cooking the chicken, don't go back on steam/crisp, switch to air fry to finish cooking the chicken.

    Air Frying the Chicken Thighs Using the Step Method

    Once the water is in the air fryer and you have your basket or rack in the air fryer, place the chicken thighs in a single layer on the rack or in the basket.

    The number of thighs you can cook at once will depend on your air fryer. I can fit 3 comfortably in my Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper using the basket and probably 4 if I used the rack.

    Set the air fryer temperature to 400℉/200℃ and the time for 15 minutes.

    preparing air fryer with water and chicken before air frying.

    Once the time has gotten down to 14 minutes or so, open the lid and quickly take a peek at them. They should be starting to brown nicely and you can flip them over if you like. I usually do this so that each side cooks evenly.

    Lower the temperature to 325℉/160℃ and let them cook another 10-15 minutes. I usually set the timer for 25 minutes, but have found that it takes between 30-35 minutes total time to air fry a frozen chicken thigh of average size. Smaller ones will take less time and bigger ones will take longer.

    flipping the chicken and lowering the air fryer temperature.

    By starting out at a high temperature and then reducing it, you are allowing the skin on the chicken thigh to start to render the fat and crisp up, and then the reduced heat keeps the outside of the chicken thigh from burning before the inside has a chance to cook all the way through.

    You may be tempted to just keep the heat at 400℉/200℃ the entire time and you will cook the chicken that way, but what happens is the outer part of the chicken meat becomes too dry and kind of stringy because it is overcooked by the time the inside of the chicken comes up to a safe temperature. For the best results, follow the step method.

    After 10 minutes on 325℉/160℃, take an internal temperature using a meat thermometer. I use my (affiliate link)Thermoworks MK4 instant read, but any accurate instant read or probe thermometer will work fine.

    taking a temperature after 10 minutes at the lower temperature.

    When the internal temperature reaches at least 160℉/71℃, you can pull the chicken thighs out and let them rest. During the rest time, the temperature will rise to 165℉/74℃.

    The great thing about chicken thighs is how forgiving they are if you overcook them. Often times when the internal temperature gets to be around 155℉/68℃, I will increase the temperature to 400℉/200℃ again to get the skin even crispier.

    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs done in air fryer.

    This is totally optional and really depends on how you like the skin cooked or if you plan on eating the skin. If you don't plan on eating the skin, there is no benefit to increasing the temperature during the last few minutes of the air frying cooking time.

    Once the chicken rests for 5 minutes or so, serve and enjoy!

    Cutting into the crispy air fryer chicken thigh.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many chicken thighs can I air fry at once?

    That depends on your air fryer and the type of chicken thighs you are making. For skin-on chicken thighs, you want the chicken thighs in a single layer as much as possible so they get the benefits of the air fryer and develop a nice crispy skin.

    If the thighs are without skin and crisping isn't really the goal, you can pile them in the basket of your air fryer and cook at a low temperature, making sure to toss them around frequently until they are cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165℉/74℃

    Is it safe to cook chicken from frozen?

    If the total cooking time to get your chicken cooked from frozen is less than 2 hours, it is always safe to cook chicken from frozen.

    Longer cooking times require a little more research and thankfully, much of that research has been done especially since sous vide is such a big thing for home cooks now. Food safety is all about temperature and time. Higher temperatures kill bacteria quicker than lower temperatures. However, lower temperatures for longer periods of time can be just as effective at killing pathogens.

    EASY Air Fryer Recipes

    I love my air fryer and I'm constantly amazed at how well it transforms food into crispy bites of deliciousness!

    If I want my food to be crunchy or mimic deep frying, I always turn to my air fryer. Here are some incredibly easy air fryer recipes for you to try out!

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      Ninja Foodi Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Chicken Strips)
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      Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp in the Ninja Foodi (or any Air Fryer)
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      Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
    • Air fryer meatloaf sliced on a cutting board
      Air Fryer Meatloaf
    • Air Fryer Fried Mushrooms in a basket next to marinara sauce
      Air Fryer Fried Mushrooms
    • Air Fried Steak next to frozen steak in package
      Air Fryer Frozen Steak
    • air fryer garlic knots in a basket next to marinara sauce.
      Air Fryer Garlic Knots
    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer Basket.

    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Recipe By: Louise
    Delicious chicken thighs straight from the freezer to your air fryer. They are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside using this step method of cooking.
    5 from 7 votes
    Difficulty Level : Easy
    Add to My Favorites Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 37 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 381 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    Turn this on when cooking to prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 frozen chicken thighs skin on and bone-in
    • oil for spritzing optional
    • 1 cup very hot water

    Seasoning Blend

    • ½ teaspoon fine grind sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

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    Instructions
     

    • Spritz each frozen chicken thigh with a little oil. Mix seasonings together and season each side.
    • Add 1 cup of very hot water to the base container of your air fryer. This would be the inner pot of the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper. Place the air fryer basket or rack in the air fryer and put the frozen chicken thighs, skin side up, in a single layer on the rack or in the basket.
    • Set the air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 15 minutes. When the time is up, open the air fryer and flip the chicken if desired. Reduce the temperature to 325°F/160°C and set the time to 25 minutes.
    • After 15 minutes at 325°F/160°F, open the air fryer and flip the chicken. The internal temp should be around 150°F/60°C. You can either keep going at this lower temp of 325°F/160°C for another 5-10 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 160-165°F/71-74°C or if you want more crisping and browning on the skin, increase the temperature back up to 400°F/200°C for 5-10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 160°F/71°C.
    • Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes.
      Serve & Enjoy!

    Video

    https://youtu.be/_j5VvDzTVdM

    Notes

    Different brands of air fryers cook differently, so it is important to look at the food, measure internal temperatures, and adjust your temperatures and times accordingly. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1thighCalories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 24gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 693mgPotassium: 307mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.03gVitamin A: 120IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Difficulty Level Easy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Tender & Juicy Eye of Round Roast (Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot)
    The BEST Ninja Foodi Bacon »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jack

      March 20, 2025 at 6:34 pm

      Hi are the times different for boneless/ skinless thighs? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Louise

        March 22, 2025 at 8:58 am

        I don't think I would air fry frozen boneless skinless thighs because they may dry out since they don't have the protection of the skin.

        Reply
    2. Beth

      February 10, 2025 at 4:49 pm

      5 stars
      The chicken was so tender! I will be making this again soon

      Reply
      • Louise

        February 12, 2025 at 10:21 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Mike

      April 26, 2024 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      The chicken came out perfect!!! Crispy skin and juicy inside. Another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Louise

        April 28, 2024 at 9:50 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that!

        Reply
    5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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