Making frozen chicken thighs in the Air fryer is a perfect choice for a busy weeknight, when you need a homemade dinner. In less than thirty minutes, you will have juicy, crispy chicken on the table.
When you make frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer, the process is so easy and fast. With just a few simple ingredients, you have a delicious dinner that everyone will love.
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WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Not only are these frozen thighs easy to make, they have a delicious crispy exterior without the grease from deep frying. They are one of the best air fryer recipes you can make!
Everyone in our family loves chicken that is crispy! This simple recipe makes the thighs have tender and juicy meat too, which is why chicken thighs are always a favorite in our house.
If you are looking for more easy air fryer chicken thigh recipes, try air fryer BBQ thighs, air fryer boneless chicken thighs, or air fryer sesame chicken.
INGREDIENTS
- boneless chicken thighs- you can also use bone-in chicken thighs if you prefer
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
- olive oil
Optional: Although the seasonings are tested and delicious as they are, if for some reason you don't have all of them on hand, you can substitute one heaping tablespoon of poultry seasoning, chicken seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
TOOLS NEEDED
You will need an air fryer to make this recipe. I make these frozen chicken thighs in my Cosori air fryer. Six pieces of chicken were able to easily fit into my air fryer basket with enough room to allow for air flow.
An instant read meat thermometer is highly recommended but not required. It does take the guess work out of confirming the chicken thighs are done cooking.
Here are a few of our FAVORITE recommendations.
Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer - Digital Meat Thermometer - Air Fryer All Day
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
STEP 2
While the air fryer is preheating, remove the frozen chicken thighs from the store wrapping.
STEP 3
Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl, then add the olive oil, and toss together, coating each piece of chicken. Add in the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper, then toss again until the chicken is coated with the seasonings on both sides.
STEP 4
Once seasoned, place the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave enough room in between the chicken pieces so they aren’t stacked, touching, or overlapping.
STEP 5
Air fry the chicken at 380 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, turning the chicken thighs during the air fryer process. (About halfway through) When done, the chicken will be golden brown, and if using a meat thermometer, the internal temp should be 165 degrees F.
STEP 6
Once they are done air frying, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes in the air fryer, allowing the juices to settle throughout chicken pieces.
VARIATIONS
Generally, you can change up the flavor profile on this air fryer frozen chicken thighs recipe by just changing the herbs and spices. Try a dry rub, or for extra heat flavors, add chili powder, Cajun seasoning, or cayenne pepper.
If you want more of a savory flavor, you can add rosemary, oregano, thyme, or a flavored seasoning like lemon pepper seasoning before you cook the chicken thighs.
Once they are done air frying, toss the chicken with sauces like BBQ sauce, or serve them with ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or a buffalo sauce.
EXPERT TIPS
Do not put too many thighs in the air fryer or have them touching or overlapping. This can prevent them from cooking evenly and completely, so air fry chicken in batches if necessary.
Boneless and skinless chicken thighs will need less cook time. Depending on the size of the chicken thighs, you may also need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
Be sure to turn them over halfway through the cooking process. This will ensure that both sides get crispy and cook evenly.
You can also add a side dish, like air fryer green beans, air fryer rice, air fryer potatoes, or air fryer asparagus, for a complete delicious meal, that is full of flavor.
Use an instant read meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Doing this helps makes sure they are done, and will prevent them from overcooking and drying out.
STORING AND REHEATING
Store leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container or sealed bag, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you want to make them ahead for meal prep, store them individually for easy grab and go meals.
To reheat chicken thighs, place them in the air fryer and air fry at 380 degrees F for 3-5 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
FAQS
Not at all! You can use whatever you prefer. Just remember you may need to adjust the air frying time by a few minutes. Boneless thighs usually need less cooking time.
The marinade can't infuse into the meat if it's frozen, so it's better to marinate after thawing, or before freezing.
One serving of chicken thighs for an adult is about three ounces of meat. If using bone-in thighs, you will need to factor that weight into the portion.
Absolutely. The air fryer is amazing at not just making frozen foods, but making frozen meat without needing to thaw it first. You can make great dinners from frozen chicken like these air fryer frozen chicken wings, air fryer frozen chicken breasts, or air fryer Trader Joe's Orange Chicken.
MORE AIR FRYER CHICKEN RECIPES
I love making these frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer! The crispy chicken is so delicious, and it's a perfect dinner for busy weeknights when I just don't have time, or I forgot to thaw meat for dinner.
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📖 Recipe
Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4-6 frozen boneless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional: If you don’t have all of the seasonings, you can use 1 heaping tablespoon of poultry seasoning, chicken seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- While the air fryer is preheating, remove the frozen chicken thighs from the store packaging.
- Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl. Toss with the olive oil, coating each piece of chicken. Add in the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper, then toss again until the chicken is coated with the seasonings on both sides.
- Once seasoned, place chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave room between the chicken so they aren’t stacked or overlapping.
- Air fry the chicken at 380 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, turning the chicken thighs during the air fryer process. (About halfway through) When done, the chicken will be golden brown, and if using a meat thermometer, the internal temp should be 165 degrees F.
- Once they are done air frying, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes in the air fryer, allowing the juices to settle throughout chicken pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2024
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