Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure). 

These Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs cook up with juicy, tender meat and a golden brown outside. You’ll love using the air fryer to make perfectly cooked chicken thighs straight from frozen.

chicken thighs cooked in air fryer

Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Such an easy dinner idea! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook up perfectly moist and delicious in the air fryer. And you can use any seasonings you love. This recipe calls for salt, pepper, and garlic powder, but you can try out different seasonings like paprika, chili powder, thyme, rosemary, or grill seasoning. So much flavor on these chicken thighs!

This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or whenever you want to multitask in the kitchen. You can set the chicken thighs to cook in the air fryer and use the time to make a simple side dish or set the table. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have a perfectly cooked main course that’s satisfying and full of protein. The whole family will love it.

Like easy dinners in the air fryer? Us too! Check out a few of our favorites: Ground Beef In Air Fryer

, Frozen Cod In Air Fryer, and Air Fryer Pizza From Pizza Dough.

air fryer opened to show cooking chicken thighs

How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

No need to defrost these chicken thighs, just place directly in the air fryer!

Cook at 390 degrees for 25 minutes.

Halfway through cooking time, you’ll season the chicken thighs. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder– or any seasonings you prefer. Flip the chicken thighs and season again. Then replace basket in air fryer and finish cooking.

Carefully remove chicken thighs with tongs when done cooking.

seasoned chicken thighs in air fryer

Cooking Tips

  • It’s best to season the thighs halfway through cooking time, as the seasoning sticks to thawed meat better
  • Use this air fryer recipe to cook as many chicken thighs as you would like
  • You might find it helpful to check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs after cooking. A cooking thermometer should read at least 180 degrees at the thickest point of the meat

fork holding piece of Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

Can You Cook Chicken Thighs From Frozen in the Air Fryer?

Absolutely! You can cook thawed or frozen chicken in the air fryer. This appliance is super convenient since you do not need to defrost the chicken before cooking it. Best results if you season the meat halfway though cooking time so the seasonings stick better to the chicken thighs. Chicken will come out perfectly browned and seasoned. It’s always a good idea to check with a meat thermometer to double-check that the chicken is fully cooked.

cooked chicken thighs on a plate

What To Serve With Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

These chicken thighs can be the main course for a very healthy dinner! Try pairing them with nutritious side dishes like Sautéed Frozen Vegetables, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, or Kale Salad Recipe With Raisins And Sunflower Seeds.

For a more indulgent meal, serve the chicken thighs with these delicious sides: Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes, Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries, or Air Fryer Frozen Mac And Cheese Bites.

fork holding piece of seasoned chicken thigh cooked in air fryer

More Chicken Thighs Recipes

Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs In Instant Pot

Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer

Fresh Boneless Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer

Oven Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs

Meat Roll

Boneless Chicken Thighs In Instant Pot

Sauteed Chicken Thighs

Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs

hand holding air fryer containing boneless skinless chicken thighs

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes To Try

Easy Chicken Livers

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken Fajitas Dinner

Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer

Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

Click Here To Pin This Recipe

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs cook up with juicy, tender meat and a golden brown outside. You'll love using the air fryer to make perfectly cooked chicken thighs straight from frozen.
Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time28 minutes
Course: Chicken, Dinner
Keyword: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs
Cooking Method: Air Fryer
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 249kcal

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Recommended Kitchen Tools (click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe)

Instructions

  • No need to defrost these chicken thighs, just place directly in the air fryer.
  • Cook at 390 degrees for 25 minutes.
  • Halfway through cooking time, you'll season the chicken thighs. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder-- or any seasonings you prefer. Flip the chicken thighs and season again.
  • Then replace basket in air fryer and finish cooking.
  • Carefully remove chicken thighs with tongs when done cooking.

Notes

  • It's best to season the thighs halfway through cooking time, as the seasoning sticks to thawed meat better
  • Use this air fryer recipe to cook as many chicken thighs as you would like
  • You might find it helpful to check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs after cooking. A cooking thermometer should read at least 180 degrees at the thickest point of the meat
Check out more Air Fryer recipes here!
NEVER MISS A RECIPE!I publish a new recipe several times per week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Sign up for FREE notifications!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Save This Recipe

See Also:

Save this for later on your social media:


Get Melanie's FREE Recipes In Your Inbox!

Similar Posts

3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Way to go Melanie on the minimum temp for cooked chicken thighs!!! Far too many bloggers give the routine 165° for chicken. Sure, for white meat. But dark meat like thighs will be rubbery and tasteless. It’s just as you said, “a MINIMUM of 180°.”

    Great job and thanks for this recipe and your hard work.

  2. 5 stars
    New to air fryer. I am 80 years old in July. I did Chicken liver for treats at dog training and the dog loved them. Have also did frozen sweet potato chips and at last they are crispy. I have ordered the hints book on line so will let you know when and if I get more adventuised. The air Fryer was a cheap one but works just as well as my friends expensive one.Thanks for the tips. Sheila

  3. 5 stars
    Love how Melanie makes cooking from frozen so easy! The chicken thighs come out perfectly tender and juicy. Thanks for sharing this…

5 from 3 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Recipe (only if you tried it, otherwise leave blank)