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When it's time to make dinner, but your chicken is frozen solid you probably find yourself wondering "can I cook frozen chicken?". Yes! I'm sharing everything you need to know about baking frozen chicken breasts so they turn out perfectly every single time.
Can you Bake Frozen Chicken?
When it comes to cooking chicken into delicious, family-pleasing meals, I've learned quite a few tips and tricks over the years, including how to bake frozen chicken straight from the freezer, no thawing required.
While you can bake and pan-fry frozen chicken, it’s important to know that chicken should never be cooked in a microwave or slow cooker straight from the freezer. These methods keep the raw, frozen chicken above 40F for longer than the recommended 1 hour; making it an ideal environment for bacteria to breed and contaminate the food.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Oven
To cook frozen chicken in the oven you will need a sheet pan, chicken breasts and your choice of seasonings, marinade, or sauce. Here’s what to do:
- Prep
Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a large baking dish or sheet pan and place the chicken breasts in a single layer. - Add flavor
Now is when you would season the frozen chicken with your choice of spices or marinade. You can also baste the chicken with BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce, but be sure to add it in the final 15 minutes of cooking so it doesn't burn or run off. - Cook
Bake, as directed, adding 50% of the recipe's original cook time to the total time or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F for white meat or 175F for dark meat cuts. - Rest
Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Following a Recipe with Frozen Chicken Breasts
When cooking with frozen chicken, expect the cook time to increase by 50% of the original cook time. For instance, if the recipe called for 30 minutes, plan for 45 minutes. However, this can vary based on the size of the chicken cuts.
Taking the extra step to pre-slice, cut, or butterfly the chicken ahead of time can help reduce the cook time. The chicken will cook faster and evenly compared to a whole frozen 8-ounce chicken breast. In a rush? You can air-fry frozen chicken in just 35 minutes!
What Temperature to Bake Frozen Chicken Breasts
An oven temperature of 375 and an internal temperature of 165F are ideal for perfectly cooked frozen chicken.
However, you can go as low as 350F and as high as 400F, just be sure to use the meat thermometer to check for doneness. Below is a chart to help you gauge the time it will take your chicken to cook based on oven temperature:
Frozen Chicken Breasts Baking Chart
| Size | Oven Temp | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| small 4-6 oz | 350F / 175C | 32-45 minutes |
| traditional 8 oz | 375F / 190C | 37-45 minutes |
| traditional 8 oz | 400F / 200 C | approx 30 minutes |
Baked Frozen Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb frozen chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, seasonings, salt and black pepper.
- Add the chicken to the baking sheet in a single layer and drizzle the marinade over the tops of the chicken, making sure to coat each piece.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway through or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
REA says
Tired and hot, got home from work and had no plan for dinner. No one is going out again, too late. I had frozen chicken breasts and my trustee computer had a recipe to make them in the oven! Worth a try. Followed instructions, no Italian seasoning so I used light Cajun. In 45 minutes I had two delicious, juicy chicken breasts. Tossed a salad and viola…dinner! Great recipe, will do it again.
Lucy says
Frozen to table so fast!
Carla says
This was so easy!
Jackie says
Easy dinner with frozen chicken!
Carla says
Incredible!!!