When it’s time to make dinner, but your chicken is frozen solid you probably find yourself wondering “can I cook frozen chicken?”.
I have great news, you absolutely can bake frozen chicken and still have a flavorful, juicy chicken dinner tonight. In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about baking frozen chicken breasts so they turn out perfectly every single time.
Chicken is a kid-favorite protein that can be cooked up in a variety of different ways. While I love grilling and pan-searing chicken, baking is often my go-to method since by simply adding a veggie or two to the pan, it transforms into an epic sheet pan dinner.
Ideally, chicken is always defrosted and ready to cook when it comes time to make dinner, but realistically that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, we’re left with a solid block of chicken and no ideas for dinner.
If that sounds like you, read on, I’ll take you step-by-step on how to pull of dinner tonight without ordering takeout.
Roasting chicken in the oven from frozen is the same as from fresh, just with longer cooking times. We suggest cooking frozen chicken at a lower temperature than you would fresh, about 350 to 365 degrees F, to balance out the increased cooking 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 with olive oil or cooking spray.
Place the chicken breasts on the baking sheet 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 runoff.
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.
Want to watch how it’s done? Check out this video and I’ll walk you through everything so you can see the whole process.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Oven
FAQ
Is it OK to put frozen chicken in the oven?
Can you bake frozen chicken without thawing?
Can you cook cooked chicken straight from frozen?
How long does frozen raw chicken take in the oven?
Can you cook frozen chicken in the oven?
Roasting chicken in the oven from frozen is the same as from fresh, just with longer cooking times. We suggest cooking frozen chicken at a lower temperature than you would fresh, about 350 to 365 degrees F, to balance out the increased cooking time. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven.
Can you cook a whole frozen chicken without thawing?
A: Yes, you can cook a whole frozen chicken in the oven without thawing it first. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time to account for the frozen state of the chicken. Q: How long does it take to cook a whole frozen chicken in the oven? A: It typically takes about 2-3 hours to cook a whole frozen chicken in the oven at 375°F.
How long does it take to cook a whole frozen chicken?
A: It typically takes about 2-3 hours to cook a whole frozen chicken in the oven at 375°F. However, the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the chicken and the accuracy of your oven temperature. Q: What are some recommended herbs and spices to season the whole frozen chicken?
Can you cook frozen chicken on the stovetop?
Frozen chicken also does well simmered on the stovetop. Although you can sauté it, the extended cooking time does make it easy to char the outside without fully cooking the inside. That’s why we recommend instead simmering it in a pan sauce, jarred sauce, or broth. Plus, a moist sauce will give you a juicer result.