Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts

Cooking frozen meat is a great time-saving strategy, especially if you need to make a meal without much pre-planning. Frozen chicken breasts can be baked in the oven or cooked on a skillet and still be flavorful.

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 45 minutes
  • Total time: 60 minutes

Steps

Baking the Chicken in the Oven

  1. Find a broiler pan or roasting pan that has a raised bed. You can also set a roasting rack over a regular pan.
    • Raising the pan will allow the juices to drip down as the chicken cooks.
  2. Cover the broiler pan with aluminum foil. This will keep the pan clean and help the chicken to cook faster.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit (180° Celsius). Set a rack in the middle of the oven.
    • Always make sure you cook the frozen breasts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and above to kill any bacteria that can grow at lower temperatures.[1]
    • If you do not want dry roasted chicken breasts, you can place the chicken in a non-stick dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) to account for the fact that you will cover the dish. You will bake it for approximately the same time.
  4. Remove 1 to 6 chicken breasts from the freezer. It is not necessary to rinse the breasts or give them a water bath before cooking them.[2]
  5. Place the chicken breasts on an aluminum foil-lined pan. Arrange them so there is enough space between each breast.
  6. Mix up your favorite spices. You will need 1 to 6 tbsp. of spices, depending upon how many chicken breasts you plan to cook.
    • Use salt and pepper and a little lemon, if you want a simple recipe. You can also buy pre-made spice mixes for chicken.
    • If you want a more tangy dish, pour barbecue sauce or another wet sauce onto the chicken breasts in your non-stick pan.
  7. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 tbsp. of seasoning on one side of the chicken breasts. Then, flip the chicken breasts over using tongs to season to the other side.
    • Avoid touching the raw, frozen chicken with your hands. Use a cooking brush to apply any sauce on the chicken and use tongs to move the uncooked chicken around on the pan.
  8. Place your pan in the oven. Set the timer for 30 minutes, or 45 minutes if you aren’t planning to add sauce to the chicken.
    • Because you are cooking the chicken breasts frozen, you will need to increase the standard cooking time by 50 percent. So chicken breasts that would usually cook for 20 to 30 minutes should cook for 30 to 45 minutes if they are put in frozen.
  9. Remove the pan after 30 minutes. Brush extra barbecue sauce or marinade onto the chicken.
  10. Place the pan back in the oven. Set your timer for 15 minutes.
  11. Check the chicken's internal temperature with a meat thermometer. This is a very important step, as cooking time alone is not a reliable way to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
    • Once the timer goes off and the chicken has been cooking for 45 minutes, insert the meat thermometer into the center of the breast. Once it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), you can take it out and serve it.

Method 2: Cooking the Chicken in a Skillet

  1. Dice up the frozen chicken. You can sear and cook frozen chicken on the stovetop whole but dicing or cutting it into strips will allow for quicker cooking time.
    • You can use the microwave to thaw the chicken a bit to make it easier to cut it up, but always use microwaved chicken right away.
  2. Season the chicken. You can apply a seasoning mix, a sauce, or a salt-and-pepper rub before freezing the chicken or while it is thawing as it cooks.
    • You can also cook the chicken in a broth to add more flavor and prevent the meat from drying out.
    • Keep in mind seasoning put directly on frozen chicken will not absorb into the meat.
  3. Place one tablespoon cooking oil in a pan. Use olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter.[3]
    • Turn the pan to medium high heat and let the oil warm up or the butter melt.
    • Add in any broth, like chicken or veggie broth, if you are using it.
  4. Place the chicken breasts in the hot skillet. Keep the temperature at medium heat. Cover the pot so the breasts can cook.
  5. Cook the breasts for 2-4 minutes. Try not to lift the lid and peek at the chicken as this allows heat to escape.
    • Like baking the frozen chicken, cooking the chicken will still take 50 percent longer to cook than if it were thawed.
    • After 2-4 minutes of cooking, add in any spices or seasonings to the chicken.
  6. Flip the chicken breasts over. Use kitchen tongs to do this.
  7. Turn the heat to low and cover the pan. Set a timer for 15 minutes and let the chicken simmer. Again, avoid lifting the lid to peek at the chicken.
  8. Turn off the heat and let the chicken breasts sit for 15 minutes. Once the chicken has cooked for 15 minutes, you need to let it sit.
  9. Check the temperature of the chicken. Take the lid off and check if the chicken is done by using a meat thermometer. The chicken should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Make sure there is no pink in the middle of the chicken breasts.
  10. Finished.



Tips

  • Avoid using a slow cooker to cook frozen chicken. The USDA does not recommend cooking frozen chicken in a slow cooker, as the low, slow cooking style creates an optimal condition for bacteria growth, even on the slow cooker's highest heat setting. So, always thaw your chicken before cooking it in a slow cooker.
  • Do not let microwave-thawed chicken sit at room temperature as this could lead to bacteria growth.
  • If you need to cook frozen chicken quickly, defrost it in the microwave and then cook it in the oven or over a skillet immediately after thawing it.
  • Do not cook frozen chicken in the microwave. It is difficult to maintain a steady temperature in a microwave, so using this cooking method can lead to a higher risk of bacteria growth.

Things You'll Need

  • Frozen chicken breasts
  • Water
  • Aluminum foil
  • Roasting/raised pan
  • Skillet
  • Spices
  • Timer
  • Meat thermometer
  • Tongs
  • Marinade/barbecue sauce

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.stilltasty.com/questions/index/116/page:1
  2. ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-04-10/news/0204090169_1_frozen-chicken-breasts-thaw
  3. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-moist-tender-chicken-breasts-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-36891
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