Frozen breaded chicken breast is a pantry staple for many home cooks It’s convenient, budget-friendly, and easy to prepare But to get the best results when cooking frozen breaded chicken breast, there are some important things to keep in mind. In this article, I’ll share my tips for cooking frozen breaded chicken breast so it turns out moist, tender and delicious every time.
Why Choose Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast?
There are a few reasons why frozen breaded chicken breast is so popular
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Convenience – Frozen breaded chicken breasts are pre-portioned and ready to cook whenever you need a quick protein. No thawing, trimming or breading required.
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Budget-friendly – Frozen chicken tenders, nuggets and other breaded chicken products are typically less expensive than fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts. Especially when bought in bulk.
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Kid-approved – Kids love chicken fingers, nuggets and tenders. Keeping a bag of frozen breaded chicken in the freezer makes it easy to prepare a kid-pleasing meal in minutes.
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Versatility – Breaded chicken works in everything from main dishes to sandwiches, salads and more. The uses are endless!
Choosing the Best Frozen Breaded Chicken
When purchasing frozen breaded chicken, look for products that are:
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Minimally processed – Opt for chicken breast fillets coated in breadcrumbs rather than highly processed nuggets or patties. This ensures better quality chicken.
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Not pre-fried – Some frozen breaded chicken is pre-fried then frozen, which can lead to greasy results. Look for products that are just breaded and ready for cooking.
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Free of additives – Check the ingredients list and choose products without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
The best frozen breaded chicken breasts will contain just chicken breast meat and a basic breading of flour, eggs, breadcrumbs and spices.
Thawing Properly
For food safety, frozen breaded chicken should always be thawed before cooking. Here are a few thawing methods:
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Refrigerator – Place frozen chicken in the refrigerator in a container to thaw overnight or up to 2 days.
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Cold water – Submerge a sealed bag of frozen chicken in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes until thawed. Takes 1-2 hours.
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Microwave – Use the defrost setting to thaw frozen breaded chicken gradually. Rotate and flip periodically.
Avoid thawing at room temperature, as this puts the chicken in the food danger zone for bacterial growth.
Once thawed, breaded chicken can be refrigerated 1-2 days before cooking. For best texture, cook as soon as possible after thawing.
Cooking Methods for Frozen Breaded Chicken
Oven Baking
Baking is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to cook frozen breaded chicken breast.
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
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Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet without overcrowding.
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Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway, until chicken is cooked through and breading is crispy.
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Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Pair with favorite sauces or seasonings.
Air Frying
Air frying makes the breading extra crispy without added oil.
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Preheat air fryer to 380°F.
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Cook frozen breaded chicken in batches, 6-8 minutes per batch.
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Flip or shake halfway and check for doneness, cooking 1-2 minutes more if needed.
Pan Frying
Pan frying gives you that delicious, crisp, golden breading from the stove top.
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In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1⁄4 inch of oil over medium-high heat.
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Working in batches, add chicken pieces and fry 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through.
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Drain on paper towels and season if desired.
No matter which cooking method you choose, always use a food thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F. This ensures the chicken is fully cooked for safety.
Cooking Tips
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking frozen breaded chicken breast:
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Use a meat thermometer – This is crucial for doneness, especially since some frozen chicken can have raw centers. Cook to 165°F.
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** Preheat properly** – Allow oven, air fryer or pan to fully preheat before adding chicken. This helps crisping.
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Don’t overcrowd – Cook chicken in a single layer with space between pieces for even cooking.
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Flip halfway – Flipping or turning the chicken during cooking prevents one side from overbrowning.
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Let rest before serving – A 5 minute rest allows juices to redistribute so chicken stays juicy when cut.
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Track cook times – Note the cook times that work best for the specific product and appliance you use. Adjust as needed per batch.
Serving Suggestions
Breaded chicken breast is so versatile. Here are some serving ideas:
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Chicken sandwiches or wraps
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Chicken tacos or quesadillas
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Chicken parmesan – top baked chicken with marinara and cheese
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Chicken salad – mix chopped chicken with mayo, celery, onion, grapes, etc.
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Chicken dippers – serve breaded chicken with ranch, honey mustard or barbecue sauce for dipping
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Chicken rice bowl – top rice with breaded chicken, vegetables, sauce or salsa
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Chicken pasta – toss breaded chicken into a pasta salad
Get creative with your favorite flavors and cuisines! Breaded chicken breast is the perfect canvas.
Freezing Leftovers
Any leftover breaded chicken can be frozen for later use. Here’s how:
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Allow cooked chicken to cool completely, then place in a freezer bag or airtight container.
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Remove as much air as possible and seal.
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Freeze for up to 3 months.
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Thaw in refrigerator before reheating and enjoying once again.
Cooking frozen breaded chicken breast doesn’t have to be difficult or result in dry, overcooked meat. With these tips for choosing quality chicken, thawing and cooking properly, and serving it in creative ways, you’ll have delicious breaded chicken breast anytime with minimal effort involved. Give it a try!
Frozen Breaded Chicken: What Kind and Where to Buy?
Before we get started, a note about the chicken. You can find frozen breaded chicken breasts at almost any grocery store. We’ve tried a few, and we’re partial to the ones pictured below, which you can find at Aldi. This chicken has a bit of a cult following among Aldi shoppers and has earned the nickname “Aldi Red Bag Chicken” among its fans.
That said, almost any breaded chicken breast will work. Frozen breaded chicken tenders are also a great option for a few of the recipes, including the wraps, salad, and chicken and waffles.
How to Cook Frozen Breaded Chicken
Most packages of store bought frozen chicken breast provide instructions for baking right on the package. Baking the chicken works great, but will usually take 30-40 minutes with a flip halfway through.
Our preferred cooking method is in the air fryer! (More about why we love it so much in this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs post). Pre-cooked chicken only takes about 15 minutes in the air fryer and the crispiness really can’t be beat!
Spray the chicken with a little cooking spray, then air fry at 375 for 7 minutes. Flip the chicken over and air fry for another 7-8 minutes or until crisp and cooked through.
Now, on to the recipes!
Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Breasts
FAQ
Can you cook breaded chicken breasts from frozen?
You can cook from frozen, absolutely. The cook time changes, so depending on what you’re cooking and how, it might not be the best idea. You probably won’t fry chicken breasts but you also shouldn’t deep fry because the water in the chicken can make the oil a little fucky. I do it all the time in stir fries.
Do you need to defrost breaded chicken before cooking?
You want to have the chicken (or anything else) completely thawed before attempting to fry. Even if you are pan frying, you will get lots of pops of hot fat.
How long to cook frozen breaded uncooked chicken?
Most breaded uncooked chicken requires a cook time of around 20 minutes in a 400°F oven, but that varies depending on the size, type and brand of chicken, so …
How long to bake frozen chicken breast at 400 degrees?
Can you cook breaded chicken from frozen?
Cooking breaded chicken from frozen presents several challenges: Uneven Cooking: The frozen interior of the chicken may not cook at the same rate as the outside, leading to undercooked meat or overcooked breading. Soggy Breading: The ice crystals in the frozen chicken can melt and moisten the breading, resulting in a soggy and unappetizing texture.
How long do you cook frozen breaded chicken breast?
Bake the frozen breaded chicken breast for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. Should I flip the frozen breaded chicken breast while baking?
Can you freeze cooked chicken breast?
Frozen cooked chicken breast is great to keep on hand for simple weekday dinners or just for random cravings of fried chicken. To keep it a little healthier, bake it rather than frying. You can buy frozen breaded chicken or make your own and freeze for later use. Here’s how to reheat the chicken in the oven.
Can you cook frozen breaded chicken on a grill?
While it’s best to follow the cooking instructions on the packaging, some frozen breaded chicken varieties can be cooked on a grill for a delicious smoky flavor. Q: How long does it take to cook frozen breaded chicken in the oven? On average, frozen breaded chicken takes about 20-25 minutes to cook in a preheated oven at 400°F.
How do you cook frozen chicken in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the frozen breaded chicken breast on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray the chicken with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil to help it crisp up in the oven. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Can you make breaded chicken in the oven?
Yes, you can make breaded chicken in the Oven ahead of time. You have several options: Prepare chicken – You can prepare all the steps to bread the chicken. Then store the chicken in an airtight food container or resealable bag and store it in the freezer. Cook chicken – you can also prepare and bread the chicken then cook it in the oven.