Chicken is a versatile and healthy protein that can be used in so many ways. Having a stash of frozen chicken in your freezer makes whipping up a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep so much easier. Here are 17 delicious recipes you can make with frozen chicken.
Easy Dinners
1. Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Skillet
This easy one-pan enchilada skillet is perfect for busy weeknights. Just brown some frozen chicken breasts cut into cubes add taco seasoning and enchilada sauce corn, black beans, and cheese. Top with more cheese and bake until bubbly. You’ll have a fast and filling Mexican-inspired dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
2. Chicken Parmesan Sliders
These fun sliders are a breeze to throw together Cook some frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer or oven until crispy Add marinara sauce and cheese on mini slider buns and broil until the cheese melts, Serve with a side salad for an easy weeknight meal,
3. Lemon Chicken and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan dinners make weeknight cooking so simple. Toss frozen chicken breasts, potatoes carrots lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the veggies are tender and chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle on parsley and dig in.
4. Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is delicious but can take a while to make. However, you can cut down the time by using frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. Cook the chicken with onions, garlic, and Indian spices. Then stir in butter, cream, and tomatoes for an easy dinner in under an hour.
5. Chicken Fajitas
For a fast tex-mex dinner, sauté sliced peppers and onions with fajita seasoning. Add frozen chicken strips and cook until heated through. Serve with warm tortillas, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream for an easy dinner that’s ready in 20 minutes.
Healthy Meals
6. Mexican Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos
Lettuce wraps make for a healthy taco alternative. Sauté frozen chicken with taco seasoning and diced peppers. Serve in lettuce cups with salsa, avocado, corn, black beans, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. It’s a fresh and easy low-carb dinner.
7. Thai Peanut Chicken Zoodles
Zoodles tossed with peanut sauce, frozen chicken strips, carrot ribbons, red pepper, green onions, peanuts and cilantro make for a fast and healthy weeknight dinner. The peanut sauce can be made ahead of time too for even quicker prep.
8. Buffalo Chicken Power Bowls
These protein-packed bowls are perfect for meal prepping. Mix together quinoa, kale, shredded carrots, corn, and shredded frozen chicken tenders. Top with buffalo hot sauce, ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles. They make a satisfying lunch or dinner.
9. Chicken Caesar Salad
This classic salad gets a protein boost from frozen chicken. Marinate chicken strips in a homemade Caesar dressing. Grill or pan fry the chicken and slice. Toss with romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and croutons. It’s a filling and healthy dinner option.
10. Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables
A veggie packed stir fry is a great way to use up frozen chicken and whatever vegetables you have on hand. Try a combo of broccoli, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, and chicken with a teriyaki or sesame ginger sauce for a fast and healthy meal.
Appetizers & Snacks
11. Buffalo Chicken Dip
Game day snacks don’t get easier than this 3-ingredient buffalo chicken dip. Combine cream cheese, hot sauce, and shredded frozen chicken in a slow cooker and you’ve got the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer ready in just a couple of hours. Serve with crackers or celery sticks.
12. Crispy Chicken Wonton Cups
These crispy wonton cups make an fun appetizer for parties. Spray wonton wrappers with cooking spray and press into muffin tins to bake until golden. Fill with cubed frozen chicken, ranch dressing, cheese, and bacon bits for tasty bite-sized snacks.
13. Chicken Satay Skewers
You can prep these chicken satay skewers ahead of time and grill or broil them just before serving. Marinate frozen chicken tenders or strips in a peanut sauce. Thread onto skewers and cook until lightly charred and cooked through. Kids and adults alike will love these.
14. Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are the perfect healthy appetizer for potlucks and parties. Sauté ground chicken with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil and water chestnuts. Spoon into lettuce leaves and top with sliced green onions. They’re light, fresh and full of flavor.
Soups & Casseroles
15. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cut up some frozen chicken breasts and simmer them in chicken broth with onions, garlic, and spices to make a hearty tortilla soup. Finish it off with crispy tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and cilantro. It’s cozy comfort food that’s so easy to throw together.
16. Chicken & Rice Casserole
Casseroles are great for meal prepping since they reheat so well. Mix together cooked frozen chicken, rice, cream of chicken soup, cheese, and veggies like broccoli, carrots or spinach. Bake until bubbly for an easy make-ahead dinner.
17. Chicken Noodle Soup
You can use frozen chicken breasts or tenders to make a classic chicken noodle soup. Simmer the chicken in broth with carrots, celery, onion, and spices. Shred the chicken and add egg noodles towards the end. It’s a soothing soup that’s perfect for chilly nights.
Frozen chicken is easy to keep stocked in your freezer so you always have it on hand for quick and easy meals. Whether it’s weeknight dinners, soups and casseroles, or party appetizers, you can make so many delicious things with frozen chicken.
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!
Crispy Chicken Ranch Wraps
Who doesn’t love a good crispy chicken wrap for a quick lunch or dinner?
Cook the chicken, grab your favorite wrap, and then load it up with lettuce, tomato, and Ranch dressing.
Larger sized wraps work best for this so you can actually wrap it around all the fillings.
You can also add shredded cheese or switch up the sauce with Italian dressing or honey mustard. And of course, you could add bacon and turn these into a Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap. That decision is very much approved.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts Safely | Stove & Oven Methods
FAQ
Can you cook chicken from frozen?
How to quickly use frozen chicken?
Defrost in Cold Water
If you need to defrost chicken quickly, use the cold water method. Place the frozen chicken in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure it stays cold. This method can take 30 minutes to a few hours to defrost the chicken.
What can I do if my chicken is frozen?
If you forget to thaw, you can cook frozen chicken—just increase the cooking time by about 50% and ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.Feb 23, 2021
Is 2 year old frozen chicken still good?
Yes, frozen chicken that is two years old is generally safe to eat, as long as it has been stored continuously frozen at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
What can I do with frozen chicken?
Enter frozen chicken—swap it in these dishes to save time and parts of the meal prep. You’ll be posting pics of your cheesy salsa chicken or better-than-takeout chicken curry in no time. Your new favorite weeknight dinner. Get the recipe from Delish. So. much. cheese. Get the recipe from Delish. The ultimate comfort food.
How to cook frozen chicken?
One of the most convenient ways to cook frozen chicken is to boil it, and this recipe will walk you through the process step by step. A crucial factor in achieving tender and flavorful results is the cooking liquid, which should be salty.
Can you cook chicken with frozen breast?
While this simple recipe accommodates both fresh and frozen chicken, a subtle adjustment is necessary when using frozen breast. To achieve optimal results, add an additional 5 minutes of simmering time to the cooking process. This straightforward method boils chicken in broth, yielding juicy and tender meat that’s remarkably free from dryness.
Can you make a chicken pot pie with frozen chicken?
Quick for dinner & SO good for lunch the next day. Get the recipe from Delish. You don’t even have to open your oven. Get the recipe from Delish. Basically a crustless chicken pot pie. Get the recipe from Delish. These simple lunch and dinner recipes can be made even quicker using frozen chicken.
What to eat with frozen chicken thighs?
Frozen chicken thighs cook along with coconut milk and coconut butter to give a creamy texture to this pressure cooked stew. This chicken stew is delicious as is or served over cauliflower rice. Turmeric, ginger, garlic and other seasonings give this meal its robust flavor.
Can You boil frozen chicken?
Consider boiling frozen chicken breasts for an easy way to meal prep with chicken to use in your upcoming lunches and dinners like this chicken salad. Boiling, or poaching, can be achieved with salted water or by using chicken stock.