Frozen chicken thighs are one of the easiest and quickest meals I have almost every week, but forgetting to thaw the chicken thighs overnight is also one of the biggest mistakes of my life. If you have ever been in a situation like mine, you know how frustrating it feels to see that you have only 30 minutes to go, you forgot to thaw the meat, and you have no other options you can do right now. Nightmare, right?
Don’t worry, I have figured it out. Below, I have shared my recipe for cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer in under 30 minutes, and the best part? All of this process doesn’t require thawing. So, stay tuned!
Why You’ll Love It!
I, along with almost all of my readers, love this recipe for some obvious reasons. Below are some of them which, I am sure, will also fall in love with it. Check them out:
- Versatile: It’s so versatile that you can pair it with almost anything you want. From roasted veggies to sweet baked potato, from green salad to coleslaw, anything can go perfectly with it.
- Easy to Make: To cook these frozen chicken thighs, all you need to do is just mix them with the perfect seasonings, put them in the airfryer, set the airfryer temperature, flip them every 10 minutes, and you’re all done with this recipe. That’s how easy it is.
- Super Crispy and Juicy: The best thing about this super quick chicken thighs recipe is that the thighs remain juicy inside but crispy outside, the heart’s wish of almost all chicken lovers.
- No Thawing Required: As I said before, I am too serious about cooking my dishes to remember to thaw the thighs overnight. As a result, I had to come up with an easy and quick recipe that requires no thawing, and this is the same recipe that I crafted.
- Easy cleanup: You are feard of the mountains of dishes after having your meal. Not only you, but everyone hates it. But for this recipe, you won’t need a ton of pots or so. All you need to just place the parchment paper below the air fryer container to ease the cleaning process, and cook the whole thing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are all the ingredients that you will need to make this frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe:
- 6 frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons of chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika powder
- Salt to taste
Here are all the basic ingredients that you’ll need. But here’s the catch. I love bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs as they convey more flavor and taste, and each time I try this recipe, I try it with bone-in and skin-on ones. But as you have searched for a boneless and skinless chicken thigh recipe, I have crafted it that way.
The main difference between the bone-in skin-on chicken thighs recipe and boneless skinless chicken thighs recipes is the cooking time. As said in the article by Tasting Table, the difference in timing is super clear. So, I just edited the timing of my original bone-in and skin-on recipe. Don’t worry about the flavor and taste of this recipe. They remain the same.
Below are the instructions for this recipe:
How To Cook Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipe?
Here are all the instructions you’ll need to follow to prepare this recipe:
- First of all, take a bowl and take 2 tablespoons of chicken stock, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of paprika powder, and salt to taste and mix them very well. Make sure that chicken thighs are well-coated.
- Now, take your air fryer and place a parchment paper just below the frying container. Now, add the container above the parchment paper. We are doing this step to make the cleaning process easier.
- Now, add the chicken thighs one after another into the container and set the temperature at 400°F.
- After air frying for about 10 minutes, come back to it and flip the chicken thighs once. And then air fry them again for about 10 additional minutes on the opposite side.
- At last, bring them out and serve them with sliced bell peppers, delicious garlic mayo, and some raspberry juice and Enjoy!
That’s the whole recipe here. Now, I have added a few pro cooking tips that I think can completely upgrade your cooking quality.
Tips For Cooking
- Never underestimate the power of resting: Always rest the thighs for at least 5 minutes after cooking. This might not seem obvious, but the fact is that resting chicken thighs after cooking can completely change the whole taste and flavor of the thighs. This process is extremely important for creamy recipes like cream of mushroom chicken thigh recipe, chicken and gravy recipe, creamy coconut chicken thighs recipe, or even the creamy chicken thighs spinach recipe. I have rested them for more than 10 minutes after cooking, and this resulted in a much better taste. However, try these above recipes out as well. They are superbly delicious as well as creamy, which will fulfill the needs of your taste buds. So, go check them out.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: Always make sure not to overcrowd the chicken thighs in the air fryer. Keep enough spacing between them. If the volume of your chicken thighs is large, then you can simply divide them into batches and cook them. This same thing also applies when you are preparing a recipe where you need to fry the chicken in a pan, like the blackened chicken thighs recipe or the chicken thigh bell pepper recipe.
- Use A Meat Thermometer: Whether you are following the timings I said or not, always make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs to know if they are fully cooked or not. As I said, always aim for a temperature of around 170°F to 180°F.
- OPTIONAL – Thaw quickly for better flavor absorption: The version I have shared today is the non-thawed version. Means you will not need to thaw these chicken thighs before cooking. But if you want a better and quicker flavor absorption, run the frozen chicken under cold water for a few minutes before seasoning. This step won’t thaw the chicken entirely, but will allow the seasoning to cling better to the surface and deliver the greatest taste possible.
Recipe Card
Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipe
Description
Crispy Outside, Juicy Inside – This easy frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe makes flavorful thighs in 30 minutes [No Thawing!]
Ingredients
Instructions
- First of all, take a bowl and take 2 tablespoons of chicken stock, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of paprika powder, and salt to taste and mix them very well. Make sure that chicken thighs are well-coated.
- Now, take your air fryer and place a parchment paper just below the frying container. Now, add the container above the parchment paper. We are doing this step to make the cleaning process easier.
- Now, add the chicken thighs one after another into the container and set the temperature at 400°F.
- After air frying for about 10 minutes, come back to it and flip the chicken thighs once. And then air fry them again for about 10 additional minutes on the opposite side.
- At last, bring them out and serve them with sliced bell peppers, delicious garlic mayo, and some raspberry juice and Enjoy!
What To Serve With Frozen Chicken Thighs?
If you are running out of ideas of what to serve with this recipe, then I’ve got you. You can check some of the most appropriate suggestions below:
- Mashed potatoes: A creamy side like mashed potatoes or a healthier cauliflower mash would be a delicious and comforting accompaniment.
- Rice Pilaf or Quinoa: A simple rice pilaf or a fluffy quinoa can absorb the delicious flavors from the chicken and seasonings.
- Baked sweet potato: A hearty and naturally sweet baked potato can provide a great contrast to the savory chicken.
- Cucumber salad or steamed green beans: A refreshing cucumber salad, perhaps with a dill or yogurt dressing, can cut through the richness of the chicken. Also, steamed green beans are a simple, healthy, and great choice to serve as a side dish.
Besides all of these, roasted veggies, simple green salad, and some other dishes can go hand-in-hand.
Conclusion
That’s the whole frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe. Now, if you have any questions regarding this recipe, you can simply ask them in the comments section. Also, if you have tried it or have tried some variations, then please tell me. If it’s great, I might add it to the main recipe because no one can be perfect. So, if you have suggestions, then don’t hesitate.
Moreover, if you want to try out some other recipes then please check out my Trader joe’s shawarma chicken thighs recipe, chicken thigh and lentil recipe, or if you love grills then you can check out my smoked chicken thighs recipe, Ninja woodfire grill chicken thighs recipe, or even chicken thigh pasta recipe. Also, if you love air frying, then check out my kid-friendly boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe. The name is kid-friendly, but trust me, the taste isn’t basic.
For today, thanks for reading and happy cooking!
