Can you boil frozen chicken without defrosting

Last minute dinner plans are a reality in today's world. We work late, skip grocery runs, or just plain forget to plan supper until the last minute. If this happens to you, there's no need to pick up the phone and call in for takeout. If you've got chicken in the freezer, you can still make a quick and easy meal. According to nutritionist and Fresh Starts Registry expert Allie Echeverria of Atlanta, Georgia, it's possible to cook chicken from frozen. However, there are a few things you need to know in order to make sure it cooks thoroughly without drying out. The next time you need a last-minute dinner, use these guidelines for cooking frozen chicken without thawing it.

Can You Cook Chicken Without Thawing It?

Echevarria's says you can safely cook chicken without thawing it, but she admits it can be tricky to cook it evenly. Often, the outside of the chicken will finish cooking while the interior meat will still be frozen and raw. This is not only unappetizing, but it's also unhealthy since it isn't safe to eat chicken if it isn't fully cooked. And, of course, if you cook the chicken longer, the outer layers will be overdone and dry. Luckily, there are a few surefire ways to cook delicious, tender chicken without thawing it.

Can You Refreeze Chicken?

What's the Best Way to Cook Chicken Without Thawing It?

Echevarria favorite method makes the most of her multi-cooker. Here's how to use your Instant Pot to cook frozen chicken.

1. Place four frozen chicken breasts into the Instant Pot, add one cup of water or broth, and your favorite seasonings.
2. Place the lid and seal the valve. Use the manual pressure setting and cook for 10-12 minutes on high pressure.
3. Allow the pressure to release naturally for five to 10 minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure. Remember that Instant Pots take about 10 minutes to come to pressure before your food starts cooking. Your chicken will go from frozen to cooked in about 30 minutes.

Note: Instant Pots are not interchangeable with slow cookers in this instance because, according to the FDA, it may take too long for raw chicken to reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees if it cooks too slowly. This will potentially allow bacteria to grow.

Learn how to boil frozen chicken breasts with this quick and easy boiled frozen chicken recipe. The chicken is cooked tender, juicy, flavorful, and delicious. Shred, slice, or dice to use in salads, wraps, sandwiches, or as desired.

Can You Boil Frozen Chicken Breasts

Yes, you can boil frozen chicken without thawing. It comes out tender, juicy, and flavorful if done right. It will take longer to cook than if cooking it fresh, however, the cooking process is similar.

Frozen chicken breasts can be skinless boneless chicken breast, skinless bone in, chicken cutlets, chicken cubes, skin on bone in, and you can cook them all from frozen.

You can also boil chicken breast by defrosting first if that's what you prefer. This takes a longer time overall as depending on the size of the chicken, defrosting chicken takes at least 30 minutes if doing it cold water method or several hours if left to thaw in the fridge. So if you are out of fresh chicken and forgot to bring out the chicken
you can simply boil chicken from frozen and get perfectly cooked chicken.

I prefer boiling chicken from frozen rather than defrosting it first because it prevents any harmful bacteria if defrosting is not done correctly.

It is important to cook the chicken properly and the internal temperature at the thickest part reads at least 165F when checked with an instant thermometer.

Also do not overcook as boiling chicken for too long can make it tough, rubbery, and dry.

Boiled Frozen Chicken Recipe (How To Boil Frozen Chicken Breasts)

This boiled frozen chicken recipe is not only easy, and fast, but it also turns out flavorful, tender, and delicious just like if cooked from fresh.

Boiling frozen chicken breasts is a simple thing to do and it's the go-to for when one forgets to bring chicken out of the freezer as you can still get dinner ready in 30 minutes or less.

This recipe makes use of a few ingredients, requires minimal prep, and it's failproof.

You can use this recipe for other chicken parts like frozen chicken wings, chicken thighs, and drumsticks.

This is a low carb chicken breast recipe that is dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Related: Boiled chicken thighs, Frozen chicken breast in air fryer

Ingredients

The detailed ingredient list, measurement, and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Frozen chicken breasts

Paprika

Parsley

Dried thyme

Garlic powder

Onion

Black pepper

Salt

Water

How To Boil Frozen Chicken Breasts

Bring the frozen chicken out of the freezer and remove all packaging.

Rinse under the tap to deglaze.

Put the frozen chicken in a pot then add paprika, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, stock cube or powder, salt and chopped onions.

Add water to it to cover the chicken by at least an inch.

Put the pot on medium heat and cook till the chicken starts to boil then lower the heat and simmer chicken till it's cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165F. It should be tender and fork inserted should go in without resistance or sticking to the chicken.

Take off the heat, remove the chicken breasts from the broth.

Serve, shred, cube, slice, or use chicken as desired.

How Long To Boil Frozen Chicken Breasts

The cooking time for boiling frozen chicken breasts depends on the size and thickness of the chicken, the quantity, and if it's boneless or bone in.

Generally, it takes about 50 percent longer to boil from frozen than boiling from fresh.

How long to boil frozen boneless chicken breasts is 15-20 minutes.

Frozen skinless bone in chicken breasts is 20-25 minutes.

How long to boil frozen chicken breasts to shred is 15-20 minutes.

It's important frozen chicken is properly cooked to avoid food poisoning. To ensure it's cooked safe to eat, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.  It should be atleast 165F.

What To Serve With

Here are some suggestion of what to serve with:

Carrots

Potatoes

Rice

Boiled spaghetti

Salads

How To Thaw Frozen Chicken

In the fridge- This takes up to 24 hours depending on the size of the chicken so you have to plan ahead. Put the chicken in the fridge and allow it to defrost. Once defrosted, you can cook it immediately or can leave in the fridge for up to 24 hours

Cold Water- Put the chicken in a Ziploc and zip it. Add water into a deep bowl then put in the Ziploc ensuring it's submerged in the water. Change the water every half an hour till chicken is thawed. It takes approximately 1 hour to thaw a pound of chicken. Once defrosted, season chicken and cook as desired.

To defrost it in the microwave- Put the chicken in the microwave, and use the defrost setting until it's defrosted.

How To Store

Let the chicken complety cool then pack it in an airtight container or Ziploc before storing it in the fridge where it will keep well for up to 3 days or in the freezer where it will last for up to 6 months.

It can be reheated in the microwave, or stovetop.

To Reheat it on the stove: add some water in a pot and let it rapidly boil. Remove packaging from the chicken then put chicken in the boiling water. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 3 minutes or till warmed through. Bring the chicken out of the water and serve.

If reheating in the microwave: remove packaging, place chicken on a microwave-safe plate then microwave on high heat for 2 minutes or till heated through.

Once reheated, don't refreeze it.

Tips For Boiling Frozen Chicken Breasts

• When salting, the water should taste slightly salty so the chicken is not bland.
• It's ok to use any good chicken seasoning to boil the chicken. You can also just use onions, salt, and pepper if you prefer.
• Cooking time depends on the thickness and size. Smaller pieces will cook faster than larger ones.

FAQS

Can frozen chicken be boiled without thawing?

Yes, you don't have to thaw frozen chicken before boiling it. You can boil it from frozen and get tender, juicy, chicken breasts.

Is boiling frozen chicken safe?

Yes, it is as long as you cook it to an internal temperature of 165F/75C.

What happens if you boil frozen chicken?

It cooks and becomes tender.

More Chicken Breast Recipes

Oven Baked Chicken breasts

Chicken bites recipe

Chicken in tomato sauce

Marinated chicken in air fryer

Chicken skewers

Deep fried chicken breasts

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Boiled Frozen Chicken (How To Boil Frozen Chicken Breasts)

Learn how to boil frozen chicken breasts with this quick and easy boiled frozen chicken recipe. The chicken is cooked tender, juicy, flavorful, and delicious. Shred, slice, or dice to use in salads, wraps, sandwiches, or as desired.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Australian, British, International

Servings 2

Calories 311 kcal

Equipment

• Pot

Ingredients  1x2x3x

• 2 pieces Frozen Chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• ½ teaspoon Parsley
• ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 medium Onion chopped
• 1 Stock cube (Bouillon)
• ½ teaspoon Dried thyme
• Salt to taste

Instructions 

• Bring the frozen chicken out of the freezer and remove all packaging.

• Rinse under the tap to deglaze.Put the frozen chicken in a pot then add paprika, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, stock cube or powder, salt, and chopped onions.

• Add water to it to cover the chicken by at least an inch.

• Put the pot on medium heat and cook till the chicken starts to boil then lower the heat and simmer the chicken till it's cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165F.It should be tender and a fork inserted should go in without resistance or sticking to the chicken.

• Take off the heat, remove the chicken breasts from the broth.

• Serve, shred, cube, slice, or use chicken as desired.

Notes

• When salting, the water should taste slightly salty so the chicken is not bland.
• It's ok to use any good chicken seasoning to boil the chicken. You can also just use onions, salt, and pepper if you prefer.
• Cooking time depends on the thickness and size. Smaller pieces will cook faster than larger ones.

Nutrition

Calories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 54gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 293mgPotassium: 1022mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 165IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg

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Can you boil chicken without defrosting?

How do you boil frozen chicken breast without thawing it?

How long does it take to boil frozen chicken?

What happens if you cook frozen chicken without defrosting?