Cooking frozen meat is the perfect strategy to save cooking time, especially if you need to serve food in a short amount of time without much preparation. Want to grill frozen chicken breasts without compromising the taste? Come on, read the recipe below to find out how to bake frozen chicken breasts with the help of a skillet or oven!
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 45 minutes
- Total time required: 60 minutes
Step
Method 1 of 2: Roasting Chicken in the Oven
Step 1. Look for a baking sheet that has a support underneath
If you want, you can also place a roasting rack on top of a regular baking sheet.
The raised pan allows the chicken juices to drip down while the chicken is roasting
Step 2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
This method is effective in keeping the pan clean and speeding up the chicken ripening process.
Step 3. Preheat the oven to 180°C
Then, place the roasting rack in the center of the oven.
- Frozen chicken breasts should always be cooked at 180°C to kill any form of bacteria that might have grown in the lower temperatures.
- If you don't want to eat grilled chicken breasts that are too dry, try placing the chicken in a non-stick container. Then, preheat the oven to 190°C as the container will be covered while the chicken is roasting. In general, the chicken needs to be roasted at the same time.
Step 4. Remove 1 to 6 chicken breasts from the freezer
In fact, you don't have to rinse frozen chicken breasts or soak them in water before cooking them.
Step 5. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil
Arrange the chicken so that each piece is spaced enough apart and not touching each other.
Step 6. Mix in your favorite herbs and spices
In general, you will need about 1 to 6 tbsp. seasoning, depending on the amount of chicken breast to be cooked.
- Use a mixture of salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice to enrich the flavor of the chicken with a simple mix of spices. If you want, you can even buy dry spice mixes for seasoning chicken at the supermarket.
- If you want a more sour taste, pour barbecue sauce or other wet sauce over the surface of the chicken breast.
Step 7. Pour 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of the seasoning over one side of the chicken
After that, both chicken breasts use food tongs to season the other side.
Do not touch raw, frozen chicken with your hands. Instead, use a brush to apply the sauce to the surface of the chicken, and use food tongs to turn the chicken over on the baking sheet
Step 8. Put the pan in the oven
Set the timer for 30 minutes or 45 minutes if the chicken won't be slathered in the sauce halfway through the roasting time.
Since the chicken breasts are still frozen, the cooking time should be increased by 50%. In other words, chicken breasts that normally take 20 to 30 minutes to cook should be cooked for 45 minutes if they're still frozen
Step 9. Remove the pan from the oven after 30 minutes
After that, spread the barbecue sauce or extra marinade on the surface of the chicken.
Step 10. Put the baking sheet in the oven
Put the timer back on at 15 minutes.
Step 11. Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer
Remember, this is a very important step to do because cooking just the right amount of time does not necessarily guarantee that the chicken is fully cooked when served.
After the timer goes off and the chicken has cooked for 45 minutes, insert a meat thermometer into the center. The chicken is cooked and ready to serve when the internal temperature reaches 74°C
Method 2 of 2: Cooking Chicken in a Frying Pan
Step 1. Dice the chicken
Of course the chicken can be cooked whole. However, first diced or lengthwise can reduce cooking time significantly.
If you want, you can first soften the chicken in the microwave to make it easier to cut. However, make sure the chicken is processed immediately after removing it from the microwave, yes
Step 2. Season the chicken
You can add dry seasoning mix, sauce, or a salt and pepper mix to season the chicken before freezing or while waiting for the chicken to soften completely when cooked.
- If you want, you can also cook the chicken in the broth to enrich the taste while keeping the texture soft and moist.
- Remember, the spices added while the chicken is still frozen will not be able to absorb into every fiber of the meat.
Step 3. Put 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan
In this recipe, you can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or even butter.
- Heat a skillet over high heat until the oil heats up or the butter melts.
- Pour in your favorite type of stock, such as chicken stock or vegetable stock, if desired.
Step 4. Place the chicken breasts on the hot surface of the skillet
Make sure the pan is kept at medium temperature. Then, close the pan tightly so that the chicken can be cooked perfectly.
Step 5. Cook the chicken for 2-4 minutes
Resist the temptation to open the lid to keep the hot steam well trapped.
- As with roasting frozen chicken, you will need to take 50% longer to cook the chicken that has not been tenderized in the pan.
- After 2-4 minutes, you can add various herbs and spices to enrich the taste of the chicken.
Step 6. Turn the chicken breast over with the help of tongs
Step 7. Reduce the heat and cover the pan
Set the timer at 15 minutes, then cook the chicken over low heat. Again, resist the temptation to open the lid while the chicken is cooking!
Step 8. Turn off the heat and let the chicken sit for 15 minutes
After cooking for 15 minutes, the chicken should be allowed to sit to level out the doneness.
Step 9. Check the temperature of the chicken
Remove the lid from the pan and insert a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Ideally, chicken can be said to be cooked if it has reached a temperature of 74°C.
Make sure the inside of the meat is no longer pink
Step 10. Done
Tips
- It's best not to cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker. This method is actually not recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture because long cooking times can create a wetland for bacteria to multiply, even when the pan is used at the highest temperature. Therefore, always tenderize the chicken before cooking it in a slow cooker!
- Do not let chicken that has been softened in the microwave at room temperature. This action can trigger the growth of bacteria.
- If you have limited time, thaw frozen chicken in the microwave, then quickly cook it in the oven or stove.
- Don't microwave frozen chicken breasts! Because the temperature stability in the microwave is difficult to control, using this method can actually increase the risk of bacterial growth in food.
