Name: How to Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 8 chicken thighs; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon sweet paprika; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (sweet or hot to taste, Note 1); ½ teaspoon garlic powder

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Cook frozen chicken thighs in the oven without defrosting them first. Season them straight from the freezer and bake until the skin is golden and the meat is tender.

chicken thighs baked from frozen on a baking sheet.

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs can go straight from the freezer into the oven.

The thighs must be separated, not frozen together in a solid block. Arrange them in a single layer and cook until the thickest part reaches at least 165°F/74°C.

If you have frozen white meat instead, use this recipe for Baked Frozen Chicken Breast. You can also cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot or Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer.

Ingredients: 4 + oil, salt & pepper | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 55 minutes | Servings: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Featured comment from Edith: Easy! I did it with some fresh lemon juice added to your recipe. Time was perfect as tested with the meat thermometer. I had thighs, and cut breasts in half to keep the size even. Perfect flavor!

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Rules for cooking frozen chicken

Allow about 50% more cooking time: This is a useful general guide when cooking chicken from frozen instead of thawed. The thighs in this recipe take 50-60 minutes, but the exact time depends on their size.

Use a slightly lower oven temperature: I bake frozen thighs at 360°F/180°C, so they have time to cook through before the skin becomes too dark.

Separate the pieces: Don't bake chicken thighs frozen together in a solid block. Arrange the individual pieces in a single layer so they cook evenly.

Use an instant-read thermometer: Check the thickest part without touching the bone. The internal temperature must reach at least 165°F/74°C.

Don't use a slow cooker: Frozen chicken warms too slowly in a slow cooker. Defrost it completely before using that method.

Recipe ingredients

one bowl of oil and spice mixture and frozen chicken thighs in another bowl.

Frozen chicken thighs: This recipe is for eight bone-in, skin-on thighs. The pieces should be individually frozen so you can arrange them separately on the baking sheet.

Seasoning: I use fine sea salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and garlic powder mixed with a bit of oil. You can use hot smoked paprika or a bit of cayenne pepper if you want a little heat.

For more seasoning ideas, check out Baked Chicken Drumsticks.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to bake frozen chicken thighs?

Preparation: Preheat the oven to 360°F/180°C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Let the chicken stand on the counter while the oven preheats.

Season: Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl.

frozen and seasoned chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with foil.

Step #1: Arrange the frozen chicken thighs on the prepared baking sheet. Pour the seasoned oil over them and rub it over the skin and sides. Place the thighs in a single layer with the skin facing up.

baked thighs cooked from frozen in a pool of juices on a baking tray.

Step #2: Bake for 50-60 minutes. Begin checking after 50 minutes, as the exact cooking time depends on the size of the thighs and your oven.

How long do frozen chicken thighs take in the oven?

Bone-in, skin-on frozen chicken thighs need approximately 50-60 minutes at 360°F/180°C. Large pieces may take slightly longer.

Don't rely on color alone when checking chicken thighs. An instant-read thermometer gives you a more reliable result.

If the thighs have not reached 165°F/74°C after 50-60 minutes, return them to the oven and check again after another 5 minutes.

Tips

Separate the thighs before freezing them. If they freeze together, thaw them enough to pull the pieces apart before baking.

Use a rimmed baking sheet because the frozen chicken will release liquid as it cooks.

Variation: A reader added fresh lemon juice to the seasoning and used thighs together with halved chicken breasts. Cutting the breast pieces to a similar size helped everything cook evenly.

Optional broiling: If the meat is cooked but you want the skin darker, place it briefly under the broiler and watch it closely.

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container for up to three days.

Reheat them at 325°F/160°C until hot throughout. You can also cover and microwave them in short intervals, checking and turning them between intervals.

The leftover bones can be used to make chicken stock. Use the stock recipe explained in this post for Semolina Dumpling Soup.

one chicken thigh baked from frozen and sprinkled with parsley.

What to serve with them?

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