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    Where Is My Spoon > Main Dish > Chicken and Turkey

    How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings

    Published by: Adina March 21, 2022 · Last modified: February 11, 2023 2 Comments

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    pinterest image of one chicken wing.

    Learn how to cook frozen chicken wings; it’s fast, easy, and convenient! You can bake, boil, or air fry chicken wings from frozen.

    Jump to Recipe
    close up chicken wing sprinkled with parsley and served with lemon wedges.

    Did you forget to take the wings out of the freezer? No problem! Cooking chicken wings from frozen is easy, and the results are all that you could wish for! Season them with your favorite spices or toss them in a sauce for a quick and delicious dinner or appetizer.

    And if you like hot wings, check out the Korean Chicken Wings, the Baked Spicy Chicken Wings, the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings, or the Whole Baked Chicken Wings. Also, learn how to make Quick Pan-Fried Chicken Wings, How to Boil Chicken Wings, or how to make Baked Whole Chicken Wings.

    Table of contents
     [show]
    • Why should you cook frozen wings?
    • Recipe ingredients
    • Cooking methods
      • How to boil frozen chicken wings?
      • Continue cooking the boiled wings
      • How to bake frozen chicken wings?
      • How to air fry frozen chicken wings?
    • Expert tips
    • Recipe FAQ
    • How to serve?
    • More frozen food recipes

    Why should you cook frozen wings?

    • Convenient: The only way to go if you forgot to defrost them.
    • Fast: It takes less than an hour to have dinner ready. The prep time is less than 5 minutes.
    • Versatile: You can use your favorite seasonings or toss them in your favorite sauce.

    Recipe ingredients

    collage of two pictures of frozen chicken wings in a bowl and another bowl with yellow seasoning.
    • This post is all about learning how to cook frozen chicken wings; what kind of spices or sauce you add is up to you – the sky is the limit.
    • I have my favorite dry rub seasoning that I buy in the store, but I often season them with salt, pepper, and maybe some paprika and garlic powder, which is my “default” seasoning for pretty much anything.
    • When it comes to sauces, you can toss the baked wings with bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, red hot sauce, honey lemon sauce, and so on, whatever you like.

    What kind of wings to use?

    • You can buy fresh chicken wings and freeze them yourself, or use some that you purchased frozen.
    • You can bake either whole or split pieces. If they are whole, you should add extra minutes to the cooking time.

    Cooking methods

    How to boil frozen chicken wings?

    • Boiling them is a great start, especially if you want to bake or grill them after. Boiling will defrost and cook them; once this is done, all you have to do is bake or grill them long enough to make the skin crispy and delicious.
    • This technique is the best to use when the chicken pieces are frozen in a clump. Check out How to Boil Chicken Wings for detailed instructions on how to boil fresh wings as well.

    Step-by-step instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
    • Add a chicken stock cube or one teaspoon of chicken stock powder or paste into the water. Alternatively, add salt, black pepper, and 2-3 bay leaves.
    • Cook: Carefully add the frozen wings (1). Cook for about 15 minutes or until cooked through (2).
    • If they are frozen in a block, let them cook for 5 minutes and carefully pull them apart using two forks. You might need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time; always check that the meat is cooked through before serving.
    collage of two pictures of chicken wings before and after boiling in a pot.

    Continue cooking the boiled wings

    Broil:

    • Preheat the oven to broil, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush it lightly with oil (or spray it with nonstick spray).
    • Arrange the boiled pieces on it and season them generously on both sides. Broil for 5 minutes, flip and broil for another 5 minutes until the chicken skin is golden and crispy. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn. You can toss them with sauce after the initial 5 minutes if you like and continue cooking them until done.

    Bake:

    • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/ 230 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush it lightly with oil (or spray it with nonstick spray). Season the cooked chicken wings and bake them for about 20 minutes.

    Grill the dried and seasoned boiled pieces for about 10 minutes on medium heat until nicely charred and crispy. Flip them regularly.

    Deep-fry: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan (about 3 inches/ 7 cm deep) to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/ 180 degrees Celsius. Ensure that the pieces are completely dry. Fry them in batches, for about 10-15 minutes per batch or until golden brown and crispy. Place on kitchen towels to remove the excess fat.

    How to bake frozen chicken wings?

    Step-by-step instructions

    • Set the oven to 430 degrees Fahrenheit/ 220 degrees Celsius, but you don’t have to preheat it. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly brush the rack with oil or spray it with nonstick spray.
    • Cook: Arrange the frozen pieces on top. Bake for 25 minutes.
    • Season and flip: Remove the tray from the oven and sprinkle them generously with seasoning. Flip using tongs and season the other side as well (3).
    • Return to the oven and bake for another 25 minutes or until cooked through. You can brush them with sauce about 5 minutes before you finish cooking them (4). Or toss them with sauce once you take them out of the oven.
    • For extra crispiness, turn on the broil and broil them for 5 to 10 minutes or until crispy. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn.
    collage of two numbered pictures of chicken wings baked on a wire rack.

    How to air fry frozen chicken wings?

    • Check out the full article Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings.

    Step-by-step instructions

    • Preheat the fryer if necessary. My air fryer needs 3 minutes of preheating.
    • Season: Place the frozen wings in a large bowl, sprinkle with the seasoning and toss well to coat.
    • Cook: Place the pieces into the air fryer basket in a single layer (5). Cook for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Flip them using tongs.
    • Cook: Increase the temperature to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit and continue cooking them for another 18 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
    • You can toss them with sauce now and cook them for 2 more minutes (6).
    • Check out The Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners.
    collage of two pictures of frozen wings before and after cooking in air fryer.

    Expert tips

    • The boiling method is the best way to prepare the wings for grilling. It cooks them and drastically reduces the grilling time, which is always a good thing.
    • Make sure you season the meat generously.
    • Check that the chicken is cooked through before serving; the safe internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit/ 74 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have a meat thermometer (Amazon affiliate link), tear one piece and check the color of the meat near the bone, it should be completely white; there is no pink allowed.

    Recipe FAQ

    What if the wings are frozen in a block?

    Microwave the block for about 2 minutes, just long enough for them to thaw briefly so that you can pull them apart.

    How long to cook frozen wings?

    It depends on the method you are using.
    Boil: about 15 minutes.
    Bake: about 50 minutes.
    Air fry: about 30 minutes

    How to store them?

    Refrigerate for about 3 days in an airtight container.
    Freeze the cooked wings in an airtight container or a freezer bag for 4 to 6 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat before serving.

    How to reheat them?

    Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit/ 180 degrees Celsius on a lined baking sheet for about 10-20 minutes or until heated through.
    Reheat in the air fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit/ 190 degrees Celsius for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Flip after about 2 minutes

    How to serve?

    • As a main with mashed potatoes, potato salad, mac and cheese, potato wedges, salads or vegetables.
    • As an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce, I love a nice blue cheese sauce or ranch dressing and some carrot or celery sticks on the side.
    many golden brown baked wings cooked from frozen on a rack.

    More frozen food recipes

    • How to Cook Frozen Beef
    • How to Cook Frozen Sausages
    • How to Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs
    • How to Boil Frozen Chicken Breast
    • Roasted Frozen Cauliflower
    • Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
    • How to Cook Frozen Corn
    • Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries

    Do you like this recipe?

    Please leave a good rating in the recipe card below. Stay in touch through social media: Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me #whereismyspoon when you try a recipe!
    close up many frozen chicken wings.

    How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings

    Learn how to cook frozen chicken wings; it’s fast, easy, and convenient! You can bake, boil, or air fry chicken wings from frozen.
    4.72 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Poultry
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 292kcal
    Author: Adina
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    Ingredients 

    • 2 lb frozen chicken wings 900 g, Note 1
    • 2 tablespoons seasoning of choice

    Instructions

    Boil:

    • Boil water: Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
    • Dissolve a chicken stock cube or one teaspoon chicken stock powder or paste into the water. Alternatively, add salt, black pepper, and 2-3 bay leaves.
    • Cook: Carefully add the frozen wings. Cook for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.
    • If they are frozen in a block, let them cook for 5 minutes and carefully pull them apart using two forks. You might need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time; always check that the wings are cooked through before serving (Note 3).
    • Continue cooking: See Note 3 for instructions on how to continue cooking boiled wings (broil, bake, grill, deep fry).

    Bake:

    • Set the oven to 430 degrees Fahrenheit/ 220 degrees Celsius; you don’t have to preheat it. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly brush the rack with oil or spray it with nonstick spray.
    • Bake: Arrange the frozen pieces on top. Bake for 25 minutes.
    • Season and flip: Remove the tray from the oven and sprinkle the wings generously with seasoning. Flip them using tongs and season the other side as well.
    • Return to the oven and bake for another 25 minutes or until cooked through.
    • Broil: If the wings are not crispy enough after 50 minutes, turn on the broil and broil them for 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn.

    Air fry:

    • Preheat the air fryer, if necessary. My air fryer needs 3 minutes preheating.
    • Season: Place the frozen wings in a large bowl, sprinkle with the seasoning and toss well to coat.
    • Cook: Place the pieces into the basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Flip the wings on the other side using tongs.
    • Increase the temperature to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit and continue cooking the wings for another 18 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
    • You can toss them with sauce now and cook them for 2 more minutes.

    Notes

    1. They can be whole or split. If they are whole, add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time, and check that the wings are cooked through.
    2. Check that the chicken is cooked through before serving; the safe internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit/ 74 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, tear a wing and check the color of the meat near the bone, it should be completely white; there is no pink allowed.
     
    3.Continue cooking boiled chicken wings:
    • Broil: Preheat the oven to broil, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush it lightly with oil (or spray it with nonstick spray).
    • Arrange the boiled pieces on the tray and season them generously on both sides. Broil for 5 minutes, flip and broil for another 5 minutes or so until the skin is golden and crispy. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn. You can toss them with sauce after the initial 5 minutes if you like and continue cooking them until done.
    • Bake: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/ 230 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush it lightly with oil (or spray it with nonstick spray). Season the wings and bake them for about 20 minutes.
    • Grill the dried and seasoned boiled wings for about 10 minutes on medium heat until nicely charred and crispy. Flip them regularly.
    • Deep-fry: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan (about 3 inches/ 7 cm deep) to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/ 180 degrees Celsius. Ensure that the pieces are completely dry. Fry them in batches, for about 10-15 minutes per batch or until golden brown and crispy. Place on kitchen towels to remove the excess fat.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4g | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 308IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lydia says

      November 23, 2022 at 12:43 am

      5 stars
      This worked perfectly! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        November 23, 2022 at 8:11 am

        Thank you for the feedback and rating, Lydia.

        Reply

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