Putting frozen chicken in the crockpot or Instant Pot is totally doable, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure food safety and make sure your chicken comes out fully cooked and tender. Here’s what you need to know about cooking frozen chicken in a crockpot or Instant Pot.
Can You Put Frozen Chicken in a Crockpot?
Yes, you can absolutely put frozen chicken in a crockpot! The low, slow cooking environment of the crockpot will safely thaw and cook frozen chicken to perfection.
There are just a couple tips to follow when cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot:
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Bone-in chicken or chicken with the skin on will take longer to cook through.
- Add an extra 30-60 minutes to the cook time. Frozen chicken will take longer to come up to temperature than fresh or thawed chicken.
- Make sure the chicken is fully submerged in liquid. This will allow the chicken to cook evenly and prevent drying out.
- Cut large pieces of frozen chicken in half so they cook faster. Larger, thicker cuts of frozen chicken will have a longer cook time.
As long as you account for the extra cook time and use the right cut of chicken, cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot is easy. The chicken will come out moist and flavorful after several hours on low heat.
Can You Put Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot?
Putting frozen chicken in the Instant Pot is also perfectly safe, as long as you make a few minor adjustments. The pressurized environment helps the frozen chicken defrost quickly while cooking through.
Here are some tips for cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot:
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts. Bone-in chicken takes longer to cook through.
- Cut larger frozen chicken breasts in half so they cook faster.
- Increase cook time by 50%. Frozen chicken needs more time to defrost and cook.
- Use the chicken or manual function on high pressure. This ensures the chicken will be fully cooked.
- Use at least 1 cup of liquid. The steam created helps cook the chicken evenly.
With just a few simple adjustments, you can make juicy, flavorful frozen chicken in your Instant Pot. The pressurized environment helps speed up the defrosting and cooking process.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken
Here are some additional helpful tips for safely and successfully cooking frozen chicken in both the crockpot and Instant Pot:
- Partially thaw the chicken first. While you can cook completely frozen chicken, partially thawing it first for a few hours in the refrigerator will reduce the cook time.
- Add extra liquid. Make sure the chicken is fully submerged in broth, salsa, barbecue sauce or another flavorful liquid. This will prevent it from drying out.
- Don’t overfill the pot. Frozen chicken expands as it cooks. Make sure you don’t overstuff the crockpot or Instant Pot.
- Use a meat thermometer. Check that the thickest part of the chicken has reached 165°F internally before serving.
- Let it rest before serving. Allow the cooked chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before shredding or slicing to allow the juices to redistribute.
Frozen Chicken Crockpot Recipes
Here are some delicious recipes for cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot:
BBQ Pulled Chicken
- 2 pounds frozen chicken breasts
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Place chicken and remaining ingredients in crockpot. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours. Shred chicken and toss with accumulated juices. Serve on buns or over rice.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
- 1 pound frozen chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 4 cups chicken broth
Add all ingredients to crockpot and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken. Serve topped with tortilla strips, avocado and cilantro.
Chicken Parmesan
- 2 pounds frozen chicken breasts
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
Place chicken, marinara sauce, water and seasonings in crockpot. Cook on Low 6-8 hours. Top with Parmesan and mozzarella. Cook 15 mins more until cheese is melted. Serve over pasta.
Frozen Chicken Instant Pot Recipes
The Instant Pot is also perfectly suited for cooking frozen chicken. Here are some tasty Instant Pot frozen chicken recipes to try:
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
- 2 pounds frozen chicken breasts
- 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp ranch dressing
- 2 tbsp butter
Place chicken, buffalo sauce, water/broth in Instant Pot. Cook on Manual (High) 25 minutes. Shred chicken and toss with ranch dressing and butter until coated. Serve on buns or over lettuce.
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
- 1 pound frozen chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Place all ingredients in Instant Pot and stir to combine. Cook on Manual (High) for 15 minutes. Stir in yogurt before serving over rice.
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds frozen chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
Place chicken, lemon juice, broth and seasonings in Instant Pot. Cook on Manual (High) for 18-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Serve chicken drizzled with pan juices.
Tips for Freezing Chicken to Use Later
Freezing uncooked chicken to use later in the crockpot or Instant Pot is a great way to always have a quick meal ready to go. Here are some tips for freezing chicken:
- Use boneless, skinless breasts or thighs. They freeze better than bone-in pieces.
- Avoid freezing chicken with the skin on. The skin can become rubbery when thawed.
- Portion the chicken into meal-sized pieces before freezing for easier use later.
- Place chicken pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid before transferring to a freezer bag.
- Remove as much air as possible and seal bags tightly to prevent freezer burn.
- Label bags with contents and date frozen for easy reference.
- Frozen chicken keeps safely for 3-6 months in a 0°F freezer before quality starts to decline.
With properly frozen chicken on hand, you’ll always have the start of a healthy meal ready to be cooked up in the crockpot, Instant Pot or other multi-cooker!
Frozen to Cooked Chicken Time Chart
To safely cook frozen chicken all the way through, it’s important to allow enough time in the crockpot or Instant Pot for both thawing and cooking the chicken. Here’s a general time chart for reference:
| Chicken Cut | Frozen to Cooked Time in Crockpot (Low) | Frozen to Cooked Time in Instant Pot (High Pressure) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken breasts, small | 4-6 hours | 12-15 mins |
| Chicken breasts, large | 6-8 hours | 18-22 mins |
| Chicken thighs | 5-7 hours | 15-18 mins |
| Chicken drumsticks | 6-8 hours | 20-25 mins |
The time can vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces. Check the thickest piece with a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Conclusion
Cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot or Instant Pot is absolutely possible with great results! Just be sure to allow extra time for defrosting and cooking the frozen chicken, use plenty of liquid, and check that the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F. With these simple guidelines, you can easily cook moist, delicious chicken dishes in your slow cooker or multi-cooker from the convenience of frozen.