Easy Ninja Foodi whole frozen chicken is so easy to make. No need to defrost the bird, just get it into your pressure cooker and an hour later you will have and amazing juicy chicken with crispy skin.
Pressure cooking frozen chicken is the fastest way to bring delicious dinner to the table. There is no need to defrost the bird, just place it in to your Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, close the lid and one hour late you will get a yummy chicken dinner.
How to make Ninja Foodi whole frozen chicken
Get frozen chicken from the freezer and set on the counter for a few minutes. Even though we are making this dish from frozen you still need to get the plastic packaging off the chicken. After that's done, remove the white pad from the surface of the chicken. Its used to collect chicken juices when the bird is thawed.
Ok so now you have a beautiful whole frozen chicken that is ready to be cooked. The chicken i had was 4 lb and easily fit into the air fryer basket. If your chicken is bigger and doesn't fit, use a trivet or a steamer basket. You can also just put the chicken right in the inner pot. It will be ok.
Cover the chicken entirely with the spice mix and don't forget to add water to the pot. Preferably add the water before you place the chicken in the trivet or air fryer basket. Water may wash away the spices if you are not careful. Add butter right on top of chicken.
Close and secure the lid. Cook whole frozen chicken in Ninja Foodi for 50 minutes if its 4 lb. It will take longer to cook a bigger bird and i will add time chart for different sized bird right in the recipe card.
Quick release the pressure as soon as the cooking is done. Do not let the pressure do release naturally for even 5 minutes. Its important.
Carefully open the lid and insert digital instant thermometer in to the thickest part of chicken but away from the bone. The thermometer should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit when fully cooked. If its not, close the lid back and pressure cook it for another 3-5 minutes.
Ninja Foodi makes it very easy to broil the skin once the chicken is done. Just remove the pressure cooker lid and close the AIRCRISP lid on instead. Broil for about 5 minutes, until the skin is browned and crispy. Be careful not to overcook the chicken while broiling too!
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Now chop some green onions and cilantro and sprinkle it over the chicken for better presentation.
Recipe tips and tricks
- Consider adding fresh herbs before cooking, if you have any. Rosemary or fresh thyme will be a great addition to the recipe. I didn’t have any fresh herbs so I used dried which is still great but fresh is always better.
- It is very important to follow the cooking time exactly. Don’t let the pressure release naturally, it will be keep cooking the chicken and making it dry.
- When crisping the skin, don’t go over 5 minutes. It will dry the chicken breast and drumsticks if you broil it for too long.
- If there are giblets inside the bird, pressure cook right with them. Pull it out of a cooked chicken and use them the way you want( some people eat it some throw away). I personally enjoy it, I even have a recipe for pan fried chicken hearts on my blog.
Serving suggestion
Serve chicken with the bowl of white rice, brown rice or even noodles. Add shredded chicken to quesadillas or pastas. Make mashed potatoes and serve chicken with it.
I like to slice cooled chicken breast and add to my sandwiches. There is so many ways to enjoy this chicken!
Leftovers
If you have any ninja foodi frozen chicken leftovers store them in the fridge. Optionally separate chicken pieces and store in the air right container for up to 4 days. Or you can keep meat in the plate or bowl and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. Reheat in the microwave in the microwave safe bowl.
You can freeze the bird and use it later. Shred it for easier use or keep it whole. Freeze for up to 3-5 months as long as the container or plastic bag is freezer friendly.
More Ninja Foodi recipes
- Ninja Foodi beef short ribs
- Ninja Foodi frozen turkey breast
- Ninja foodi Mississippi pot roast
- Easy Ninja Foodi beets
- Ninja foodi green beans
More chicken recipes
Ninja Foodi whole frozen chicken
Easy Ninja Foodi whole frozen chicken is so easy to make. No need to defrost the bird, just get it into your pressure cooker and an hour later you will have and amazing juicy chicken with crispy skin.
Ingredients
- 4 lb whole frozen chicken
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon back pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup of butter
Instructions
- Add water to the Ninja Foodi inner pot.
- Take chicken out of the bag. Cover with spices and place in to the air fryer basket. If the chicken is too big and doesn't fit, try to fit it in the steamer basket or just place on top of water. Add butter.
- Close and lock the lid. Pressure cook for 60 minutes. Quick release immediately after beeping. Carefully open the lid.
- Remove pressure cooker lid and close the air fryer lid. Broil for 5 minutes.
Notes
- 5 lb chicken will be cooked in 70 minutes.
- Consider adding fresh herbs before cooking, if you have any. Rosemary or fresh thyme will be a great addition to the recipe. I didn’t have any fresh herbs so I used dried which is still great but fresh is always better.
- It is very important to follow the cooking time exactly. Don’t let the pressure release naturally, it will be keep cooking the chicken and making it dry.
- When crisping the skin, don’t go over 5 minutes. It will dry the chicken breast and drumsticks if you broil it for too long.
- If there are giblets inside the bird, pressure cook right with them.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 739Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 305mgSodium: 1336mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 73g
Kayla DiMaggio
What a great idea to do this in the ninja foodi! It came out great!
Addie
Love my Ninja Foodi! This chicken is so delicious!
Julie
I was looking for a simple new dinner recipe to make in my Ninja Foodi and this one fit the bill! SO crazy easy. I loved how I didn't even have to defrost and the flavors are delish
Natalie
Brilliant. I never used ninja for frozen chicken. But now I see it's possible and the meat looks delicious. Perfectly cooked. Thanks!
CajunGrans
I never saw...did you cook on High or Low pressure? PRAYING the answer is High (chicken cooking NOW!).
Thanks,
Tanya
yes its high pressure thanks!
What is the butter for in the recipe?
What is the butter for in the recipe?
Tanya
butter helps to keep chicken juicy
Janice
You have 50 minutes pressure cook time for a 4 lb chicken in your preamble and 60 minutes for 4 lbs in the recipe. It would be great to have this clarified. (You also don't allow any time for browning with the broiler in the recipe summary but that's a minor detail.) I'm going with 60 minutes because you have an hour cook time in 2 places and 50 minutes in only 1 (although it is in bold type!)
Shay
Hi, I have a 3.65 lb chicken and am unsure of the cooking time. I'm new to the Ninja Foodi and have used PKP and Instant Pot, but it's been years since I made a frozen chicken. Any advice would be most appreciated - I am hoping to make thi sometime in the next couple of hours! Thank you.