Chicken burgers are always popular with the kids (and the adults!), and now they are even quicker and easier to make because you can cook them in the air fryer.
We can’t always make everything from scratch, and frozen chicken patties are a staple in my house – perfect for a quick and easy dinner when the kids are hungry from after-school sports. They are even quicker when you cook them in the air fryer, plus they get an extra crispy coating that you just can get from oven baking.
Air frying is a great option for cooking crispy chicken. Check out my recipes for air fryer homemade chicken patties made with ground chicken, air fryer chicken breast, or air fryer chicken schnitzel for some other tasty dinner ideas.
Scroll down for the printable instruction card, or read on for all the details.
What chicken patties to use
I normally get breaded chicken patties because my kids prefer them, but you air fry unbreaded frozen chicken patties in the same way.
Our usual brands of frozen is Tyson chicken patties or Bell & Evans, but you can use any brand that you prefer. Just bear in mind that all chicken patties are slightly different sizes and thickness and so cook times will vary.
Important! Frozen chicken patties are normally pre-cooked before freezing, then ‘cooked’ by you from frozen. However, you should always check the packet instructions of the product you have to ensure that the manufacturer states that you can cook them from frozen, or whether they should be thawed first.
Tip 1: Preheat the air fryer
First you need preheat the air fryer to 360°F/ 180°C. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to cook for around 3 minutes.
Some brands of air fryer state that you don’t need to preheat them, but I find you do get better results after preheating for recipes where the cook times are short.
Tip 2: Air fry patties in a single layer
Place frozen chicken patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try to ensure they are not touching. You want air the hot air air to reach all surfaces of each frozen chicken patty so that they cook evenly.
Tip 3: Know how long to cook them
The cooking times for air frying frozen chicken patties will depend on a number of factors including the brand of patties used, the size and shape of each individual chicken patty, and how powerful your air fryer is.
When the patties have finished cooking, the best way to check that they are cooked through is to check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. They should be 165°F/ 74°C or higher in the center.
Serving ideas
- A classic chicken burger in a brioche bun – try adding bacon, avocado and mayo, or slaw and BBQ sauce
- Bun-less chicken patties with a salad and/or fries
- Cut patties into pieces or in a wrap with hummus and salad
- Sliced and served in tacos with salad, salsa and taco sauce
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Patties
Ingredients
- 4 frozen chicken patties
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F/ 180°C.
- Place frozen chicken patties in air fryer basket in a single layer. Ensure they are not touching.
- Air fry chicken patties at 360°F/ 180°C for 10-14 minutes, flip the patties over halfway through the cooking time.
- The chicken patties are ready when they are crispy and golden, and have reached an internal temperature of 165°F/ 74°C or higher all the way through [Note 1].
Notes
- Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm temperature.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
