Do you want to grill some chicken and realized you forgot to thaw it? Let’s be honest: we’re only human and this can happen to anyone. So the question is: can you grill frozen chicken? Let’s explore our options!
Compared to other types of meat, such as beef or pork, poultry meat needs shorter cooking times. On that note, chicken is an excellent option when you need to grill something fast.
Grilling frozen chicken, is a different story and there are some things you need to know before trying it.
Keep reading to find out how to grill frozen chicken, the best ways to thaw chicken, and easy grilled chicken recipes perfect when you’re in a pinch!
🐔 Can You Grill Frozen Chicken?
The short answer is yes! As long as the chicken internal temperature reaches 165°F, it will be safe to eat.
This is the internal temperature recommended by the USDA for all poultry meat, and chicken makes no exception, regardless of what cooking method you use.
To make sure your chicken is cooked all the way through, you’ll need a digital meat thermometer.
If you enjoy grilling, I recommend investing in one. A meat thermometer will help you grill your meat not only to be safe to eat but also to have the perfect texture.
For frozen chicken, the general rule is it will take 50% longer to grill. You’ll also need to reduce the cooking temperature by 20%.
This will prevent the meat from burning on the outside before it has a chance to cook properly on the inside.
In fact, uneven cooking is one of the biggest risks of grilling frozen chicken. Even a small area that’s not properly cooked can increase the risk of food poisoning.
Can You Grill A Whole Frozen Chicken?
While no one can stop you from trying, I don’t recommend grilling a whole chicken that’s completely frozen.
Yes, if you allow it enough time on the grill, it will eventually cook all the way through. However, it’s very difficult to ensure even cooking for an entire bird.
Chances are, the outside will be charred by the time the inside of the chicken is properly cooked.
At the very least, consider partially thawing your chicken before such an attempt.
Best Frozen Chicken Parts To Grill
A better choice would be to opt for chicken parts, and the smaller ones are easiest to cook safely without burning their outside.
- Chicken Wings
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Tenders
Also, keep in mind that boneless breasts and thighs will cook faster, so if you have the choice, avoid bone-in chicken parts.
🍗 How To Grill Frozen Chicken
I can only assume you’re reading this because you’re in a rush to get food on the table and there’s no time to thaw your chicken.
It’s true that dry brining or marinating your chicken will make it taste even better. Nevertheless, you can get decent results even by grilling frozen chicken!
With that said, here are the steps you need to take when grilling frozen chicken:
- Pre-heat the grill. As I already mentioned, you’ll need to lower the grill temperature by 20% for frozen chicken. If you typically cook raw chicken at 350°F, pre-heat your grill at 280°F for 10 minutes.
- Pat dry the chicken. This is recommended to avoid any flare-ups caused by the excess moisture present on the surface of the chicken.
- Season the meat with your favorite seasonings and a little oil.
- Place the chicken over direct heat. The total grilling time will be increased by 50% for fully frozen chicken.
- Check the internal temperature of your chicken and flip it halfway through.
- Remove from heat once the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This will allow the internal juices to properly redistribute so the meat will be moist.
⏲️ Cooking Times And Temperatures For Frozen Chicken
We have a full guide on how long to grill chicken which includes the best grill temperatures for each part.
You can also rely on our free printable Grilled Chicken Temperature Chart. Feel free to use it as a reference whenever you want to grill chicken that turns out perfectly done!
For frozen chicken, add 50% to the total cooking time, and lower the grill temperature by 20%.
❄️ Best Ways To Thaw Chicken
If possible, even partially thawing your chicken will ensure better results when grilling. You have a few options, so choose one based on how much time you have on your hands.
Thawing In The Fridge
This is the slowest method, but also the safest one. For every 4 pounds of raw chicken, plan for 24 hours of thawing in the fridge.
If you regularly freeze chicken parts, divide them into smaller portions for faster thawing.
Cold Water Method
The cold water method is much faster than thawing in the refrigerator.
Keep the chicken in its original packaging, or place it in a Ziploc bag, and submerge it in a bowl of cold water.
We’re in a rush here, so here’s a tip: change the water every 30 minutes. This will speed up the process significantly!
If you’re working with chicken parts, they can be thawed as fast as 90 minutes. Not bad, right?
Microwave Method
Before anything else, I just want to say I don’t recommend this method. Personally, I would rather throw frozen chicken on the grill, than defrost it in a microwave.
However, if you decide to use it, thaw your chicken on the defrost setting in a microwave-safe bowl.
Heat the meat in short intervals and keep flipping it.
If you see any parts of the meat turning white, it means those areas are starting to cook.
This is the main reason microwave thawing is far from ideal. You can easily end up with chicken that’s beginning to cook on the outside while still frozen in the middle.
🔥 Favorite Grilled Chicken Recipes
Frozen or not, grilled chicken is affordable and easy to achieve. For this reason, chicken really is a grilling staple on our home.
Here are some of our favorite grilled chicken recipes that work great even if the meat is frozen:
Chicken Wings
- Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Grilled Orange And Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings
- Grilled Double IPA Chicken Wings
- Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken Wings
Chicken Breast
Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Huli Huli Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Cherry Bourbon Chicken Thighs
Chicken Drumsticks
❓F.A.Q.
For grilled chicken breasts that have been refrigerated or thawed, it takes about 10-15 minutes to fully cook them at 375°F over direct heat. We always flip them halfway through the cooking time.
To grill frozen chicken breasts, preheat the grill to 300°F. Place the breasts over direct heat and allow them to cook for 15-22 minutes.
Flip them halfway through or even more often if you notice one side is browning faster than the other.
Don’t forget to check the internal temperature of the chicken. You can remove it from the grill only when it reaches 165°F.
Yes, frozen chicken is healthy whether grilled or cooked in a different way!
Nutritionally speaking, the difference between fresh and frozen chicken is minimal.
Be aware that some varieties of store-bought frozen chicken are injected with saline, increasing the sodium content of the meat.
This can make it more difficult to adjust the salt content when cooking.
Final Words
You can grill frozen chicken! If you do it properly, the results can be surprisingly delicious.
In all honesty, I recommend planning ahead and making sure your chicken is fully thawed before grilling.
Even better if you can let it sit with a dry rub, or marinate it for at least 30 minutes. These preparation methods will add flavor and moisture to the meat, which is something we all want!
Regardless, there’s nothing wrong with grilling frozen chicken. From a nutritional point of view, it’s just as good as refrigerated chicken.
Safety-wise, you’ll need to cook it until it reaches the recommended internal temperature of 165°F and this is the rule for all poultry meat.
With that said, let’s fire up that grill and get to work!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
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