14 Frozen Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Air Fry
Updated: May 16, 2023
Surprise! You can air-fry almost any frozen food that's usually fried or baked. That's why we compiled this list of air fryer frozen foods you need to try.
Frozen Chicken Wings
For finger-licking good chicken wings with less fat, preheat your air fryer to 360° and load the basket with wings. For even cooking, take care not to overcrowd the air fryer. Let the wings cook for 11 to 12 minutes or until the meat reaches 170º. Remove and let cool. Serve naked or toss with your favorite wing sauce. (Psst: You might like these new condiments more than ranch after you give them a try!)
If you’re wondering about freezer burn, read our guide on how to know if freezer-burned food is safe to eat.
Frozen Chicken Tenders
For a quick, kid-friendly meal, preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Arrange frozen chicken strips as a single layer in the basket. Cook chicken strips for 11 to 12 minutes, or until the meat reaches 165º, turning once halfway through cooking. Get inspired by these other kid-friendly dinner ideas, and check out our air fryer cooking guide for everything you need to learn about the popular kitchen appliance.
Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
To make crispy, cheesy mozzarella sticks, preheat your air fryer to 350°. Load the basket with frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer. Spray lightly with cooking oil and cook for 5 minutes. After 2 minutes, turn the sticks over and spray again with cooking spray. Let cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, then remove and serve with your favorite dipping sauce—marinara.
Learn how to make your own air-fryer mozzarella sticks, so you can have a homemade version of this snack time favorite ready to pull from the freezer at any time.
Frozen Corn Dogs
Now, you can get crispy corn dogs long after the fair is over. Fire up your air fryer to 400° and preheat for two minutes. Line up your frozen corn dogs with a 1/2 inch of space between each one and cook for 8 minutes. When they’re done, serve with ketchup, barbecue sauce or mustard for dipping.
Here are more surprising foods you can air fry (and some you can’t!).
Frozen Meatballs
Preheat the air fryer to 350°. Fill your basket with a single layer of frozen meatballs. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, then remove when meatballs are evenly browned and have reached an internal temp of 160º for red meat or 165º for poultry. Once cooked, try adding them to one of these recipes that start with meatballs.
Frozen French Fries
Preheat your air fryer to 400°. Then, spray the basket with cooking oil. Next, depending on your air fryer’s capacity, add frozen fries to the basket (try our favorite French fry brands). Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until crispy and golden. For best results, shake the basket halfway through cooking.
If you’ve got extra time, you can also make your own air-fryer French fries from scratch.
Frozen Tater Tots
Who doesn’t love tater tots? These starchy, golden nuggets can also be cooked in the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 400° for 1 minute. Toss the tater tots into the basket and cook for 7 minutes. Give it a good shake, and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. Once they’re crispy and ready to go, make some tater tot-chos.
Frozen Egg Rolls
To make perfect air-fryer egg rolls, crack and beat an egg in a small bowl. Place 2 to 3 egg rolls in the basket of your air fryer and brush with the beaten egg. Cook for seven minutes at 320°, then flip the egg rolls and brush the other side with egg. Cook for a final 7 minutes until crisp and golden, remove and let cool. Serve ’em with this tasty sweet-hot Asian dipping sauce.
Frozen Breakfast Pastries
A pastry with a crispy, crunchy, tender, flaky crust can be ready in just eight minutes. To cook, cut a piece of parchment to fit the basket of your air fryer. Spray with cooking oil and place one or two frozen strudels in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes at 350°, flip and then cook for an additional 3 minutes until golden. Remove and drizzle with icing. Up your cooking skills and learn how to make DIY caramel apple Toaster Strudels next.
Frozen Salmon Fillets
Yep, you can even cook frozen salmon fillets in the air fryer! Simply remove the fillets from their packaging and place them in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes at 320°, then flip and cook at 360° for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily.
Frozen Bread Dough
You can use frozen bread dough to make a variety of baked goods in your air fryer, including dinner rolls, cinnamon buns and even air-fryer doughnuts! The only caveat? You will need to thaw and proof the bread dough as directed. Then, shape and bake your creations in the air fryer for 15 minutes.
Frozen Chicken Breasts
Did you forget to thaw the chicken for dinner? No worries. Cook frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts in an air fryer by preheating the device to 360°. Season the chicken breasts as desired, then place them in the air fryer basket. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165°. Here are 100 other ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breasts, and some air-fryer chicken recipes to add to your meal plan.
Frozen Puff Pastry Bites
Make a few dozen simple puff pastry bites for your next party by cutting a sheet of puff pastry into two-inch squares. Place a few tablespoons of your preferred filling on the puff pastry and then fold over into a triangle. Pinch edges closed. Place a few puff pastry bites into a preheated 390° air fryer basket and cook for about 10 minutes. Want to experiment? Try some of our favorite puff pastry recipes in your air fryer.
Frozen Veggie Burgers
Place one or two frozen veggie burger patties into the basket of an air fryer. Set to 350° and let cook for 5 minutes. Then, open the basket and flip each patty over. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until warmed through and then remove from air fryer. Serve on buns with your choice of toppings. They’ll fit right in with these other plant-based diet recipes.
