Looking for the best frozen foods to make in your air fryer? These 45+ healthy air fryer frozen food ideas are quick, easy, and perfect for busy nights when you want something fast that still tastes great.
From better-for-you frozen brands like Trader Joe's, Whole Foods 365, Applegate, or Just Bare, and others to classic favorites like frozen chicken, turkey burgers, vegetables, and snacks, our list has something for you.
We've tested all of these ourselves and included the exact cook time and temperature, so you never have to guess. Just grab your favorite freezer staples, toss them in the air fryer, and enjoy a hot, and easy protein packed dinner or snack in minutes.
How to Cook Frozen Food in the Air Fryer (The Healthy Way)
Cooking frozen food in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to get a hot, crispy meal on the table in minutes. Here are a few tips to get the best results-without needing to deep fry or reheat in the microwave.
- Preheat your air fryer (if your model recommends it): 3-5 minutes helps food cook evenly and get crispy edges.
- Avoid overcrowding: Spread out the food in a single layer for better air circulation. Cook in batches if needed.
- Add oil only when necessary: Some items like fries or vegetables may need a quick spray of oil. Protein items (like chicken or burgers) usually don't.
- Flip halfway through: For even cooking and the best texture, flip or shake the basket at the halfway point.
- Check doneness with a thermometer: For frozen meats, use a food thermometer to ensure they reach a safe internal temperature (e.g., 165°F for poultry).
1
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders (No Breading)
Cook perfect air fryer frozen chicken tenders (no breading) in less than 15 minutes. That's right, no need to defrost the chicken first, you can just oil and season frozen chicken tenderloins and make them from frozen in your air fryer.
Check out this recipe
2
Air Fryer Frozen Shoestring Fries
Making frozen fries in the air fryer gives you that close to fried crispy taste you'd get from a restaurant, but with less oil and healthier. They're super crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and cook in less time than in the oven.
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3
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Easy air fryer frozen chicken wings that cook in less than 15 minutes!Make either pre-cooked frozen wings or raw frozen wings with our method.
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4
Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer
Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in an air fryer is seriously the BEST way to make pre-cooked and breaded mozzarella cheese sticks.They turn out perfect and super crisp, yet cook up faster than heating them in the oven.
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5
Easy Air Fryer Corn Dogs (Crispy | From Frozen)
Craving corndogs but don't want to deal with deep frying them at home? Cook frozen corn dogs in the air fryer for a crispy and delicious corn dog every time.
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6
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
Cooking frozen pre-cooked egg rolls in an air fryer is quick, easy, and takes less than 15 mins.Perfectly crunchy on the outside and hot on the inside, these air-fryer egg rolls are seriously addicting!
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7
Easy Frozen Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer
Make quick and easy air fryer chicken nuggets from frozen when you're looking for a simple meal or snack.Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. The possibilities are endless!
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8
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp (Garlic Butter Sauce)
Easy air fryer frozen shrimp with garlic butter sauce gets dinner on the table in 15 minutes without having to defrost the shrimp!Easily add extra protein to your meals by adding your air-fryer shrimp to pasta, salad, stir-fry, and rice dishes.
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9
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
Crispy and crunchy, these onion rings are delicious and ready in under 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
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10
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Battered Fish
A quick and easy air fryer fish recipe that starts with frozen breaded and seasoned fish from the freezer section of your grocery store. This method works whether you're making air fryer frozen cod, salmon, or tilapia.
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11
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Burgers
Making frozen hamburgers in an air fryer is so easy, no need to defrost! You can season your frozen patties and pop them in the air fryer for a burger that tastes like it was straight off the grill!
Check out this recipe
12
Easy Frozen Burritos in Air Fryer
Make a quick and easy dinner by air frying frozen burritos to crispy perfection! Whether you make beef, chicken, or bean, cooking burritos in an air fryer is a million times better than the microwave.
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13
Air Fryer Frozen Jalapeno Poppers (TGI Fridays)
Make easy breaded air fryer jalapeno poppers from frozen in just 10 minutes.Dip in sauce or eat plain, frozen air fryer poppers are always a game day favorite!
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14
Frozen Hash Browns in Air Fryer
Start your morning off right with crispy, golden hashbrowns.Just add your frozen hashbrowns to the air fryer and get ready for hash brown deliciousness ready in just a few minutes!
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15
Air Fryer Frozen Garlic Bread (Texas Toast)
Make easy air fryer garlic bread or Texas Toast for multiple people at a time super fast! Perfect as a side or even a late-night snack when you crave something comforting like a warm slice of buttery bread, ready in under 10 minutes!
16
Air Fryer Hot Pockets
Take your hot pocket to the next level by cooking them in your air fryer!Either cook them from start to finish in the air fryer or do a quick start in the microwave before finishing them in the air fryer for a nice crisp.
17
Air Fryer Frozen Okra (Healthy)
Make healthy air fryer okra from frozen in your air fryer! No need to use fresh okra and soak it, get your favorite Southern side on the table fast when you cook it from frozen.
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18
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Fillets (With Skin)
Cooking air fryer frozen salmon is easy when you start with skin on salmon fillets straight from the freezer. Just add seasoning, no need to defrost first!
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19
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Wings
Frozen Boneless Air Fryer Wings in under 20 minutes. These are a quick and easy party favorite! They pair well with blue cheese or ranch, and some fresh celery.
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20
Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
This simple air fryer frozen turkey breast recipe takes little to no preparation time and comes juicy on the inside, golden on the outside and with all the diverse flavors of the holidays.Your friends and family will be hard-pressed to believe you didn't spend your entire day roasting a full turkey!
Check out this recipe
21
Frozen Sausage Links in Air Fryer
Cooking frozen sausage in an air fryer is super easy!Crumble the cooked sausage up to add to pasta, serve them sliced or whole in the main dish, or plop them on a bun with some peppers and onions for a satisfying meal every time!
Check out this recipe
22
Air Fryer Salmon Burgers (Frozen Patties)
Easy, healthy, and delicious air fryer salmon burgers using premade frozen salmon patties. Serve on a bun with your favorite burger fixins or over a bed of lettuce with toppings. Don't forget to take it to the next level with our old bay mayonnaise and some air fryer sweet potato fries on the side!
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23
The BEST Pizza Rolls in Air Fryer
Make easy pizza rolls in air fryer in just 6 minutes! Perfectly crispy on the outside and yummy on the inside, plus they cook in half the time as an oven.
24
Healthy Frozen Tater Tots (Air Fryer Recipe)
Get ready to have fresh, crispy tater tots in just 15 minutes. Perfect as a side or snack, these air fryer tater tots are satisfying and delicious!
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25
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Easy frozen meatballs in an air fryer make for a quick and simple dinner on busy weeknights. Eat these as a main dish with pasta and sauce or make meatballs subs; they're also great as an appetizer dipped in marinara sauce!
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26
Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (Frozen Crispy Recipe)
Frozen sweet potato fries are so easy to cook in an air fryer. Get perfectly crisp and quickly cooked fries in more than half the time of an oven!
Check out this recipe
27
Frozen Fish Sticks in Air Fryer
Cook your frozen fish sticks in the air fryer to create crispy, golden fish sticks that will be a hit with the whole family.Plus they cook even quicker than in the oven!
28
Easy Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
Using your air fryer to cook frozen breaded chicken tenders is a dinner life hack that we wish we knew sooner. They are perfectly crispy and ready to serve in no time!
Check out this recipe
29
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Taquitos
Cooking air fryer taquitos is quick and turns out perfectly crisp in less than 15 mins. With frozen taquitos in an air fryer, dinner can't get any easier. The recipe works for chicken, beef, or vegetarian taquitos.
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30
Easy Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Frozen Chicken Breast (From Raw)
Cook chicken breast from frozen in your air fryer in just 20 minutes!No need to worry to defrost it first. Makes for an easy and healthy dinner recipe, just add olive oil, your favorite seasoning, and sauce if desired.
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31
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli Recipe (Super Crispy!)
An easy and healthy air fryer frozen broccoli recipe. Cooking frozen broccoli in the air fryer is even easier than raw and cooks in almost the same cook time.
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32
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
Make an easy and healthy side dish with this frozen Brussel sprouts air fryer recipe. In less than 30 minutes you'll have sprouts with balsamic that are perfect on the inside and caramelized and mellow in flavor.
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33
Air Fryer Frozen Waffles
Mornings don't get much easier than cooking frozen waffles in an air fryer! Pop up to 4 in there at a time and have a warm breakfast on the table in 5 mins!
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34
Best Frozen Veggies in the Air Fryer
Cooking healthy air fryer vegetables from frozen is a quick and easy way to get a side dish on the table. Skip the microwave or boiling water on the stove!
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35
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Pizza (Mini Size)
Cooking air fryer frozen pizza is a quick and easy way to make individual-size pizzas for snack or as a meal. If you're feeling adventurous, throw some of your favorite toppings on top before cooking!Perfect for older kids to be able to cook for themselves too!
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36
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs (Honey Mustard)
Make juicy and flavorful air fryer frozen chicken thighs with a honey mustard glaze super fast! No more worries if you forgot to defrost the chicken before making dinner.
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37
Easy Frozen Waffle Fries in the Air Fryer
Make perfect air fryer waffle fries so FAST and delicious in less than 15 minutes. You'll never go back to baked waffle fries again! Works for frozen sweet potato waffle fries too.
Check out this recipe
38
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Mini Corn Dogs
Cook frozen corn dogs in an air fryer in less than 15 minutes! Not only will they turn out perfectly crispy, they cook much quicker than in an oven. Mini corn dogs make a great snack or simple meal.
Check out this recipe
39
Easy Frozen Chicken Patties in the Air Fryer
A quick and easy air fryer frozen chicken patty recipe that starts with frozen breaded and seasoned patties and ends on your plate in under 15 minutes.
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40
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus (with Parmesan or Balsamic Vinegar)
Simple and delicious asparagus in the air fryer cooked from frozen.No one will ever know you didn't start with fresh! Cooks in less than 15 minutes.
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41
Air Fryer Hash Browns (Shredded)
Delicious and easy golden brown shredded hashbrowns from frozen in under 20 minutes. The perfect savory addition to any breakfast!
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42
Frozen Coconut Shrimp in Air Fryer
Trader Joe's does it again! Enjoy these crispy frozen coconut shrimp from Trader Joe's that cook up fast in your air fryer.Enjoy restaurant-quality coconut shrimp without having to leave your house!
43
Air Fryer Croissants (from Frozen)
Enjoy your best life with these warm, flaky croissants made from frozen in your air fryer!They are great for breakfast or as a snack and are the next best thing to enjoying a fresh pastry in Paris!
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44
Air Fryer Home Fries (Diced Frozen Potatoes O'Brien)
These scrumptious air fryer home fries can be made for breakfast or dinner! We opt for Trader Joe’s brand frozen potatoes that contain green peppers and onions and come pre-seasoned, making weeknight cooking even easier!
Check out this recipe
45
Trader Joe's Orange Chicken Air Fryer Recipe - Frozen Orange Chicken
Have dinner on the table in 15 minutes with this orange chicken air fryer recipe. While you can use any brand of frozen orange chicken, we do prefer the Trader Joe’s brand for this frozen orange chicken air fryer recipe.
Check out this recipe
46
Crispy Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp Tempura - wholelottaairfrying.com
With our air fryer frozen shrimp tempura recipe, you no longer have to wait to get to your favorite Asian restaurant to enjoy this tasty appetizer or dinner entree! Use your favorite brand of precooked frozen tempura shrimp for an Asian-inspired seafood meal that is ready in just 15 minutes!
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FAQ's
Can you put frozen food in an air fryer?
You can cook most frozen foods in the air fryer, but not all are recommended. Breaded items, meats, veggies, and some snacks cook very well. However, avoid air frying items with a lot of sauce, liquid-based meals (like frozen soups or grain bowls), or anything packaged in plastic or paper trays that aren't air fryer-safe.
What are the healthiest air fryer frozen foods?
The healthiest frozen foods to cook in the air fryer are made with simple ingredients, high-quality proteins, and minimal additives. Look for options that are low in refined oils, sugar, and preservatives. Some of the best healthy picks include:Frozen turkey burgers (Applegate, Trader Joe's, or Butterball 93% lean)
Chicken breast strips or naked chicken tenders (like Just Bare or Tyson Naturals)
Wild-caught salmon or frozen shrimp
Cauliflower gnocchi (air fries perfectly from frozen!)
Broccoli florets, brussels sprouts, and zucchini fries
Sweet potato fries with clean ingredients (Alexia or Whole Foods 365)
Mini frittatas or egg bites with no added flour or fillers
Is air frying frozen food healthier than other methods?
Yes! Air frying frozen foods is typically healthier than deep frying because it requires little to no oil. You still get that crispy texture, but with far fewer calories and less fat. Plus, the air fryer cooks quickly and evenly making it a great option for healthier quick meals.
Air frying or baking foods is equally as healthy, the air fryer still stands out since the food cooks faster and uses less electricity.
What is the best temperature to cook frozen food in an air fryer?
Most frozen foods cook well between 360°F and 400°F, depending on the item.
Proteins (like chicken or burgers): 375-400°F
Vegetables: 380-400°F
Snacks (like fries or nuggets): 360-390°F
Always check your specific brand or use our printable cooking chart for time and temp recommendations!
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