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Well, that depends…on the size of the chicken pieces you want to cook, on what setting you want to cook them at, and on the quantity.
But before we get into all that, maybe we need to look at whether we should be cooking frozen chicken in our crockpots anyway.
Although we use our crockpots for the convenience they offer, taking shortcuts isn’t always the safest way to cook.
Most home cooks don’t think twice before putting frozen chicken pieces along with some potatoes and vegetables into the slow cooker. Dinner, done! Yes, but is it safe?
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) thinks not. According to their slow cooker and food safety guidelines, it is vital to thaw chicken before putting it into the slow cooker.
This may be news to you because even the Crock-Pot representatives seem to think it’s okay to cook chicken from frozen provided that the cooking time is extended a little.
They also suggest using a meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken’s internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it. Most food scientists concur.
However, the USDA’s guideline seems to be based on the fact that while it is easy for a frozen chicken to reach this safe temperature in a slow cooker, the problem lies in how long it takes to get there.
The chicken must not spend too long defrosting in the “danger zone” that lies between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Bacteria multiply the fastest at these temperatures.
Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus are particularly dangerous. The bacteria themselves will be killed when higher temperatures are reached but their toxins are heat resistant.
It is these toxins that cause foodborne illness.
So, who to believe? We recommend taking the middle road and yes, cooking chicken from frozen in your slow cooker, but observe a few safety suggestions.
- Cook on a high setting so that the poultry reaches the safe zone temperatures quickly.
- Most crockpots have low, high, and medium. On the high setting, the temperature peaks at about 215 degrees Fahrenheit and will cook the food faster than on the low setting. Use this one if cooking frozen chicken.
- Cook small pieces of chicken only. Do not attempt to cook a whole chicken frozen in your crockpot. For chicken breast, shred it before freezing if possible to ensure it thaws faster when you put it into your crockpot.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken?
If you are cooking shredded raw chicken, 4 to 5 hours on high is enough. Ensure you cook it in a cupful of stock or sauce to evenly distribute the heat.
Whole pieces like drumsticks or breast pieces will, of course, need longer. The chicken will need to be in the crockpot for at least 6-7 hours.
Again, use a cupful of liquid, and make sure you check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer when you think it’s done.
To end off here is a useful, simple, delicious recipe that is made with frozen chicken breast and pantry staples. It yields some easily shredded chicken to serve in tacos or burritos.
You can use it to stuff baked potatoes too. We hope you enjoy it!
Slow Cooker Pulled Lemon Salsa Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup bottled salsa
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions:
- Put everything into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours, or until chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Take chicken out of the sauce and put it on a chopping board. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and then mix it with the other ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Serve hot.