Chicken Cooking Times

Chicken cooking times are based on USDA recommendations. If your cooking frozen chicken expect it to take fifty percent longer. Frozen chicken can be cooked on the stove, in the oven or grilled.

Chicken must be cooked to a minimum temperature of 165F according to a food thermometer.

You should check the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The meat will be white, not pink when the chicken is ready and the juices will run clear.

Ideally you should give the chicken 5 to 10 minutes, covered for the juice to redistribute before cutting the chicken open to help the meat stay juicy.

Oven Roasting Chicken Times at 350 Fahrenheit

• Whole broiler or fryer chicken 3-4 pounds: 1 ¼ -1 ½ hours


• Whole roasting chicken 5-7 pounds: 2-2 ¼ hours


• Whole capon chicken 4 to 8 pounds: 2-3 hours


• Whole Cornish hens 18 to 24 ounces: 50-60 minutes


• Breast halves, bone-in 6 to 8 ounces: 30-40 minutes


• Breast half, boneless 4 ounces: 20-30 minutes


• Legs or thighs 4 or 8 ounces: 40-50 minutes


• Drumsticks 4 ounces: 35-40 minutes


• Wings or wingettes 2 to 3 ounces: 30-40 minutes

Simmering Chicken Times

• Whole broiler or fryer chicken 3-4 pounds: 60-75 minutes


• Whole roasting chicken 5-7 pounds: 1 ¾-2 hours


• Whole Cornish hens 18 to 24 ounces: 35-40 minutes


• Breast halves, bone-in 6 to 8 ounces: 35-45 minutes


• Breast half, boneless 4 ounces: 25-30 minutes


• Legs or thighs 4 or 8 ounces: 40-50 minutes


• Drumsticks 4 ounces: 40-50 minutes


• Wings or wingettes 2 to 3 ounces: 35-45 minutes

Grilling Chicken Times

• Whole broiler or fryer chicken 3-4 pounds:60-75 minutes


• Whole roasting chicken 5-7 pounds: 18-25 minutes per pound


• Whole capon chicken 4 to 8 pounds: 15-20 minutes per pound


• Whole Cornish hens 18 to 24 ounces: 45-55 minutes


• Breast halves, bone-in 6 to 8 ounces: 10-15 minutes per side


• Breast half, boneless 4 ounces: 6-8 minutes per side


• Legs or thighs 4 or 8 ounces: 10-15 minutes per side


• Drumsticks 4 ounces: 8-12 minutes per side


• Wings or wingettes 2 to 3 ounces: 8-12 minutes per side

Custom Search

Want to talk to me about this challenge or freezer cooking? I'm on Twitter @FavFreezerFoods

Return from Chicken Cooking Times to the homepage of Favorite Freezer Foods.