As a college student, one of the biggest struggles I’ve dealt with is figuring out what to make for dinner every night. Ordering takeout adds up quickly, but when you want to wind down at the end of the day, cooking feels like a lot of work. Between classes, homework, work, and trying to have a social life, the last thing I want to do is spend an hour making dinner. Chicken is one of my favorite foods to keep around because you can use it in so many different meals. Even better, you do not always have to remember to thaw it ahead of time. If you have frozen chicken in your freezer, you can cook it directly in the air fryer and have the base for several easy meals.
Let’s Get Into The Basics.
Before getting into recipes, you need to know how I cook my chicken. This method saves me from having to remember to take chicken out of the freezer in the morning. First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While it is heating, make your seasoning mixture in a small bowl. I use olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. There are no exact measurements needed. Just mix enough olive oil and seasoning to coat your chicken.
Place the frozen chicken in the air fryer and cook it at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping it halfway through. Take the chicken out and apply your seasoning mixture. Put it back in the air fryer and cook for another 10-15 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through again. The most important part is checking that the chicken is fully cooked. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer. Cooking from frozen can take longer than cooking thawed chicken, so the exact time will depend on how thick your chicken is. Once it is cooked, you have a seasoned piece of chicken that can be used for basically anything.
1. Chicken and Rice Bowl
This is probably one of the easiest meals you can make. Cook some rice while your chicken is in the air fryer. Once the chicken is done, cut it into pieces and throw everything into a bowl. Some potential ingredients include shredded cheese, lettuce, corn, beans, salsa, avocado, hot sauce, or sour cream. Rice, chicken, and whatever toppings you already have can make a filling meal without requiring a complicated recipe. With the same ingredients, you could do a taco or burrito night by getting tortillas or shells to switch it up a bit.
2. Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas are perfect when you want something quick. Cut your cooked chicken into small pieces and put it on a tortilla with shredded cheese. Fold the tortilla in half and cook it in a pan or in the oven until the outside is crispy and the cheese melts. You can also add salsa, peppers, onions, or whatever leftovers you have sitting in your refrigerator. The best part is that you can make multiple quesadillas at once and save one for later.
3. Buffalo Chicken Wrap
For this one, cut up your air-fried chicken and toss it with your favorite buffalo sauce. Put it in a tortilla with shredded lettuce and cheese, then wrap it up. If you have ranch or another dressing, you can add that too. This is especially useful when you are tired of eating chicken the exact same way every night. You are technically using the same chicken, but changing the sauce and toppings makes it feel like a completely different meal.
4. Chicken Pasta
Pasta is another college-student staple because it is very easy and lasts for multiple meals. Cook whatever pasta you have and add your chopped chicken. You can use jarred Alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, pesto, or my personal favorite, vodka sauce. You can also add frozen vegetables if you have them. This is a good way to use up random ingredients and also make it a more balanced meal.
5. Chicken Caesar Wrap
If you want something that requires almost no cooking after the chicken is done, make a caesar wrap. Cut up your chicken and put it in a tortilla with lettuce, caesar dressing, and parmesan cheese. These are always filling and refreshing.
Cooking for yourself does not have to mean making complicated recipes with fifteen ingredients. Sometimes it is just about having a few cheap staples and keeping some frozen food on hand. For broke college students, the air fryer certainly makes it a whole lot less intimidating. You do not have to be a professional chef, all you really need is a bit of creativity. You got this!