In this article, we will discuss if you can cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill. Chicken is an all-time favorite and there are many dishes to cook from it. From chicken nuggets, fried chicken, honey glazed chicken, and many more, chicken dishes are enjoyed by a lot of people. Chicken can also be cooked using many methods which include the use of an oven, a frying pan, a grill, an air fryer, and a microwave. If you have a pellet grill, you might be wondering if you can cook frozen chicken from it. We will answer that question below.
Can you cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill? You can cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill. To do this, place the frozen chicken directly on the grates of the pellet grill and turn the temperature to Hi Smoke. Leave the chicken in the smoker for an hour. After an hour, season the chicken and bring it to an internal temperature of 165° F.
Why should you cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill? How to cook chicken on a pellet grill? What is a pellet grill and what else can you cook on it aside from chicken? These are some of the questions that we will discuss below. Check out the rest of this article to learn more about cooking frozen chicken on a pellet grill.
What is a Pellet Grill?
Pellet grills or otherwise known as smokers are grills that utilized hardwood pellets and a system of fans to heat food at a specific temperature. It often acts as an outdoor convection oven. Pellet grills are used to smoke, grill, bake and even braise food. Simply put, almost anything that can be cooked in a standard oven can also be cooked on a pellet grill. If you are looking for a pellet grill, we recommend this wood pellet grill and smoker. It has a durable steel construction that features a high-temperature powder coating finish. It can be used to cook all types of meat.
Why Cook Frozen Chicken on a Pellet Grill?
With the use of a pellet grill, you can have greater control over the temperature of the grill which is important when it comes to grilling frozen chicken as well as other frozen meat. On the other hand, using the pellet grill in grilling frozen chicken takes a while. After the pellet grill is heated, the chicken should be ready in about 90 minutes.
The pellet grill can be easily set to low temperature, but it is not a good idea to slow-cook the frozen chicken in this method. This is because the colder parts of the chicken can spend too long in the range of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit which are the temperatures where bacteria are most likely to grow.
How to Cook Chicken on a Pellet Grill
Cooking chicken on a pellet grill is easy. Start with preheating the pellet grill to 275 degrees. Next, prepare the chicken and your other ingredients according to your recipe. Once the grill is heated, add the frozen chicken and set the timer for 30 minutes. Check the chicken after 30 minutes. They should be completely thawed and warm to the touch.
Remove them from the grill and dip them in the dressing or sauce. You can season them if you want. Set the timer for another 30 minutes and place the chicken back. Allow them to cook at the same low temperature. After 30 minutes, raise the temperature to the highest setting which is usually in the 450-500 degree range, and cook the chicken for another 15 minutes. Next, remove the chicken from the grill. If you want the chicken to be crispy, leave them in for another 10-15 minutes.
✅ Video – Quick and Easy Grilled Chicken Breasts on a Pellet Grill
The Backyard Griller shared the video below on YouTube. It demonstrates how to cook grilled chicken breasts on a pellet grill. How to prepare and season the chicken is also discussed in the video. If you want to prepare the grilled chicken breast for your next family dinner and are planning to use your pellet grill, you can check out the video for tips and ideas.
What Can You Cook on a Pellet Grill?
Aside from frozen chicken, other foods that you can cook on a pellet grill includes burgers, pulled pork, bacon, brisket, barbecue chicken, and even apple pie. Learn more about these foods below.
Frozen Chicken
You can cook frozen store-bought chicken on a pellet grill. Place the frozen chicken directly on the grates of the pellet grill and turn the temperature dial to Hi Smoke. Allow the chicken to thaw and cook for an hour.
Barbecue Chicken
Another recipe to cook on a pellet grill is barbecue chicken. The total cooking time takes about 30 to 45 minutes. This is a fast and easy menu that you can serve during lunch or dinner.
on PexelsPulled Pork
It is also possible to cook pulled pork on a pellet grill. Set the temperature to 205° F so that the pork is soft and falls apart with a fork.
Bacon
This is an easy dish that you can cook on a pellet grill. You can use Competition Blend pellets in the hopper to experience the taste of pellet grill bacon. You can cook the burger using low and slow, medium heat, and high heat temperature settings.
Burgers
Another dish to cook on a pellet grill is good old burgers. While it is true that burgers are usually cooked on propane grills, they can also taste good when cooked on a pellet grill. You can enjoy the added wood-fired and smoky flavors you get from a pellet grill to give your burgers a new taste.
Apple Pie
Aside from the meat, you can also cook apple pie on a pellet grill. This classic American dessert is given another twist when cooked on a pellet grill. Prepare the apple pie using your favorite and leave it on the pellet grill to bake. Set the temperature settings to 400° F. If you are worried about it having a smoky flavor, it won’t. Use apple pellets to give it a sweet and applewood flavor.
What are the Benefits of Cooking Frozen Chicken on a Pellet Grill?
Pellet grills are beneficial when it comes to cooking frozen chicken because they are safer to use, better for your health, easy to use, feature temperature control, and produce quality flavor. Let us find out more about these benefits below.
They are Safer
As compared to gas, pellet grills are a safer option. When you cook directly over the fire, it is prone to flare-ups and grease fires. On the other hand, pellet grills do not have an open flame so there will be no direct contact between the fire and the oil that comes from the food.
They are Better for Your Health
Another benefit that you can get from using a pellet grill is that it is better for your health. This is because there are no added fats or oils to have a flavorful taste in the meat. When you use wood when cooking excess animal fat drippings are burned up which can turn carcinogenic when exposed to an open flame.
They Feature Temperature Control
With a pellet grill, you do not have to worry about learning how to achieve and maintain the right temperature. Pellet grills are designed with a dial that you can adjust and set to your desired temperature. The flow of fuel into the firebox is steadily controlled so that the temperature is stable while the food is grilling. We recommend this pellet grill with a wide temperature range. It allows you to not only grill but also bakes, smoke, roast, BBQ, and char-grill different meats.
They are Easy to Use
Another benefit that you can get from using pellet grills is that they are easy to use. They come with a user manual that you can follow. The controls are simple and easy to understand. You do not have to be an expert to operate this type of grill.
They Provide Quality Flavor
Last but not the least, pellet grills provide quality flavor to the food that you are cooking. You can choose the flavor that you want according to the type of wood pellet.
How Do You Cook Frozen Chicken Wings on a Pellet Grill?
To start with, set the pellet grill to 375 °F and preheat without closing the lid for about 15 minutes. While waiting for the grill to preheat, prepare the chicken wings. Once the grill is heated, place the chicken wings and let them cook for about 35 minutes. Make sure to turn the wings halfway through the cooking time. Usually, the minimum internal temperature for chicken is 165 °F, but some people prefer a more cooked-through texture. For this, choose the 175 to 180 temperature setting. Add sauce or season the chicken wings and let them rest for about 10 minutes.
One of the best ways to cook frozen chicken wings is on a pellet grill. The smoke adds new layers of texture and flavor to the chicken wings. When you use a pellet grill, the smoke and heat are well circulated which means that you do not have to worry about where you put your wings to cook them evenly. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, is it OK to grill frozen chicken? We have shared the reasons why it is not always a good idea to grill frozen chicken. Moreover, we have discussed different methods on how to thaw chicken. Check out the article for more tips and information.
How Long Do You Cook Chicken on a Pellet Grill?
The amount of time it takes to cook chicken on a pellet grill will have to depend on the kinds of dishes that you are preparing. Some dishes take longer to cook compared to others. Moreover, cooking frozen chicken on a pellet grill takes longer because you need to wait until the ice melts and the meat starts cooking. We have also shared this article that discusses how long should you grill frozen chicken. You can check out the article for more tips and information about the topic.
How Long Does it Take to Smoke a Chicken at 225 Degrees?
It usually takes three to five hours to smoke a chicken at a temperature of 225 degrees. To cook the chicken at this temperature, place the chicken on the smoker. Make sure that you maintain a temperature setting between 200 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit. We have also shared this article that discusses if a smokeless grill is smokeless. You can check read the article for helpful information about the topic.
Can You Cook Frozen Meat on a Pellet Grill?
You can cook frozen meat on a pellet grill. The dish will be juicy and tender like it was cooked on a regular grill. However, using a pellet grill to cook frozen meat takes longer.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses if you can cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill. We have learned that many methods and tools are used to cook frozen chicken and one is on a pellet grill. Cooking frozen chicken on a pellet grill is easy and you need to set the right temperature to make sure that it is thoroughly cooked. If you have a pellet grill at home, you can use it to create grilled chicken recipes that will be enjoyed by the whole family. Thank you for reading!