How To Cook Chicken In A Toaster Oven: 3 Ways And 3 Recipes

Content Summary

We’ll explore how to cook chicken in different settings such as roast, bake, and air fry in a toaster oven.

More than that, we also share with you 3 tasty chicken recipes that you can make, and enjoy succulent chicken without having to use your traditional oven.

So, grab your apron and let’s get started!

How To Cook Chicken In A Toaster Oven

To cook chicken in a toaster oven, you can choose one of the setting options like roast, bake, or air fry.

Depending on what you want, a juicy rotisserie-style meat or just a crispy skin, heat setting and cooking time should be adjusted accordingly.

Setting #1: Roast

The roast setting is an efficient way to cook juicy rotisserie-style chicken evenly without drying it out. Here’s how to do it:

Preheat your toaster oven to 375°F (190°C) and place the chicken on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Season the chicken with your preferred spices and herbs. You can use a combination of spice mix: garlic powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, and thyme.
Place the baking tray in the toaster oven and let it cook for 30-45 minutes (depending on the thickness of the chicken meat) or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer for this purpose.
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5-8 minutes before serving.

Setting #2: Bake

The bake setting on a toaster oven is an excellent option to bake chicken breasts. Baking allows cooking chicken breasts to cook evenly, leaving tender and juicy chicken - super delicious. Here’s how to do it:

Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F or 200°C. Place the chicken breasts on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also use a marinade for extra flavor.
Place the baking tray in the toaster oven and let it cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C.
Remove the now tender baked chicken breasts from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.

Setting #3: Air Fry

The air fry setting in a convection toaster oven is a great option for those who want to enjoy crispy and healthy chicken without having to deep fry it. Here’s how to do it:

Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F (200°C). Line the air fry basket with parchment paper.
Season the chicken legs with your preferred spices, such as cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
Place the chicken legs in the air fry basket and coat them with cooking spray or melted butter.
Place the basket in the toaster oven and let it cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken legs are crispy and golden brown.
Remove the chicken legs from the basket and serve immediately.

Now that you know how to cook oven roasted, air fried or baked chicken in different settings let’s dive into delicious toaster oven recipes you can make in your toaster oven.

Toaster Oven Chicken Recipes

#1. Baked Chicken Breast

Ingredients

2 boneless chicken breasts
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the toaster oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Rub the chicken breasts with the spice mixture on top.
Place them on a shallow baking pan and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through (the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

#2. Baked Whole Chicken

Ingredients

1 whole chicken
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 large onion
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
Mix together the garlic powder, paprika, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Rub the chicken with olive oil and the spice mixture.
Stuff the chicken with garlic and sliced onion.
Place the chicken on a baking dish or sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 60-75 minutes or until it reaches internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Now you have a whole, oven baked chicken!

#3. Roasted Chicken Legs

Ingredients

4 chicken legs
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
Green salad & French fries (side dishes)

Instructions

Preheat the toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
Mix the soy sauce, honey, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl.
Cut slits in the chicken legs and coat them with the marinade.
Place the chicken legs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Roast for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through (the meat reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and crispy. Now you have perfectly cooked chicken legs!

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Not getting enough? Check out our guides on How To Cook A Chicken and our favorite recipes - all chicken dishes:
- Baking A Whole Frozen Chicken
- Oven Baked Breaded Chicken
- Make Crispy Chicken Thighs
- Cook Chicken Breast Basics
- Roast Chicken In A Dutch Oven
- Chicken And Roasted Vegetables

Cooking Chicken FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions about cooking chicken in a toaster oven:

Can you cook raw chicken breast in a toaster oven?

You can cook raw chicken breast in a toaster oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through (the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Check with your instant-read thermometer.).

Can I use aluminum foil to cook chicken in my toaster oven?

You can use aluminum foil for cooking chicken in your toaster oven. Line the baking tray with aluminum foil and place the chicken on top for even cooking.

At what temp do I bake chicken?

The ideal temperature for baking chicken is 375°F (190°C). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

How long does it take to cook a whole chicken in a toaster oven?

It takes around 60-75 minutes to cook a whole chicken in a toaster oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 60-75 minutes or until cooked through (the internal temperature reads at 165°F or 74°C).

Do you cook chicken at 180° or 200° Celsius?

The ideal temperature for cooking chicken in a toaster oven is 190°C (375°F). Preheat the oven to that temperature and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through (the internal temperature reads 165°F or 74°C).

How long to cook chicken at 180° Celsius (356°F)?

At 180°C, a whole chicken will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to cook, chicken legs around 45 minutes, and chicken breasts around 20-30 minutes.

It's important to check the internal temperature of the chicken regularly while it's cooking in your toaster oven to ensure that it has reached 165°F (74°C).

Can chicken be a little pink?

Chicken should not be pink when cooked. Chicken must reach an internal temperature of 165°F when cooked in order to be considered safe to eat. If the chicken is still pink or if it's undercooked, you should cook it for longer until it reaches the correct temperature.

Do you need to cover chicken when baking in oven?

If you want crispy skin on your baked chicken, it's best to leave it uncovered.

If you want the chicken to stay moist and tender, cover it with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This helps to trap moisture and prevents the skin from drying out.

Tips & Tricks

Tip #1: Preheat Your Toaster Oven

Before cooking chicken in your toaster oven, it's important to preheat it properly. Learn more about ways to preheat your toaster oven in different cooking settings in this article.
This ensures that the oven is at the right temperature for cooking chicken, which ensures even cooking and avoids any potential food safety hazards. A preheated oven also helps to maintain the moisture level of the chicken.
Set your oven to the correct temperature as per the recipe instructions and allow it to preheat for 5-10 minutes.

Tip #2: Use The Right Cookware

For toaster oven chicken, it's best to use a shallow baking pan for chicken or a small Dutch oven or a cast-iron skillet.
This helps to facilitate even cooking and ensures that excess oil and juices drain away from the chicken.
If you don't have a shallow baking pan, Dutch oven or skillet, you can use aluminum foil to line the toaster oven's baking tray and place the chicken on top of it.

Tip #3: Marinate At Least 1 Hour In Advance

Marinating chicken helps to add flavor and moisture, making it juicier and tastier.
Before cooking in your toaster oven, make sure the chicken has been marinated for at least one hour - or preferably overnight - for better results.
A basic marinade can be made with oil, lemon juice/vinegar, herbs, and spices. You can also experiment with different marinade combinations for added flavor.
Once the chicken has been marinated, pat it dry with a paper towel before cooking. This helps to ensure even cooking and prevent splatter in the oven.

Tip #4: Check The Temperature Regularly

It's important to know the basics in cooking chicken: check the internal temperature of the chicken regularly while it's cooking in your toaster oven.
An instant-read thermometer is a great tool to have on hand for this purpose.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and check the temperature every 10 minutes until it reaches 165°F or 74°C . This ensures that your chicken is cooked through and safe to consume.
Once the chicken has reached the correct temperature, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Tip #5: Experiment With Different Settings

Toaster ovens offer a range of cooking settings, including bake, roast, and air fry.
It's important to experiment with the oven's different settings, different herbs to see which one works best for the type of chicken you are cooking.
For example, if you want crispy skin on your chicken, use the air fry setting. If you want tender, moist chicken, use the roast setting.

Whole Roasted Chicken with the Ninja DT201 Foodi XL Pro Air Convection Air Fryer Toaster Oven | Healthy Kitchen 101

With the different settings available in your toaster oven, you can cook chicken in various ways that suit your preferred cooking style. From the roast to the bake and air fry settings, there’s an option for every chicken dish you want to make.