This is the perfect temp and time to cook a frozen pot pie in an air fryer. Whether you choose chicken or beef from Marie Callenders or Banquet there are a few tips and tricks to get the middle warm and the crust a bit crispy.
My girls wanted to cook a frozen pot pie in the air fryer the other day so we spent the afternoon figuring out the best way to do that. It doesn’t make sense to heat up the whole kitchen for this. It was so good I don’t think we will ever make this any other way again. Easy air fryer recipes are the best!
Yes I have made our REALLY popular simple chicken pot pie recipe before. That one is great using leftover chicken I have on hand, but when you want something fast these are great.
Yes you get the middle of your food nice and tender but it takes the YUM a step further. Texture is everything right? To add a crisp to the outside of your food is a game changer. Especially with pot pies the crust needs to become flaky and crunch to it, just a bit. Here’s the tip to do just that….
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
We do have a free Air Fryer Frozen Food Cook Times chart to find out what temp. and timing you need for lots of food right out of the freezer. This has been so helpful to so many people. You can laminate it and keep it right on the fridge so you can just look up and see what you need….but we thought we would explain this one in more detail here…
How long do you cook a frozen pot pie in air fryer?
When it comes to this ultimate comfort food there are many different brands out there. I would say that Banquet and Marie Callender’s are probably the most popular however they are different weights and sizes. For the 7 oz size it is close to 15 minutes, the 10 oz. size is 21 minutes with a few minutes where it should be left in the basket to continue warming thru to the center.
Much larger than this is not recommended as the middle will take a lot longer to heat up vs. the crust and that may start to burn. It is a delicate balance to not over-cook the outside but making sure the filling gets hot.
Should I thaw frozen pot pie before baking?
No, don’t do that. It is meant to cook from rock hard frozen to tender and warm. If you defrost it first the crust will have a different texture, and not a good one. It will get kinda’ mushy, especially on the underside.
Things You Need
- Frozen pot pie around 10 oz. in size.
- Cook time is for this size, no larger.
- You can fit 2 at a time in a 6 quart basket.
There are many different brands, fillings, and sizes out there but I feel like this one is the best. Not only does the meat inside taste great (and not so processed) but the size is great to feed most people. Ok so my husband isn’t full with this but the rest of us feel like we wouldn’t need anything larger.
Tips for Success
I highly suggest that you buy the 10 ounce size from Marie Callendar’s because it has way more filling and the timing works best for something this size in our experimenting. Smaller ones get quite brown on the top by the time the center is warm. You can help this by wrapping the outer crust with foil for the first half of the cook time but my recommendation is the larger size overall.
In order to get the texture and coloring just right it is best to start your air fryer out at a lower temperature, and then increase it for a few minutes at the end to achieve that golden brown color on the top.
Another step you shouldn’t leave out is to not open the basket once the timer goes off. Leave it inside, closed, not touched, for at least 5 minutes (longer is fine too). This will allow the middle to continue warming up completely.
Be careful when you are lifting these babies out. Remember that the pie tins are aluminum so they get hot in that high heat. Put on to a small plate when serving and remind your kids to not touch the underside. If yours have a thick paper “pie pan” you would have the option of doing the second method in the microwave first.
You can use your Cosori air fryer or any other brand to make them this way. It doesn’t matter what brand you have really. The biggest difference is the size of the basket. Even the smallest 3 qt. will fit one of these.
Second Method
You can use the microwave timing on the back of the box (if your bottom pan isn’t aluminum) and start with that while your machine is preheating. That way the insides will definitely get warmed all the way thru. Then you would carefully move it into your air fryer basket preheated to 380F and crisp for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
Obviously if your pie pan is made of aluminum that would be a no no and you would need to just follow directions on what is listed below in the recipe card, or remove it from the pan and put on a plate to do this initial step. I like to have both methods available for those who want the middle to become really really hot.
Air Fryer Frozen Pot Pie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 small pot pie, frozen, 10 oz size
- 1 spray olive oil, optional to make top extra crispy
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees F for 5 minutes. (timing is for 10 oz. pot pies)
- Put frozen pot pie into basket and allow to cook for 21 minutes.
- Then increase temperature to 400 degrees F for 2 minutes to brown top. Leave in closed air fryer basket for 5 minutes once it is done to continue warming the middle.
- Quicker method – Microwave pot pie for 5-6 minutes (check back of package as smaller ones need less time), then preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook for 2-3 minutes to brown the top
Video
Notes
7 oz. Size (Banquet)
Now for a Banquet frozen pot pie they are a bit smaller so I would decrease the initial time to 15 minutes but follow the rest of the steps listed above. Not only are these smaller in circumference but not as thick either.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Since there are vegetables and chicken breast inside it really is a complete meal. You could serve it with a salad though for some freshness.
Can you cook frozen fruit pies in air fryer too?
Yes! I actually bought one of these with apple pie filling inside too! Timing was basically the same and tasted pretty amazing. SO you could put one of these and your dinner pot pie in at the same time and have a complete meal.
Other frozen foods in air fryer you’ll love
Once you thoroughly enjoy this one there are several other air fryer frozen foods you can try too. Our air fryer frozen meatballs are a great snack or appetizer tossed with sauce. Frozen chicken wings are the bomb too.
Another snack idea my girls love is making air fryer frozen pierogies or frozen salmon in air fryer too. Since they are older they can now experiment with all the things themselves which is so nice. They have become quite the chef lately and use it almost daily.
Frozen food in an air fryer really are game changers. If you haven’t tried cooking an air fryer frozen chicken breast or frozen chicken wings in air fryer, you must! You may never cook them another way again after this. 😉 Frozen air fryer corn dogs have changed the way we cook too.
If you want more meals like this, follow some more of our Quick and easy chicken recipes, they are just our jam….
The top was perfect, light and crispy, and the filling was hot creamy and delicious.
Thanks for this information. My pot pie came out exactly how it should, Golden Brown and crisp on the top. Not sure why some of these comments are vulgar but I appreciated your information and apologize for the childish comments from immature adults who are the new (Adult Babies) that are starting to sprout everywhere like weeds in society. The exact reason why I avoid social media at all costs, adult babies.
Glad it was a hit
@Tom,
You got that right!
How about, instead of seven paragraphs NOT about the frozen pot pie, then ONE paragraph that says we can but doesn’t say how, then more paragraphs NOT about the frozen pot pie…
You actually TALK ABOUT THE EFFING PIE. Like any special settings, time, et cetera.
Endless chatter for zero content. Makes the entire article nothing more than click bait.
Directions are at bottom, just click jump to recipe at top
@Kaz, it is very dumb I agree just makes it so you spend more time on the site so you see more ads, in turn they get more money, it’s just how these sorta websites work out
If we didn’t have ads on blogs we would have to charge a fee to access our site as they are VERY VERY expensive to run
What about one Marie’s biggies? How long would I cook it?
Awesome idea faster and taste better than oven
totally
There are two different recipes here for the chicken pot pie. The one as you scroll through says 15 mins then 6 mins at 380* but the one at the bottom recipe card says finish on 2 mins at 400*. Please advise which is correct.
@Angela setchfield, I was thinking the same thing and came to the comments for an answer to this question. Too bad there isn’t one 😞
@Angela setchfield, That is really confusing. I guess both would work but the one I use is the preheat, 15 min at 350f and 6 main at 400f. Works perfectly
I’m just trying to subscribe to your emails, but your website, didn’t come up in the 30 mins. from when I tried to submit my subscription. Thank you.
I only send out 2 emails per week. Once you fill in your email into the box it is entered and then you’ll get them when sent out.
@Doctor Evil , Rude much ! Geesh!
How long would you cook a 16oz frozen pot pie?
Thanks for the info Just got my air fryer and would love to cut down on the oven usage if possible
Its so great. Enjoy!!