7 Easy Ways to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken {Tried and Tested}

So you stuck your rotisserie chicken in the refrigerator and now you’re not sure how to heat it up without drying it out!  I’ve been there!  So I tested out a few different ways to reheat rotisserie chicken (7 ways to be exact) to find out the best ways to reheat a rotisserie chicken whether you are reheating it whole, in pieces, or shredded.  I can’t wait for you to see what I found so you can use it the next time you meal prep with a rotisserie chicken!

Why you’ll love these methods

• Quick meal:  Reheated rotisserie chicken is a super simple way to get dinner on the table without having to cook the chicken!
• Versatile: Whether you have an air fryer to use, and oven, or even a grill, there is a way for you to reheat rotisserie chicken easily.
• Specific for different cuts:  The methods I share with you show you that some methods are better than others depending on whether the chicken is whole, cut into large pieces, or the meat is already off the bone.
• Won’t dry out the chicken:  All of these methods for reheating rotisserie chicken take precaution to make sure the chicken does not dry out during the reheat process!

Want to use this reheated rotisserie chicken in a few meal prep meals? Try out my Best Chicken Meal Prep, Easy Chicken Spaghetti, Million Dollar Casserole

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in the Oven

One of the top ways I found to reheat rotisserie chicken is in the oven. The oven method takes a little more time (20-30 minutes) than some of the other methods for reheating, but I found that using the oven keeps the chicken tender and juicy. I recommend using the oven reheating method if you are planning to just use or eat the meat, and not planning to eat the skin, because it can become a bit soggy.

This reheated oven chicken is perfect in Marry Me Chicken Tortellini, Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos, or Greek Lemon Chicken Soup.

Here is the method I used for reheating rotisserie chicken in the oven:

Preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃)

Step 1: Wrap the rotisserie chicken tightly in foil and then place it into an oven-safe dish or pan (Image 1).

Step 2: Add just enough broth to cover the bottom of the dish. The amount will vary depending on the size of the dish (Image 2).

Step 3: Cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the chicken.  (Internal temperature should be 165℉ (74℃).

How To Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in the Air Fryer

If you want a really fast way to reheat your rotisserie chicken, I personally prefer the air fryer method. Because it is so fast, you can use it for a quick lunch or dinner meal, but it also keeps the skin crispy.  Reheating rotisserie chicken in the air fryer is the perfect method if you plan to eat the skin along with the rest of the chicken.

I recommend using this reheating method for recipes like Peri Peri Chicken, Easy Spanish Chicken, or One Pot Chicken & Rice if you are looking for something quick and easy.

Here is the method I used for reheating rotisserie chicken in the air fryer:

Preheat the air fryer to 350℉ (177℃).

Step 1:  Place whole chicken in the basket.

Step 2:  Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165℉ (74℃).

Step 3:  Carefully remove and serve.

Love your airfryer? Try using it to cook from frozen! Here are some great recipes you can try:  Frozen Fish Fingers in Air Fryer, Cooking Frozen Sausages in an Air Fryer or How to cook frozen chicken breast in the air fryer

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in the Microwave

The microwave is always a super fast option for reheating a rotisserie chicken, however there are some things you should know before using it.

One, the microwave is best for smaller pieces of meat like a breast, a thigh, or even chicken you have pulled off the bone. Two, cook the chicken in short burst like 10-15 seconds at a time so it does not get overcooked. And three, cover the chicken with a damp paper towel to help keep the chicken moist.

This is a great method to use if you need chicken fast, are only reheating a small portion, or if you want to add it to the top of a salad like my Orzo Pasta Salad, Sundried tomato, Olive & Feta Salad, or Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce.

Here are the steps I used to reheat rotisserie chicken in the microwave:

Step 1:  Cut off the desired amount of chicken.

Step 2:  Place piece/pieces on a microwave safe dish.

Step 3:  Cover with or a moist paper towel.

Step 4:  Heat for 10-15 second bursts until the chicken is warmed through.  Internal temperature should be 165℉ (74℃).

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken on the Stove Top

The stove top reheating method can be a quick and easy way to reheat rotisserie chicken if you don’t want to wait for the oven method, but don’t have an air fryer to use. The stove top method is better than the microwave just because it is harder to overcook the chicken this way. While you can reheat a whole breast or thigh on the stove, I mostly recommend this method for reheating chicken you have pulled off the bone.

This method is great if you plan on adding the reheated rotisserie chicken to a pasta dish like Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, Spicy Chicken Pasta, Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Here are the best steps for this reheating method:

Step 1:  Cut the desired amount of chicken off the whole rotisserie chicken.

Step 2:  Preheat a skillet to medium low heat.  

Step 3:  Add 1 Tbsp of cooking oil to the pan.  

Step 4:  Place the chicken pieces in the skillet.

Step 5:  Cook pieces until heated through, moving them around the pan to heat all sides, until heated through.  Internal temperature should be 165℉ (74℃) if you are reheating a larger piece of meat like a whole breast or thigh.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in an Instant Pot

If you have an instant pot, I found it to be a really quick and easy way to reheat a whole rotisserie chicken without sacrificing the moist tender meat on the inside. This is a faster way to heat a whole chicken than using the oven, however, the skin will not crisp up, so keep that in mind when deciding between this method and the air fryer method.

I find this is a great way to reheat rotisserie chicken when you need it ready fast, and you don’t plan on eating the skin. Some of the recipes I used it in were Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta and my easy Easy Chicken Laksa Soup recipe.

Here are the steps I used for this Instant Pot reheat method:

Step 1:  Set chicken on trivet.

Step 2:  Pour in the chicken drippings and add ½ cup water.

Step 3:  Close lid and seal.

Step 4:  Choose the steam option for 5 minutes.

Step 5:  Do a quick release and check that the internal temperature is 165℉ (74℃).

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in a Slow Cooker

The slow cooker method for reheating a rotisserie chicken is the perfect way to reheat if you want to start it early in the day and have it ready later. I like to use this method when I want to reheat a whole chicken, but I plan to be gone all day. A little foresight for putting it in the crock pot in the morning lets me have a deliciously reheated, fall off the bone rotisserie chicken in the evening when I get home.

Here are the two simple steps I used for the best reheated rotisserie chicken:

Step 1:  Wrap chicken tightly in foil.  Place chicken foil seam side up in the crock pot (so the liquid does not get inside).  Place 1 cup of broth in the bottom of the pot.

Step 2: Cook for 3-4 hours on low depending on the size of the chicken.  (Internal temperature should be 165℉ (74℃).

Other slow cooker recipes for you to try; Simple Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne, Slow Cooker Gammon Joint (Best honey roast ham!) and Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Stew

How to Reheat a Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

For the last method I tried out, I decided to focus on minimal cleanup and while still producing delicious reheated rotisserie chicken. I found this was a great option for when the weather is nice, and you want to add a little bit of grill flavor to your rotisserie chicken. Plus you can grill your sides like Grilled Aubergine Curry, Halloumi Kebabs with Chilli Sauce, or Easy Gochujang Eggplant at the same time.

This is how I reheated rotisserie chicken on the grill:

Step 1:  Preheat your grill to 375℉ (191℃).

Step 2:  Wrap chicken tightly in foil.

Step 3:  Place chicken foil seam side up over indirect heat.

Step 4:  Cook for 30-60 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165℉ (74℃).

You can also grill pieces and sections of a rotisserie chicken by placing them directly on the grill grates and grilling until their internal temperature is 165℉ (74℃).

FAQs

For other reheat resources, check out my articles: