How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken

One item that is always on my grocery list is a rotisserie chicken. It’s the answer to a quick dinner when I’m exhausted from grocery shopping (ironic, I know) and easily provides the necessary “cooked chicken” for my favorite dinners without requiring me to actually cook the chicken myself. 

Despite feeding a family of four, I often find myself stashing some — or all — of a rotisserie chicken in the fridge for later. Wary of turning my once-juicy and tender rotisserie chicken to a dry and mealy dinner, I sought out ways to reliably reheat rotisserie chicken. Here are five methods for reheating that famous grocery-store staple.

The slow cooker is perfect for serving fall-off-the-bone tender chicken. 

• Add enough water or broth to cover the bottom of a 5-quart or larger slow cooker by 1/2 inch.
• Place the rotisserie chicken in the slow cooker and cover.
• Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or High for 2 to 3 hours or until heated through. 

Think of an air fryer as a countertop convection oven, where the fan circulates hot air to warm the food and crisp the skin. The chicken is ready when the meat is heated through and the skin is crisp (with no additional oil needed!). This technique quickly returns a rotisserie chicken to that “just-purchased” peak flavor. 

• Place the rotisserie chicken in the basket (or on the perforated tray depending on your style of air fryer).
• Set the air fryer to 350°F.
• Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. 

Using the microwave to reheat a whole rotisserie chicken can be a challenge because the bones and meat absorb heat unevenly. If you’re in a rush and the microwave is your only option, here’s how to do it. 

• Place the chicken on a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel. 
• Microwave in 30-second bursts until the chicken is heated through, 6 to 9 minutes total time.

Reheating rotisserie chicken in the oven isn’t the fastest method, but the chicken comes out warm and juicy every time. 

• Heat oven to 350°F. 
• Place the chicken on a baking sheet or baking pan.
• Add 1/2 to 1 cup water or chicken broth to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake until the chicken is warmed through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove the foil, and cook for another 5 minutes to slightly crisp the skin.

A Dutch oven can be used to reheat rotisserie chicken in the oven instead of a baking sheet or pan. You can also use it to reheat a whole rotisserie chicken on the stovetop. This is a good option if you are looking for tender meat with a bit of savory broth, but aren’t concerned with re-crisping the skin. 

• Add enough water or broth to the bottom of a Dutch oven to come up about 1/2 inch. 
• Add the chicken in the Dutch oven and cover.
• Cook over medium-low heat until the chicken is heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.