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Rotisserie chickens are a great convenience even if you need to refrigerate them for a few days before using them. To reheat a rotisserie chicken, remove it from the packaging and decide if you want to heat it in the oven, stovetop, or microwave. Warm the meat until it reaches 165 °F (74 °C) and serve the hot chicken with your favorite sides.
Reheating Rotisserie Chicken: Quick Guide
Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and roast the chicken in a covered, oven-safe dish for 25 minutes until the chicken reaches 165 °F (74 °C). For the microwave, shred the chicken into pieces and heat it on a microwave-safe plate for 2 to 5 minutes on a medium setting.
Steps
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Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and get out a dish. While the oven preheats, remove the rotisserie chicken from the packaging and put it in an oven-safe dish. If the chicken was in the fridge, let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes so it comes to room temperature.
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Cover and roast the chicken for 25 minutes. Put the lid on the dish and put the chicken in the preheated oven. Roast the chicken until it reaches 165 °F (74 °C) with an instant-read meat thermometer.- Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken.
- If your dish doesn't have a lid, cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
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Remove the cover and roast the chicken for 5 minutes for crispy skin. If you'd like the chicken to have a crispy browned skin, take the lid off of the dish and return the chicken to the oven.
- Cook it for 5 minutes so the skin turns golden.
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Shred or cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. If you only have part of a rotisserie chicken left or you just want to reheat some of the chicken, tear off the portion you want to use and cut or tear the chicken. [1] X Research source
- The pieces should be between 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) in size.
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Heat a 1 to 3 teaspoons (5 to 15 ml) of oil over medium-high heat. Use less of the oil if you're reheating a small amount of chicken and use more oil if you're sautéing a skillet full. [2] X Research source
- Use vegetable, canola, or coconut oil.
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Stir in the chicken and cook it for 4 to 5 minutes. Keep stirring the meat as it reheats. Turn off the burner once all of the chicken is completely hot. [3] X Research source
- Keep in mind that some of the edges may become crispy as the chicken reheats.
- Because the pieces will be too small to check with a meat thermometer, it's important to heat them until they're steaming hot.
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Adjust your microwave setting to medium. If your microwave is programmed by percentages, set it to 70%.
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Place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate. If you're microwaving a whole rotisserie chicken, consider putting it in a microwave-safe baking dish so any juices are caught.
- To speed up the reheating time, try pulling the chicken into pieces or shredding the meat. Set the pieces or shredded meat on the microwave-safe plate.
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Microwave the chicken for 1 1/2 to 5 minutes. If you're microwaving a whole chicken, heat it for 5 minutes before you check the internal temperature.
- If you're reheating pieces or shredded chicken, heat the meat for 1 1/2 minutes before you start checking the temperature.
- Try pouring a bit of chicken or vegetable broth in the dish with the chicken so it doesn’t get too dry.
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Check to see if the meat has reached 165 °F (74 °C). Insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. It should read 165 °F (74 °C) once it's safe to eat.
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Consider heating it in the oven for 5 minutes if you want crispy skin. If you'd like the whole rotisserie chicken to have a crisp skin, transfer it to a 350 °F (177 °C) oven.
- Ensure that the chicken is on an oven-safe plate and heat it for 5 minutes.
Community Q&A
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QuestionShould I defrost the chicken before putting it in the oven?Community AnswerYes, any meat that is frozen needs to be defrosted before cooking, whether its raw or previously cooked.
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QuestionCan you reheat rotisserie chicken in a slow cooker?Community AnswerYou can, for five hours on high, but it isn't advisable, as rotisserie chicken must be reheated as quickly as possible.
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QuestionIs it safe to microwave rotisserie chicken in its original container like if I got it from Walmart?Adele OrrTop AnswererNo, the plastic container could melt and leach plastic into your chicken, in which case the chicken would no longer be safe to eat. Put the chicken on a microwave-safe dish.
Video
Tips
Things You'll Need
Roasting
- Oven-safe dish with lid
- Instant-read meat thermometer
Sautéing
- Vegetable, canola, or coconut oil
- Skillet
- Spoon
Microwaving
- Microwave
- Microwave-safe plate or baking dish
- Instant-read meat thermometer
References
About This Article
To reheat a rotisserie chicken in the oven, first preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Set the chicken in an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Roast the chicken for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let the chicken bake for an additional 5 minutes so the skin is crispy. To reheat a rotisserie chicken on the stovetop, first cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of vegetable oil in a wide saucepan over medium-high heat. Let the oil heat for 5 minutes, then add the chicken to the pan. Let the chicken cook for 8 minutes, stirring it regularly. To microwave rotisserie chicken, first shred the chicken into small pieces and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chicken for 3 minutes, then check the temperature with a meat thermometer. The chicken is ready once the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C). To learn how to reheat a rotisserie chicken on the stove, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
- "I'm an fanatical cook and everything has to be done correctly. Since I've never bought a rotisserie chicken before, I needed to look up the correct way of reheating without it drying out. Information was clear, concise and easy to understand." ..." more
