How to Reheat Chicken (without drying it out)

Need to reheat chicken for another meal? Take those leftovers and find out how to reheat cooked chicken in the oven, on the stove, in the Air fryer, or in the microwave–without drying it out. These are the best ways to reheat fried chicken, grilled chicken, chicken breast, shredded rotisserie chicken, and all types of leftover chicken. Trust me, with these reheating methods and times, you’ll have deliciously juicy chicken the second time around too!

Reheating Leftover Chicken

Making chicken for dinner is a go-to for many of us, but what happens when you make too much? I always recommend saving leftover chicken to eat later because it actually warms up nicely. And I’ve perfected my methods and reheating times so that the chicken stays nice and juicy.

Whether you want to serve another round of the same meal on another day, meal prep chicken to reheat throughout the week, or make your favorite leftover chicken recipes, saving leftovers is a must.

I’m sharing the best ways to reheat chicken after it’s been cooked and stored away in the fridge or freezer. Reheating chicken breast, fried chicken, shredded chicken, or any cooked chicken you have is a breeze with these tried-and-true methods.

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How to Reheat Chicken Step-by-Step

These are general methods for reheating chicken of any kind. Whether it’s rotisserie chicken, chicken breast, thighs, chicken wings, fried chicken, or shredded chicken, you can follow these step-by step guidelines.

In the Oven

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Keep chicken in the fridge while the oven preheats.
2. Once oven is heated, take chicken out of the fridge and arrange it in a baking dish so that there’s some space between pieces.
3. Pour a small amount of chicken stock (or water, or another liquid) into the dish. You don’t need much, less than an inch.
4. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in the oven.
5. Let it reheat until it reaches 165°F all the way through (about 20 minutes, but check temperature to be sure).

On the Stove

1. Pour a small amount of water into a skillet (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan), and place the skillet over medium heat.
2. If reheating bone-in chicken, it’s best to remove meat from the bone before heating it.
3. Place chicken in the skillet and stir/flip pieces until they are heated through to 165°F.

In the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the Air Fryer to 350-375°F.
2. Place leftover chicken into the basket of the Air Fryer. Arrange pieces in a single layer, leaving space between pieces.
3. Warm the chicken until it is fully heated through to 165°F, flipping halfway through for best results. It should take anywhere from 6-10 minutes total, depending the size and amount of chicken. 

In the Microwave

1. Arrange pieces of chicken on a plate with space between them. Place larger pieces around the outside, and smaller pieces at the center. 
2. Cut boneless chicken into smaller pieces for more even cooking. Shredded chicken and rotisserie chicken that’s been removed from the bone works well.
3. Drizzle with water and/or olive oil to add moisture.
4. Cover the plate with a microwave lid/cover, or cover loosely with damp paper towels.
5. Microwave until chicken is fully heated through. Start with 2 minutes cook time, check the chicken, then cook in 30 second to 1 minute intervals.

Note: The microwave is not my recommended reheating method, but if you’re short on time it will do. It works best for shredded chicken, and small /cut-up pieces. It is the fastest method, but also most likely to dry out the chicken and leave you with unevenly-cooked spots.

How Long to Reheat Chicken

The amount of time it takes to reheat chicken depends on a few things: the cut of chicken, whether it is bone-in or boneless, the amount you are reheating, and the reheating method. Ultimately, the most important thing is that each piece of chicken is fully heated through to an internal temp of 165°F.

As a general rule: larger pieces, larger amounts, and bone-in pieces will take longer to reheat than smaller cuts, smaller amounts, or boneless pieces. The microwave is the fastest method, followed by the Air Fryer and stovetop, with the oven typically taking the longest.

Reheating Times

Here are some quick timeframes to guide you:

• Microwave: Start with 1-2 minutes, then check the temperature and continue heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Chicken can overcook (and dry out) quickly with this method, so check often.
• Air Fryer: Estimate 6-10 minutes total, checking after 3-5 minutes.
• Stovetop: Estimate 6-15 minutes, checking after 6 minutes.
• Oven: Estimate 15-20 minutes, and start checking the temperature on the early side.

The Best Way to Reheat Chicken

Here are a few notes and tips for reheating different cuts of chicken, and my preferred methods.

Chicken Breast

Chicken breast reheats best in the oven because it warms slowly and evenly, preventing it from drying out. Wrap or cover it with aluminum foil, then heat for 15-20 minutes. The stovetop, Air Fryer, and microwave all work well, but it also helps to cut the chicken in half or into smaller pieces so it will heat more evenly and stay juicy.

Fried Chicken

Reheating fried chicken in the oven or Air fryer are the best methods to retain that super crisp skin. For the oven, place a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet, and place the chicken on the rack so the chicken gets warm and crispy on all sides. Or follow the Air Fryer instructions above and get a similarly crisp finish in less time.

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are quick and easy to reheat with any method. The Air Fryer has quickly become my favorite way to reheat wings but the oven is a great option too. I avoid using the microwave because it’s hard to reheat them evenly and it tends to leave the skin rubbery.

Rotisserie Chicken

To reheat rotisserie chicken, I recommend first removing meat from the bone. A whole chicken or bone-in pieces can be reheated in the oven, but I use them most often for the shredded meat. I recommend using a skillet on the stove for this, but the meat also reheats well in the microwave.

Shredded Chicken

You can easily heat up large amounts of shredded chicken in the oven. Place it in a baking dish, add a small amount of liquid (like chicken broth or water), and heat for 15-20 minutes.

If you are only using a small amount, a skillet on the stove top is a good option, and the microwave works well too.

Tips for Reheating Chicken

• Internal Temperature for reheated chicken should always reach 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer at the thickest part of the chicken to check the internal temperature after reheating.
• Reheat chicken one time only after cooking and storing it.
• You can safely reheat chicken after cooking, but it’s important to store it properly and to heat it fully when reheating. Do not consume partially-warmed chicken.
• Cooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer, and then reheated in many different ways. I generally recommend using the oven for best results.
• The best way to keep the chicken from drying out is to add more liquid (water, stock, etc.) while reheating.
• Only reheat the amount of chicken you plan to eat right away. Leave the rest in the fridge/freezer.
• If reheating chicken after freezing, give it time to thaw in the fridge first (ideally overnight).

All food handling and food safety tips in this post are based on USDA guidelines.

Storing Cooked Chicken

How you store chicken after cooking it is an important part of being able to safely reheat it later, so take these tips and steps as a must for saving leftovers.

• Never let cooked chicken sit out for more than 2 hours. Ideally, you should put it away in the fridge as soon as it cools from cooking.
• Place chicken in airtight containers to store. You can use containers with tight-fitting lids or use well-sealed bags.
• Separate chicken into smaller portions before storing it (especially before freezing). This will make it easier to reheat the amount you need each time you use leftovers, and keep the rest safe for reheating another time.
• Store cooked chicken in the refrigerator 3-5 days.
• Store cooked chicken in the freezer up to 4 months.

Reheating Chicken FAQ

As you can see, reheating chicken is actually really simple, as long as you make sure it’s stored properly and fully heated through before consuming. Now that you know how to reheat chicken properly, don’t let any leftovers go to waste!