Restore the Juicy Goodness: How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken

It’s hard to beat the convenience and deliciousness of rotisserie chicken.

It has a crispy outside, moist inside that can’t be replicated by any other cooking method.

Unfortunately, the day after you find yourself with leftover rotisserie chicken, it’s not as easy to enjoy.

I don’t know what’s going wrong, but I can tell you that it probably has to do with our inability to reheat this fantastic delicacy.

If you want to learn how not only to maintain its flavor but also make your kitchen smell amazing while doing so, then read on because this guide will teach you everything.

What is Rotisserie Chicken?

Rotisserie Chicken is a ready-to-eat, cooked chicken that is usually sold whole and hot.

It has been roasted over a spit in front of an open flame or gas burner.

The rotisserie oven cooks the entire bird evenly on all sides as it turns around a spit very slowly, typically at 180°F/82°C for about two hours before being taken out to cool down with its crisp skin (the crispy exterior) crackling like pork rinds.

You can buy rotisserie Chicken pre-cooked from grocery stores such as Safeway en Kroger, Costco Whole Foods Market, or they can also buy raw chickens to roast themselves.

How to Keep Rotisserie Chicken Warm

A rotisserie chicken is an excellent meal for many occasions.

It’s easy and quick, but sometimes it can be tricky on the day of serving as you want your food hot and fresh when served.

Some techniques will help keep this dish warm all through dinner time, no matter how long until dinnertime rolls around.

The first technique is to keep the chicken in a foil pan on top of your oven’s warming drawer.

This works so well because it has an even, low heat that will not dry out or overcook the meat.

Cooking times vary depending on how many chickens you have and if they are bone-in or boneless but should last for up to two hours easily.

This method also allows you time to be at home without worrying about tracking down one more device.

For those with gas stoves, place aluminum foil around the bottom of the burner, reflecting into the pot and then adding water; cover until bubbles stop forming.

It may take a while for everything to come together, but as long as you don’t open the pot until it’s done cooking, you will be able to keep your chicken warm for a few hours.

Those with electric stoves wrap an aluminum foil “hat” around the top of the pan covering your burner.

This method has had mixed success, but if used properly should work well enough so long as there aren’t many other heat sources in the kitchen and you have at least two burners going.

You may also need to turn down one of them depending on how hot they both are when finished prepping dinner.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in an Oven

You’re in the mood for rotisserie chicken, but you forgot to plan.

Why not reheat your favorite meal while still keeping it healthy and delicious?

Reheating rotisserie chicken in the oven is slower than any of the other methods in this article, but it produces a result that closely resembles the original dish.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Place your rotisserie chicken on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil or butter for flavorful cooking. You can also add seasonings such as salt, pepper, or paprika before placing them in the oven.

• Cook for 15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you want more browning and crisping around the edges).

• To achieve a crunchier skin, turn your oven to broil at 500 degrees Fahrenheit before popping back in for an additional two or three minutes of cooking time. For a softer texture, cook for about 20 minutes total.

• Remove from oven and let rest for three minutes before carving to serve.

The result is a moist and flavorful chicken dish perfect for dinner or the next day’s lunch.

Notes:

• Rotisserie chickens come with their seasoning, so you may not need to add salt, pepper, or paprika before cooking.

• The skin of rotisserie chickens can be harsh; it doesn’t break down when cooked because of its high-fat content.

If you want a softer texture, cook your chicken longer than typical (20 minutes total) and turn on broil towards the end to crisp up the skin.

For crisper skin, use olive oil during cooking instead of butter for more browning results.

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken on the Stove

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to reheat rotisserie chicken on the stove, you should preheat your pan with cooking spray or oil.

Next, place the cooked pieces of chicken in the heated pan, skin side down, then cover it with foil for about five minutes.

After that time is up, take off the foil and lower heat to medium-high while flipping each piece over so they can cook from both sides.

Once all portions are flipped over (about four minutes), turn off heat but leave the pot covered until ready to serve to let them cool thoroughly before serving.

Compared to the oven, the stovetop method will be quicker, but it may not leave you with as crispy of a skin.

How to Reheat Roasted Chicken in a Microwave

The microwave is one of the most convenient appliances on kitchen countertops.

So whether you’re reheating leftovers, nuking a quick lunch, or defrosting frozen food in the microwave, it’s got your back.

It is excellent for reheating leftovers because you can do so without overcooking them and risking their dryness.

If you’re reheating leftover rotisserie chicken, all you have to do is cut into pieces and pop them back into their original packaging along with tinfoil and some butter.

Then, please seal the package with cling film and microwave it for about two minutes at full power.

Finally, you can shred the meat with a fork before serving.

The chicken will stay warm until you serve it as long as your plate is covered with something else while waiting (like an oven mitt).

You can also use paper towels to help keep things insulated if need be – make sure they don’t touch any part of the food during microwaving.

Be aware that microwaves vary in power, so the time will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Additionally, the microwave-cooked chicken loses its original taste and texture if it is not adequately heated.

What You Can Do with Leftover Chicken

Now that you know how to reheat your rotisserie chicken, here are some things you can do with leftover chicken:

• Use it as a sandwich filling and top the meat with veggies like avocado, roasted red pepper, or sprouts.

• Put your leftovers in tortillas for a straightforward lunch on the go.

• Add to salads, soups (particularly Thai Chicken), macaroni and cheese, pasta dishes – any dish that would traditionally call for cooked poultry.

Conclusion

With the cold weather quickly approaching, you may be wondering what to do with all of your leftover rotisserie chicken.

We hope this blog post has helped answer that question and provided some useful tips for reheating it as well.

Whether you prefer a slow cooker or an oven-safe dish in the microwave, we’ve got you covered.

If none of these methods work for you, don’t worry.

There are plenty more ways to enjoy your leftovers including salads, sandwiches, soups and even pizza toppings.

What method have you tried?

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