Rotisserie chicken is a delicious and convenient dinner option. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and cooked, practically falling off the bone. However, reheating leftover rotisserie chicken can lead to dry, tasteless meat if not done properly. Using an air fryer is one of the best ways to reheat rotisserie chicken without drying it out. Air fryers use hot air and convection to quickly and evenly reheat foods. Follow this simple guide to learn how to reheat rotisserie chicken in an air fryer to keep it juicy and flavorful.
Why Reheating Rotisserie Chicken Can Lead to Dryness
There are a few reasons why rotisserie chicken tends to dry out when reheated:
- Overcooking – It’s easy to overcook chicken when reheating, especially lean white meat. This causes moisture loss.
- Lack of moisture – Rotisserie chickens are cooked uncovered, which allows moisture to evaporate as they cook. Reheating without adding moisture exacerbates dryness.
- Oven hot spots – Traditional ovens can have uneven hot and cold spots. Chicken pieces placed in hot spots may overcook and dry out.
Thankfully, using an air fryer avoids most of these pitfalls. Let’s look at why air fryers help chicken stay moist.
Why Air Fryers Keep Chicken Juicy
Air fryers have features that make them ideal for reheating leftover chicken without drying it out:
- Hot air circulation – Powerful fans circulate hot air around food quickly and evenly, avoiding hot spots.
- Convection heating – Food is surrounded by hot circulating air, cooking it fast and evenly.
- No moisture loss – Air fryers cook foods in a closed basket, sealing in moisture.
- Short cook times – Food reheats rapidly due to convection heating, avoiding overcooking.
- Small batches – Air fryer baskets fit smaller portions, so food isn’t stacked or piled up.
Let’s go over some tips and techniques to make the most of your air fryer for reheating juicy rotisserie chicken.
Tips for Reheating Rotisserie Chicken in an Air Fryer
Use Smaller Pieces
Cut or shred the chicken into smaller pieces before reheating. Smaller pieces heat faster, reducing cooking time and avoiding overcooking. Stir or flip the pieces halfway through cooking. Shoot for pieces around 2 inches or smaller.
Brush on a Little Oil
Lightly brushing or spraying pieces with oil helps retain and seal in moisture as the chicken reheats. Use an oil with high smoke point, like avocado, grapeseed, or canola oil.
Spritz on Some Water
Misting the chicken pieces with water before cooking puts some moisture back on the surface of the meat. Use a spray bottle to lightly spritz water over the top.
Coat in Sauce
Smear pieces in a sauce, dressing, or gravy before cooking. Try barbecue sauce, Caesar dressing, teriyaki sauce, or leftover pan juices. The coating seals in chicken juices.
Add Aromatics
Put fresh herbs, garlic, or citrus slices in the air fryer basket with the chicken. As they cook, moisture releases into the air to keep chicken juicy.
Use a Lower Temperature
Cook chicken around 300°F rather than max temperature. The lower heat gently warms chicken without overcooking the outside before the inside heats through.
Cook in Batches
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook chicken in smaller batches for even heating. Rotate the basket halfway through cooking.
Allow Carryover Cooking
Remove chicken when slightly underdone, around 5-10 minutes before fully cooked through. Residual heat will finish cooking chicken gently without drying it out.
Check for Doneness
Use a meat thermometer to check temperature. Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F. If underdone, put back in for 2-3 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple step-by-step guide for perfectly reheated rotisserie chicken every time.
Step 1: Cut Chicken into Smaller Pieces
Break down the rotisserie chicken into smaller chunks, tenders, thighs, breasts, or shredded meat. Small 1-2 inch pieces work best.
Step 2: Coat Pieces in Oil, Sauce, or Seasoning
Lightly brush pieces with oil. Or coat in sauce, dressing, seasoning blend, or pan juices for extra flavor.
Step 3: Arrange in Air Fryer Basket
Place chicken pieces in air fryer basket in a single layer. Try not to overcrowd pieces.
Step 4: Cook at 300°F for 8-12 Minutes
Cooking times vary based on amount and size of pieces. Cook in small batches. Flip or stir halfway through.
Step 5: Allow Carryover Cooking
When chicken is slightly underdone, remove basket from air fryer and allow residual heat to finish cooking.
Step 6: Check Internal Temperature
Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature.
Step 7: Serve Immediately
Enjoy your perfectly juicy reheated rotisserie chicken right away!
Tips for the Best Flavor
Air frying rotisserie chicken keeps it moist, but can make the skin soft and less crispy. Here are some optional tips for bringing out the best texture and flavor:
- Broil – After air frying, broil chicken 3-5 minutes to re-crisp skin.
- Season – Sprinkle with seasoning blend before or after cooking.
- Sauce – Toss cooked chicken with sauce or dressing.
- Mix-ins – Add chopped fresh herbs, bacon bits, nuts, or shredded cheese.
- Drizzle – Right before serving, drizzle chicken with honey, olive oil, or melted butter.
Common Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
Take your reheated chicken to the next level by turning it into one of these delicious air fryer meals:
BBQ Chicken Tacos
Toss chicken in barbecue sauce then cook. Serve in warmed tortillas with crunchy slaw and pickles.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Toss cooked chicken in Buffalo hot sauce. Fill tortillas with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, blue cheese and ranch dressing.
Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with chicken, shredded cheese, and additional fillings. Air fry until quesadillas are crispy and cheese is melted.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chop cooked chicken and add to chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, and croutons.
Chicken Parmesan
Coat air fried chicken in marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. Serve over pasta.
Chicken Pizza
Top pizza crust or naan bread with marinara, shredded mozzarella, and chicken. Air fry until cheese melts.
Chicken Taquitos
Fill tortillas with chicken and cheese then tightly roll up. Air fry until golden and crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I reheat chicken in an air fryer?
Aim for around 300°F. This lower temp gently reheats chicken without overcooking it. You can go up to 350°F if needed to crisp the skin.
How long should you reheat chicken in an air fryer?
Cook smaller chicken pieces 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway. Larger pieces may take 15-20 minutes. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
Can you reheat frozen chicken in an air fryer?
Yes, air fryers work great for reheating frozen chicken. Cook at a slightly higher temp, around 375°F, until the chicken is 165°F internally.
Should you brush chicken with oil before air frying?
Lightly brushing chicken pieces with oil before air frying helps keep meat moist and promotes browning. Use an oil with high smoke point.
What happens if you overcook chicken in an air fryer?
Overcooked chicken dries out quickly and becomes tough and chewy. Use lower temps and cook chicken in smaller batches to prevent overcooking.
Conclusion
Reheating leftover rotisserie chicken in an air fryer is an easy way to enjoy moist, tender chicken again. The circulating hot air gently and evenly reheats chicken without drying it out. Follow these tips: cut chicken into smaller pieces, coat in oil or sauce, cook at 300°F in batches, and allow carryover cooking. In just minutes, you can revive refrigerated or frozen rotisserie chicken to be as delicious as the day it was cooked.