In the game that is meal prep, a stock of precooked chicken seems like an ace up the sleeve. But while it’s versatile and easy to batch ahead of time, chicken can be surprisingly difficult to reheat successfully. Too often, the meat comes out dry or rubbery, while any once-crispy skin turns pale and flabby.
As someone who eats leftover chicken most days of the week, I often simply bypass the whole reheating process and eat it cold from the refrigerator. But I recognize that’s not an option everyone can get behind. So if the chicken must be reheated, what’s the best way to do it without destroying its texture?.
In the name of my fellow chicken lovers, I took a deep dive into this process. Here’s what you need to know:
The Secret to Perfectly Reheated Chicken Keeping it Moist in the Microwave
It’s happened to all of us: you meal prep a tasty chicken dish like grilled chicken breast or crispy fried chicken, but when it’s time to reheat your leftovers, the chicken gets dry and tough in the microwave. Reheating chicken in the microwave can be tricky, but if you know what to do, you can enjoy juicy, flavorful chicken leftovers over and over again.
I’ve learned the hard way how to reheat chicken in the microwave without turning it into cardboard because I like to cook at home and make meals ahead of time. After many attempts at reheating chicken that turned out rubbery, I finally got it right. Now, even big chicken breasts taste just as good as the first time they were cooked.
In this article, I’ll share my proven tips and tricks for reheating chicken in the microwave perfectly every time. Whether you’re trying to reheat a boneless chicken breast, shredded rotisserie chicken, or breaded chicken tenders, these microwave techniques will keep your chicken irresistibly moist and tender. Let’s get cooking!
Prep Your Chicken
Before you even put the chicken in the microwave, you need to do the right preparation. Make sure your chicken is in the fridge in a container that won’t let air in. If it sits out in the open, the chicken will dry out. Take the chicken out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you want to cook it again so it can reach room temperature. Cold chicken takes longer to reheat evenly.
While the chicken heats up, get a plate or dish that can go in the microwave ready. Cover it lightly with butter or oil to keep the chicken from sticking. This will improve the reheating and help maintain moisture.
Shield Your Chicken
The key to microwaved chicken is trapping in steam so the meat doesn’t dry out. Always cover the chicken while reheating to hold in moisture. You can use a microwave-safe lid, plate, or a damp paper towel placed over the chicken.
For an extra layer of protection, place a small mug filled with water next to the chicken in the microwave. The mug will release steam during reheating.
Reheat in Short Bursts
Never microwave chicken for one long continuous cooking time. This leads to uneven heating and inevitably dry, overcooked sections. Always reheat the chicken in short 30 second bursts, checking in between.
Use your hands or an instant-read thermometer to determine if the thickest part of the chicken has reached 165°F. If not, continue reheating in 30 second increments until fully heated. Taking the extra time leads to tender, juicy meat.
Add Extra Moisture
You can further combat microwave dryness by adding moisture to the chicken before reheating. Try drizzling a bit of olive oil, chicken broth, or even just water over the chicken.
For extra-crispy chicken like fried cutlets or nuggets, mix 1 tablespoon of water into 1/4 cup of flour and lightly dredge the chicken to refresh the coating before reheating. The added moisture in the breading really helps.
Allow Resting Time
This final step is crucial for tender reheated chicken. Once your chicken is fully heated through, remove it from the microwave but keep it covered on the plate for at least 5 minutes before serving.
This resting period allows the juices to redistribute evenly in the meat. Cutting into microwaved chicken immediately can cause the juices to run out and the meat to turn dry. Be patient!
Putting It All Together
Follow these microwaving tips and tricks in order for guaranteed moist, delicious chicken:
- Let the chicken come closer to room temperature before reheating
- Prepare the microwave-safe plate with oil or butter
- Shield the chicken by covering with a lid or damp paper towel
- Include a mug of water for extra steam
- Reheat in 30 second intervals until 165°F
- Consider adding extra moisture like broth or oil
- Let the chicken rest covered for 5+ minutes before serving
With the proper techniques, even large chicken breasts, fried cutlets, and shredded chicken can be revived in the microwave without overcooking. No more dry dinners – just reheated chicken as juicy and tasty as the first time around. Give these methods a try for your meal prep chicken and you’ll never have to eat rubbery leftovers again!
How To Reheat Chicken On The Stove
If your chicken is in smaller, boneless pieces, or has been shredded, the stove is a great way to go:
- In the bottom of a small pot or pan, put the chicken. Once more, keeping the pot small will help keep the chicken from drying out.
- Just enough water to cover the pan’s bottom. If there was a tasty liquid used to cook the chicken, use that instead of water. If you have chicken broth on hand, you could also use that.
- Put the lid on top and turn the heat to medium-low. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked. One that can be put into the biggest piece and read right away should show 165 degrees F.
- After that, you can take the pot off the heat and cover it again, but I suggest leaving the chicken in the liquid until you’re ready to serve. It will dry out if you drain it and put it somewhere dry while it’s still hot.
How To Reheat Chicken In The Oven
For bone-in chicken, larger cuts, skin-on chicken, or chicken that was cooked in a casserole, the oven method works best. If the chicken was cooked in a casserole and is still in that dish, simply reheat it as part of the casserole: heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the covered casserole dish until it’s heated through (an instant-read thermometer should read at least 165 degrees).
If you’re dealing with plain chicken, the process will be similar:
- Set the oven to 350 degrees and put the chicken in a baking dish in a single layer. It’s best to use a dish that’s just big enough to fit all the chicken pieces in one layer, with not much extra space between them. This will help to prevent the chicken from drying out.
- Just cover the bottom of the baking dish with water or stock, then put foil over the whole thing. As the chicken heats up, the water will turn into steam in the sealed dish. This will make a humid warming chamber that will keep the chicken from drying out.
- Put the dish in the oven and bake until the chicken is fully cooked and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the biggest piece reads 165 degrees.
If the chicken still has its skin on, and you’d like to try to crisp up the skin, I recommend transferring the chicken to the a broiler-safe pan once it’s warmed through and broiling— watching closely!—until it’s browned and crisp on top. It won’t regain its original texture completely, but it will definitely help.
How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in the Microwave Without Drying It Out | How to Cook by MOMables
FAQ
How to keep chicken moist when reheating in the microwave?
To keep chicken moist when reheating in the microwave, add moisture to the dish, use a microwave-safe cover, and reheat in short intervals.
How to prevent chicken from drying out when microwaving?
If you want food to stay even more moist during cooking, add water directly to the microwave-safe dish or bowl your food is in, cover it and heat as you normally would. This will put the food in closer contact with the vapor. This method works best with fattier meats, such as chicken thighs and ground beef. Jun 2, 2025.
How to reheat cooked chicken in the microwave?
Cut cooked chicken into small, even pieces, put them on a plate that can go in the microwave, and add a little water or broth to keep them moist. This will keep the chicken from drying out.
Why shouldn’t you reheat chicken in the microwave?
Safety Concerns: Cooking chicken in a microwave can result in uneven heating, which may leave certain areas of the chicken at temperatures that are conducive to bacterial growth. This can make you more likely to get sick from food, especially if the chicken isn’t cooked all the way through.