In summary: You canreheat chicken breasts in four different ways: on a stove, in the oven, in a microwave, and in an air fryer.
For many, skinless chicken breast is a favorite part of the chicken. Healthy and lean meat is often a choice when deciding which piece of the chicken to prepare. However, it is the part of the chicken that is the driest. You, therefore, need to know how to cook breast to make it juicy.
It is the same with reheating leftovers. You want to get a moist and delicious cooked chicken, not a dry piece of meat that you can barely chew. These three ways are proven to be very successful for warming up leftover chicken breasts and will ensure you a tasty and juicy result.
Reheating Chicken Breast On A Stove
If you have a whole piece of cooked chicken breasts, or rotisserie chicken, it would be better to cut it into two to three smaller pieces. In this way, it will heat up more evenly and beautifully. But if you don’t want to, you can leave it whole.
Make sure to lower the temperature a bit and allow the inside of the meat to warm up well. It can happen that the outside is very hot, and the inside is lukewarm.
Step 1: Preheat the Skillet with the Oil and Broth
First, turn the stove to medium heat. Then pour a little oil into the skillet and add the chicken broth. It will keep the meat from losing moisture. Let it preheat.
Step 2: Insert the Chicken in the Heated Skillet
Put pieces of leftover chicken in a pan. Don’t pile them on top of each other but leave each one with enough space to warm up nicely.
Step 3: Flip Over the Chicken Pieces a Few Times
Watch vigilantly for the chicken you are roasting. Turn the pieces every now and then to heat evenly on both sides without burning. If you have left larger pieces of meat, keep in mind that it takes longer for the inside to heat up.
Heating Chicken Breast In The Oven
If you have had frozen pieces of the leftover chicken breast, be sure to defrost them first before heating.
In the case of preheating chicken in the oven, it is better to cut the meat into several smaller pieces than to preheat the whole chicken breast. The decision is up to you. But in the case of smaller pieces, the meat will be juicier and will be nicer and more evenly heated.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 400 °F
You must first heat your oven well. Do not put the meat before the oven is thoroughly heated. Turn the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Place the Chicken Pieces on a Baking Sheet and Add the Sauce
Arrange the pieces of cooked chicken on a baking dish, so there is space between them. Each piece should be heated on all sides. Then, add the chicken broth or gravy you have from baking to keep the meat moist. Cover the pan well with a suitable baking lid or aluminum foil so that the juiciness remains on the meat.
Step 3: Bake for About 15 minutes
Leave the chicken to bake for about 15 minutes. It should be enough time, but it depends on how big the pieces of chicken you have. Take out the chicken. Carefully take off the foil, making sure that the steam does not burn you.
Make sure the chicken is warm enough. If not, feel free to put it back in the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
Way to Reheat Chicken Breast In A Microwave
In the case of preheating in the microwave, the advice is to cut the leftover chicken into smaller pieces. This is especially necessary for the microwave because the heating process is short, and it will be easier to heat the outside than the inside. You can keep the roasted chicken skin, don’t worry.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken for Reheating
If you had frozen chicken, you have to defrost it first. Afterward, you can start reheating. Place your chicken breast in a microwave-safe plate so that there is a space between the pieces.
If you have multiple pieces, prefer to heat them in several rounds instead of putting them all at once. Add the broth to a container that will maintain humidity and cover with a damp cloth.
Step 2: Heat in the Intervals of 1 Minute
Put the chicken in the microwave for 1 minute. Then, take out, turn the chicken pieces over and return for an additional one minute of heating. The second time you take out the chicken, make sure it is hot enough. If not, repeat the process once or twice more until you get the desired result.
Warming Up Chicken Breasts In An Air Fryer
An air fryer is one of the simpler ways to reheat chicken leftovers, especially grilled chicken. If you have this appliance in your kitchen, you will likely reach for it sooner than for a classic oven.
And compared to the microwave, it is more practical because you don’t have to cut the breast into several smaller parts. After a few minutes of hot air, the internal temperature should be entirely satisfactory.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer
When you want to heat a slightly larger piece of meat thoroughly, it is always better to set the air fryer to a medium-high temperature of 350 degrees F. Too high a heat could quickly burn the edges of the meat while leaving the inside lukewarm.
Step 2: Place the Chicken in the Basket
No special preparation of the chicken is required for this reheating process. You can lightly coat pieces with a bit of olive oil or cooking fat if you want. But it is enough to place the chicken slices in the air fryer basket, and they are ready to be heated.
Always arrange them in one layer, and do not pile one over another. This way, you will get excellent results and juicy meat.
Step 3: Heat and Flip Once
Place the leftover cooked chicken in the air fryer and turn it on for 5 to 6 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken breasts. If the pieces are a bit larger, they will understandably need a minute or two longer to heat.
It would be good to flip all the pieces halfway for uniform heating. You can use a meat thermometer to judge whether the center is hot enough.
FAQs
Do I have to add the sauce when reheating?
If you want a juicy and tasty piece of chicken, then yes. You can heat the chicken on its own, without the broth, but it will be quite dry and may not be as tasty to eat.
Why can chicken only be reheated once?
Every time your chicken goes through a cooling process after it has been roasted or reheated, and before you put it in the fridge, certain bacteria can develop. Therefore, it is necessary to heat the chicken strongly enough before consumption instead of just heating it lukewarm. This is true for most meat dishes. Rather choose to reheat them only once and reheat them well.
Is it okay to eat cold chicken breasts?
If you have stored them properly in the refrigerator, then you can eat cold chicken breasts. But make sure you eat them within the first two days of baking.
How do you reheat chicken breast without drying it?
To reheat chicken breast without drying it out, use a gentle method like reheating in the oven at a low temperature (around 275°F or 135°C) or using a microwave with a damp paper towel covering the chicken to add moisture. Be cautious not to overcook the chicken, as this can lead to dryness.
Conclusion
Tender chicken is a great dish that you can eat for a few days from the first preparation. Instead of simple reheating, you can also prepare new meals with chicken breast. Let’s say, a great cold chicken sandwich, then a salad with chicken, or baked tortillas with chicken pieces.
In any case, you won’t go wrong if you roast a little more chicken breast than you need when making lunch. Nobody will notice the difference when you reheat cooked chicken the next day.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
