How to Freeze Rotisserie Chicken
If you found your way here because you wondered how to freeze leftover rotisserie chicken, then you are in luck! Follow along with these easy steps to learn how to best freeze rotisserie chicken, whether store bought or homemade.
How to Freeze a Whole Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken and or chicken pieces are easy to find at most any grocery store. Sam’s Club sells leftover rotisserie chicken breasts and wings in it’s refrigerator sections. These roast chicken pieces are cheap to buy and a great way to make a quick dinner.
- Purchase a Whole Chicken
- Costco rotisserie chickens or Sam’s Club rotisserie chickens are great options. You can also make a homemade rotisserie chicken. We use this rotisserie attachment on our grill when we make it at home.
- Debone the Chicken
- The first thing is to debone the entire chicken (take the chicken of the bone).
- Shred The Chicken
- Second, shred the rotisserie chicken (full chicken or leftover chicken) with a fork. You can also use a meat shredder tool or machine for this part of the process too.
- Wrap the Chicken in Plastic Wrap
- Place the shredded rotisserie chicken onto plastic wrap or cling film into smaller portions. The best way is to make quarter pound or cup portions of chicken. For best results, place the shredded chicken wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and preserve the taste of the chicken.
- Wrap the Chicken in Foil
- Next, placed the wrapped chicken onto a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- Label the Chicken
- Finally, mark the outside of the foil using a sharpie or permanent marker with what food is in side the package.
- Place the Chicken in the Freezer.
A quicker option is to use vacuum packing if you prefer, or use heavy-duty freezer bags or airtight containers for a completely sealed frozen rotisserie chicken.
How to Thaw or Defrost Chicken
Frozen chicken will last in the freezer for about 12 months. When you are ready to use the chicken, place the frozen chicken out of the freezer to thaw in water or the refrigerator.
The flavor of the chicken will be best when it is thawed slowly in the refrigerator, still in its wrapper. It will keep most of its juices when thawed this way. If you don’t have much time, you can defrost the wrapped chicken in cold water, but it will lose some of its juices and flavor.
Recipes that Use Rotisserie Chicken
Use these simple to make rotisserie chicken recipes for your next meal! While I don’t personally have any recipes yet using frozen or leftover rotisserie chicken I found a few that you may enjoy.
Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad
You can use an entire rotisserie cooked chicken for this, depending on how big of a serving you will be needing. Serve the chicken with greens and a croissant for a tasty lunch.
Chicken Salad Recipe from gogogogourment.com
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
The flavor that the roasted chicken and chicken stock will give to this easy soup recipe is superb. You can make this chicken noodle soup ahead of time and reheat for a quick meal.
Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup from FoodFolksandFun.com
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
This leftover chicken meal is an easy dinner that is the perfect food for a quick family dinner. Just put all ingredients including the rotisserie chicken in the crock pot and let it go until you are ready to eat dinner!
Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo from FlouronmyFace.com
