How To Reheat Chicken Pot Pie – The 5 Best Ways
Chicken pot pie is a nourishing and satisfying dish that gathers people around the table during chilly autumn evenings. It is the ideal option if you desire a scrumptious meal that caters to everyone's preferences.
When it comes to reheating a chicken pot pie, the best approach depends on your desired speed of readiness. You have several options available: using the oven, microwave, toaster oven, stove, or even an air fryer.
Each method yields different results, so be sure to adhere to our guidelines for flawlessly reheating your leftover chicken pot pie.
The best ways to reheat chicken pot pie
Chicken pot pies and chicken pies have slight differences. Our main focus here is on chicken pot pies, which consist of chicken and vegetables topped with a layer of pastry.
On the other hand, chicken pies are complete pastries filled with chicken, gravy, and vegetables, also known simply as chicken and pastry.
When reheating a chicken pot pie, extra caution is required to preserve the integrity of the pastry. Depending on the method chosen, the pastry can easily become soggy or crumbly, and there's also a risk of drying out the meal.
Fortunately, the culinary world offers some simple tricks to prevent these undesirable outcomes with minimal effort.
Before diving into the reheating process, it's important to differentiate between chilled chicken pot pies and frozen ones. Reheating times will vary significantly between the two, so it's crucial to know beforehand.
If you want to reheat a chilled chicken pot pie, you have more options compared to reheating a frozen one. You can utilize any of the methods mentioned earlier for chilled pies. However, reheating frozen pies can be a bit more challenging, as there's a risk of drying them out.
Whether you're reheating a homemade chicken pot pie, a store-bought one, or even one from KFC, the same principles apply.
Here's a comprehensive list of methods to reheat a chicken pot pie to perfection, and here's a spoiler: you don't need to be a professional chef or use any special tools to do it!
How to reheat a chicken pot pie in the oven
The oven method is likely the best way to reheat your chicken pot pie. Although it takes some time to warm up, the outcome is a perfectly delicious pie.
To use this method, you'll need aluminum foil, a baking tray, and approximately 20 minutes. It's a straightforward process; once you place your pie in the oven, there isn't much else to do. The result will be a nicely warmed pie with a crispy pastry on top.
Using aluminum foil to wrap the pie is highly beneficial as it prevents the crust from burning and helps retain moisture, ensuring your chicken pot pie doesn't dry out during reheating.
If you're reheating a frozen chicken pot pie in the oven, you can follow the same instructions without significant changes.
Here are the steps to reheat chicken pot pie in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (it is better if you use a static oven rather than a fan oven);
- Wrap your chilled or frozen chicken pot pie in aluminum foil and place it in the middle of a baking tray;
- Place it in the oven for about 20 minutes (25-30 minutes if you are reheating it straight out of the freezer);
- Keep an eye on it and check it after 10 minutes to make sure everything is going according to plan;
- Take it out and let it sit for a couple of minutes before serving it (but be careful, it can be extremely hot).
How to reheat chicken pot pie in the microwave
While the microwave offers the quickest reheating method, it may not be the most effective one. Nonetheless, you can still use the microwave to reheat your chicken pot pie and achieve a tasty meal, although there is a risk of making the crusty top slightly soggy.
The heat from the microwave can cause the pastry to create a condensed layer, resulting in a slightly mushy top. However, the core of the chicken pot pie will still turn out wonderfully.
To address this issue and expedite the warming process, it's advisable to cut and reheat one slice of the chicken pot pie at a time.
Ensure that you place your chicken pot pie on a microwave-safe plate. It's crucial to note that you should never use aluminum or aluminum wrapping in the microwave as it can be extremely hazardous.
Here are the steps to reheat chicken pot pie in the microwave:
- Cut your chicken pot pie into regular slices;
- Place a slice of your chicken pot pie in a microwave-safe dish and put it in the microwave (try to reheat one slice at a time for better results);
- Set the microwave to the lowest setting and reheat for about two minutes;
- Check if the filling is warm enough. If it is still cold, reheat for an extra minute;
- If it is hot enough, take it out of the microwave and serve!
How to reheat chicken pot pie in a toaster oven
Reheating a chicken pot pie in a toaster oven follows a similar approach to reheating it in a standard oven or microwave. It may take some time, but the results can be incredibly satisfying.
Using a toaster oven allows you to achieve a warm and hearty filling, paired with a crunchy and crispy crust atop your chicken pot pie.
The recommended temperature range for reheating a chicken pot pie in a toaster oven is typically between 380 to 400°F. Unlike a standard oven, you won't need to wrap the pie in aluminum foil.
The process itself is straightforward. Simply take your chicken pot pie out of the refrigerator and place it into the preheated toaster oven.
If you're dealing with a frozen chicken pot pie, it's best to thaw it at room temperature by removing it from the freezer. If you're short on time, you can utilize the defrost setting on your microwave to expedite the process before transferring it to the toaster oven.
Here are the steps to reheat chicken pot pie in the toaster oven:
- Preheat your toaster oven between 380 to 400°F;
- It is advised to make little cuts on the crust on top of your chicken pot pie to allow the steam to get out;
- Put the chicken pot pie on a baking sheet and place it in the middle of your toaster oven;
- Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes (both for chilled or frozen);
- Let it sit on the counter for five minutes before serving!
How to reheat chicken pot pie in an air fryer
Reheating a chicken pot pie in an air fryer is admittedly an unconventional approach. It's not the typical or traditional method, but it can still be effective in getting the job done.
It is recommended to use any of the other methods mentioned earlier if they are available to you. However, if you don't have access to a microwave or oven, or if those options are not feasible, using an air fryer correctly can still serve the purpose.
This method can be quite efficient as it provides a relatively quick way to warm up your meal while minimizing the need for extensive cleaning afterward.
Here are the steps to reheat chicken pot pie in the air fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F;
- Open your air fryer basket and place your chicken pot pie in it, after having carefully removed the packaging;
- Reheat it for about 8 minutes, but you can keep it in there a little longer if needed;
- Take it out and serve piping hot!
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