How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge?
So you cooked up a whole chicken and have leftovers—but how long does cooked chicken last in the fridge? Most cuts of chicken won't last as long as you'd think.
Chicken is one of my favorite proteins. It’s simple to cook, and it can be spiced up in various ways to make it new and exciting every night. Not only that, but it goes with everything: salads, sandwiches, tacos, soups, appetizers and more. You name it, and you can probably make it with chicken.
I’ll often roast a whole chicken—or pick up a rotisserie chicken if I don’t feel like cooking—and let the meat serve me for several meals. But how long does cooked chicken last in the fridge? Not as long as you might think.
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge?
Most people consider a week a reasonable amount of time to keep leftovers, but the USDA recommends using most cooked chicken within three to four days of putting it in the refrigerator. Here are specific details on the different types of cooked chicken.
- Whole chicken (including cuts like breasts, thighs and wings): Refrigerate within two hours after cooking. Use within three to four days.
- Ground chicken: Refrigerate within two hours after cooking. Use within three to four days.
- Rotisserie chicken: Refrigerate any leftovers you’re not using and use within three to four days.
- Chicken salad: Refrigerate immediately after making. Use within three to five days. Keep in mind that you’ll want to start the timer from the day the chicken was cooked—not the day the chicken salad was made.
- Deli-sliced chicken lunch meat: Store in the refrigerator after getting home from the grocery store. Use within three to five days.
- Chicken lunch meat, sealed in a package: Store in the refrigerator and use within two weeks of purchase, or within one week of the best-by date. Once opened, use within three to five days.
- Canned chicken: Store unopened cans in the pantry and use within two to five years. Once opened, refrigerate and use within three to four days.
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Freezer?
All cuts of chicken last the same amount of time in the freezer: about a year.
According to the USDA, frozen chicken is technically good indefinitely. However, it does reach a point where the quality starts to decline. For cooked chicken, that’s around the four-month mark. If the chicken is cooked into a casserole, or the pieces are covered with broth or gravy before freezing, it will maintain its quality for up to six months. After those times, the chicken will lose some if its flavor and texture when it’s reheated.
Many chicken recipes will freeze well, but one dish that won’t is chicken salad, because of the mayonnaise. So, eat up that chicken salad right away!
How to Properly Store Cooked Chicken
Cooked chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. We like using glass storage containers since they don’t absorb odors like plastic containers. It’s okay to leave the chicken uncovered as it cools down, but covering it after will ensure the leftover meat stays juicy.
The USDA recommends freezing chicken in its original package and wrapping it with airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper, or placing the package inside a freezer bag. You can also open chicken and repackage it in smaller amounts in freezer-safe bags or any of these other freezer storage options.
To defrost frozen chicken, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Smaller cuts of chicken will thaw overnight, whereas larger cuts (or whole chickens) may take one to two days to thaw. Chicken thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen if you don’t use it. (Phew!)
If you’re in a time crunch, you can thaw chicken in cold water or in the microwave—but know that you can’t refreeze the meat if you use either of these methods. Place the frozen chicken in a leak-proof bag and submerge it in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. A whole chicken should thaw in about three hours.
How to Tell If Chicken Has Spoiled
Our recommendation is always “when in doubt, throw it out,” but there are some common signs that chicken has spoiled. We like to start by giving it the sniff test. The spices used in cooking the chicken can often mask subtle smells, but if it smells sour or sulfury (like rotten eggs), it’s definitely past its prime.
Bad chicken also has a greyish appearance, and you definitely don’t want to eat it if it’s greenish or bluish in color. Any visible signs of mold or a slimy texture are also indications that chicken has spoiled.
How to Use Up Cooked Chicken
If you’ve got some cooked chicken to use up in the next day or two, you have plenty of options. Chicken salad recipes are a classic way to put leftover chicken to use. However, we have plenty of shredded chicken recipes and rotisserie chicken recipes that will give your cooked chicken a different purpose.
- Add some shredded chicken to your favorite soup recipes (turning them into chicken soup recipes) to add protein.
- Sprinkle chicken over a green salad to turn a side salad into a meal.
- Mix cooked chicken into your favorite pasta dish. It works especially well with a pesto or vodka sauce.
- Make buffalo chicken tacos by tossing shredded chicken with buffalo sauce. Top each taco with blue cheese and shredded lettuce.
- Dress the meat with barbecue sauce to make barbecue chicken sandwiches.
- Layer a tortilla with chicken and cheese and heat it up for chicken quesadillas.
Our Best Leftover Chicken Recipes
Creamy Chicken EnchiladasOne of our most popular chicken dinners ever, these creamy enchiladas are easy to make at home. Layer a 13x9-inch pan with tortillas stuffed with leftover chicken, cream cheese and spices, then pour over a quick enchilada sauce. Feel free to add or subtract chiles, or vegetables like chopped peppers or corn.
BBQ Chicken SandwichesLeftover chicken is a natural fit for sandwiches. These saucy sammies are so easy to toss together, even though they use a homemade sauce (though you can swap in one of our favorite store-bought BBQ sauces). Serve with a quick side of canned or frozen corn.
Quick Chicken and DumplingsRather than making dumplings from scratch, this recipe calls for a quick substitute: frozen biscuits. The buttery, savory biscuits soften as they soak up the sauce, giving them a squishy, dumpling-like texture (and plenty of flavors).
Spicy Chicken and Bacon MacThis hearty mac and cheese recipe is a cozy dinner on a cool night. Adding cubed chicken and bacon to the creamy noodles transforms the bowl from a kid's menu go-to to a grown-up treat. If you like to have green on the table, serve with a side salad or steamed broccoli.
Comforting Chicken Noodle SoupA great recipe to make for new parents (or anyone who needs a meal train), this chicken noodle soup is a classic. Though it's flavorful and creamy, it only calls for six ingredients plus water.
Garlicky Chicken PizzaHomemade pizza is surprisingly simple to make, especially if you use store-bought pie dough. Once you start topping your own pies—controlling the amount of sauce, cheese and toppings—you might never go back to delivery. Adding sliced or chopped leftover chicken is a nice protein that matches literally everything.
Chicken Tortilla BakeAs delicious as individual burritos taste, they're time-consuming to wrap one by one. This casserole makes it quick and easy to serve a crowd. Layer tortillas with green chiles, cheese, chicken and creamy sauce, bake and watch your eaters clean the pan.
BBQ Chicken and Apple Bread PuddingThis recipe pulls out all the creative stops! Savory toppings turn bread pudding into a totally acceptable dinner recipe. Swapping corn muffin mix for plain bread adds tons of flavor. Chicken and BBQ sauce are a hearty filling, while cut-up apples add sweetness and crunch.
Cherry Chicken CroissantsInstantly elevate chicken salad sandwiches by serving them on croissants. What a treat! Like every good chicken salad recipe, this one combines a variety of flavors and textures: sweet fruits, crunchy nuts and vegetables, and savory bursts of bacon. Of course, you can swap in your favorite toppings, and serve over lettuce for an easy gluten-free option.
Zippy Chicken EnchiladasMexican cuisine is one of our favorites, and we especially love quick recipes for weeknight dinners. This one-dish meal includes refried beans as well as cheese and chicken. Add a bit of texture with chopped olives and green onions, or use chopped cilantro, tomatoes or spoonfuls of salsa.
Chicken Zucchini CasseroleHave a bumper crop of zucchini? Chop it up and turn it into a juicy, flavorful filling for this summery casserole. The recipe is so flexible: add other chopped veggies, cooked or raw, or your favorite cheese.
Chicken Noodle CasseroleCozy chicken noodle soup meets cozy chicken casserole in this ultimate comforting dish. It's creamy with cheesy sauce, crispy with chopped veggies and filling with leftover chicken.
Chicken BurritosCooking for a hungry crowd? Bookmark this hearty dinner recipe. Cheesy, spicy burritos are filled with both beans and chili, making them ideal for growing teens.
Chicken & Cheese Noodle BakeRead the recipe closely: this one makes two entire casseroles! Eat one for dinner tonight and freeze the other, or bring both to a potluck.
Spicy Chicken Tomato SoupWant the equation for the easiest dinner ever? Combine leftover chicken with a good slow-cooker soup recipe. This flavorful, spicy soup calls for frozen and canned vegetables.
Chicken Enchiladas with Cream of Chicken SoupYou'll need a fork and a big plate to eat these cheesy, gooey enchiladas. Serve them with a good store-bought salsa on the side.
Chicken and Swiss Stuffing BakeIf you're only eating stuffing on Thanksgiving, you're missing out! The savory, crumbling bread dish makes a hearty casserole filling. Here, broccoli, chicken, cream of mushroom soup and Swiss cheese layer into a flavorful one-bowl dinner.
Cobb Salad Wrap SandwichesWant the easiest sandwich ever? Simply slice leftover chicken into a yummy wrap. Cobb salad fixings—blue cheese dressing, avocado and bacon—are a natural pairing for chicken.
Chicken Potpie Galette with Cheddar-Thyme CrustAlthough it relies on leftover chicken for filling, this galette is a delicious meal special enough for an occasion. The from-scratch crust gets an extra savory kick from cheddar cheese, and the filling is rich with mushrooms, chard and chicken.
Chicken and Chiles CasseroleCasseroles are the easiest one-dish meals. This creamy, cozy, slightly spicy dinner is filling and flavorful, and you can even make it ahead.
Chicken & Cheddar Biscuit CasseroleLots of great recipes start with a box of Bisquick mix. This delightful casserole combines the flavors of a good roast chicken dinner—peppers, sauce and buttery biscuits—but makes it all in one pan.
Chicken & Blue Cheese PizzaThis pizza breaks the convention that tomato sauce and mozzarella are requirements. Using olive oil as a base lets the flavors of the toppings shine, while blue cheese packs in savory flavor.
Originally Published: August 10, 2022
