If you’ve ever meal prepped chicken breasts or found yourself with leftover roast chicken, you’ve probably wondered how long cooked chicken is good for. Here, we break down how long cooked chicken lasts in the fridge and share tips for using it up.
How Long Is Cooked Chicken Good For In the Fridge?
According to the recommendations of the UK's Food Standards Agency, if keeping your cooked chicken in the fridge, your fridge should be between 0 and 5°C and leftovers should be eaten within two days.
How to Store Cooked Chicken In the Fridge
Once the chicken is cooked and cooled, refrigerate it within 2 hours of sitting at room temperature. Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator (at 5 degrees C or less). Be sure to label the container with the date and contents.
How Do I know When Cooked Chicken Has Gone Bad?
Cooked chicken should be firm and dry to the touch. You’ll know it’s gone bad if it has a slimy texture or is soft to the touch. According to Healthline, "a telltale sign of bad chicken is a foul smell." When in doubt, throw it out!
How to Use Up Cooked Chicken
Leftover cooked chicken is always handy to have for quick-fix lunches like such as this elegant Chicken Salad Veronique. If you're craving some carbs, why not add some bread to make a Chicken Salad Sandwich? For some mid-day mediterranean-inspired fuel, serve up your chopped leftovers with lightly-grilled pitta in this delicious Greek dish.
You can also use up cooked chicken in any recipe that calls for shredded rotisserie chicken, especially comforting classics like this Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, Chicken Enchiladas, Mini Chicken and Broccoli Pot Pies, or Buffalo Chicken Tacos.
Speaking of comfort food, cooked chicken works wonders in cozy meals, including fan-favourites such as Chicken and Rice Casserole, Chicken with Mushroom and Tomato and this hearty Chicken Stew.
Other clever ways to use up leftover chicken include the mid-week specials, Chicken and Chorizo Spanish Enchiladas and these tasty Chicken Fajitas.
Looking for some more inspiration on what to do with your leftover chicken? Fear not, we have an entire collection for exactly that.
