Can you reheat chicken pie in an air fryer?
Yes, an air fryer is one of the best ways to reheat chicken pie, because it re-crisps the pastry while the filling warms through. Reheat a slice or individual pie at 160C (320F) for 8 to 12 minutes, and check the centre of the filling reaches 74C (165F) before serving.
By the chickenpie.net test kitchen · Published 14 July 2026
The method
Moderate heat is the trick. Run the air fryer too hot and the pastry browns long before the centre is safe to eat.
- Preheat the air fryer to 160C (320F)
- Place the slice or pie in the basket, in a foil tray or on a liner if the pie is saucy
- Heat for 8 to 12 minutes depending on thickness
- If the top browns too fast, lay a small piece of foil loosely over it
- Check the centre is piping hot, at 74C (165F), before eating
Timings by portion
Air fryers vary, so treat these as starting points and always verify the centre temperature rather than trusting the clock. Smaller baskets run hotter and harder, so start checking a couple of minutes early the first time you try it. Air fryer settings for shop-bought single-serve pies were tested in this air fryer chicken pie time and temperature trial, which is worth reading before a pie meets a new machine.
| Portion | Temperature | Time from chilled |
|---|---|---|
| Single slice | 160C (320F) | 8 to 10 minutes |
| Individual pot pie | 160C (320F) | 10 to 14 minutes |
| Hand pie or turnover | 160C (320F) | 6 to 8 minutes |
| Half a family pie | 150C (300F) | 15 to 20 minutes |
Why it works so well
An air fryer is a small, aggressive convection oven, so it drives moisture off the pastry surface quickly. That reverses the sogginess a night in the fridge causes, and puff pastry in particular comes back with real crunch.
The usual rules still apply. Reheat once only, straight from the fridge rather than after a spell on the counter, and eat the pie as soon as it is hot. A portion that has been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be discarded, not rescued in the air fryer.
Frozen portions are better thawed in the fridge overnight first, since air fryers struggle to heat a frozen centre to 74C (165F) before the outside overbrowns.