This slow cooker whole chicken is juicy on the inside with delicious, herbed skin on the outside. Prep it in just 15 minutes in the morning and come home to a finished chicken dinner with very little effort!.
Rotisserie chicken is a great idea for busy weeknights. It’s delicious and feeds a whole family. But instead of making a trip to Costco or the market, you can make a whole chicken right at home with today’s easy slow cooker recipe.
It’s like my roast chicken recipe, but because it’s in a slow cooker, you can just leave it alone and forget about it. Just add some chopped vegetables below the chicken and sprinkle herbs and seasoning on top for an irresistible flavor.
Oh, and the best part is the versatility of this chicken. You can eat it as is, or shred it into small pieces as part of your meal prep. You can add it to a salad or soup, the choices are endless! Let’s start making food!
Cooking a whole chicken in a crockpot is an easy and delicious way to prepare a meal for your family. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you can have a tasty homemade dinner ready with almost no effort. In this article, we’ll walk through the benefits of making crockpot whole chicken, tips for success, and share some flavorful recipe ideas.
Why Cook Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker?
There are several excellent reasons to use your crockpot to prepare whole chicken
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It’s simple – All you need is a few basic ingredients like chicken, onions, and seasonings Dump them in, set the cooker, go about your day, and dinner is ready when you get home
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Moist and tender meat—The slow, gentle cooking makes the chicken very juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender.
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Infuses flavor – Spices, herbs, and aromatic veggies have hours to permeate the meat.
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Makes its own broth – No need to add extra liquid. The chicken releases its natural juices and creates a tasty broth.
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Hands-off cooking – Once you prep and start the cooker, there’s no stovetop watching or oven monitoring needed.
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Uses the whole bird – More economical than buying pieces. Use leftovers in other recipes.
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Healthier than rotisserie chicken – Control exactly what goes in your meal instead of relying on store-bought versions with additives.
Tips for Crockpot Whole Chicken Success
Follow these tips and tricks to ensure your crockpot chicken turns out perfectly moist and full of flavor:
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Use fresh or thawed chicken – Do not cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker. Thaw in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.
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Remove any extra water from the chicken’s skin and rub it with oil to make the seasonings stick.
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Generously season – Flavor both the cavity and outer skin. Try herbs, spices, lemon, garlic, etc.
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Elevate the chicken – Place veggies or foil balls in cooker so chicken doesn’t sit and boil in juices.
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Resist peeking – Don’t lift the lid unnecessarily and lose heat/moisture.
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Cook on high 4-5 hours – Helps chicken safely reach ideal internal temp faster.
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Let chicken rest before cutting – Allows juices to redistribute so meat stays moist.
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Save bones for stock – Toss back in cooker overnight to utilize leftovers.
Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipes
Seasoning and flavoring your crockpot chicken in a lot of different ways is possible. Here are some delicious recipe ideas to try:
Rosemary Lemon Chicken
- Ingredients: Whole chicken, lemon, onion, rosemary, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Directions: Coat chicken with olive oil and seasonings. Stuff cavity with lemon and rosemary. Cook 4-5 hours high.
Italian Herb Chicken
- Ingredients: Whole chicken, onion, garlic, basil, oregano, parsley, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Directions: Create an Italian herb rub. Coat chicken and stuff cavity. Cook 4-5 hours high.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Ingredients: Whole chicken, onion, thyme, allspice, brown sugar, garlic, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
- Directions: Make a wet jerk marinade. Marinate chicken 1-2 days. Cook 4-5 hours high.
Cajun Chicken
- Ingredients: Whole chicken, onion, bell pepper, garlic, paprika, cayenne, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, oil
- Directions: Make a Cajun spice blend. Coat chicken and fill cavity. Cook 4-5 hours high.
Mediterranean Chicken
- Ingredients: Whole chicken, lemon, garlic, onion, oregano, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Directions: Rub chicken with a Mediterranean inspired blend. Cook 4-5 hours high.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for cooking whole chicken in a crockpot:
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Prep your chicken by removing giblets, patting dry, and rubbing with oil.
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Create a flavorful seasoning blend and generously coat the chicken, including the cavity. Stuff herbs or aromatics inside if desired.
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Place some type of base in the slow cooker pot – onion, vegetables, foil balls – to lift the chicken up.
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Put your seasoned chicken in the slow cooker breast-side down directly on top of the base.
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Cook on high for approximately 4-5 hours, until chicken is very tender and reaches 165°F.
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Carefully remove chicken and let rest 10 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
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Pick remaining meat off carcass and save bones/scraps to make overnight chicken stock.
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Use leftover chicken for meals throughout the week like sandwiches, salads, tacos, soups, etc.
With minimal effort you can have a week’s worth of delicious, homemade meals from one crockpot whole chicken. This simple preparation technique results in super tender, flavorful meat the entire family will love. Try out some different spice blends and you may never go back to basic roasted chicken again!
How To Cook A Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
With a few simple steps and some prep work, this recipe will be done in no time. Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Prep the veggies. Slice the onion, carrot, and parsnip into big chunks and put them in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Prep the chicken. For starters, make sure that the giblets are out of the chicken’s body.
- Sprinkle the herbs and spices onto the chicken. You are welcome to add more or less, as you like.
- Slow cook the chicken. Put the chicken in the crock pot and cook it on low for 7 to 8 hours, depending on how big your chicken is.
- Carefully take the chicken out of the pan and put it on a large plate with the vegetables, such as broccoli, roast sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach, and more!
More Recipes To Make With Leftover Chicken
If you’ve got some leftover rotisserie chicken, tear it apart and save it for these delicious chicken recipes.
Cooking a whole chicken in the Crockpot | Slow Cooker Recipes
FAQ
How do you cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker?
Brush the oil over the chicken. Place the lid on top of the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 to 4 and a half hours, or until the chicken is soft and fully cooked. The meat should almost fall off the bones. Remove the lid and pierce the thickest part of the bird with a skewer and make sure the juices run clear.
Do you need to put liquid in the slow cooker when cooking chicken?
Chicken stock, low-sodium chicken broth, or water: I prefer chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth if I have it on hand because it adds a little more flavor, but water works equally well. It is important to add some liquid to the slow cooker so that the chicken stays tender and juicy.
Can you put raw chicken straight into a slow cooker?
Can you put raw chicken in slow cooker? The answer is yes. Chicken is one of the meats that can go in a slow cooker without any problems.
Is it better to cook chicken on low or high in a crockpot?
Low Setting: Cooking on low (typically around 200°F or 93°C) is recommended for more tender, juicy chicken. It lets the meat cook slowly, which breaks down the collagen and fibers, making the dish taste better. This method usually takes about 6 to 8 hours.