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, tender meat – The slow, gentle cooking results in very juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender chicken
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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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Pat chicken dry – Remove excess moisture from the skin and rub with oil so 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
There are endless possibilities when it comes to seasoning and flavoring your crockpot chicken. 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. Dice up the carrots, parsnip, and onion into large pieces and layer them at the bottom of the crock pot.
- Prep the chicken. First, ensure the giblets have been removed from the cavity of the whole chicken.
- Sprinkle the herbs and spices onto the chicken. Feel free to add more or less depending on your preference.
- Slow cook the chicken. Place the chicken into the crock pot and cook the chicken on low for 7-8 hours (cook time will depend on the size of your chicken).
- Remove the chicken carefully, transfer to a large plate along with the veggies like sauteed spinach, steamed broccoli, roasted sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, 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. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 4–4 ½ hours or until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked – the meat should be almost falling 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. Adding some liquid to the slow cooker is an essential step, and ensures that the chicken is 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 allows the meat to cook slowly, breaking down the fibers and collagen, which results in a more flavorful dish. This method usually takes about 6 to 8 hours.