Slow Cooker Engagement Chicken with Gravy
17 Comments Jun 30, 2017
Updated May 23, 2025
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This Slow Cooker Engagement Chicken takes a whole chicken to the next level—and makes enough savory broth for a rich, homemade gravy.
If you’re looking for a showstopper recipe that’s both simple and impressive, this Engagement Chicken is it. Juicy, fall-apart tender, and full of rich buttery flavor with garlic, lemon, wine, and herbs—this is the kind of meal that gets remembered. It’s in the same league as Marry Me Chicken and Land Your Man Baked Beans—recipes that have earned their names by being just that good.
The Ingredients
This recipe has all fresh ingredients! Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
You’ll start with a whole chicken and layer it over a bunch of sliced sweet onions. Then you’ll add a couple of garlic bulbs (just cut them in half), squeeze a lemon over the top, and pour on some melted butter. A few basic seasonings—salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme—bring it all together. A splash of white wine (like chardonnay) goes in for that extra depth of flavor. After it’s cooked, you’ll use the juices to make an easy, rich gravy with just a little flour.
How to Make Engagement Chicken in the Slow Cooker
This recipe may seem more complicated than other slow cooker recipes, but it’s quite easy! With my guide, you will have a fantastic chicken dinner.
Step One – Get your chicken prepped by removing anything inside and patting it dry. Toss the sliced onions into the bottom of your slow cooker and lay the chicken right on top.
Step Two – Tuck in the halved garlic bulbs around the chicken. Squeeze the lemon over everything, drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle on your seasonings.
Step Three – Pour the wine down the side (not over the chicken so the seasoning stays put), then cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, depending on the size of your bird.
Step Four – Take the chicken and onions out and set them aside. Scoop off about ¼ cup of the fat from the juices and grab 2 cups of the broth. Whisk those with flour on the stove to make a smooth, tasty gravy. (see the recipe card for the full guide).
Cook’s Tips
Use a small chicken (around 5 lbs.) to ensure even cooking in the slow cooker.
Chardonnay works great, but any dry white wine will do—just don’t skip it.
For crispier skin, broil the chicken for a few minutes after slow cooking (do this on a sheet pan, not in the slow cooker insert).
If you don’t have wine, use extra broth with a splash of apple cider vinegar for brightness.
Featured Comment
“Made this tonight for company. It was delicious.”
– Thea
Slow Cooker Engagement Chicken
How to Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 sweet onions, (large); sliced
- 1 whole chicken, small, about 5 pounds
- 2 garlic bulbs, cut in half
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup butter, (1 stick); melted
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 cup dry white wine, I used chardonnay
For the gravy
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup chicken renderings, separated fat; from under chicken after it's cooked
- 2 cups broth, from under chicken after it’s cooked
Instructions
- Remove any extra parts from the inside of the chicken and discard.
- Add the onions to the slow cooker and lay chicken over them.
- Add the garlic head halves around the chicken wherever they fit.
- Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juices over the chicken.
- Pour over the melted butter, then sprinkle over the salt, pepper, thyme and paprika.
- Pour the wine down the side of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, or 7 if your chicken is larger.
- When the cooking time is done, remove the chicken to a serving platter.
- Using a slotted spoon, strain out the onions and put them next to the chicken.
- Let the liquid from the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes; allowing the broth and renderings to separate.
- The grease will rise to the top, the broth will be at the bottom.
- Carefully spoon out all of the grease, reserving ¼ cup for the gravy.
- Measure out 2 cups of the broth from the slow cooker.
Gravy
- On the stove, heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once hot add the ¼ cup of grease and whisk in the flour; continue whisking the roux for 1 minute.
- Pour in the 2 cups of broth, whisking constantly until a smooth gravy forms, about 5 minutes for the gravy to thicken.
- Carve the chicken and serve with the onions and gravy.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More whole chicken recipes
Try the Slow Cooker Whole Chicken for an easy and flavorful main dish. For a cozy fall variation, make Whole Chicken and Butternut Squash together in the crockpot. Or try be Whole Beer Chicken for a game day feast.
If you’re craving comfort food, Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Stuffing is a hearty choice. Or bring a little Italian flair to your table with Slow Cooker Whole Tuscan Chicken.
Thank you for the recipe! I’m new to slow cooking. I usually cook for just me and my husband. 5 lbs chicken is too much for us. What would the cooking time be for a 3 pound chicken so it’s cooked but not falling apart?
It’s hard to say; most likely 5 hours.
So good!!!
I made glamour engagement chicken for my boyfriend years ago and he asked me to marry him. Close to the original and very easy. I love it!