Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Stuffing
72 CommentsUpdated Jun 24, 2026
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Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Stuffing is a one-pot meal, the veggie and chicken cook all day then the stuffing mix is added to the rich and flavorful broth.
Growing up, my mom always added extra veggies to her Stove-Top stuffing, and I’ve carried that trick into this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Stuffing recipe. It all starts with a whole chicken cooked low and slow over a mix of carrots, celery, and onion—just like she used to make—soaking up all that buttery, herby flavor. At the end, I stir the boxed stuffing right into the drippings and tender veggies to soak up every bit of that goodness. It’s an easy, comforting dinner that feels like home.
If you haven’t tried an entire chicken in the slow cooker you must! You can make this recipe or my slow cooker engagement chicken for a great homemade meal!
How to make Whole Chicken and Stuffing in the slow cooker:
Here is my guide on how to make this comforting chicken meal:
Step One – Clean out the chicken and place it on top of diced carrots, celery, and onion in the slow cooker. Pour over melted butter and sprinkle with thyme, sage, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step Two – Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Step Three – Remove the chicken and most of the liquid, leaving 1.5 cups behind with the veggies. Stir in the Stove-Top stuffing mix, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff and serve with sliced chicken.
Tips and Serving Suggestions
Use a savory herb or cornbread stuffing mix, depending on what your favorite is.
Be sure to only leave 1.5 cups of liquid in the slow cooker before adding the stuffing so it doesn’t turn out soggy.
If you like a golden top on your stuffing, transfer it to a baking dish and broil for a few minutes before serving.
For other side dishes, we like gravy (we make up a gravy packet) and mashed potatoes.
Featured Comment
“I have made this a couple times and it is excellent, so thank you.”
– Alisa
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Stuffing
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 5 lbs. whole chicken
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried sage, Use oregano if you don't have sage
- 1/2 tsp. paprika, (this makes the chicken look less pale since it doesn't get crispy in slow cooker)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 6 oz. box stove top stuffing, I use savory herb style but you can use any kind of stove-top such as chicken, turkey or cornbread style.
Instructions
- Clean out the inside of the chicken by removing any extra parts or packaging and discard.
- Add the carrots, onion and celery to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chicken.
- Pour over the melted butter and sprinkle over the thyme, sage, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
- Remove chicken to a platter and cover with foil. Now you'll want to remove some of the liquid from the slow cooker, leave only 1.5 cups of liquid along with the veggies. (you can use the extra liquid for gravy or another recipe). Add the box of stove-top stuffing to the veggies and 1.5 cups of liquid in the slow cooker. Replace the lid. Let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork when the time is up.
- I add the chicken back to the slow cooker with the stuffing for a pretty presentation. If I was just serving this to my family, I would slice and serve the chicken on the platter and serve the stuffing from the slow cooker.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Make dinnertime easy with Slow Cooker Whole Chicken or keep it simple with flavorful Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken for wraps, bowls, or salads.
Craving something spicy? Try Mississippi Chicken or spicy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken—both pack a punch with minimal effort.
For cozy, all-in-one comfort meals, Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole and Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo hit the spot with rich flavors and hearty ingredients.
What can I use besides the butter?
Chicken broth would work well
Can you use Pepperidge farm stuffing instead? I’m assuming it would be fine.
Iโd follow the liquid I instructions on the packaging. I think it will be fine!
Did you get the gravy from drippings?
Yes, I used the excess to flavor my gravy.
Can this be made in an instant pot?
You are still the slow-cook genius! This couldn’t be easier or more delicious. My husband commented on how moist and delicious the chicken was, and the coloring imparted by the paprika is a total trompe-l’oeil! My husband said,”wait a minute,didn’t you make this with the slow-cooker? How can it be so brown?” I am trying your ham with pineapple and cherry for Easter. I am making harissa roasted carrots and asparagus with that.
Delicious!! Just made for dinner- big win!
Could you use regular dry bread or cornbread?
Was wondering the same thing… hoping to use dry homemade bread so its a little healthier than stove top.
You would have so add more seasoning and figure out the liquid ratio for the amount of bread you use. Possibly use a homemade stuffing recipe and adapt.
Chicken was moist, very delicious! But the stuffing…omg you were right! Amazing! I can’t stop eating it! I will never make Stove Top without the vegetables again!
Ho do you get the chicken to brown?
It’s not browned, I promise. The paprika makes it look that way.
In the video it appears more than 1/2 tsp of paprika was used, is that correct? Actually it appears all the herbs too had more added than the recipe calls for.
It was a half teaspoon, though it really doesn’t need to be exact for those seasonings. Just don’t over salt.
Recipe looks yummy with one concern. Juice from the chicken is usually very fatty. How do you deal with that? Appreciate comments on this question. Thank you
That’s why it tastes so good! You could do part of the juices and the rest water. Or try spooning off the fat from the juices.
Just used chicken broth instead
You could probably use chicken stock in place of the juices.