Forget buying a rotisserie chicken at the store and make this simple and chemical-free Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
We rarely buy precooked chicken at the store anymore and instead make this classic whole chicken recipe or whole chicken and stuffing.
How to make a whole chicken in a crock pot:
- Whole chicken – Be sure to pick a smaller sized bird. One that will fit in your slow cooker along with veggies. I try to find one in the 4-5 pound range.
- Veggies – I use onion and carrots as a base to set my chicken on, this keeps the chicken out of enough of the juices so it doesn’t get completely soggy while cooking (or turn into a soup!)
- Butter – Just like a turkey at thanksgiving chicken is great basted with butter.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Lemon Juice – I add this for a little tang and who doesn’t love lemon on chicken?!
- Add your veggies on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the whole chicken on top.
- Drizzle over melted butter and lemon juice.
- Sprinkle over the seasonings.
Should I add water?
- There is no need to add water to a whole chicken recipe in the slow cooker.
- Adding butter or lemon juice is better for infusing flavor. Unless you want poached chicken, do not add water. Adding water can make your whole chicken taste bland.
How long do I cook?
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Cooking time varies for a whole chicken can vary in size.
- You will know the chicken is cooked through when the drumsticks start separating from the breasts and the juices run clear.
Does the slow cooker brown or crisp the chicken?
- No, the slow cooker can not brown food for there is no browning element.
- I use paprika to give a browned look for my whole chicken recipes.
- You can put your slow cooked chicken under a broiler in an oven if you want crispy skin. Be sure your slow cooker is rated for such high temperature first, or place the chicken on a sheet pan.
What instead can I put with under a whole chicken to hold it out of the juices?
The reason we place something like carrots and onion under the chicken is to keep it out of the cooking liquid so it doesn’t turn into a soup. Try one of these methods if you prefer something other than carrots and onion.
- Foil balls – You can take sheets of foil and ball them up. About 5 works well.
- Small metal rack (such as the rack included in an instant pot)
- Potatoes – Quartered potatoes also work well.
How do I make gravy from the drippings?
You can make a wonderful gravy from the drippings from this whole chicken. Try one of these options:
- Gravy made with flour – Recipe from The Spruce Eats
- Gravy made with cornstarch – Recipe from Loaves and Dishes
- Or use the drippings instead of water with a chicken gravy packet.
More whole chicken recipes for your slow cooker:
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Stuffing
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Rice – Recipe by Julie’s Eats and Treats
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Butternut Squash
- Slow Cooker Engagement Chicken with Gravy
- Slow Cooker Whole Beer Chicken
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken and Squash – Recipe by Real Housemoms
- Slow Cooker Cornish Game Hens and Baked Potatoes
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Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Easy recipe how to a cook a great whole chicken in the slow cooker along with a few veggies!
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Servings: 6
Calories: 979kcal
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 5 lb. small whole chicken (look for a chicken that is on the smaller size around 4-5 lbs.)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 lemon (optional)
- 4 carrots peeled and halved
- 1 red onion peeled and quartered
- 1/2 tsp. dried thyme (rosemary or oregano can be substituted)
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions:
- Add the carrots and onion to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Remove the chicken from its packaging. Remove any extra parts or packaging from the inside of the chicken. Drain off any liquid from the inside of the chicken.
- Add the chicken on top of the vegetables.
- Pour over the melted butter over the chicken.
- Cut the lemon in half and squeeze over the chicken.
- Sprinkle over the seasonings evenly.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. This can vary for each chicken you cook, for they can vary in size. You know the chicken is done cooking when the drumsticks start pulling away from the breasts and the juices run clear. If you are concerned if your chicken is done, use a thermometer. 165° Fahrenheit is the safe temperature for chicken.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
Should I add water?
- There is no need to add water to a whole chicken recipe in the slow cooker.
- Adding butter or lemon juice is better for infusing flavor. Unless you want poached chicken, do not add water. Adding water can make your whole chicken taste bland.
- Foil balls – You can take sheets of foil and ball them up. About 5 works well.
- Small metal rack (such as the rack included in an instant pot)
- Potatoes – Quartered potatoes also work well.
- No, the slow cooker can not brown food for there is no browning element.
- I use paprika to give a browned look for my whole chicken recipes.
- You can put your slow cooked chicken under a broiler in an oven if you want crispy skin. Be sure your slow cooker is rated for such high temperature first, or place the chicken on a sheet pan.
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 979kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 71g | Fat: 72g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 324mg | Sodium: 803mg | Potassium: 908mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7886IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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I made this with a few different things, I lined the slow cooker with baby carrots with the onions and instead of 8 hrs I cooked it 4 hours and it was absolutely delicious.
Thanks
I made this today and was quite please with it. I removed the SKIN from the bird, followed the recipe but also adding fresh thyme and rosemary from my garden. Do NOT omit the fresh lemon OR the butter. I tucked some of the red potatoes into the cavity and all worked out very well.
Can the chicken be cooked from frozen? I’m gone all day and don’t want to overcook it.
Some studies suggest cooking frozen meats in the slow cooker isn’t safe. I think a chicken would be in the danger zone too long.
Chicken was way too dry after 7 hr on low. Maybe stop and check the temp after 4-5 hrs.
Thanks for the tips
I made a whole turkey breast in the slow cooker this way without any water and it was the best turkey I’ve ever eaten. Like you, I just seasoned it and added butter and lemon juice. I was a little frightened at the time ’cause I was afraid the heat was going to break my crockpot, without the liquid , but it didn’t. That was years ago but I never tried it again because I was so stressed due to my worries at the time. I’ve wanted to try it again though since it was so moist, tender and delicious.
Chicken was so dry. Won’t be doing this way again.
7 hours was way to long. Set it and left a timer. White meat was dry and dark meat disintegrated
You’ll need to adjust the time next time.
Made this with carrots, onions and sweet potatoes and 3 pickled chillies. Used fresh thyme instead of dry and chilly flakes with the garlic powder over the top.
Also, instead of melting all the butter I put half of it inside the chicken along with the lemon skins after juicing them.
Also removed some of the juices, without the butter and reduced it to make a jus instead of gravy. I started it a bit late in the day so put it on high for 2 hours then low for 4.
The most delicious, succulent and flavourful chicken meal I have ever had. I did have a moment of terror when, while lifting the chicken out with the tongs, I thought all the flesh would fall off the bones before I got it onto the cutting board. A very nice problem to have, I must say.