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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Thanks for sharing this recipe! I made this today and my wife really enjoyed it. The carrots on the bottom is a wonderful idea and one of the best ways to keep the chicken out of the juices, which had been unpleasant and unintended effect of cooking in a slow cooker. The edible ”rack” recipe is a keeper.
I added some pitted green olives, whole garlic and preserved lemon to the veg, and added cumin and cinnamon to the spices on top. Bingo – Moroccan-style chicken. This is a lovely, easy, tasty recipe. 4hrs on High was plenty in my slow cooker.
Breast side up or down?
Up.
why is sodium level so high?
The chicken has some sodium, the butter and the added salt.
Made this yesterday with one of our own free range chickens. I added potatoes as I’m a fan of the one dish meal.
It was very tasty.
Thanks for sharing such a tasty simple recipe.
Definitely a keeper
Hi Just tried this for the first time, And Wow hooked what a really tasty and juicy chicken with a
beautiful taste, You only need to follow the recipe, I will never roast or buy a cooked Chicken
again this recipe is 1st class, Many Thanx.
Hi there, I haven’t tried this yet but like the sound of it and will be making it soon.
My only concern is that slow cooker timings are surely relative to the wattage of the cooker.
Can you tell me the wattage of the cooker you based this recipe on so I can either match it or adjust it accordingly.
Thank you
Hi searched online and there is no wattage information. I used a 6-quart Crockpot brand if you want to research.
Thank you for this recipe!! I made this yesterday and I am very happy with the results! I didn’t have thyme so I used rosemary AND oregano. I checked the temp at 7 hours and it was done! The color looked good as it was, but I transferred it to a shallow pan and put it under the broiler anyway for about 4 minutes. Loved it! I am already planning on making it again next week when we have friends over for a potluck game night.
I’m so happy someone posted a time as to how long it was broiled for! May I ask what temp you set ur oven too ☺️?
Your oven should have a broil setting, it’s usually 500 degrees and the top heating element should come on. Broiling on takes a few minutes and you shouldn’t walk away. The slow cooker insert is not meant to be used in that high of heat, so I suggest using a sheet pan.
would you please say which setting your slow cooker is set at please.
On low, it’s in the recipe card.
I’m going to try this recipe in a couple of days.. Sounds good, Hope it turns out as good as it sounds…
Couple questions: can you is olive oil instead of butter? Can you add potatoes? Can you cook quicker on the high setting?
Yes, you can use olive oil. Adding potatoes will add to the time. You can cook on high but most likely will need 5 hours.
I’m cooking one right now.
I have used this recipe several times and have never been disappointed. Chicken is so versatile, and as s single, disabled person I can stretch a chicken out for several recipes so I don’t have to cook so much during bad days.
Great to hear Molly!
I made a trivet with celery sticks and quartered onions . Basted the bird with olive oil and rubbed it all over with a spicy dry bbq rub & put half a lemon in the cavity. I Cut the thighs and legs off and froze them for a later date as it wouldn’t fit in pot whole.This also shortens the cooking time to approx. 2hrs. I will definitely cook a chicken using this method again as there is no washing of a roasting tray and no oven cleaning involved ..Happy Days
Nothing like getting a chicken with fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy meat. Mine was a tad bland, even though I added no liquid other than butter and lemon juice, but I’m fine with adding a little spices after the fact.