Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
105 Comments Aug 31, 2021
Updated Feb 11, 2025
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Skip the store-bought rotisserie chicken and make this easy, homemade Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with wholesome, fresh ingredients.
We rarely buy precooked chicken at the store anymore and instead make this classic whole chicken recipe or whole chicken and stuffing.
Table of Contents
A whole chicken is one of the most budget-friendly options at the store! I like to grab one on sale and stash it in the freezer, then thaw it later for an easy, homestyle crockpot chicken dinner. It’s a simple way to get tender, flavorful meat and a built-in side of savory veggies with minimal effort!
What you need:
- 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. We make our Alabama Chicken Sandwiches with a whole chicken as well!
- Veggies – I use onion and carrots as a base to set my chicken on. This keeps the chicken out of enough juice so it doesn’t get utterly 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?!
- {The Full Recipe is in the recipe card below the images}
How to make a whole chicken in a crock pot:
- 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.
- 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.
FAQs
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.
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.
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:
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Stuffing – Must try if you like stove-top stuffing.
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Butternut Squash – A very autumn recipe.
- Slow Cooker Engagement Chicken with Gravy – this recipe has an amazing homemade gravy!
- Slow Cooker Whole Beer Chicken – Has a unique and earthy flavor.
- Slow Cooker Cornish Game Hens and Baked Potatoes – 3 Cornish game hens and 3 baked potatoes in one pot!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 5 lb. small whole chicken, (look for a chicken that is on the smaller size around 4-5 lbs.)
- ½ cup butter
- 1 lemon, (optional)
- 4 carrots, peeled and halved
- 1 red onion, peeled and quartered
- ½ tsp. dried thyme, (rosemary or oregano can be substituted)
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ 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
Sarah’s Notes
- 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
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Delicious!!! Better and moister than any chicken I’ve made or bought! Have you ever made this in the oven?
I have, though I use an oven bag! Works great. Follow the directions on the bag.
Seemed like a waste to throw away the juice, I’m trying to find a recipe…
Lovely and very soft chicken.
Mine was not good. No flavor (
My crockpot is very old and runs hot so it was done after 6.5 hours on low. It was so easy and delicious, and the breast meat was nice and moist. This is a new favorite for me!
I love this recipe I work so its ready when I get home! I have always roasted a chicken in the oven, this is yummy. I added carrots- onions and potatoes- we love garlic so I added minced garlic- on zero degree day long work hours smells so good coming into the house- I cooked all day! Thank you
Can you use this recipe to cook half a chicken? I have some split chickens. I’m wondering if 1/2 a chicken will produce enough juices so the vegetables underneath do not burn.
Yes, there will be plenty of liquid (with the butter too). Skin-on chicken has plenty of liquid.
Great recipe! What do you do with the liquid after the chicken is done? Seems like a waste to toss it, though it is more greasy than my usual preference!
You can make gravy with it, or degrease it and use as chicken stock in another recipe.
4 out of 5 stars B/C just needs to have seasonings upped. BUT that is an easy tweak.
BUT to answer that question on what to do with all that broth : when cool enough to handle , pour all that broth into a bowl through a fine wire type strainer chill overnight. Then shim off fat on the very top layer. DO NOT toss out that jelly like stuff just below the top. That is the protein packed base for a good stock !!!! It turns back into broth when heated. Use it for any recipe calling for chicken broth or stock. Personally I go one step further. I save all those bones in a freezer bag for another day. Then when making a true stock, I add them to a crock pot with broth and let cook on low for at least 4 more hours. Seems like a lot of work…BUT not really. .Just strain and save broth. Then freeze the bones. Food is WAY too pricey to toss out. PLUS the only way to get that rich stock is to make it. WAY cheaper and MUCH more nutritious than anything you can buy. Search chicken stock recipes
E best and so good and easy! 3-4 meals for the 2 of us. Hot dinner, salad, sandwich, soup. And an aroma in the house that is mouthwatering.
Hi there from Dublin, Ireland!@!
Can you add potatoes along with the vegetables and chicken?
Many thanks
Slainte
Barry
Yes, potaotes will work great.
I make this chicken at the beginning of every week and use the shredded meat throughout the week for other meals! I am a full time, married student so this is a no-fuss but delicious recipe. I add some balsamic as well, but either way, the chicken and veggies are delicious and versatile throughout week.