Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
106 Comments Aug 31, 2021
Updated Apr 13, 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.
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
How to Video
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.
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.
I saw questions about browning the meat first. Consider browning then slow-cooking in the Cuisinart Multicooker. Very easy transition from braise to slow cook (literally the push of a button). Less mess. Wonderful chicken. P.S., I don’t work for them. I just love my Multicooker.
This could answer some of the questions I’m seeing about cooking times and settings for this recipe. I did the 2 hours on high then 4 hours on low method in my 6 qt Instant Pot. (from pillsbury.com) Results were good!
Cooking Conversions for Slow Cookers
Traditional Oven or Stovetop Low Low Slow Cooker Setting (about 200°F) High Slow Cooker Setting (about 300°F)
15-30 minutes 4-6 hours 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours
35-45 minutes 6-8 hours 3-4 hours
50 minutes- 3 hours 8-10 hours 4-6 hours
I cooked this today in the slow cooker for 4 hours and it was perfect.
Chicken was juicy and tender.
I agree that 8 hours would have been too long.
Did you do 4 hours on high or low?
Cooked one of our free range birds with this recipe. Added potatoes to the carrots. It was very tasty.
Thank you for a great recipe!
Made it last night for hubby and it was a big hit.
Delicious and easy.
I didn’t add any water and the entire meal was bland and tasted like water. What could I have done wrong?
You didn’t do anything wrong, just add additional seasonings. You chicken may be been soaked in a saline solution causing it to have more water in it.
Way too long on cooking time. Chicken is over cooked, mushy and flavorless. Add salt and pepper and actual garlic and cook 2 hours less and you might not ruin your chicken.
Cooking time depends on your slow cooker and size of chicken.
I cooked the chicken like this for 8 hours on low and it dried it out to the point where it was unedible
I made this for the first time and yes, 8 hours is far too long. I cooked this in the slow cooker for 4 hours on low and it was perfect.
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.