Roasting a whole chicken in the slow cooker is one of my favorite go-to recipes for a busy night. Simple and delicious, this recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes and is just as tasty as a rotisserie or roasted chicken, without the fuss.
Did you know you can cook a delicious whole chicken in the slow cooker? It is so easy, and really helpful on busy days when I am struggling to get a healthy meal on the table. Prep time is minimal, maybe 10 minutes. After that your slow cooker is doing the rest of the work. Eight hours later, dinner is ready!
I keep it simple, but you can add as many vegetables as you would like to this recipe.
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How to Cook a Perfect Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Recipe
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Ingredients:
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- 1- 4 to 5 lb. whole chicken
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 1 onion
- 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 and 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. Italian spices (includes rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme)
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- * occasionally I will also add a few lemon wedges
Directions:
- Smash 4 to 5 garlic cloves and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker
- Slice 1 onion and lay it in the bottom of the slow cooker
- Mix together your spices.
- Rinse the chicken with cold water and pat it dry. Remove giblets
- Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken.
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker on top of the garlic and onions.
- Turn the slow cooker on high and cook for 4-6 hours, or low for 8 hours.
- When it has finished cooking, check the internal temperature. Make sure the temperature is 165 degrees.
- Remove and serve. You can carve it or shred it. I typically like to shred it and serve it with a side of roasted vegetables. (these Crispy Balsamic Brussel Sprouts have been my favorite recently.
What to do with your whole chicken leftovers.
One of my favorite things about cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker is that I always have leftovers! I have found leftover shredded chicken is perfect for making homemade chicken salad (I have a killer recipe coming soon) or these tasty Chicken Enchiladas from Skinnytaste.
My second favorite thing about slow cooker chicken is that I can make homemade chicken broth with the leftover bones and juices. It is simple and a lot healthier for you than the store-bought chicken broth. Not to mention, it is a lot less expensive. I will be sharing my recipe for homemade slow cooker chicken broth next Wednesday. Until then, enjoy your delicious slow cooker whole chicken and let me know what you do with the leftovers!
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Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Roasting a whole chicken in the slow cooker is one of my favorite go-to recipes for a busy night. It is incredibly simple and delicious. This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes and is just as tasty as a rotisserie or roasted chicken, without the fuss.
- 1 4 to 5 lb whole chicken
- 4 whole garlic cloves
- 1 whole onion
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. italian spices
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
-
Smash 4 to 5 garlic cloves and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker
-
Slice 1 onion and lay it in the bottom of the slow cooker
-
Mix together your spices.
-
Rinse the chicken with cold water and pat it dry.
-
Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken.
-
Place the chicken in the slow cooker on top of the garlic and onions.
-
Turn the slow cooker on high and cook for 4-6 hours, or low for 8 hours.
-
When it has finished cooking, check the internal temperature. It should be 165 degrees.
-
Remove and serve. You can carve it or shred it. I typically like to shred it and serve it with a side of roasted vegetables. (these Crispy Balsamic Brussel Sprouts have been my favorite recently.
* Looking for more delicious recipe inspiration? Check out these tasty recipes.
*I linked this post to Inspire Me Monday, Linky party!