Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker!! Roasting a chicken is so easy and normally there is enough meat for at least 2 meals. See this easy main dish idea below!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Buying a whole chicken may seem intimidating if you're not used to cooking. But it's actually an easier way to prep chicken for more than one meal at a time, and honestly it doesn't require many steps!
I usually see whole chickens (in our area of the country– so this varies) well under $2 per lb. So typically a small fryer chicken runs about $4-5. In the fall and winter months when turkeys are on sale, the prices of chicken may drop even further.
It's a great thing to have in the freezer for those weeks you just can't seem to find time to run to the store. Just serve with a veggie and a filling side dish like biscuits, rolls, potatoes, mac and cheese, or even a salad– and dinner is taken care of!
Finding a Good Slow Cooker
You can find a slow cooker to fit your needs whether you cook for a lot of family members or just yourself! I had to share this really cool slow cooker available from Ninja. This is not a sponsored post but I love the quality of my Ninja appliances, and this one actually has more features than a traditional slow cooker (including a Sous Vide– what??). It's a good one to put on your wish list. 🙂
The only thing necessary for cooking full meals like this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken is that you have a big enough slow cooker. I would say a 6 quart is large enough. Be sure to keep an eye out for discounts, especially around the holidays if you need a new one!
How to make sure it's done:
This is probably the most common concern with any poultry dish. You definitely need to make sure it's completely cooked, all the way to the bone. You can do several things to achieve this with no second-guessing!
- Meat thermometer— We talk a lot about meat thermometers in our recipes. However, it's the best way to ensure your poultry has reached a safe temp of 165 Fahrenheit. Put the thermometer in a couple places after cooking is done. One against the bone (like between the thigh and breast meat) and another place in the thickest part of the meat (such as the breast). It should reach 165 quickly in both places without falling.
- Checking that “Juices run clear” — this is the old fashioned way to make sure your meats are cooked. If you slice off a section of the chicken and juices have zero pink tinge, the poultry should be done. Clear or yellowish juices signal the meat is fully cooked. It may be easier to remove the chicken to a cutting board or serving tray so you can tell the difference between juices and cooking liquids.
- Set your Slow Cooker on a higher setting— if you have an older slow cooker or manual one, that you feel doesn't cook evenly or get hot enough, stay on the safe side and cook poultry at the HIGH temp setting. It won't need as long to cook, but your cooking temperature will be higher and the chances of undercooking will be lower.
Here's a tip for roasting a chicken in the slow cooker. Put a few fist-sized foil balls under the chicken. This will keep the chicken out of the juices.
I added some potatoes and carrots in with my chicken so it truly was a whole meal in one pot! Don't forget to follow us on Facebook as well for more recipes!
Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 tsp rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 medium onion, quartered
Instructions
- in a small bowl, thoroughly mix all the spices.
- Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
- Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, making sure it evenly covers all of the chicken.
- Add Onion to the bottom of the crock pot, along with several crumbled balls of aluminum foil to keep the chicken up out of the juices.
- Put the chicken in the slow cooker.You don't need to add any liquid, the cooking process will produce its own juices.
- Cook on High for 1 hour, then Low for 6 hours.
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Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
This Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe is an easy main dish idea you can make with minimal prep and time in the kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, 4-5 lb
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 medium onion, quartered
Instructions
In a small bowl, thoroughly mix all the spices.
Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
On clean work surface or cutting board, rub with olive oil and then rub the spice mixture into the chicken, making sure it evenly covers all of the chicken.
Add Onion to the bottom of the crock pot, along with several crumpled balls of aluminum foil to keep the chicken up out of the juices.
Put the chicken in the slow cooker, breast side up
You don't need to add any liquid, the cooking process will produce its own juices. If using an electric pressure cooker/slow cooker combination appliance, add 1 cup water or chicken stock to the bottom of the pan.
Cook on High for 1 hour and an additional Low for 6 hours.
Notes
You can alternately cook on high for 4-5 hours if you are in a hurry or your slow cooker is manual. Check meat temperature to ensure it is 165 degrees F.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 376Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 132mgSodium 1182mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 42g