Slow cook a whole chicken in the crock pot for a filling, yet healthy meal. This easy easy weeknight dinner takes just a few minutes to prepare. Eat leftover crock pot chicken leftovers in salads for lunch or in chicken tacos the next night. Once you learn how to slow cook a whole chicken in the crock pot, you’ll be able to utilize this inexpensive ingredient in endless ways.
This is one of the most delicious and healthy crock pot chicken recipes to get you acquainted with cooking a whole chicken. In this recipe video, you’ll learn how to transform a raw whole chicken to a hearty meal in the crock pot or slow cooker.
Cooking a roast chicken in a slow cooker is an easy way to get tender, fall off the bone chicken breast, thighs and wings with minimal effort. It’s one of my best chicken slow cooker recipes ever. And one of the most easy chicken crockpot recipes for two or four people.
Check out these other tasty slow cooker recipes.
Buying a whole chicken is much less expensive than buying pre-sliced chicken breast or thighs.
Once you learn how to cook a whole chicken in the crock pot, you can start making it in batches. Use slow cooked chicken in chicken pot pies, tacos, enchiladas, chicken wraps, protein-packed salads, or on top of homemade pizza with store bought dough.
Can you put raw chicken breast in a slow cooker?
Yes, it is OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker. But I suggest you take a few minutes to sear the raw chicken in a pan on the stove before putting it in the crock pot. This will add maximum flavor and help the whole chicken stay together while slow cooking.
How to sear a whole chicken on the stove
To sear a whole chicken on the stove before slow cooking it, marinade or season the chicken first. Add olive oil to a medium-hot pan that will fit the size of the whole raw chicken. Sear each side a few minutes until golden brown. Before turning each side, add another drizzle of olive oil.
How many hours does it take to slow cook a whole chicken in the crock pot?
Cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker turns out well on both the high setting for 4-6 hours, or the low setting for 6-8 hours. See the recipe for tips on how to make slow cooker roast chicken with crispy skin for just 20 extra minutes in the oven.
How to season a slow cooker whole chicken
This recipe calls for a marinade made with cilantro, garlic, lemon juice and spices.
For tender, fall of the bone chicken, add one cup (about 1โ) chicken or vegetable broth to the slow cooker. If you donโt have broth, add water seasoned with herbs (rosemary, thyme, and/or two bay leafs) or salad dressing (try Italian or balsamic).
Save the tasty stock left over from the crock pot chicken for future recipes.
Making roasted or rotisserie chicken in the crock pot
Someone recently asked, โCan I roast a chicken in a slow cooker?โ. The answer is yes. But cooking a roast chicken in a slow cooker requires one more step. If youโre craving a roasted or rotisserie chicken, first cook the whole chicken in the crock pot. Once itโs done, add butter to the outside and pop the whole chicken in the oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. This will crisp the skin.
Have you heard of sous vide cooking? That’s another way I like to cook chicken. See the recipe for sous vide whole roast chicken.
Vegetables to cook with a whole chicken in the crock pot
Any vegetables added to the bottom of a whole chicken cooked in the crock pot will absorb delicious chicken droppings and double as a side. In this recipe for whole chicken cooked in the slow cooker, I use carrots, red onion and garlic. Potatoes, celery, and peppers are also great vegetables to cook with raw whole chicken in the crock pot.
Hereโs a delicious idea: make baked potatoes while you slow cook whole chickens. Wrap seasoned potatoes in foil and place them below the chicken in the slow cooker.
Cooking chicken in the crock pot without vegetables
Don’t have vegetables to hold the chicken in the crock pot? Place four rolled up foil balls at the bottom of the crock pot to suspend the chicken over the stock while it cooks.
One of my favorite sides to serve with slow cooked chicken is twice baked sweet potatoes with bleu cheese.
Tasty whole chicken recipes from Sip Bite Go
- Pellet smoker beer can chicken
- Smoked whole chicken
- Smoked spatchcock chicken
- Air fry whole chicken
- Sous vide whole chicken
- Crock pot whole chicken
- Vacuum seal whole chicken
- How to spatchcock chicken
Slow cooked whole chicken in the crock pot is a meal thatโs constantly revisited in my house, especially during the Fall and Winter months.
If Iโm just cooking for us two, Iโll sometimes have the butcher cut a whole chicken in half, and Iโll season and freeze the other half for a future meal. Otherwise, Iโm usually happy to cook the whole chicken and eat the leftovers in tacos or in a hearty salad the next night.
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Slow cooked whole chicken in the crock pot (Sip Bite Go)
Video
Ingredients
Chicken marinade
- โ cup cilantro chopped
- 2 tbsp garlic diced
- ยผ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ยฝ tsp cumin
- ยฝ tsp chili powder
- ยฝ tsp salt
Chicken
- 1 whole chicken
- 1.5 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red onion cut in half
- 3 carrots
- 1 tbsp garlic diced
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Ideally, marinade the chicken for one hour up to one day ahead. Alternatively, season chicken with recommendations in recipe post.
- Add olive oil to a large medium-hot pan. Sear the whole chicken for a few minutes on each side until golden brown, adding a drizzle of olive oil with each turn.
- Add vegetables and one cup (about 1โ) chicken or vegetable broth to the slow cooker. If you donโt have broth, add water seasoned with herbs (rosemary, thyme, two bay leafs) or salad dressing (try Italian or balsamic).
- Slow cook the whole chicken on the high setting for 4-6 hours, or the low setting for 6-8 hours.
- Serve straight from the crock pot. Or, for crisp skin, once the chicken is done cooking in the crock pot, add butter to the outside of the chicken and roast the whole chicken in the oven 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Save any stock left over from the crock pot for future recipes.
amy says
always wanted to try cooking this recipe, now I think is the right time haha, this looks mouth watering
Elizabeth O says
It’s a perfect dish for a festive family dinner..Even the kids can help making this chicken recipe.
Annabel O says
This looks so yummy! Adding lemon juice to my chicken was a game changer!
Elizabeth O says
A perfect recipe for a festive family dinner ..Even kids can help in the cooking process..
Djebe Laws says
Love my crockpot and I loved it when i finally was able to roast a chicken in there…makes life so much easier
twinspirationalparties says
Wow, this looks so delicious.. Yummy.. Been craving for chicken nowadays this would be so perfect.. ๐
Wren says
That looks so easy to do! I have just been learning how to use my crockpot and this is certainly going on my list of things to try! looks delicious!
Bibimbea says
Amazing! I never really knew how to cook chicken properly, so thank you for this!
Fran Jorgensen says
Slow cooking is perfect for us over winter! This recipe looks all kind of amazing and I have no doubt it will be a big hit with my family! Thanks for sharing!
Miriam says
Growing up in a Chinese household, we always cook some form of chicken crockpot dish! Definitely forwarding this to my mother and trying it out during the weekends!
Monidipa Dutta says
I love chicken. I would love to try it out..
Michael says
Hmmm. Honestly, it does not look appealing but I think it may taste great. A compliment to think of. Can be better in many ways but I appreciate the post really!
minimalistmiri says
Looks great! I love how much you can do with a crock pot!
Handmade Jewelry Haven says
Wow. This looks amazing and I canโt wait to try it!!
Lisa
Natalie says
Looks so delicious and perfect for hosting and dinner parties!
Neli Howard says
This looks delicious and like something I could absolutely wow my family with. My daughters really like chicken and I really like using the slow cooker!
Jacque Hastert says
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! I will be pulling out the slow cooker to make this easy and delicious dinner.
Candiss says
I love having pre cooked chicken on hand for inclusion in other recipes. This sounds like an interesting way to cook the chicken instead of just roasting.
Lisa Bynum says
I have never tried cooking an entire chicken in my crock pot, but I like the idea. Set it and forget it!
Amanda says
I love a good roast chicken! The skin looks great here. Thanks for all the helpful tips!