Whether it’s a slow Sunday evening, a busy weeknight, or even a holiday table spread, make this slow cooker whole chicken anytime you need a comforting meal with very little effort. If you need a faster way to cook a whole chicken, try making spatchcock chicken or air fryer whole chicken instead.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for slow cooker whole chicken, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Whole Chicken – Look for a fresh, plump bird that fits comfortably in your slow cooker. Mine was 5 pounds, which is about average, but this Crock Pot whole chicken recipe will work with other sizes, too. There is some disagreement on whether you can cook frozen whole chicken in a slow cooker. Poultry manufacturers say it’s okay, but the USDA recommends thawing poultry first. Either way, for this recipe you’ll need to thaw the chicken first, because you won’t be able to get the compound butter underneath the skin when it’s frozen. Onion – Placing the whole chicken in the Crock Pot on top of coarsely chopped onions helps elevate the bird for more even cooking. Any kind of onion will work (I used yellow onion). Simply chop it into large pieces. Unsalted Butter – This adds so much flavor and makes it juicy! We’re using it to make a compound butter that goes both over the skin and underneath it. For this reason, you’ll need to use softened butter at room temperature. If you need a dairy-sensitive option, ghee makes a good substitute. You can use olive oil or avocado oil if you really want to, but it will be difficult to spread under the skin and you won’t get that buttery flavor. Garlic – You will need a whole head of garlic. Some of them are used for the compound butter that season the chicken over and under the skin, and some go inside the cavity. If you don’t have enough garlic cloves, you can use 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic or even 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder for the butter herb rub. Whole cloves work best inside the cavity. Fresh Herbs – For the herb butter! You will need fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley. You could also use other fresh herbs, such as sage, oregano, or basil. You can substitute a few teaspoons of dried herbs if you really need to. Paprika – Adds flavor to the compound butter. You can also add other spices if you like. Try onion powder if you like that flavor, or cayenne pepper or chili powder if you like a kick. Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Cook A Whole Chicken In A Crock Pot
This section shows how to make Crock Pot whole chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. This is a common addition to whole chicken Crock Pot recipes. Mixing a teaspoon of lemon zest into the compound butter works best, but you can also try lemon juice.
How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In A Crock Pot?
The cook time for a whole chicken in a Crock Pot is 5-8 hours on Low or 3-4 hours on High. Make sure the internal temperature at the thickest part of the breast reaches at least 165 degrees F if you’ll be serving right away, or 160 degrees F if you’ll be broiling it before serving to crisp up the skin.
Storage Instructions
Store: Gently remove the chicken from the bones. Place the meat in an airtight container with a few spoonfuls of broth from the slow cooker. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also store on the bone. Meal prep: This slow cooker recipe is perfect for making ahead, whether you enjoy it later on its own or use it in other dishes. Use leftovers to make a chicken bacon ranch casserole, my favorite chicken salad, or toss it into healthy soup recipes! Reheat: Place your desired amount of chicken in a microwave-safe dish with a little extra broth, and heat in the microwave until warm. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees F (also with some broth at the bottom of the baking dish), gently simmer with broth on the stovetop, or even reheat the whole chicken in the Crock Pot if you need to. Freeze: Pull off the meat and place in a freezer-safe container. Top with some of the broth to keep it moist, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What To Serve With Crock Pot Whole Chicken
This slow cooker whole chicken recipe needs just one (or two!) more things… some delicious healthy sides to go along with it. Here are some reader favorites to try:
Make sure your butter is soft for easy spreading. The best way to achieve this is to simply leave it on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour. If you forgot to do this, you can soften it by placing it into a small bowl over a second bowl of warm water, or run a stainless steel or glass bowl under very hot water and then place it upside down over your stick of butter. If your garlic butter didn’t spread well in the beginning, you can spread it an hour into cooking. Just lift the lid after an hour and use a pastry brush to spread the herb butter more evenly over the top and sides of the chicken. Don’t use melted butter from the beginning, because it will all drip off the chicken too fast. A meat thermometer is helpful if you have one. The nice thing about Crock Pot whole chicken is that it’s not so prone to drying out like the oven method. But, a meat thermometer (this one is my favorite) is still handy to know exactly when it’s done. Watch carefully when broiling. The broiler can burn the garlic butter on the chicken pretty quickly, so check on it every minute or so.
Sauteed Veggies – Sauteed broccoli or sauteed green beans make simple, tasty sides. If you want more variety, make mixed sauteed veggies instead. Roasted Veggies – There’s nothing simpler than oven roasted vegetables. My personal favorite with this dish (and let’s be real, with so many others!) is roasted cauliflower. In the fall, I love serving it with buttercup squash or roasted root vegetables. But, if you want to impress your guests try my broccoli rabe recipe. Salad – For a light and simple dinner, pair your Crock Pot whole chicken with a kale salad, Greek salad, a festive sweet potato salad, or try one of my other healthy salad recipes. You can also use the leftovers to swap the chicken in a grilled chicken salad or cobb salad. Potatoes – Make roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes in the air fryer or Instant Pot. For a lighter option, try my cauliflower mashed potatoes.
More Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
If you liked this Crock Pot whole chicken recipe, you’ll love these other quick and easy ways to make chicken in the slow cooker: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. 📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Freezer Meal System!
