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Crockpot Roast Chicken with Herbs



Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipe: Easy & Delicious

Why you’ll love it: This recipe offers a simple and
effortless way to cook a whole chicken in your slow cooker, perfect for
busy weeknights.

Cooking time: 4 hours on High, or 7 to 8 hours on
Low
Equipment needed: Slow cooker (Crockpot)
Servings: 4

Whole chicken, pictured in a crockpot with carrots and potatoes.

Discover the Easiest Way to Cook a Whole Chicken

When you’re planning a chicken dinner for a weeknight, you might
automatically think of chicken breasts or chicken thighs. However, cooking a
whole chicken can seem like a lot of work. But, with this crockpot recipe,
it becomes an incredibly easy and convenient option, perfect for any
weeknight meal.

This recipe is a go-to for simple, delicious dinners. Like many slow cooker
recipes, it focuses on prep work upfront, leaving you with a fully cooked
meal later.

What makes this recipe special:

  • Satisfying without being heavy: Ideal for cozy weeknight
    dinners that provide comfort and warmth.
  • Hands-off cooking: Prepare your meal in the morning, and
    enjoy a ready-to-eat dinner later.
  • Classic, crowd-pleasing flavors: Enjoy juicy, tender
    chicken infused with a blend of classic herbs and spices.
  • Optional veggies and gravy: While the gravy is optional,
    it’s highly recommended! One pot can become a complete, balanced meal with
    minimal extra effort.

If you appreciate the convenience of slow cooker meals, you should also try
the Slow Cooker Corned Beef
or
Crockpot Beef Stew. Don’t miss the
Crockpot Meatloaf,
it’s amazing!

How to Make Crockpot Chicken: Step-by-Step Guide

(This is a quick overview; scroll down for the complete recipe!)

Begin by coating the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, prepare the seasoning mix.

Remove any giblets from inside the chicken and pat the chicken dry with
paper towels. Rub the chicken’s exterior with olive oil.

Season the chicken, inside and out, and under the skin with the spice
mixture. Place the onion, garlic, and lemon inside the chicken cavity.

If you’re adding them, place the additional onion, carrots, and potatoes in
an even layer at the bottom of the crockpot. Then, position the seasoned
whole chicken in the slow cooker, breast-side up.

Pour broth into the crockpot, around the chicken. Be careful not to pour it
directly over the chicken, as this may rinse away the seasonings.

Ingredients needed for recipe, including a whole chicken.
Spices, not yet mixed together.
Spices mixed together.
Chicken being patted dry.
A hand rubbing oil onto a whole raw chicken in a glass bowl on a light-colored surface.
Spice rub being added under skin of chicken.
Uncooked potatoes and carrots in slow cooker.
Uncooked chicken placed on top of potatoes and vegetables.
Broth being poured into slow cooker.

Cover the crockpot with the lid and set it to cook on high heat. Cook for
at least 1 hour on high. Then, you can either continue cooking on high for
3 more hours, or switch to low and cook for 6 to 7 hours.

When the chicken is fully cooked, take it out of the crockpot. Let it rest
for 5 minutes before you carve it.

How to Tell When Your Crockpot Chicken is Cooked


Cooking times can vary depending on your chicken’s size, its starting
temperature, and your slow cooker model. The best way to determine when
the chicken is done is by using an instant-read thermometer. The internal
temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the meat.

If you don’t have a thermometer, the juices should run clear (not bloody)
when you insert a fork deeply into the chicken.

Optional Steps for Extra Flavor

To crisp the skin: Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking
dish. Brush the skin with melted butter or oil, then broil it in the oven for
a few minutes until it becomes crispy. Watch closely to prevent burning.

Cooked chicken on a sheet pan.
Chicken, browned.

To make the gravy: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium
heat. Whisk in the flour and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until
lightly browned. Gradually whisk in the reserved pan juices from the slow
cooker. Increase the heat to medium-high to bring the mixture to a boil, then
reduce the heat to medium and cook until the gravy thickens. Season to taste
with salt and pepper.

Gravy in pan.
Sliced chicken and gravy on a platter with potatoes and carrots.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Chicken in a Crockpot

Is it safe to cook raw chicken in a crockpot? Absolutely! It’s
perfectly safe to eat as long as the chicken reaches an internal temperature
of 165ºF (74°C). However, I don’t recommend cooking frozen chicken in a slow
cooker because it takes too long to reach a safe temperature. Always thaw
frozen chicken in the refrigerator before cooking it in a crockpot.

Should you cook chicken on high or low in a crockpot? For
chicken breasts, high heat is usually best, with a shorter cooking time. A
whole chicken can handle a longer cooking time on low. However, I prefer to
start a whole chicken on High in the crockpot to help it reach the proper
temperature more quickly.

Explore Different Variations for Your Crockpot Chicken
Recipe

  • Customize your seasonings: Experiment with your favorite
    store-bought or homemade chicken rub, or consider using a
    BBQ
    rub. If you choose the BBQ rub, serve the chicken with
    BBQ sauce! For a
    European twist, try a blend of
    Herbes de
    Provence.
  • Use Fresh Herbs: Add fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage (or a
    combination) inside the cavity with the garlic, lemon, and onion to infuse
    the chicken with herbaceous flavors.
  • Vary the Veggies: Other root vegetables, like parsnips,
    turnips, and sweet potatoes, work well with this recipe. Whole mushrooms are
    also a great addition. Select firm vegetables that can withstand a longer
    cooking time. Avoid softer vegetables with high water content, such as
    zucchini, tomatoes, or eggplant, as they may become too mushy.
  • Oven Method: Prefer the oven? Try my
    Roasted Chicken
    recipe.
  • Air Fryer Method: For a quicker cooking method, try the
    Air Fryer
    Whole Chicken recipe.
  • Alternative Recipes: If you don’t want to cook a whole
    chicken, try my
    Crockpot Chicken and Rice
    recipe, which is easy and includes vegetables.
Piece of chicken on a fork, vegetables and potatoes in the background.

Serving Suggestions to Complement Your Crockpot Chicken

If you don’t add veggies during cooking, you can pair the chicken with
Crockpot mashed potatoes
or
roasted vegetables.
If you include the veggies in the slow cooker, a fresh
salad,
Instant Pot
brown rice, or some crusty
Dutch oven bread
will make a delicious and complete meal.




Make-Ahead Tips for Your Crockpot Chicken Recipe

To get a head start, you can assemble all the ingredients in the slow cooker
insert the night before and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready
to start cooking. Remember not to place a chilled insert into a preheated
crockpot; the ceramic insert may crack.

Meal plan 47 preview graphic.

Get a Free Weekly Meal Plan!

Would you like a complete weekly meal plan that incorporates this recipe?
Check out
Meal Plan
#47
or
Meal Plan #52. These plans offer a wholesome recipe for each weekday, along with a
categorized grocery list. New meal plans are released weekly.

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Making the Most of Your Leftovers

Leftover whole chicken from the crockpot can be cut into pieces or shredded
for use in
chicken salads,
BBQ chicken nachos,
chicken tortellini soup, and more. Use the carcass to make homemade chicken stock too! Be sure to
strain the stock before use to remove any small bones.

Explore More Delicious Chicken Recipes