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cooked whole chicken with Italian spice rub and charred skin
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Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

Cook a whole chicken in your slow cooker and have delicious and moist chicken waiting for you at the end of the day! This Crockpot Whole Chicken recipe is easy to make with any type of seasoning blend for a different flavor each time.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crockpot chicken recipes, roasted whole chicken, slow cooker chicken
Servings: 5

Ingredients

  • 4 pound whole fryer chicken , insides removed and cleaned
  • 2 large carrots , peeled, ends trimmed, cut into thirds
  • 1 large yellow onion , peeled, ends trimmed, and quartered
  • 1 stalk celery , ends trimmed, cut into thirds
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1 large lemon , juiced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Remove chicken from its packaging and discard any innards from the chicken. Rinse the chicken and pat very dry with paper towels.
  • Scatter the vegetables and fresh herbs in the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker, then place the seasoned chicken on top, so they act as a shelf for the chicken.
  • Pour melted butter and lemon juice over the chicken.
  • Mix the seasonings together and sprinkle evenly over the chicken and inside the cavity.
  • Cook on low for about 8 hours, or until the drumsticks start pulling away from the breasts, and internal temperature reaches 165F, and the juices run clear. (Time can vary depending on the size of the chicken.)
  • Very carefully and gently remove the chicken from the stock that has been rendered and transfer it to a baking sheet or roasting pan and place under the broiler (6 inches from the heat source) for about 5 minutes to achieve a bit of golden crispy skin. (Watch it very carefully so it doesn't burn and rotate if needed.)
  • Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes. Cut the chicken into pieces and serve with vegetables. Or if you want shredded chicken, placed on a cutting board and shred with two forks.
    Options for different seasoning blends are below.

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 922mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 6128IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg