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See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.
This Crockpot Whole Chicken recipe makes the most flavorful, juicy rotisserie style chicken. A whole chicken and vegetables cook together in the slow cooker for an easy yet impressive dinner!
With instructions for how to brown slow cooker chicken and make gravy from the drippings, plus a step by step recipe video.
Chicken is a dinnertime staple, and when it comes to chicken recipes, this crockpot whole chicken is one of the best.
Cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is easy and the results are truly delicious. This recipe requires simple ingredients to make a seasoned roast chicken, vegetables and gravy.
Add in some biscuits, yeast rolls, or garlic knots for a meal worthy of company or a Sunday dinner at home with the family.
Why You’ll Love this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Recipe
- The chicken always turns out moist, juicy and flavorful.
- You can cook vegetables in the slow cooker along with the chicken, or you can leave them out if you prefer to cook just the chicken.
- It’s quick and easy to prep, and you can use any leftover chicken in many meals (ideas below – great for meal prep!)
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
Here is a quick overview of the ingredients needed and the steps to make the best crockpot whole chicken. You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.
Ingredients
- Onion, Carrots & Potatoes: These go in the bottom of the slow cooker, to keep the chicken out of the juices so it won’t get soggy as it cooks. You can also use other vegetables such as celery, parsnips or turnips. If you prefer to not use vegetables you can put a few foil balls under the chicken to keep it out of the juices. If you want to serve your chicken with mashed potatoes, you can leave the potatoes out of the slow cooker.
- Whole Chicken: You want to buy a whole chicken that is not too large, so it easily fits in your slow cooker. I used a 4 pound chicken, which fit perfectly in my 5 quart slow cooker. The chicken should be fresh or thawed, not frozen.
- Seasonings: This recipe uses a simple seasoning blend similar to what I use in my Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe. It’s delicious, and the paprika in the seasoning gives the chicken a beautiful browned appearance.
- Olive Oil: To rub on the chicken to help the seasonings stick.
- Lemon & Fresh Rosemary or Thyme Sprigs: You’ll put these in the cavity to flavor the chicken as it cooks.
- Butter & Flour: If you choose to make a gravy with the cooking juices, you’ll need butter and flour.
How to Make Crockpot Whole Chicken
- Put something under the chicken in the slow cooker to keep it out of the juices as it cooks. In this recipe I use onion, potatoes and carrots, which make a perfect side dish for the meal.
- Pat the chicken dry and rub it with olive oil and then the seasonings. For the most flavor, rub some seasoning under the skin on the breasts.
- Put half a lemon and fresh herb sprigs in the cavity. If desired, you can tie the legs together with kitchen twine. This is for presentation only and will not affect how the chicken cooks.
Do I Need to Add Water?
No, you don’t need to add water or other liquid because the chicken will release some juices as it cooks. You don’t want the chicken sitting in water as that will make it soggy.
How Long to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
I recommend cooking the chicken on your slow cooker’s high setting so that the chicken will reach a food safe temperature faster. The exact cook time will depend on the size of your bird and your particular slow cooker, but should be about 4-5 hours on high.
Avoid lifting the lid while the chicken cooks to keep the heat in the crockpot. It is ok to check the chicken for doneness near the end of the minimum cook time. Use an instant read thermometer to check if the chicken is done. It should register at least 165° F at the thickest part of the leg, not touching the bone.
How to Brown the Chicken
You can serve the chicken and vegetables straight out of the slow cooker, but I prefer to brown them under the broiler in the oven. This helps to crisp and brown the skin and caramelize the veggies.
To brown the chicken, put it on a rimmed baking sheet. Arrange the vegetables around the chicken, leaving the juices in the slow cooker. Broil for 4-5 minutes. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute before slicing and serving.
How to Make Gravy with the Juices
Making chicken gravy with the juices from the slow cooker is so simple! On the stove, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour and then the chicken juices from the slow cooker. Cook until thickened and then season with salt and pepper. The gravy is so good served with the chicken and vegetables!
Can I Cook a Frozen Chicken in the Slow Cooker?
No, you should not cook a frozen chicken in the slow cooker for food safety reasons. If your chicken is frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator for a few days before cooking it in the slow cooker. If you don’t have time to let it thaw in the fridge, you can cook a whole frozen chicken in the Instant Pot.
Leftover Chicken Recipes
You can store any leftover crock pot chicken in your refrigerator for up to 4 days. It makes delicious sandwiches, or try one of these easy recipes:
- Chicken Salad
- Chicken Taquitos
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Chicken Florentine Pasta Bake
- Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
4.95 from 18 ratings
Crockpot Whole Chicken
Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 4 hours hrs
Total Time: 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
This Crockpot Whole Chicken recipe makes the most flavorful, juicy rotisserie style chicken. A whole chicken and vegetables cook together in the slow cooker for an easy yet impressive dinner.With instructions for how to brown the chicken and make gravy from the drippings. This meal is a family favorite!
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Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 4 medium carrots, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 pound whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ lemon, cut in half
- 4-6 sprigs fresh rosemary or fresh thyme
For Gravy (Optional):
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional, for gravy
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, optional, for gravy
Instructions
Place the onion, carrots and potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange them in a single layer as much as possible.
In a small bowl, stir together the spice rub ingredients: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt and pepper.
Place the chicken in a baking dish to catch any excess juices. If there is a bag of innards in the cavity of the chicken, remove it and discard. Drain out any liquid that may be in the cavity.
See Also75 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes for Effortless Dinners on Busy DaysO-M-G BEST Crockpot Chicken Recipe EVER - Serendipity And SpiceIf You Need Non-Boring Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes, We've Got 32 Of Them That Will Definitely Do The TrickGrab Your Slow Cooker To Make These Easy Chicken DishesPat the chicken dry with paper towels. Loosen the skin around the breasts. Rub the olive oil and then the spice rub over the chicken, rubbing some of the seasoning under the skin on the breasts if possible.
Place the lemon pieces and fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs in the cavity of the chicken. Optional: tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker, breast side up. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, until the chicken registers at least 165° F in the thickest part of the leg, not touching the bone. Avoid opening the slow cooker lid during the cook time, as this can cause too much heat to escape the slow cooker.
You can serve the chicken and vegetables as is, or use the following steps to brown the chicken and vegetables and make a gravy.
Optional: Brown the Chicken and Vegetables under the Broiler
Preheat broiler with a rack in the center of the oven.
Transfer the chicken (breast side up) to a rimmed baking sheet (be sure to use a metal baking sheet or other broiler-safe pan). Use a slotted spoon to place the vegetables around the chicken, leaving any juices behind in the slow cooker.
Broil for 4-5 minutes, until the skin of the chicken browns and the vegetables begin to brown around the edges.
Cover the pan loosely with foil and let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Optional: Make gravy with the juices from the slow cooker.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for 30 seconds.
Slowly pour in the juices from the slow cooker, while whisking constantly. Cook, whisking often, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve gravy over chicken.
Notes
- Cooked chicken will last in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Nutrition information includes gravy and assumes chicken skin will be consumed, which it may not be.
Serving: 1/8 recipe, Calories: 335kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 387mg, Potassium: 510mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 4318IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.
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Dinner Recipes Easy Meal Prep Recipe Videos Slow Cooker
posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Apr 14, 2021
35 comments Leave a comment »
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35 comments on “Crockpot Whole Chicken”
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dj — Reply
Made this today, Excellent, easy flavoring. My guy says it gets a VVG (Very Very Good), which is our eqivalent of of 5 stars!
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Lisa — Reply
I’m so happy that I went with this recipe! Followed it exactly as written. The meal turned out perfectly! I’m not a big fan of gravy, but I made it just to try. Yummy! But not needed. The chicken alone was the most moist, flavorful I can remember having. This recipe will be added to my arsenal of “Go-To’s!”
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Kristine — Reply
I’m so glad to hear this! Thank you for trying my recipe and for sharing how you liked it!
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Sher Clarke — Reply
This is an Amazing recipe. Love it.
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Mary — Reply
How should one cook it in a Dutch oven on top of the stove or in the oven instead of using a crockpot?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
Hi Mary, I do not yet have a recipe for an oven roasted whole chicken. You can try searching for a recipe designed for a Dutch oven or oven. Best of luck!
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Thomas Darby — Reply
I made this today, for myself and two friends. The chicken turned out excellent and tasty. However, the vegetables were hard and undercooked… I think adding about a cup of broth would help, or cooking them in a separate pan on the stovetop with chicken broth. The flavor blend with your suggested spices was delicious. Thank you!
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
Hi Thomas, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe and sorry to hear that your vegetables weren’t done. Another option if they aren’t done is to pop them in the oven at 425 degrees until tender. 🙂
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Freya — Reply
“If there is a bag of innards in the cavity of the chicken, remove it and discard.”
Or keep it to make chicken stock later!
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Ray — Reply
Absolutely delicious!!!! The seasonings made this sooo good, and the homemade gravy was the BEST! My twin 3 year olds ate every bite of the chicken, carrots, potatoes, and onions with the gravy!
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Jo Ann Mac Millan — Reply
This was the best roasted chicken I have ever had. My boyfriend said the same thing! As a matter of fact when he came over tonight he brought his own dish to take some home! It was moist and delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with me. Or should I say us!
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Christina — Reply
If I wanted to set it and forget it before work in the morning, could I cook this on low? If so, for how long?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
For food safety, I recommend cooking the chicken on your slow cooker’s high setting so that the chicken will reach a food safe temperature faster.
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Griffin — Reply
You can. On low it should cook 7-8 hours. I’ve done many chickens this way and there are many recipes out there that say the same.
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sandyjones — Reply
next time I would precooked veggies and potatoes the chicken turned out greaf
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Jack — Reply
I was afraid high on my crockpot would be too high, so I did high for 2 hours and low for 2 hours and the breast was 172°F at the end of the 4 hours. YMMV. Pretty sure my crockpot is the standard size Crockpot brand unit.
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Jen — Reply
Wow! Great recipe, only two changes were made we used more salt (bigger chicken) and omitted the thyme (didn’t have any on hand). The chicken was fall off the bone tender and so so good. 🙂
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David — Reply
Best meal I’ve made for a while
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Jessica — Reply
Can this be cooked on low?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
I do not recommend cooking a whole chicken on low. I recommend cooking the chicken on your slow cooker’s high setting so that the chicken will reach a food safe temperature faster.
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Elizabeth Martin — Reply
Can you make this on slow heat?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
I do not recommend cooking a whole chicken on low. I recommend cooking the chicken on your slow cooker’s high setting so that the chicken will reach a food safe temperature faster.
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Lindsay Renae Lawson — Reply
Awesome and very well instructed with easy directions to follow…. I just know that my family will love this recipe… Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge with the rest of us!!!
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BERN — Reply
This is the best recipe for crock pot chicken. Very precise!
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Barbara — Reply
I am makeing this over the weekend. This chicken is 2lbs. Should I cut the time in half in the slow cooker?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
You’ll need to reduce the cook time, but it may take a little longer than half of the cook time. Use an instant read thermometer to check when the chicken is done. Also know that the carrots and potatoes will not cook through enough if the cook time is reduced, so you’ll want to cook them separately. You can put a few foil balls under the chicken to keep it out of the juices.
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Jeannie — Reply
Super good! 6 pound chicken cooked 5 hours and it was perfect! Thank you for the recipe!
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Kim — Reply
I used the crock pot cooking time suggestion. Thanks. I may try the seasoning in future.
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Fallon Ellis — Reply
Made this last night…amazing! Veggies and chicken turned out perfect…moist and falling off of the bone! The juices that came off of the chicken were amazing poured over the meat and veggies…I didn’t even thicken it! This is my new go to for dinner! My entire family loved it!
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Sharon — Reply
I cook this on low for 8 hours and it was delicious! Served it with a loaf of warm bread and roasted broccoli and dinner is done!
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Jim Stone — Reply
Excellent instructions, nicely presented – clarity results in success! Can brown quickly in air fryer. Our toaster oven is an air fryer.
Try it, you will like it!!!
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Sherry Rupp — Reply
I tried this recipe rate before christmas as I needed something to cook while I was wrapping presents. It was tender it was delicious. I am making it again today, Because it is so easy to make
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Amy — Reply
Hello! Can I sub the potatoes for sweet potatoes?
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Kristine Rosenblatt — Reply
Yes, but they will be very soft after cooking for the time required to cook the chicken in the slow cooker.
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Raisa — Reply
Everything came out perfect! Meat was fall off the bone tender and the spices made the veggies and gravy amazing. This one is definitely going on my permanent rotation. Thank you for the recipe.
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