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Slow cooker chicken on a bed of green parsley.
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

A slow cooker is an excellent way to cook a whole chicken. You can prepare this recipe in advance (i.e. the night before), then set it on low and forget about it until dinner time. It works well for people who don't have too much time to fuss in the kitchen before work or school.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 15 minutes
Course: Crock-Pot meal
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, slow cooker, Slow cooker whole chicken, whole chicken
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 689cal
Author: Amy Desrosiers
Cost: $6

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker
  • Kitchen sink
  • cutting board & knife
  • Slow cooker sling or aluminum foil

Ingredients

  • 5 pound whole chicken
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1½ tablespoons rosemary removed from stem
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Remove any giblets from inside the cavity. These are typically in a waxy paper bag in the center of the chicken. Rinse with cold water to remove any residue salt or spices that may have been left over after washing at home. Always make sure you have no sponges, dishes, or kitchen tools around the sink to avoid contamination. Dry off chicken with clean, disposable paper towels to remove excess moisture and keep it from sticking while cooking. Use a sharp knife to cut away all pieces of fat around the breastbone and back bone. This step is optional, but sometimes there is extra skin or fat around these areas.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave for 45 seconds. Using a basting brush, baste the entire chicken with melted butter. You want to make sure you get all surfaces. I also used seasoned salt, freshly ground black pepper, oregano, and fresh rosemary for this chicken. This provided rosemary herb chicken flavored bird that tasted very similar to rotisserie chicken. Simply sprinkle the spices and rosemary on all surfaces. Optional **Add rosemary sprigs inside for extra flavor.
  • Place chicken on sling or make homemade aluminum foil balls to sit the chicken on top of to prevent it from getting watery.
  • Place the lid on your slow cooker and set it on either high or low. I cooked mine for 4 hours on high. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low 6-8. When done, thighs should reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit, and breast meat should be 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit which makes them safe to eat.
  • Optional: Broil your chicken for 5 minutes on a broiler pan to crisp the skin up.
  • Allow chicken to rest for 15 minutes before carving! Enjoy warm!

Notes

Nutritional values may vary and are meant to be a guide.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 689cal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 234mg | Sodium: 1937mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 760IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg