The Best Crockpot Whole Chicken is tender, juicy, and flavorful. I love making meals and main dishes in the crock pot and this slow cooker whole chicken recipe is especially easy. The great thing about making meals in the slow cooker is that it breaks up the dinner making process into shorter, easier sessions.
I also love slow cooking in the summer when it’s 100+ degrees outside so I don’t have to heat up my house as much. Another thing I love about crockpot cooking is that is isn’t so absolute as far as cook time. I can put something in the crock pot in the morning or early afternoon and when I am ready for it, it is ready for me. You can leave food in the crockpot too long but I have never ever burnt or overcooked anything in over 30+ years of making dishes in a slow cooker.
This rotisserie-style chicken is a family favorite Sunday dinner served with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. We also make it just to use in other dishes. We used to buy a cooked chicken at the grocery store for all of our favorite recipes that call for precooked chicken but I realized I could make a bigger chicken for about the same money. Then I use it in two or three dishes throughout the week. This really helps me get dinner on the table faster more than one night of the week. Plus, it is better for us because I don’t use any oil. I also get to control the amount of salt that goes in this recipe.
Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes
Just a few simple ingredients are all you need to make slow cooker chicken.
Whole Chicken – I have a 7 quart oval crockpot and a six pound chicken fits perfectly. The chicken should not be frozen, fresh or thawed is best.
Spices – this gives our chicken great flavor.
How to Make This Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipe
Wad up 5 pieces of aluminum foil into balls; I start with pieces that are about 12″ X 12″. Place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Mix paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl; rub the spice mixture on the outside of the chicken.
Place seasoned chicken in the crockpot breast side up on top of the aluminum balls. Cook chicken on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 4-5 hours.
Carefully remove the chicken and put it on a large platter. Before I had a large platter I would put the cooked chicken on sheet pan or cutting board to allow it to cool a bit before carving it off of the bones.
Substitutions & Additions
Use your favorite spices or fresh herbs.
You can add large chunks of root vegetables such as onion, potatoes and carrots, if you like. Just leave the foil balls out and place the chicken on top of the vegetables then cook as directed. The chicken juices will give the vegetables great flavor.
How Long To Cook a Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker?
Typical cook time for a whole chicken in the crockpot is 3-4 hours on high and 6-8 hours on low. A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 165°. I didn’t have a thermometer until just recently and I have not used it for this. You can also get the chicken that has a pop-up timer so you will know for sure it is cooked properly.
It is worth noting that cooking chicken in the crockpot will not result in crispy skin because the chicken basically steams.
Should I Wash Chicken Before Cooking It?
It is no longer recommended to rinse raw chicken before cooking it because you run the risk of spreading bacteria that can make you or anyone you are cooking for sick. There is a great article over at Self that breaks it all down for you.
Why We Love Making Our Own “Store-bought Rotisserie Chicken”
- Slow cooking results in a juicy chicken that is fall off the bone tender.
- It is better for us than store bought.
- Making our own is more cost effective because we can buy a bigger chicken to make if go farther. We get about 5 cups of cooked chicken from one 6ish pound chicken.
- It is a great way to meal prep so we can get dinner on the table faster two or three nights that week.
- Minimal effort is required because it only takes a few minutes of prep time to get the chicken into the crockpot. It also doesn’t take that long to debone the chicken.
Storage
Keep leftover chicken in an airtight container for 3 – 4 days, there is a great article over at Food Network about this. We keep our chicken in a zip top bag.
Chicken Recipes That Use Shredded or Cubed Chicken
Low Carb Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas – uses 2 cups shredded
Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti – uses 3 cups shredded
Creamy White Chicken Chili – uses 4 cups shredded
Super Healthy Chicken Salad – uses 3 cups shredded or cubed
Chicken Pot Pie – uses 2 1/2 cups cubed
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas – uses 2 cups shredded
Copycat Arby’s Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad – uses 4 cups cubed
Chicken Ranch Popovers – uses 1 1/2 cups chopped or shredded
Chicken Calzones – calls for canned chicken but you could use about 1 3/4 cups shredded
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The Best Crockpot Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken 5-6 pounds
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
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Instructions
- Make five aluminum foil balls and place in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Remove the neck and other chicken parts.
- Mix paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Rub on chicken and place chicken breast side up on top of foil balls in the crock
- Cover and cook on high for 4 – 5 hours or on low for 6 – 8 hours on high.
The standard size slow cookers are a bit too small and a whole chicken wont fit.
As a nurse crockpot cooking is a must. I like simple prep after working 12 hours, but have never tried a whole chicken. This looks awesome.
The seasoning makes it really flavorful and it couldn’t be easier. It is also an economical way to buy chicken. I am thankful for people like you that choose to work serving others, thanks!
What is the reason for putting chicken on foil balls? Wouldn’t it be better to cut up some veggies to make a bed for the chicken?
You could certainly use vegetables. I prefer the foil balls because the chicken gives off a lot of juice mixed with grease from the skin and we are trying to cut down on our fat consumption.
This looks so easy and delicious! I’m always in need of crockpot recipes, so I’ll make sure to save this one for later.
Using the crock pot is great, especially when it is hot out.Thanks for stopping by.