Juicy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe, made in 4 hours in the crockpot. This easy recipe makes chicken and vegetables for a complete meal.
Crockpot Whole Chicken
This is an easy crockpot recipe making a whole chicken and vegetables at the same time for a simple dinner that’s waiting for you. You’ll want to use a whole chicken, anywhere between 4 and 6 pounds, and a variety of vegetables.
I’ll also provide the times for both HIGH and LOW as I know sometimes you want a chicken fast, while other times you’d like to throw it in the morning and come back in the afternoon.
I really hope you like this slow cooker whole chicken recipe as much as we do, we make it once or twice a month during Fall and Winter. If the chicken is on sale, it’s a pretty budget friendly meal and can easily provide us 2 meals (the next day is chicken sandwiches!).
How long to cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker?
A whole chicken takes on average 4 hours in the slow cooker on high, or 7 hours on low. At the end of the cooking time use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees.
How to Make a Juicy Chicken
The key to making a juicy chicken in the slow cooker is both cooking it with some broth, but also making a kind of “shelf” for the chicken to sit on so it doesn’t sit on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Some people make a shelf out of aluminum foil, but I prefer to use vegetables to make this into a complete meal. The chicken sits on top of the vegetables while it cooks which prevents it from drying out.
As you can see the result is tender juicy chicken!
What vegetables can I add in?
To make this into a complete chicken meal, you can add 4 cups of vegetables (or even a little more if your slow cooker is larger) of your choice. Some ideas of chopped veggies to add in are:
- potatoes (peeled or unpeeled – it’s up to you)
- carrots
- celery
- onions
- mushrooms
- green beans
- butternut squash
How To Make a Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Add in the vegetables to the bottom of the slow cooker. I recommend 4 cups of vegetables, but you can use more if you want to, just remember you have to fit in a chicken and close the lid.
Pour chicken broth on top.
Rub the chicken with salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper and place on top of the vegetables in slow cooker.
Add 2 slices of butter on top of the chicken, this is going to melt as time goes on in the slow cooker and really make the skin juicy!
Cook and then remove from slow cooker, cutting apart the chicken to serve it. The meat is so tender it should just fall off the bone! Serve alongside vegetables, or make some additional mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
More Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Crockpot Barbecue Chicken
Crockpot Chicken With Cream of Mushroom Soup
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
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Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (4 Hours)
PrintIngredients
- 4 cups vegetables chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, onions
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4-6 pound whole chicken giblets removed
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Chop up 4 cups of vegetables of your choice. I like a variety of potatoes, carrots, celery and onion, but do whatever your family likes best! Place the vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Pour chicken broth on top of the vegetables and mix.
- Rinse the whole chicken under cold water, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Rub salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper all over the chicken, top and bottom.
- Place chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker. Add 2 tablespoons of butter on top of chicken.
- Close lid and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 7 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Serve and enjoy!
Dawn Davenport says
This was delicious and so easy! All of my kids loved it. I followed the recipe as written and then put under the broiler for 3-5 min to crisp up the skin a little bit. Probably would have been fine without that additional step!!
Connie says
What size slow cooker do I need for this recipe?
Steve Passehl says
I really do love to see these economical and simple recipes. Our family will eat like royalty and I’ll be a hero.