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Home ยป Recipe Type ยป Dinner ยป Chicken
4.7 from 21 reviews

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (4 Hours)

4 hours 10 minutes
carrotceleryonionpotato
By: Pamela Reed
Posted:8/23/22
Updated:4/16/25
Jump to Recipe

Juicy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe, cooked to perfection in just 4 hours. This easy slow cooker whole chicken recipe includes tender chicken and flavorful vegetables for a complete, hassle-free meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, this crockpot whole chicken is packed with flavor and requires minimal prep.

whole chicken in slow cooker

Crockpot Whole Chicken

This easy crockpot whole chicken recipe makes a delicious dinner with minimal effort, cooking both a tender whole chicken and vegetables at the same time. For the best results, use a whole chicken between 4 and 6 pounds, along with your favorite vegetables.

Whether you’re in a rush or planning ahead, I’ve included cooking times for both HIGH and LOW settings, so you can enjoy a flavorful meal no matter your schedule.

We love pairing this slow cooker whole chicken with fluffy mashed potatoes for the perfect comfort meal. It’s a family favorite, especially during fall and winter, and we make it once or twice a month. It’s also a budget-friendly option, especially if you catch the chicken on sale, and it can easily provide us with two meals as we have chicken sandwiches and gravy the next day.

My Crockpot Secret to Juicy Chicken

The secret to juicy, flavorful slow cooker chicken is all about how you cook it—and where you place it. Adding broth keeps everything moist, but the real trick is creating a “shelf” so the chicken doesn’t rest directly on the bottom of the crockpot.

While some people use aluminum foil, I like to use chopped vegetables instead. It not only lifts the chicken up for even cooking, but also turns this into a full meal in one pot. The result? Incredibly tender, juicy chicken that basically falls off the bone.

juicy chicken drumstick with skin on it placed in front of whole chicken

Vegetable Swapping

Although I think this recipe is perfect with potatoes, carrots, celery and onion, there’s no reason why you can’t swap vegetables depending what’s in season. Other ideas are:

  • Chopped green beans
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Butternut Squash
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Parsnips
  • Mushrooms

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.

vegetables on bottom of slow coooker.

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.

whole chicken with spices on it 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!

pats of butter on top of chicken in slow cooker.

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 the vegetables, and other sides if you want!

juicy whole chicken cooked in slow cooker sitting on cutting board

Storing Leftover Chicken

Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days—perfect for easy lunches or repurposing into another dinner!

Pin for later:

Juicy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe, cooked to perfection in just 4 hours. This easy slow cooker whole chicken recipe includes tender chicken and flavorful vegetables for a complete, hassle-free meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, this crockpot whole chicken is packed with flavor and requires minimal prep.
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4.72 from 21 reviews

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (4 Hours)

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Juicy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe, cooked to perfection in just 4 hours. This easy slow cooker whole chicken recipe includes tender chicken and flavorful vegetables for a complete, hassle-free meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, this crockpot whole chicken is packed with flavor and requires minimal prep.
By: Pamela Reed
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Total Time 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
serves 6

Ingredients

  • 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!

Video:

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 600kcal (30%)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

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4.72 from 21 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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  1. Christine Guinn says

    July 25, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    I am making this meal today, sooo looking forward to it. It was so easy to put together in just 15 minutes.

    Reply
  2. Chas Greener says

    July 18, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!

    Reply
  3. Maureen says

    July 13, 2018 at 4:22 am

    I love the recipe will become one of my hits. What type of slow cooker is best. Can I use an electric one?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 13, 2018 at 9:30 am

      Hey Maureen, here’s the slow cooker I have: https://amzn.to/2KVpm2e. I’ve been using this for years and love it! I also love the size of it!

      Reply
  4. Cindy says

    July 10, 2018 at 9:40 am

    I was wondering if the skin on the chicken is crispy?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      July 10, 2018 at 5:29 pm

      Hey Cindy, if you want it to be crispy, please see Gwendolyn’s comment above. Enjoy this recipe!

      Reply
  5. Mavis says

    June 4, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    Lol. I could never fit one of my farm chickens in my slow cooker. I could put cut pieces on it. Would that work?

    Reply
    • SandyToes says

      July 11, 2018 at 9:56 pm

      You’ll want to reduce the cooking time to about 4-5 hours on low, checking the temperature after 4 hours. Place thighs/legs on top of the breasts to prevent the breast meat from drying out and becoming stringy. Make sure to include the veggies on the bottom of your slow cooker.

      Reply
  6. Sisterbliss says

    February 18, 2018 at 11:31 pm

    Would adding butter to the crock pot be alright ?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      February 19, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Hello! Adding butter wouldn’t ruin the recipe, but I don’t think it’s necessary! Hope this helps!

      Reply
  7. Jess says

    February 6, 2018 at 11:21 am

    What a neat idea! Pinned!

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
  8. Amber says

    January 29, 2018 at 6:46 am

    Hi there! This sounds amazing and I’m super excited to try it out, as I LOVE crockpot recipes. One quick question first though. Would it be possible to keep this on low for 8 hours rather than high for 4? Thank you in advance!

    Reply
  9. Christina Makri says

    January 25, 2018 at 6:13 am

    OMG! This looks so yummy! thank you for sharing at Sweet Inspiration Link Party ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says

    January 21, 2018 at 4:59 am

    This sounds so tasty!! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!

    Reply
  11. Eclectic Evelyn says

    January 20, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    I pinned this so I could make it later. I love my slow cooker and this looks so delicious. I found you over at the Pit Stop. So glad I did. Yum!

    Reply
  12. Lily says

    January 20, 2018 at 11:14 am

    I’ve never tried roasting a chicken in a slow cooker before. Love that you can set it and forget it. And I’m with you, dark meat all the way! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!

    Reply
  13. Judith Graber says

    January 20, 2018 at 6:44 am

    I love to use my slow cooker(s) all year long – such a handy kitchen appliance to have. The chicken looks great – I have only tried breasts not a whole chicken. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!

    Reply
  14. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says

    January 19, 2018 at 9:55 pm

    I love my slow cooker and usually make Beef Cheeks in Red Wine or Lamb Shanks. Now I’ll be adding Chicken to the list. Thanks for sharing with us at #BloggersPitStop.

    Reply
  15. Leslie says

    January 19, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    The slow cooker is so useful…especially on busy school nights. This recipe will definitely come in handy. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

    Reply
  16. Natalie A says

    January 18, 2018 at 9:29 pm

    This looks so delicious! I love that it only takes 4 hours to cook! I love all the ingredients that go into this recipe, also! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  17. Mother of 3 says

    January 18, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    That looks wonderful. I have raised my chicken up by placing balls of tin foil under it but I honestly never though to put a bunch of veggies in there and make a whole meal out of it. I’ll have to try that next time for sure. Pinned.

    Reply
  18. Debbie says

    January 17, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    I just bought a whole chicken that I’m planning on cooking tomorrow. I’m going to try your way. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  19. Stefanie says

    January 17, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    I’ve never cooked a whole chicken in the crockpot, but it looks simple and delicious! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  20. Corina Blum says

    January 17, 2018 at 11:54 am

    I love my slow cooker but I’ve never cooked a whole chicken in it like this – It’s definitely something I’d love to try. It’s great that all the veggies and potatoes can get cooked at the same time too.

    Reply
  21. Gretchen Fleming says

    January 17, 2018 at 9:13 am

    This looks fabulous and have saved to try ASAP ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ‘

    Reply
  22. Marion Askildt says

    January 16, 2018 at 9:32 am

    When you put bread dough in slow cooker, do you have to let it rise again before turning on cooker??

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      January 16, 2018 at 10:40 pm

      Hey Marion, here’s my recipe with full instructions for slow cooker bread: https://brooklynfarmgirl.com/2018/01/02/2-hour-slow-cooker-bread/

      Reply
  23. Cathy S. says

    January 14, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    I can’t wait to try making a whole chicken this way. Sounds easy and delicious!

    Reply
  24. Colleen Zucco says

    January 12, 2018 at 2:59 pm

    I would like to try this but one other time my crock pot was just full of grease from the chicken. Then my husband said it was like eating boiled meat . How did you prevent that?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      January 13, 2018 at 10:56 am

      Hey Colleen, I’ve never had that problem with this slow cooker chicken. If you see lots of grease coming out of the chicken remove liquid from the slow cooker with a turkey baster so there’s not excess. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  25. sharron says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:05 am

    this looks wonderful! Do you have a suggestion for a homemade seasoning rub?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      January 13, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Hey Sharon, I like this recipe for seasoning rub: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17446/hughs-dry-rub/. Enjoy the chicken!

      Reply
  26. cakespy says

    January 12, 2018 at 6:25 am

    Oh man, love how tender chicken is when cooked in a slow cooker. This is simply wonderful!! Aromatic and juicy and oh my.

    Reply
  27. Jess @ Gas Stove Girl says

    January 8, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    What’s the texture of the skin like? I love a crispy skin, but as long as the skin isn’t rubbery this sounds like an amazingly easy meal (plus great for meal planning!)

    Reply
    • Gwendolyn Poliszczuk says

      May 2, 2018 at 11:06 pm

      I made this with 2 Cornish hens. I took them out of crock pot and put them in oven for ten minutes at 450 degrees. They were perfect! Love this recipe.

      Reply
      • Pamela says

        May 4, 2018 at 10:12 am

        Hey Gwendolyn, thanks so much for commenting! I’m so happy you liked this recipe!

        Reply
    • Cindy says

      July 10, 2018 at 9:43 am

      I was wondering if you ever tried & if you did, how did the skin turn out on the chicken?

      Reply
  28. Hena Tayeb says

    January 8, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    wow that looks great..

    http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com

    Reply
  29. Brooklyn says

    January 8, 2018 at 10:31 am

    I tried your crock pot bread last week and we loved it! As a new โ€œcookโ€ I am looking forward to trying this one this week! Thank you!

    Reply
  30. Suzanne says

    January 8, 2018 at 10:27 am

    I am all about slow cookers! I love this recipe and will be perfect to come home to on Tuesday. The veggies lifting the chicken up out of the broth is a really good idea.

    Reply
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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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