Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Throw a whole chicken in the crockpot in the morning and have a tender and flavorful dinner at the end of the day. What could make dinner any easier than that?
Servings 6 people
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon rubbed sage
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 onion cut into chunks
Instructions
- Combine the garlic, herbs, and salt in a small bowl.
- Rinse the chicken under cool water and pat it dry with a paper towel.
- Coat the outside of the chicken on all sides with the olive oil.
- Rub the herb mixture over the inside and outside of the chicken.
- Place the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker and lay the chicken breast-side down on top.
- Place the lid on top and cook on low for 7-9 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh.
- When the chicken is done cooking, place on a broiler pan or large cast iron skillet and broil in the oven for 4-5 minutes or until the skin is crisp if desired.
- Slice chicken and serve.
Notes
- To make a complete meal, add quartered potatoes and chopped carrots to the bottom of the slow cooker before placing the chicken on top.
- Reserve the chicken broth that is at the bottom of the slow cooker to be used in other recipes. Simply pour through a wire mesh strainer into a glass jar using a funnel.
- Save the chicken bones to make nourishing bone broth. If you want to make a big batch at once, you can store bones in a plastic bag in the freezer until you have the desired amount. Or simply, place bones back into crockpot, cover with water, and cook on low for at least 8-12 hours and up to 24 hours.
- To prep ahead for a busy day, cook a whole chicken; pull the meat off the bone; and freeze the shredded chicken for other meals.
- A whole chicken is so versatile. Experiment with your own spices to see what you like!