This recipe for crockpot whole chicken is a wonderful recipe to make during the week or a weekend meal. It's really easy to put together with spices along with vegetables. We have made this recipe for slow cooker whole chicken and vegetables over and over again!
This recipe was originally published in February 2011. I just updated the photos and added some recipe notes based on the many comments and questions I have received over the years. This recipe is a family favorite of ours and I hope you'll enjoy it if you try it!
My friend piqued my curiosity when she told me about her co-worker bringing in a slow cooker to work making crockpot whole chicken it for an entire day.
She often brought her crockpot in with some kind of concoction so she could bring dinner over to her friend's house who was going through chemotherapy treatment.
What a great friend, I'm sure her friend appreciated it. My friend told me their office often smelled really good during these days.
(Original photo this recipe was posted with in February 2011)
So when I was on the hunt for a chicken slow cooker recipe, I googled and found this one.
Why I love this recipe for Crockpot Whole Chicken
It's incredibly simple and the chicken goes into the crockpot in minutes. I added my own twist to it and guess what? The chicken is wonderfully moist and it's very simple.
After the chicken is done, you can put it in your broiler to crisp up the skin.
Carving the chicken is so easy because it just wants to fall apart. The breast comes right off the bone and is very easy to cut up. The chicken is really tender and flavorful and much easier than roasting a chicken in the oven.
I use a 3.5 to 4.5 pound chicken and it fits just fine in my slow cooker. I added the carrots and vegetables and the chicken rests nicely on them. Also, I added garlic and lemon.
My favorite roast chicken recipe calls for garlic and lemon inside the chicken so I do the same when I make it in the crockpot.
This makes a wonderfully easy meal you can serve with mashed potatoes or rice and your favorite vegetable alongside the carrots and celery if you wish. And I make chicken pot pies with the leftover chicken.
Can I roast a chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can totally cook a whole chicken in a crock pot. I use a 4 lb chicken in the crockpot. It's really easy to prep and honestly, I don't even bother roasting chicken in an oven anymore!
After the chicken is done in the slow cooker, I crispy the skin in my oven broiler so it's a slow cooker roast chicken with crispy skin!
If you want to roast a turkey as well, you can try this crockpot turkey recipe. If you still want to roast a chicken in the oven, try this recipe for perfect roast chicken.
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
Using the ingredients listed below for my crockpot whole chicken recipe, you want to rub garlic on the outside of the chicken. Then, put the spices on the outside and inside of the chicken.
Add a cut up lemon inside the cavity of the chicken and then lay the chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker.
Crockpot Whole Chicken Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 4 to 5 carrots
- 4 celery stalks
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 whole lemon
- 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds whole chicken
How long to cook chicken in a crock pot?
It will take four to eight hours on low to cook a whole chicken in a crock pot. It really depends on the size of your chicken. When I made a 4 pound chicken, it took about 6 hours.
Do I need to add water when making crockpot whole chicken?
There's no need to add water when making my recipe for slow cooker whole chicken because when the chicken is cooking in the crock pot, it creates a broth. Definitely use that broth to flavor the meat and keep it moist for when you save it for leftovers.
Can you cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker from frozen?
No, you shouldn't put a frozen chicken into a crock pot. If you want to use my recipe for crockpot whole chicken, you'll want to fully defrost the chicken first. But you can roast chicken from frozen.
Let me show you the step by step for making crockpot whole chicken
I put the vegetables in the slow cooker first. Then, prep the chicken.
Pat your chicken dry with a clean paper towel. Rub the outside of the chicken with garlic and place the garlic inside.
Fold the wings back below the chicken.
Add the rub to the outside and inside of the chicken. And place the lemon quarters inside.
I try to put the insides of the lemons up against the insides of the chicken, see how the outsides of the lemon quarters are touching?
Tie the chicken legs together with kitchen twine.
When making this slow cooker whole chicken recipe, place the chicken on top of the vegetables. This creates the best cooking situation for the chicken.
Cooking a whole chicken inside of the slow cooker creates a lot of broth and resting the chicken on top of veggies keeps the chicken from failing apart too much.
I use turkey lifters to remove the chicken from the crockpot carefully.
Place chicken in an oven safe dish or roasting pan & in the broiler for just about 4-5 minutes.
But it's inevitable, the chicken does fall apart a little bit. The meat is so moist and tender and it's honestly, the only way we make a roast chicken these days!
Crockpot Whole Chicken Video
I show you how easy it is to put the slow cooker whole chicken recipe together in this video below.
Recipe
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Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
Rub Ingredients for the Chicken
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Crockpot
- 1 cup chopped onion, approx 1 medium to large onion
- 4 to 5 carrots, scrubbed, no need to peel, chopped in halves or thirds
- 4 celery stalks, cut in thirds
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 whole lemon, quartered
- 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds whole chicken
Instructions
- Combine rub ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Prep the vegetables and place inside the slow cooker (I use a 7 quart oval one like this one.)
- Remove chicken from packaging and remove neck and pouch with organs. Discard or reserve for later use in another recipe. Pat your chicken dry with clean paper towels.
- Rub garlic all over outside of the chicken. Put garlic inside the chicken. Put the rub all over the outside and inside the chicken. Add quartered lemon to the inside of the chicken.
- Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Cover slow cooker and cook chicken on low for 4-8 hours. (When I used a 4 lb chicken, it took about 6 hours. The time will depend on the size of the chicken and your slow cooker.) Cook until the internal temperature of the leg is at 160 degrees F or use a pop-up thermometer as the original recipe calls for.
- Remove chicken and place in a 9x13 glass or ceramic baking dish. Place baking dish in the oven under the broiler for about 4-5 minutes. Allow chicken to rest after removing it from the broiler for 5-10 minutes.
Notes
Nope no water needed. This recipe actually makes broth while it's cooking the chicken. You can strain it and use it for a later recipe if you want! How do I get the skin crispy?
After it's done in the crockpot, see the instructions in the recipe to crisp up the skin in your oven broiler. Can I cook this recipe skinless?
I have never tried it but I have seen other bloggers post a recipe where they did it. If you want to, definitely try it! I can't guarantee it will turn out the same as with the skin (moist and tender) since I haven't tried it myself. Can I make this recipe with a frozen chicken?
I wouldn't do this. Be sure to thaw your chicken first and then place it in the your crockpot using the instructions above.
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Leave a RatingI have made this recipe so many times now that I can't even count. It seriously is the best recipe for making slow cooker whole chicken! I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about it. I even make chicken pot pies with the leftovers!
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More Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipes
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Free Slow Cooker Recipes eBook
Kale Soup Crock Pot
Crockpot Spinach Dip
Tools I use to make Crockpot Whole Chicken:
- Crock-Pot 7 Quart Slow Cooker – We use our slow cooker at least a few times a month if not more. It's easy to use and I have had one that doesn't have bells and whistles forever and it works just fine.
- OXO Fat Separator – Super easy and super durable, get rid of the fat from the chicken juices so you can make a sauce or use it as a broth.
- Italian Bakers -I love these baking dishes for this recipe and for making scalloped potatoes!
- Turkey Lifters – I have a similar set I bought years ago that we use every Thanksgiving and every time I make this recipe. The best way to remove the entire chicken out of the slow cooker in one piece. (Amazon | Williams-Sonoma)
- Anchor Hocking glass baking dish – We have a cobalt blue one that we have had forever. It's great for this recipe, potatoes. You can never have too many baking dishes because of holiday baking!
- Carving Knives – We have had a similar set for years now and love it. Love this brand, we have cheese knives from them that are amazing too! (Amazon | Williams-Sonoma)
- Glass Prep Bowls – These were given as a gift to us from my in-laws and I use them EVERY DAY. So convenient for prepping meals and we use them as storage in the refrigerator too!
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post – that means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I make enough for a cup of coffee or two. Thanks!
Cookee says
Hi,
All your recipes look amazing!!! I will be trying many. You are just as amazing, I don’t know how you have such a full schedule and still find time to cook such delicious foods.
Request…I love gravy!!!! Saw the video for your roasted chicken (slo cooker), but could you post or send the ingredients and amounts so I can make it for our chicken dinner….PLEASE!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL COOKING SKILLS!!
Barbara O'Hare says
I’ve made this recipe many times and it’s easy and so delicious! Meat falls off the bone and my husband loves it too.
emmasophiaseoa6 says
Wow! this looks so delicious glad i found this. thanks for sharing.
Kelly F NANTZ says
Can I add red cut up potatoes to this recipe?
Betty Curran says
I love cooking a whole chicken. There are so many ways to make additional meals.
Buddy Garrett says
This recipe would be great for weeknight dinners.It looks delicious. I like that it is easy to make.
Nancy Shaw says
I can’t wait to try this! I have always cut up the chicken, worried that the chicken wouldn’t cook all the way. I’m trying this on Sunday. Thanks!
kathy pease says
I love my crockpot it always makes meals so convenient
Antoinette M says
This is so easy to cook in the crockpot. I cannot wait to try the recipe!
Sarah L says
I like all the seasonings you use on this chicken. I’ll have to try it.
Dana Rodriguez says
This looks yummy. I may do this after the holidays!
Tina W says
Pinning this for those hot hot summer days when I don’t feel like turning on the oven!
Christopher Sorel says
nice idea and done with chicekn piece never a whole one
Sandy Klocinski says
Awesome! Always willing to try a new recipe. I use my slow cooker a lot but I’ve never cooked a whole chicken in it
Jaye Smith says
Love this blog. You answered all my questions about successfully roasting a chicken in the crock pot. Thanks
Mary Beth Elderton says
I love slow-cooker whole chicken…the house smells soooo good while it’s cooking.
Jennylyn Gross says
sounds easy to make
Mary Gardner says
This is a great way to make chicken. Putting it in the broiler for crispy skin would work well.
kesha says
This sounds delicious. I love cooking in the slow cooker!
Michelle J. says
That looks yummy!
Susan P. says
I’ll have to try this in my slow cooker. It’s an oval one so will fit the chicken nicely.
Linda Bick says
Great for a work day!
shelly peterson says
This looks good. I love slow cooker recipes.
paige chandler says
So glad I caught this recipe this time around. Thank you
Regina says
Crock-Pot turkeys are the best when you work so much and you want your family to have a good meal .
Tom King says
My wife cooks ours in a crock pot all the time
Janice Wright says
This looks delicious! And so very easy!
Rosie says
I haven’t yet tried a chicken in the crock pot – but I want to. They are on sale next week, I would like to make it!!
Linda Beus says
This recipe looks delicious!
Sarah Bridges says
I had never thought of putting it under the broiler to crisp the skin…I’m going to have to do that from now on!
Jennifer Essad says
the colder months and this time of year it seams like we crave this type of meal, your pics look yummy I’m sure they are delicious
Rachael DeBates says
This looks yummy!
Kim says
I’m making a whole chicken in my crockpot tomorrow. it stays juicy and so good. I’ve done this a lot.
Lisa Reid says
I use my slow cooker as much as I can. Always looking for new recipes and this is a good one.
Rachel B says
This is a great chicken recipe I’m going to try it, the seasonings sound delicious
athena j graeme says
Fantastic. Last time I tried a chicken it all fell apart, it was so tender and moist. I think I may have over cooked it because yours looks perfect and intact! Either way it’s so delicious!
Jennifer Raybon says
I have done this a couple of times and each time my chicken comes out dry, don’t know what I am doing wrong.
Rose Reeder says
I think I will try soon as I have a large crockpot
Erika Estrada says
Definitely have to try this recipe. I’m sure the flavors the crockpot will infuse will make this delicious.
Steve Guth says
Looks delicious and I’ve never tried a whole chicken in the crockpot. I’ll try it.
Melissa Storms says
That looks delicious, I definitely have to use my crockpot more often.
Evon Rairdon says
Love this!
Theresa Jenkins says
This is one of our FAV meals…thanks for different recipe
Susan Smith says
This a great way to cook chicken.
Ronnell Storie says
I will have to give this 1 a try! I like simple and easy recipes.
MARY BENACK says
crockpot chicken i have done in mine with stuffing an cranberrys so yummy
Christina Sparks says
This looks pretty juicy.
Debbie Yoder says
Looks so good and easy.Love all the spices included! Thanks!
Rachel Mauffray says
Slow roasted chicken makes the whole house smell delicious.
Deborah Waddell says
Similar to the turkey, sounds delicious. Will have to try.
latanya says
I love this process, so much simplier.
Sara Schwab says
This chicken looks so yummy
Dean says
Yum!
Rebekah Kirby says
This looks tasty!
Heather Clark-Hill says
Thanks for sharing such amazing recipes!
Cynthia Smith says
Another good low effort and ‘no time’ recipe. Will have to try this one too. I tend to save my crock for less tender cuts of protein. One dish mess is easy clean up too.
marilyn orsini nuovo says
not really a crock pot person never made a whole chicken n one dont really have many receipes so this good ty
LaMonica says
Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try this one
sheila ressel says
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Slow cooker chicken is a family favorite.
kelly nicholson says
more use to oven chicken,but if i ever get a crock pot…this is what im making
MaryB says
Lovely! I’ve got to try this.
tiesha says
I use my crockpot alot, but have never cooked a whole chicken in it. I will definitely have to try this!
Andi Durgin says
Looks amazing, I’m going to make this!
Lisa Lawton says
I have only tried a few things in my crock pot this is a good one tobtry.
Thomas Gibson says
Thanks for the awesome and simple recipe. I love roasted chicken with mashed potatoes.
Heather says
I love this idea for busy nights! Your chicken looks perfect!
Pat F says
This looks amazing I want to make it soon.
nyx says
makes me hungry
Josephine Berlin says
Yummy
Pam Flynn says
I never thought of putting lemons in the chicken before cooking. It looks delicious!
Lisa Ayers says
Great idea for Chicken too! I love using my crockpot!
Diana Haggerty says
Love this recipe. Will definitely be making it.
Jennifer Stinnett says
I absolutely loved the flavor and texture when i slow cook it. I never knew you could cook a whole turkey in the crockpot!
Alicia Hewitt says
This looks really yummy! I’ll definitely be trying this recipe out.
Mollie Morris says
Love the simplicity of this recipe. Great for busy families. Thank you!
Karin F says
Will try it very soon. Thank you
Teena Sierson says
I will definitely be trying this one
Jennifer Phillips says
I do chicken all of the time in my slow cooker, but sometimes it all falls apart, makes quite the mess but is still so yummy
Gabrielle says
Mmmm… garlic. I love garlic on practically everything.
Devon Pickford says
I love moist chicken, definitely saving this recipe
rhonda miotke says
I printed this and will be making this between the holiday’s something easy and yummy. Thanks!
Mommad33467 says
I love crockpot chicken! So many ways to make variations that it never gets old
Anita Kennett says
This was a fantastic idea that I never thought of..I am excited to make this for my family.Thanks????
Kim Hillman says
Looks mouthwatering! Will have to make this! Thank you!
Chris says
I need to try this – I love chicken but haven’t had great luck with making it in the oven.
belinda bell says
I love chicken and this recipe sounds yummy.
Phyllis Huebbe says
In definitely going to try this,why heat up the kitchen if you don’t have to plus it will save me time when I’m at work.
Janet Fletcher says
Looks yummy! Thanks for the tips and recipe.
Rebecca Foughty says
I use my crockpot a lot and I have a few different sizes of them. I think this recipe sounds simple and tasty for all of the chicken lovers in my house. I will be trying this soon!
Diane Sallans says
I’ll have to try this – love the veggies on the bottom
rana durham says
thanksgiving in slow cooker is a creative idea that will letyou spend more time with your family .
Shanon says
Looks really amazing
Tami Vollenweider says
I like your addition of garlic and lemon in the cavity! I always put onions and publano peppers inside too!
Michelle Damon says
Thank you for posting! Definitely going to try this!
Nikki Sones says
Wow I’ve never thought to try cooking a chicken this wat! I love one pot meals and sheet pan quick meals so this will be great! I’ll definitely be doing this very soon. Perfect for busy parents or just any day especially in the fall.
Jan says
I’m always looking for crockpot recipes. Can’t wait to try this one.
mandi says
How hot does the cayenne pepper make it?
Natalie says
I love crockpot recipes because you can do other things while it cooks!
Lynne B says
I’ll be honest – I’d take roast chicken over roast turkey at Thanksgiving. I know, blasphemy, right?!
Carol Moore says
I am going to try this seems so easy.
Millie says
I never knew you could cook a whole chicken in a slowcooker
Gloria Luongo says
I saved this recipe to try soon. Thanks.
Nerlande says
This looks delicious my mother has ever used a crockpot before
Rania R. says
Wow, looks amazing and easy to make. Thank you
Sara Zielinski says
This sounds like a great way to make a chicken.
Michael DeFren says
i got try this, i never thought of putting a full chicken in the croc pot
Amanda B. says
Going to give this a try….I love using my crock pot!
Calvin says
Got to like a whole juicy chicken. Great recipe. Perfect to go along with roasted potatoes.
Cheryl says
I love cooking with a crockpot. Will have to try this!
New Jenks says
This looks delicious. Thank you for the wonderful instructions and the pictures are awesome…they make my mouth water.
mj rudy says
looks yummy, will have to get out my crock pot
jackie says
This is so good and so easy.
C. M. says
Amazing spice mix – I’ve made this chicken In the slow cooker and it was amazing BUT this mix makes the MOST wonderful beer can and/or rotisserie chicken. To die for!!
Paula Pope-Jones says
This is the best chicken recipe I have ever made! It is a fan favorite for many of my friends. I am actually making it for a couple who just had a baby.
Thanks Julie for sharing this over the years!!
Susie Hewson says
Hello Julie
I was looking for a roast chicken recipe for the slow cooker and this sounds great. I’ve been slow cooking for about 6 years and make a variety of meals but I’ve never tried roasting a chicken, so far. Just one question – is the broiler what we call a grill?
regards
Susie
Art says
Yes Broiler and Grill are the same thing 🙂
Hilda Labrada Gore says
I made this recipe last night and it was a huge hit! So simple and tasty! And, just like you said, the chicken was ridiculously moist and tender! Thanks SO much!
Diana Monk says
I am on my 5th chicken since December. Love this recipe. I pull the chicken out after done, juicy every time. I don’t roast it, (my family are not much into roasted chicken). I pull the pieces of meat I want for soup, tacos , enchiladas or whatever comes to mind. Then… I put all the bones back into the same pOT, having left the juices and vegis in, throw in the ends of my celery, carrots and onions used earlier… And I also add chicken feet. fill to the tip of my pot with water, let is go at low for 24/36 hours. Just left alone… OMG! Best broth ever. Got rid of the flu in three days. Thank you for sharing. Have a second chicken in the fridge to follow this one.
Julie Deily says
Hi Diana,
Yay! I love that you love it so much! And for how you made broth!! I’m going to try that soon!!
Jo says
Do you know the nutritional value? I’m on a weight loss program
Stephanie says
Very pleased with the broil step– first time doing whole chicken in the slow cooker (my favorite recipes use pieces!) and this general method seems to have worked beautifully. I’ll be doing it again– like the procedures. Varied ingredients a bit based on what we had and like (turnips, for example, now adding cauliflower rice and a bit of red wine).
Julie Deily says
Hi Stephanie, that’s awesome! I’m so glad you like it!! 🙂
Sandy Smith says
Making tonight!! Starting late 8:30 pm-so I’m really getting ready for tomorrow. Chicken was cut in 1/2, meaty side down. Used a bit of olive oil so season would stick better and not to pot. Going to add rice instead at the end. First cold spell really here in GA. Hearty chicken and rice. Will make separate okra and tomatoes as vegetables.
Wade adams says
I’m a single dad
I’m going to try this in the morning,before I go to work,for my 10 year old and myself.
Can I put the potatoes in with the chicken?
My little girl doesn’t like spicy food.
Tired of eating out.
Living in moab utah It gets very expensive.
Julie Deily says
Hi Wade,
You can totally put the potatoes in with the chicken. You can also make it without the cayenne pepper too!
Christie says
This slow cooks on low, right? Making it today 🙂
David says
My mom gave us a crock pot last week. I found this recipe yesterday and couldn’t wait to try it. I love crock pot dinners. I think next time I will not use as much cayenne pepper. My 8-year-old son thought it was too spicy. I made some rice to go along with the meal. Our whole family enjoyed this recipe.
Abbey Cruz says
Did anyone add potatoes to this?
When would be best to add them?
Julie Deily says
Hi Abbey, I have added them before. I add them with the other veggies before putting the chicken in.
patrina says
Patrina. I am going to try this for dinner tomorrow .
William says
Love this for summer, I don’t have to use the oven and warm up the house if I want a roast chicken. I usually add a couple parsnips and a bay leaf for a little extra flavor. Good stuff!
Julie Deily says
Sounds great, William!
Mary W says
I am making this today as Hurricane Irma is heading directly for us as a Cat 4. Good food helps ease a bit of the tension a disaster brings. You might have to rename this chicken to Chicken Irma! It is a lifesaver.
Julie Deily says
Mary,
How did it turn out?
And how did you make out from the hurricane? I was dealing with Irma too! We only had a little bit of damage though, thankfully.
Chicken Irma is an awesome name! LOL
Penny says
Have you tried making this into a chicken soup?
Linda Bradshaw says
Plan on making this soon. I can’t wait to try it.
Linda says
I’m not a very good cook, but I tried this recipe today and it was fabulous! The spices were just right and the chicken cooked beautifully in the crock pot. Super easy and deliciously moist. I’ll be trying more of your recipes, thanks!
Calli says
I cook it with quartered Yukon Golds, it comes out great! Other potatos can get smashed and mushed under the chicken but these hold up well. Melt in your mouth!
Mrs Kamas says
Has anyone added potatoes? Should I add a little broth or parboil potatoes before adding?
Diane Pelkey says
With the chicken
Diane Pelkey says
Could you cook whole new potatoes in Crock-Pot with celery and carrots
Michael says
I use organic leeks instead of carrots and celery. I rub the chicken with Himalayan salt and Pondicherry pepper (ground together), then sprinkle it with paprika. This time, to the bed of leeks, I added a shoot of fennel. What I like best about this recipe is that it’s nearly impossible to ruin. So many possibilities! Just keep experimenting! Ooooh, what fun!
patricia says
If youre unable to fit your chicken under the broiler is the skin still good and edible or does it come out very mushy? Asking because the broiler in my apt is only on the bottom of the oven and not very efficient.
LP says
I did this today and the skin comes out perfect
Barbara Quinn says
I don’t have a slow cooker ! Can I just do this in a cast iron pot ,with a cover in the oven ? And what temp should
Heat the oven too for an equivalent low setting on a slow cooker ????And w hat temp should the oven be for a
High heat in a slow cooker ? Thanks in advance for your help . …..
Cheers and Bon appetite.
Dionne Robbins says
This was soooo good, I will definitely be making this dish again.
Dana says
Just wanted to stop by and let you know that this has replaced my old favorite roast chicken recipe. It is so delicious and simple with ingredients I almost always have on hand. It is a satisfying meal that I always look forward to. Thank you!
Leah says
Very much impressed with how simple it was to get this prepped & into my slow cooker in no time at all, came home to the most amazing aroma. Followed the above recipe exactly but did not need to crisp the skin, the chicken & vegetables were perfectly cooked, meat fell from the bone – new favourite meal, could mean an end to roasted whole chicken.
Dawn says
This recipe is terrific. Thank you so much. I used whatever I had on hand underneath the bird: parsnips, fennel root. It was so delicious. I was in a rush so I cooked it on high. I had a 4.5 lb chicken on high for about 3 hours, then did the broil step to crisp up the skin. I noticed that my carrots were still a little too crunchy so I put them into the pan for the broil step. Everything came out perfect. Loved this, will add it to the regular rotation and make it once a month. The outside was a tad spicy for my kid who thinks everything is too spicy, but I just gave him inside pieces. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
Sonya says
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for this recipe! I made this today and found it while looking for something “fast” in a crock pot. This fit the bill. And it’s so versatile, which was great. I needed to prep quickly to get it cooking on time, so I dried the chicken off with paper towels inside and out, rubbed it all over with sea salt and cracked black pepper and fresh garlic cloves, quartered a lime (out of lemons) and threw it inside the cavity with the garlic. Placed it on top of the carrots, celery and leeks (out of onions) and put it on high for 4 hours (even though the recipe says to put it on low – I just didn’t want to risk it not being done). When we returned just in time for dinner, I put it in the oven to broil for 4 minutes, as instructed (I had it on a high broil, but next time I’ll just stick with low broil), let it rest for 10 minutes, and then served dinner. It was moist, tender chicken – a great one-dish meal. Served it with potatoes that were cooking in another slow cooker at the same time. I’ll make this again and play with the spices next time. Thanks again!
Dave Royston says
Dont let your chicken sit in the bottom of a crock pot or it can dry out…Place root vegs or foil balls under so the chicken is off the bottom.
Bailey says
I’ve made this twice now, and my husband says, “I don’t know why we eat chicken any other way.” Thank you for such a great recipe.
Karina says
Honestly I don’t think I’ll ever go back to roasting chicken in the oven after this recipe. Simply amazing ! The chicken retained all its juices and was flavorful, just like a rotisserie chicken. The veggies even stayed intact ! I put cooked it for 4 hours on low then 1 hour on high because the chicken was still at little pink. I want to experiment with different rubs, maybe something more smoky/bbq next. Thank you !
Anna says
Not usually a fan of making roast chicken dinners, I tried this method for the first time, but without the spices (just salt and pepper) and extra veg – parsnips and celeriac. I was at work so it cooked for over 9 hours on low! (though I’ll admit the bird was still slightly frozen going in!). It was delicious… the veg a little soggy of course by this stage , but so tasty, and the meat succulent and moist. I like this method also because I’m not good at carving and usually waste good meat because of this – so I loved the way it fell cleanly off the bones, not wasting a scrap.
I crisped up the skin under the grill as suggeste, and thickened the juices with a little corn flour and boullion powder to make a delicious gravy.
Thank you for this excellent recipe!
Kara says
I made this tonight and it was outstanding. I knew I was in for a treat when I poked the chicken with a thermometer and a bunch of juice came squirting out. Delicious and not even a tiny bit dry! Just be careful when broiling. I burned the skin a little but it was okay.
Kathy says
This recipe is always my go to chicken recipe! It’s successful every time! Even when I haven’t had the veggies or lemon it is so tender and delicious.
Bob says
Wow, what a disappointment. Have tried many sloe cooker recipes with many proteins and really loved them. I put an instant read thermometer as well as a pop up in the chicken. 5 hours. Pulled it out. Just a test tastte before the oven to crisp skin. All the spices and lemon were great. …….DRY CHICKEN. Maybe I went wrong on something but I ended up serving leftovers. What did I do wrong? Might be a great recipe, but not for me!!!
Julie Deily says
Hi Bob, That stinks! I’m sorry this happened.
What size chicken did you use, how many pounds was it? Also, what did you do use for the heat level…high or low?
I always have tender and moist chicken when I use this recipe. Feel free to email me so we can troubleshoot further.
Jason says
Should this be cooked on High or Low?
Ida Diamond says
The recipe says to cook on low setting. I followed this directive and got a great result (5 lb chick for 5.5 hrs). I didn’t remove the skin because I have had dried out chicken when I’ve removed the skin before cooking. We don’t eat the skin, so I don’t do the crisping step after the crock pot, and I am sure to season under the skin and in the cavity as well as over the skin.
Jennifer kuper says
Hi! I just tried this recipe tonight and its pretty spicy. I think next time I will omit the cayenne pepper, white pepper and thyme and just keep it simple with salt, pepper, and garlic. But no doubt, it is fall off the bone. The vegetables seemed hold up. Other than that, it wasnt too bad.
Julie Deily says
Hi, Jennifer, I haven’t heard that complaint (I don’t think) but then again, I like things spicy.
I would say try it with the thyme and omit the cayenne & white peppers. The thyme gives it a nice flavor. Glad it turned out good except for the spicy part though!
All the best to you!
Debbie Jay says
Hi Julie I’ve made chicken quarters in crock pot using chicken broth and veggies and seasonings. Always delicious. I have a whole chicken that I’d like try in my crock pot now. I’ll add all the same veggies as usual but I don’t need to add broth? Will it baste and cook evenly?
Thank you
Julie Deily says
Hi Debbie,
No broth needed. It creates a broth!
Angela F says
I want to make this soon, how much broth does it leave when it is done? I wanted to add some cooked white rice to the broth after I take the chicken out to flavor up the rice, but I am not sure if there would be enough broth to make it work
Julie Deily says
I haven’t ever measured it (and I”m sure it’s different for different slow cookers & depending on how big your chicken is)…do you mean cooked or uncooked rice? I would skim the fat and then add it to some cooked rice.
AK says
I feel bad saying this but I hated how this came out! I feel the lemon turned everything to garbage. The veggies were inedible and the broth was destroyed 🙁 I am incredibly sad that I wasted so much food trying this recipe.
Julie Deily says
Hi AK,
I’m sorry that happened. How did the chicken taste? I know that some people don’t like how the veggies turn out, it’s too soggy for some but we love it.
Laura Chapman says
I am in LOVE with this chicken! It reminds me of the kind of chicken my Noni would make at a BIG FAMILY GET TOGETHER 😀 She is a seasoned pro and ?% Italian ? I don’t have a lot of experience cooking and this was very easy to follow ! I was thrilled when I tasted it !! YUMMMMY 🙂 I was even more thrilled when the compliments flooded in! I felt amazing…This is the kind of meal you make to WOW the crowd. I am sharing this recipe with all my friends and saving it for future !! 😀 Thank you very much!!!!
Julie Deily says
This makes me happy! Yay!
Melissa H says
Tried this recipe, pleased to say the results were highly edible. I’d tried roasting whole chicken in the oven before, with little success (dry-but-edible counting as “success” in this case). Not doing that anymore!
My slow cooker has three crockery inserts in various sizes, I use the biggest for this recipe. I leave out the lemon, and use pre-smushed garlic in a tube instead of whole cloves. So delicious!
Lemony Snicker says
The chicken was very good but the veggies were much too lemony and inedible. The lemon must have leached out into the broth. I used an InstantPot on the slow cooking function for 5 hours. Maybe the fact that the pot is not wide and shallow made the vegetables just steep in the lemon.
Mike Bearman says
Ok…even us Kiwis like a good recipe for a whole chook. I have had ours in the slow cooker for 3.5 hours so far and awaiting my wife Judy to come tonite for a Mothers Day treat.
Lookin’ good so far and really awaiting the result after popping it under the grill for 10 mind or so.
Thanks again.
Mike.
Carolyn says
This was my first attempt at a crockpot chicken and I have to say it turned out great. As we do not eat the skin on chicken it really did not matter to me if it was crisp or not. The chicken was soooo moist and the liquid created was great as a gravy. I just used flour and water to thicken and boiled it up. Didn’t need to add any further spicing as the rub had created a tasty liquid.
I made the recipe exactly as written and it was great!
Roni says
This is probably one of the best whole chicken recipes I have ever had, Thank You
Tammy says
Can you email me the nutritional info for this recipe? I would love to try it but my finally is counting calories, carbs, etc & would need to know all the nutritional info of this recipe! Sounds delicious!
Tricia - Melbourne, Aus says
Really enjoyed this slow cooked chicken. I had a 2.4kg chicken and cooked for 6 hours, 3 on low and then 3 on high. It was moist and so flavoursome. Served with pan fried diced potato and sweet potato that I par boiled first, corn on the cob and some of the carrot, celery and onion from the slow cooker. We did crisp up the chicken for 10 mins under the grill. Reduced some of the liquid and made a lovely gravy to pour over the top. The rest of the liquid, along with veg and chicken carcass, is simmering away now for a wonderful stock. Thanks for sharing recipe.
danielle says
I just made this recipe and hubby, myself, and two year old loved it. We didn’t crisp up the skin as everything was so tender and just falling apart and we barely got it out of our 6-quart slow cooker. I used white pearl onions instead of chopped onion and they were delicious. Will definitely make again.
Julie Deily says
That’s awesome! So glad you loved it!
Tia says
Hi I do not have kitchen twine to tie it, is it ok not to tie the chicken?
Julie Deily says
Hi Tia, it’s okay if you don’t have kitchen twine…I have done it without in the past.
Tracey says
This is one of our all time family favorite recipes. I have varied the spices from time to time but recently tried smoked paprika instead of regular. It was amazing!! I highly recommend trying it!
Julie Deily says
That’s awesome, Tracey. Thanks!
Cora says
Will be making for tonight’s dinner. None of us are fans of celery so will be using peppers instead. If I put rice in the bottom will there be enough chicken juice to cook the rice?
Julie Deily says
Hi Cora,
I wouldn’t do rice because the broth doesn’t accumulate under the chicken until the last couple or few hours of cooking, the rice might burn. Hope that helps!
Gordon M. Johanson says
Can I use some small red potatoes with the celery & carrots ?
thanks
Julie Deily says
Hi Gordon!
Yes you can! I have done that before!
Mikel says
I made this without the veggies. It cooks a little faster for me and is 165 after 3 hours on low. All I do different is to place a dry dish towel on top to make it more efficient. I think this raises the temp as if it was cooking on high. The negative is that it does not fall off the bone as chicken cooked longer on lower temps do.
It is a tough one for me as I wish to keep using the towel to use electricity as little as possible yet I do like the fall off the bone tenderness.
George says
Thank-you so much for this recipe, it was the tastiest whole chicken I have ever cooked and also by far the easiest.
Ironically I found ‘the little kitchen’ website due to finally getting a big kitchen big enough to have worktop space to fit a slow cooker. This was my first slow cooker recipe and if I only ever use the cooker for this it will still have been worth it.
Kelly says
Cindy, the chicken releases juices as it cooks but you can make homemade chicken broth with the liquid 🙂
Just broil in the oven for a few minutes to crisp it up!
Cindy says
i tried this but it turned out more like a chicken soup! Maybe my crock pot was too small for the chicken? I definitely did NOT add any juices. It’s still very delicious but wondering why mine came out the way it did.
Caroline says
Does the cayenne make it spicy or just give it a nice flavor? I have a three year old who loves chicken, but is not too keen on spicy just yet.
Thanks!
carla says
Will it be okay to stuff the chicken with stuffing?
Emma says
I can’t wait to try this recipe out tomorrow – thanks for the inspiration!
I hope you don’t mind, I just wanted to leave a message here about rinsing raw chicken. The Food Standards Agency in the UK have been running a campaign for the past few years to raise awareness of the food hygiene issues caused by rinsing chicken, particularly the spread of campylobacter. Their advice states that cooking a chicken thoroughly will kill any harmful bacteria on the skin anyway. For anyone interested, their website can be found here: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/campaigns/campylobacter/fsw-2014
Caroline says
Can I put potatoes with the carrots , celery and onions? Has anyone tried it with potatoes?
Julie Deily says
Hi Caroline!
I have and it’s really good!! Hope you try it soon!
Heatherlee says
Have you ever put fresh green beans and potatoes instead of carrots celery and onions?
Julie Deily says
Hi Heather, I have never done green beans…with green beans, if you cook them too long, they get really soggy and weird. I have done potatoes and they work great!
The Maj says
Absolutely awesome recipe. Tried this recipe yesterday. the only changes I made was … used smoked paprika n added sweet potatoes. AWESOME
V. Revoy says
I have made this recipe a couple of times and tried it with potatoes. My husband absolutely loves this and I wouldn’t make it any other way. They can get a bit mushy if they are in for the whole cooking time though
ReigNa says
Q: the Recipe states “rub chicken with garlic inside and out” For a whole chicken with skin-on: Do I need to cut the skin somewhere to rub the garlic and spice rub on then cover back up for cooking? I cannot tell from the pics if the skin is off or on in the final. Also, if I rub the garlic and spices on the outside of the skin-will the flavor reach the meat? When putting rub inside do I use minced garlic or a clove? I am such a rookie at this….and a nugget girl. Got both chickens on sale one is in fridge with a brine other will be your recipe.
Julie Deily says
Hi Reigna,
I rub the garlic (I crush the garlic, I don’t bother mincing it) all over the skin and then throw it inside the cavity of the chicken to cook. The final pics are of the skin…if you want the flavor to be all over the chicken, you can separate the skin from the meat and rub the rub ingredients inside the skin too!
Hope that helps!! Enjoy!
Dustin Fry says
I just put it in the crock pot. Sounds like it is amazing and only took a few minutes to put together. Thank you!
LINDA says
Was going to do the traditional chicken in the oven until I saw your recipe. I have put onions and carrots on the bottom of the crockpot, and garlic inside of the chicken. I’ve also put butter underneath the skin, with sea salt and black pepper on top of the skin. I will finish it off in the oven tomorrow before my guests arrive to brown/crisp it off. I’ll let you know how it was received.
Michele says
saw you way of cooking in a slow cooker, and thought i would try it, never really new how to do this, soI have just bunged chopped vegetables in and put whole chicken in on top, 2lb chicken for 3 hours, as yours was a 6lb one for 6 hours. do you think it will be alright, never had ingredients to rub into it. here hoping for the best.
karen says
Great recipe! I’ve been looking for a whole chicken recipie like this that practically cooks itself to perfection! I couldn’t even get it out of the crock pot in one piece because it was fall off the bone goodness! The carrots caramelized instead of absorbing stew broth which made them to where my husband requested seconds:) It was nice to have Sunday dinner cooked for us when we got home from the lake and leftovers for an easy weeknight pot pie!
Deni says
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe! Probably the best seasoned chicken, and the most moist chicken I’ve ever had! I am now done with conventionally roasted chicken. I made it exactly per directions except I opted to sub oregano for the thyme. I whisked 1 cup of drippings into a butter/flour roux to make the most delicious gravy. Right now I’m making a slow cooker broth with the carcass and remaining drippings/veggies to which I’ve added fresh onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and about 2 quarts of water to cook for the next 10-12 hours on low. Will be making this again and again, including the lemon pepper version!
SonyaG says
Hi!
I used this method for years, varying the spices. Loved it. Then I read a blog post somewhere and discovered an even BETTER and EASIER slow-cooker chicken!
Season as usual. No veggies, no water. Straight up in the crockpot 4 hours on high.
I was highly skeptical, but it works and is amazing. Creates much less water and the skin actually crisps up reasonably well in the crockpot. Original recipe called for brushing the chicken with olive oil to add extra crisp, but since we hardly eat the skin anyway I don’t.
Try it, you will be convinced!
Jane says
Thanks for saying the skin crisps up. That’s my favorite part and the only thing I was curious about.
Emily says
I have used this same rub recipe for all of my chickens (oven or crock) for years! So yummy!
Carolyn says
Thanks for the great recipe, I’ll be trying this today while I spend the day out at a christening an come home to Sunday dinner already made! Neat! The only thing I would advise is not to rinse the chicken as instructed as it’s dangerous to do so as you are splashing harmful bacteria around your sink. Mush safer to just rub in your spices and then thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
Nanci says
what an awesome crock of chicken! easy as anything. came out great. glad you said ‘makes its own broth’- it does! this is why I bought a crock.
ruthfarrington says
have been looking for this forever. hope to try it soon. thanks so much
Niki says
Julie, thank you so much for posting this recipe with the great pics and instructions! I made this yesterday – 10 hours on medium and it was AMAZING! So juicy and tender, one of my guests said it was the best chicken he’d ever had! Leftovers will become chicken and corn soup for more guests on Monday. Finished it off in the oven for half an hour and it crisped up beautifully – I will definitely be making this again. And the carrots that sat under it were delicious too! I turned the stock/broth/cooking juices into the simplest gravy by heating in a saucepan and adding some cornflour.
Kelly says
I do a chicken in the crockpot frozen all the time as I always forget to take it out the night before I destroy the veggies in for the chicken on top season it up turn it on and when I get home I have an amazing dinner awaiting me
Ruthie says
Has anyone prepared the chicken the night before?
Julie Deily says
Hi Ruthie,
You can totally prep the chicken the night before and refrigerate…and then just put it in the crockpot the next day when you’re ready! Enjoy!
cheri says
Can you stuff the chicken in crock
Julie Deily says
Hi Cheri, I have not done it. I wouldn’t only because I’m unsure of how high the temperature is in the slow cooker.
Theresa says
I appreciate the thorough description, accompanying photos, FAQs, and tools/equipment list. The comments sound promising. This will be the first thing I try in my brand new slow cooker.
judith Bowles says
just using your recipe for cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot and noticed the comment on doing it skinless – here’s what i do: i always cook the chicken upside down then the juices drain through the breast and keep it moist. if the skin is off it is still moist and tender this way as it is protected by the vegetables and the lemon drains into the meat making it tastier.
Jude
Elton Pasceri says
Tried this tonite so yammiii so amazing!!!!! We loved it 🙂
Carrie says
I stumbled apon this recipe last night, and this morning gave it a shot.
I’m completely impressed. Thank you for posting this Since my Sunday supper was abreeze to put together, and made my house smell just as amazing. Perfectly cooked and got up to the correct temp after 7 hours in slow Cooker on low.
Those who keep mentioning that you shouldn’t rinse your chicken before cooking, well i disagree even if what you say is true as long as you clean up your working area asap there shall be no problems. In fact if it were such a dangerous issue why does the packaging tell you to Rinse thoroughly before preparing to cook. Most chicken come with the giblet pack inside the carcass i always remove it then rinse. No problems.
Marceda says
This slow cooker recipe is a keeper. I try many on line recipes and don’t always find them worthy of a second shot. My husband and teenage sons all agreed that it was very, very good. I will definitely be making it again, and probably sooner rather than later! I followed the directions exactly, with the exception that I used an 8 lb. Perdue roaster with a built in pop up timer and 1 less tsp. of salt (just in case others were right about not putting so much in). The timer never popped but the chicken was at the right temp. in approx. 7 hours (I changed the temp to high for the last 30 min. because it was getting late). It turned out so moist and delicious. I placed it in the oven to broil for 5 min. as suggested and then sliced and served. I removed the veggies from the cooker and served on the side along with mashed potatoes. I then placed the juice in a small sauce pan and added a little flour and water to thicken a little bit for gravy. The flavor was great and the lemon added a nice touch. Loved this recipe!
Charisse says
Hi! I was wondering if I could get this prepared in the crockpot dish and let it sit in the fridge for a Couple hours before I put it in the crock pot to cook?
Thanks!
Julie Deily says
Hi Charisse, yes you could totally do that. You could even prep it the night before and refrigerate it!
Amy says
Thanks! Really inspired to use the slow cooker more after how well this turned out. I must have used too much lemon though as it was very very lemony. I put it in the oven for 5 minutes at the end and it turned out perfectly.
Nadia says
I made this yesterday. I made a few adjustments simply because I couldn’t find onion and garlic powder. So I added chicken seasoning which had your spice mix. However, I then proceeded to ruin it by getting carried away with the lemons. 2 too many!!
It made the rest of the vegetables taste of lemons. Not good.
On the plus side. I have owned a crock pot for many years and mainly did stews however this was my first attempt at doing a whole chicken. I have to say, the process made the chicken incredibly moist which was delicious. It literally fell apart as I attempted to lift it out.
So my next challenge is to do a pot roast. Do you have any tried and tested family favourites??
Thanks for this wonderful recipe despite the addition of lemons. It was very nice.
Julie Deily says
Hi Nadia,
I love this one! https://www.thelittlekitchen.net/french-onion-pot-roast-slow-cooker/
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Delia adams says
Can this recipe be cooked in oven same way if you dont have a slow cooker
Helen Downing says
I started a bit late so put my 3.5 roaster in the pot on High.It took about 4 hours. My thermometer said done, but the legs and thighs were not ready to fall off the way I like my poultry. At that point, I put it on a foil lined pan and finished baking it in the oven at 375 since I still wanted to make a gravy. I had made a butter and flour roux so poured the juices from the crock pot in the pan and stirred until smooth adding unsalted chicken broth from a box. Then I put in the veggies from the bottom of the crock pot in with the simmering gravy since they were still a bit firm. I used all of the ingredients except the onion powder for the dry rub since I was out of it. The flavor of the chicken was fantastic! The skin was crisp too. Next time I will allow more time so that I can follow the exact directions. I really don’t think there’s enough to make a soup with the leftovers, but I am going to put it back in the crock and make chicken broth to freeze. I use it all the time for cooking! Thanks for the delicious recipe, I was very pleased with it even if I did modify due to time constraints. I would try a slightly larger chicken next time! There are just 2 of us, but we gobbled it up!
Jk says
I made this today but skinned the chicken as I didn’t want a lot of fat in the juice. Would use maybe only half a lemon next time but otherwise it was very tasty. Slow cooking is a bit hit or miss for me but this was one of my better efforts.
Helen Downing says
This recipe sounds wonderful! The only thing that makes me nervous is putting the chicken under the broiler in a glass or ceramic baker. I’ve done this before and the dish cracked! Just relating my experience! I think I would feel safer with a metal pan. Going to cook my chicken tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Julie Deily says
Hi Helen,
That happened to me before with a ceramic baker but luckily it was just one crack and the whole thing didn’t break. But this happened because I filled it up with water. If it’s a good high quality oven-safe bakeware, you’re fine…but I do understand your reservation! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Susan Klatman says
Cooking a 8lbs. On low I am wondering if 8 hours is long enough
Julie Deily says
Hi Susan,
I have never done a chicken that was 8 pounds before (that’s a big chicken!) so I’m not sure. It will probably take longer on low heat in your slow cooker than 8 hours.
Susan Klatman says
Should I cook it on high
RMH says
I tried this recipe and loved how the chicken turned out! I did not, however, like the taste of the carrots/celery that I put under the chicken in the crockpot. All-in-all, I would use the chicken recipe again, but prepare the vegetables separately.
Daisy says
what tempuarature would you set the oven to, doing this in a cast iron pot with a lid?
Thanks
GAry says
Hi
I tried this last weekend. Having cooked for most of my life, I was sceptical as to whether this recipe would work due to the no liquid and the not browning the meat first.
Well I trusted the recipe, with plan B being we would just roast off the chicken in the oven if it wasn’t cooked.
I prepped the chicken, bunged it in the slow cooker, stuck the temp thingie on high and went out for the day coming back 7 hrs later to a wonderfully smelly house.
perfect chicken, skin crisped off in oven, served with some steamed veggies it was the ultimate easy meal.
This weekend I am doing the lemon version as I write this, and again the house is smelling yummy.
Thank you for giving me a recipe that was outside of my comfort zone. It has already been discussed, alomng with pictures I took, in the office where I work.
Much love
Gary Buckingham UK
Diane says
I made this tonight for a birthday dinner for 6 adults and it turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it and had seconds of everything. This was the first time I’ve made a whole chicken in a crockpot and it is going to be a 3-4 times a month dinner for us.
I did changed up the recipe a bit. I added fresh mushrooms, carrots, onions and skipped the lemon (family is not a fan of lemons in food). I stuffed the chicken with celery, onions and garlic gloves. Instead of rubbing the garlic clove on the chicken I minced 2 cloves and rubbed over chicken before the dry rub. I used all dry spices in recipe and added 1 teaspoon of basil. The veggies were delicious. Then I made chicken gravy with the stock for mashed potatoes.
I was afraid it would not feed 6 people but it was the perfect amount….hardly any leftovers **chicken was 6 1/2 lbs and 2lb bag peeled carrots.
So happy I found this fabulous recipe!!
Erica says
I don’t have any twine & was wondering if I can just skip that part & put it in the crockpot without tying the legs together!?? This sounds amazing I can’t wait to try it!!!
Julie Deily says
Hi Erica,
Yes you can! Hope you enjoy!
Erica says
Thank you so much for the quick reply!! I’m getting ready to put it in the crockpot for dinner tonight yummm!!
Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things says
My chicken is cooking this very minute! Thanks for the recipe, and for the helpful tips below. I wasn’t sure if I needed to add water so it was super helpful that you had the answer right there! Can’t wait to see how my first whole slow cooked chicken works out!
Xx
Mary says
I wonder if you can make a roast turkey in the slow cooker. Has anyone tried it out?
Bridget says
Love this idea! Wondering if I could use a Turkey instead of a Chicken? Have you tried that before?
Julie Deily says
Hi Bridget,
I have not but my former boss has and it there’s a lot of liquid but it turned out really good. He brought it into work once! I would mix up the spices a little bit. Maybe I’ll try it in the new year and post about it! 🙂
Ellie says
Hi there and thanks for the recipe! Will be trying it out today.
A couple of pointers however. You should never rinse chicken due to the spread of bacteria when washing it.
Also, as Will said, it is not advisable to cook a chicken from frozen.
Thanks for the ideas! 🙂
Will says
Apparently it’s not safe to put a frozen chicken in the slow cooker, because the temperature does not increase fast enough to kill all the bacteria – it will stay at a dangerous temperature for too long.
Chantal says
I am planning on making this overnight in my cooker. My chicken is a little over six pounds. I am planning on transporting it to my inlaws and eating it for a noon meal. Because I am transporting I would like to be able to have my whole meal in one pot. I know you say to put on top of veggies and that was my plan. I want to use potatos and would like to know if they will taste ok or should I plan on making them on the side?
Thank you!
Lucy says
My husband and I are allergic to garlic. Can you suggest a substitute?
Grace says
I have been roasting chicken in crock pot for years. Never heard of the lemon but will try. I always use rosemary to season mine.
Nicole says
I had ran out of garlic at one time while preparing this…I amended the recipe with 1/4 tsp more each of black pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. It was just as delicious as the original recipe!
Kelly says
This looks great and so easy! Will try this tomorrow.
Thom Davis says
Did this yesterday. Chicken meat was luscious. Added step of crisping the skin works well-suggest convection broil for 5 minutes if your oven has that since more of the skin will crisp. Definitely need to separate fat from broth to make gravy. Two minor issues with the result, 1) the spices get lost in the final product and I was liberal; 2) the breast meat tasted a little dry-not as dry as oven roasting. I may have overcooked a trifle since while in the crockpot it did not look like it was cooking, so I switched to high after 2 hours and cooked a total of 6 hours. After 6 hrs I checked meat with thermometer because it still didn’t look cooked, but it was.
debbie says
I am making this right now, Usually buy mine at the Grocery stores and after buying them time and time again, still Pink in the middle I decided to do my own, I cook and bake everything else so here I go, What I did was 1/2 way thru I flipped mine breast side down and then the last hour turned it right side up again, And it is tender moist, not dry at all, Smells and tastes delicious. ps: I followed the advice to broil
Ian D says
The recipe sound great, and simple (though I’ve yet to try it).
I would take issue with your first step though. Chicken should never be washed prior to cooking!
Yes, there is bacteria on the surface of the chicken, but they will be destroyed in the cooking process. But droplets of water (containing the same bacteria) bouncing off the chicken in the washing process will land on your draining board, worktops, utensils and wall surfaces where they will multiply to dangerous levels before you get the chance to remove them.
As you will see from my website, I am a Food Safety trainer, and the above advice is not simply an opinion, but is evidence based.
I’m off now to cook my chicken as you suggest (but without washing it!)
Ian
Andria says
If you clean your work area immediately after rood prep, with an antibacterial how will those bacteria “multiiply to dangerous levels”?? I never heard of bacteria multipleying to dangerous levels within minutes.
michelle says
i was always raised by my mom to wash chicken before cooking it, but i was never taught to run it under a tap, rather it was put in a bowl filled with water mixed with vinegar or water mixed with lemon juice, the acidity is unfavourable to the bacteria. I soak it in the water for just a couple of minutes and then cook it! and believe it or not there is no weird sour acidic taste to the chicken.
Lisa says
I made this yesterday. Did not have any lemons so left them out — basically just used the rub recipe. I didn’t even brown it in the oven because I usually take the skin off anyway. It was so good! Better than any rotisserie chicken I’ve bought, and better ingredients! I used the leftover broth and bones to make stock… just added some celery and Turmeric, strained it, and I have the BEST tasting broth I’ve ever tasted.
Berniece says
I use my crock pot all of the time to roast a whole chicken . I like to wrap baking potatoes in aluminum foil and put them in the bottom of the crock and I let my chicken sit on those while it cooks . Everything is done at the same time and tastes great . The chicken is still tender and juicy and the texture of the meat does not seam as mushy when I do it like this.
Christie says
That’s a great idea. Strange question, but does the chicken get a metallic taste at all or no? I might have to try this. Do you put vegetables in or just the potatoes and chicken?
Carol says
I just wanted to write and compliment you on such a well put together blog. I’ve always wondered about recipe “sharing” and how i’d feel if someone just kind of “borrowed” my recipes and pictures. I appreciate your comments pertaining to the proper way to utilize someone else’s work, and now I know the correct way to do so. Thanks!
Candi says
I used this recipe as a base for instructions. I did put down carrots and onions on the bottom. My own seasonings, I didn’t have any lemons. I didn’t add any extra liquids. This chicken came out so moist and tender. I cooked on low for 2 hours then high for 4/5 hours. I was concerned about it cooking fully in time for dinner. I popped the crock pot in the oven just to brown the top of the chicken. I will be using this method from now on to cook my chickens. Thanks for a great recipe.
Janet Fazio says
This is on my must-try list. I assume I can substitute other veggies? Maybe some potatoes that would go in the broiler to crisp up at the end.
Steph says
I’m about to try this out – is the broiler necessary at the end? What would happen if I just do the crock pot for 6 – 8 hours? (This is going to be my first time using a crock pot so I’m a little nervous!) Thanks 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Steph,
The broiler step is only necessary if you want crispy skin. No need to do that step if you don’t care about that! Good luck!
Julie
Charity says
Oh my gosh!!!!! The chicken turned out AMAZING!!!! This was my first time cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot. The chicken was juicy and tasted flavorful. It was by no means dry. I also added stuffing mix to the crock pot while the meal cooked and I had seconds so did my good friend.
Roy says
I also meant to add, that to make it more quickly, I used McCormick Montreal Chicken Seasoning and it came out great.
Julie Deily says
Hi Roy, great to hear this and thanks for the tip!
Roy says
I live alone and made this almost every week last winter. It gave me a hot meal for the first day and then lots of leftovers for the week.
Kerry Gales says
In “The Best Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker Recipe” Do we use ground black pepper and white pepper?
Julie Deily says
Hi Kerry, yes I use both white and black pepper.
leann says
Can i add broth if i want an if so how much
Julie Deily says
Hi Leann,
I don’t add broth to the slow cooker because while it’s cooking, it creates a lot of broth by itself.
Alyssa says
This was THE BEST CHICKEN I have ever cooked! I loved it! what did you do with all the chicken juices? I’ve saved all of the juices but have no idea what to do with them. Thanks in advance!
Julie Deily says
So glad you loved it, Alyssa!! You can use it as a chicken broth for soup or to make mashed potatoes?
Lisa says
Hi. Can I cook this in the Oven? The chicken and veggies just fit in my crockpot.
Thanks
Julie Deily says
Hi Lisa,
You certainly can…it would be a roast chicken. I haven’t tried this exact recipe in the oven so I can’t tell you how long or how it will turn out but if you do, let me know how it goes!
Connie says
4 to 8 hours seems like. Big difference in hours. So is it four or eight?
Julie Deily says
Hi Connie,
It really depends on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken. I only have one slow cooker and not everyone owns the same one so that’s why there is a range. Hope that helps!
Kaia Ariel says
Yum, yum, yum!!! Thank you this was totally delicious even though I perhaps cooked it too long. I am new to cooking meat again and have cooked two very dry roast chickens in the oven before trying this. It tasted like how I remember chicken, succulent, delicious. It was a chicken I had defrosted so there is no problem with that. I would imagine you would be able to gauge the timing by when you start smelling the lemon as I think this happened quite soon before it was cooked. Thanks so much.
Sasha says
Well, that was a waste of time and ingredients. My chicken is very dry! I don’t understand why nothing turns out for me. UGH!!
Julie Deily says
Hi Sasha,
I saw your comments from above. Can you email me and let me know what you did? Let’s try to troubleshoot this. This recipe is a family favorite and we have made it TONS of times. Thanks and sorry you had a hard time!
Julie
Adam says
HI, this is my first time doing this recipe and I was wondering what sides go good with it other than the veggies in the pot? I was thinking corn and potatoes but was looking for some feed back.
Julie Deily says
Hi Adam,
You can definitely serve it with other veggies, we do potatoes sometimes and usually serve it with corn too! Hope you enjoy it if you make it!
adam says
How do I tell when the chicken is done if I do not have a thermometer?
Mike Stroud says
I’ve got one cooking right now! I picked some lemons from our garden and decided to pick some rosemary too. I also put a bit of butter under the skin with the rosemary and garlic. And a jalapeno pepper 🙂 It’s starting to smell good…
Julie Deily says
Nice, Mike! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out!!
Sasha says
Has anyone tried with a frozen chicken? I posted before but can’t find my post.
Julie Deily says
Hi Sasha,
I have not! I’m sorry I can’t help you! I would try to defrost it first.
Mike Stroud says
You must defrost it first! Thoroughly! Preferably in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
Sasha says
I defrosted and put in the crock pot this morning but hour and a half later, I noticed I had it on warm setting instead of low. I’m wondering if my chicken has gone bad now 🙁 My skills in the kitchen are absolutely depressing!
Beryl Murraybrown says
I rubbed brown onion soup on the chicken which gave it a nice colour and then
thickened the sauce for the gravy.
Delicious made it several times.
Julie Deily says
That sounds awesome, Beryl!!
Ayanna says
I don’t usually comment on blog posts, but I HAD to with this one. My wife and I prepped the chicken to the letter with the exception of the lemon (neither of us is a big fan of lemony chicken). She set her alarm for 1 a.m. and turned the slow cooker on. We had errands to run that morning, so we didn’t get to try it until around 1:30 p.m. (we had it set to Keep Warm from around 10:00 until we ate it). I can’t even tell you how incredibly delicious it was. It was so delicious, in fact, that we went to the store and bought two more birds, one of which we cooked Saturday night. Yes, two birds in one day!
My wife is training for her first marathon and I’m on day 9 of my third Whole30 and you are honestly a sanity saver. I was able to make chicken salad out of some of the leftovers, and will be using the stock to make kale & collards in the slow cooker this evening. You are a gem!
Julie Deily says
Hi Ayanna,
What an awesome comment. Thank you so much! So glad you both enjoy it! We make it all the time and the leftovers…what you can make with them is endless! 🙂 Thanks for making my day!
dawn b says
Hi I don’t have an oval crock pot, but a round one instead. Will that be a sufficient shape for the chicken?
Julie Deily says
Hi Dawn,
I would think it would work just fine as long as the chicken you use fits nicely in there…not too tight as you can see from my step by step photos above. Hope that helps!
Heather says
It had a bland taste. It was o.k. I wanted to be able to have slices of chicken for dinner to serve gravy over but when I went to lift it out of the crockpot it just fell apart.
Julie Deily says
Hi Heather,
That’s definitely a risk — it falling apart depending how long you have it in the crockpot, how long did you cook it for? I’m sorry you think it’s bland! I think it tastes great and from the many comments, many here do too. Did you adjust the salt or any of the herbs and spices at all?
Heather says
I cooked it for 3 hours and it was a 5 1/2 lb chicken. Only thing I did different with the spices was add some rosemary and thyme. It was very dry, which was weird with all the juices it was sitting in. Even the dark meat was dry. We picked at it but mainly ate the sides.
Julie Deily says
Hi again, Heather,
Do you mean you only used rosemary and thyme? Because thyme is in the original ingredient list here. I’m not sure what happened, again so sorry and feel free to send me an email so we can troubleshoot further.
Thanks!
Julie
Heather says
I added rosemary and extra thyme along with the other listed spices.
Clarissa says
I love that this is meal is a one crock”pot” meal. I’m cooking this tomorrow night for dinner. It is still in the 100’s here and i’ve been craving roasted chicken but haven’t wanted to go near the oven so I am so excited I found this recipe! My only question is do the veggies get soggy? Would it be better to put the chicken on a rack in the crock pot and add the veggies part way through? Can’t wait for diner tomorrow 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Clarissa,
The veggies do get soggy but I don’t mind it that much. The veggies are important for flavor and to keep the chicken higher than it’s juices so it stays intact. I have always done it that way. You can always make veggies on the side outside of the crockpot. Hope it goes well, please report back! 🙂
Heather says
To elevate the chicken, I use rolled up balls of foil to make a platform.
Samantha says
Will the whole chicken still be moist and fall off the bone like if I have carrots, celery and potatoes under the chicken? This is my first time doing a whole chicken in the crock pot and I want to do it right!
Julie Deily says
Hi Samantha, that’s how I cook, so yes! I have done potatoes too! Good luck and let me know how it goes! 🙂
Jessica says
is the broiler on high or low? I have the chicken in the crockpot now smells amazing!
Julie Deily says
Jessica, I’m sorry I missed your question. I put it on the highest my oven goes, when I hit broil, it says 550 degrees F. Hope it turned out awesome! 🙂
Peter Carton says
Tried it in new slow cooker. Unfortunately no lemons but everything else as your recipe.
Did it for 1 hour high then about 6 hours low.
Couldn’t believe how delicious it was and it fell off the bone as it was being lifted out !
Will definitely do it again. Thank you very much !
Julie Deily says
Yay, that’s awesome, Peter!! 🙂
Nancy says
Best. Chicken. Ever!
Julie Deily says
Ahhh, Nancy, thanks so much!!!! 🙂
Rebecca says
Is this on high or low for 8 hours? I assume low…I am new at this.
Thanks!
Julie Deily says
Yep, in the instructions it says “Cover slow cooker and cook chicken on low for 4-8 hours.” Hope you enjoy it if you make it!
Alex says
Whole chicken cooks great with slow cookers. Keeps the chicken moist. Looks great!
Megan says
Loved the rub recipe – I used the stock left in the crockpot to make a gravy. The spices gave the gravy great flavor! I used this recipe as a base http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=3061, but didn’t add the spices because the stock was already flavored.
Elaine stewart says
Delicious. Making it again tommorrow for second time.
Sharon says
Savory perfection at its best. I added mushrooms, and other than that if I wasn’t so full, I’d have another helping. The lemon infused chicken parts were so tasty! Included a side of rice and sautéed kale for a balanced meal. Definitely a keeper. Thanks!
Riquel says
I’ve made this chicken at least 4-5 times already. First I cooked it with the vegetables and wasn’t crazy about it. So since then I only cook the chicken. Best recipe ever! The chicken is so juicy once it’s ready to eat. The flavoring is so tasty! I add more lemon than normal and it’s amazing!!!
Amy says
I’ve made this several times. We aren’t a fan of carrots so I ball up aluminum foil to raise the chicken off the bottom of the crock pot. It works really well. I usually make garlic and Parmesan r
Glenda G says
This recipe looks delicious and I plan to make the chicken soon.
I want to mention something about slow cookers and their preset temperature settings. The manufacturers of slow cookers (crock pots) have changed temperature settings in the last 5-10 years so that the cookers cook hotter and thus faster than ever. The manufacturers were concerned about food contamination when meats are cooked at too low a temperature. So, if you have an older slow cooker, the cook time will be much longer than for those of us with the newer cookers. What I have done to counteract this problem is frequent lifting of the slow cooker lid to check on the food’s progress, because the timing can vary. You may not know when the recipe was written or when your crock was made, so checking during cooking is what I do to ensure that the food does not overcook.
Janelle says
Hi. I have this recipe in my slow cooker right now. I am now concerned though after reading that some of the peoples chicken turned mushy??? I have put a frozen chicken in so no lemon in the middle but am hoping that because the chicken is frozen, it wont have time to dry out. We have to eat at 5 tonight due to going out so hoping that 7 hours will be long enough?? My plan is to do 5 hours on high and 2 on low. Will check in with my results if I remember! :O
Janelle says
I have just noticed the time that it says I published my comment! Its 9:07 am on Saturday 21st of June here in New Zealand. 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Janelle,
I don’t have a problem with mushy chicken but I have never done it frozen. I defrosted my frozen chicken last weekend so I could get the lemon inside the bird! Please let me know how it turns out! Hope you enjoy it!
Dar says
Delicious!!! Using just the chicken thigh/leg quarters worked very well! I didn’t use all of the rub, because I didn’t think I had 4 lbs of chicken, but I used about 3/4’s of the rub! I used this recipe on a whim because I didn’t want to go to the store to get any more ingredients than I already had at home. It worked out so well!! I served this dish with white rice and mad a gravy out of the juices from the chicken. I will definitely make this again!! Note: If you are not fond of spicy (which I am) you might want to use a little less Cayenne pepper. Otherwise, this is a perfect and delicious recipe for most! 🙂
Dar says
Saw this recipe this morning and decided to try it. I didn’t have a whole chicken, but had a whole bag of chicken leg quarters, so I used 5 of them to make up about 3 lbs. I skipped the lemon since I couldn’t put it inside the chicken. It is in the crock pot now, and I can’t wait for it to be done so we can taste it! Will post another comment after we have eaten it.
Jess says
Hi,
Do you have to put in in the oven after being cooked? Or is that to just crisp it up or something? I would like to make this for camping and don’t have an oven but will take my slowcooker. Sounds yum!!
Julie Deily says
Hi jess, yes that’s totally optional. Hope you enjoy this recipe! 🙂
Wendy says
yummy!! cooked all day while we played at the park 🙂 came home to a wonderful dinner. Thank you for posting.
Kaity says
Ok, so it is 7:15pm right now, and I was curious if I left it on high for an hour and then cut it to low, would it speed the cooking or would it destroy the chicken. Boyfriend might not be home till 2am, so if anything he can cut it off, but I’m wanting to eat it fresh. Lol I’ve done this recipe before, but that was when I actually had time to get it started before work.
samantha says
This was my first attempt at cooking anything in a crockpot! It was amazing. My family loved it ! It was juicy and delicious. Thank you so much for the recipe now i will use the leftovers to make chicken noodle soup!! Again thank you!
Kat says
Tried this recipe in Germany and it was great 🙂 I couldn’t get a whole chicken yesterday (today’s a holiday and apparently all Germans wanted to cook a whole chicken) so I used whole legs without skin. I sliced the lemon and put them on top of the veggies, so the legs could sit right on top of the lemon slices. Also I did add some rosemary to the rub. I used spicy paprika (not sure if they sell that in the US?) and it had a slight kick to it. It was delicious and my whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Alison says
Fantastic recipe! I love roast chicken but hate the mess, so this is perfect.
Just a quick note: I used a creme brulee flame-thrower to crisp the top of the chicken right in the serving dish and it saved me the broiler step. With chicken this tender it makes it easier to crisp it right in the dish – just make certain the flame is turned down and you keep it on the chicken, not the serving dish.
Danielle says
I make this at least once a month. Because I pinned it, my girlfriends are converting one by one. With so many terrible food blogs available – pretty pictures and recipes that create meh food that doesn’t look like you thought it would in real life – I have to tell you how much I love your sight. Your recipes are Julia Child foolproof, they always taste amazing, and my finished product looks like your tempting pictures. Thank you for sharing recipes that I can trust!
Chef Innfatkid says
This looked so good that I had to try it as a welcome home meal for my girlfriend. I made a few variations to the ingredients, but I can not wait until this evening to see how it turns out.
Julia Noran says
Julie, I made this tonight, and it was AMAZING. I will definitely be making this again and again. I wonder if you could use the veggies and broth to make chicken noodle soup?
sarah says
Hi I made this follow the recipe, unfortunately it tasted bitter, I don’t know what I did wrong. The instructions on here differ from the youtube video. I used 2 lemons.
The breast was dry. Was it overcooked??
Julie Deily says
Hi Sarah,
The recipe on the video is a different one — for lemon pepper, yes. For this recipe, I only use one lemon inside the chicken. I’m not sure why it came out bitter for you.
And if the breast was dry, it was probably overcooked, how long did you cook it for and what level (low or high)?
Thanks and sorry it didn’t turn out right for you.
Kat says
Hi I live in the UK and I have been trying to find some great slow cooker recipes, made this last weekend and it came out perfect I loved it! I’ve got it on the slow cooker again today, thank you!
Greta says
I loved this recipe. I actually used a 7 pound chicken because it was the only thing I had and I was worried about that because I had to stuff it into the crockpot. The top of it was pressing against the lid. It turned out perfect anyway. I boiled the leftover chicken a week later in its own broth plus additional water and it was the best soup I ever tasted. Yum!!!
karen says
How long did you cook the 7 lb chicken? I work for 10 hours and my chicken is about that size. Wondering if 10 hours will be way too long?
Greta says
Sorry for the late reply: 10 hours was about how long I cooked mine for. I put mine in about 7:30 in the morning and we ate at 5:30.
Michelle says
Made this tonight and it was DELISH!! I’m going to add green beans next time. Served it with mashed potatoes and everyone loved it!
I do have a lot of broth leftover…has anyone made soup with the broth?
John says
Just made this as a student bachelor. The aromas filling the condo were extraordinary. Had a small morsel of chicken after it had browned in the oven and can confirm that this meal is definitely worth the wait.
Mariah says
I am really eager to try out this recipe (the hubby and I have been really craving chicken and veggies) however, we LOVE to have potatoes also. I’m new at cooking so is it ok to add a couple quartered potatoes with the other veggies?
Thanks!!
cami says
Made this recipe tonight. I omitted the lemon because I didn’t have one on hand……but it still turned out absolutely delicious! One of the best crockpot chicken recipes I’ve ever tried. Thank you! I’ll be keeping this in my *favorites*.
Chris says
Hi Julie, I made this crockpot chicken last night…really easy and quite tasty really but my chicken seemed a little on the mushy side…could I have cooked it too long? It really was falling off the bone, so I’m thinking that could of been the problem. Have you ever had that happen?
Thanks!
Erin says
This recipe is in my crockpot as I write this comment. Although I didn’t use the lemons and I added my own twist and turn. I place onion slices on the bottom of my crockpot and put quartered onion inside my chicken. Then I place the chicken on top the onion slices then add my carrots and potatoes on top. I let cook for about 8 hours on low depending on the size of my chicken. Currently I have about a 5 pounder cooking. Been in there for an hour and my house is starting to smell yummy.
Ginger says
So glad you posted this comment Erin. I am getting ready to cool this tomorrow and realized I don’t have lemmons. Thanks for your rendition
Rachel says
Best crockpot chicken! Not a fan of lemon in my chicken and kids don’t like things spicy so I left out the lemon and cayenne pepper. Made gravy with the drippings. Thanks for sharing!
sarah McDill says
What temperature should the oven be on to broil it?
Jenn says
Sarah, set it to broil. Its the highest setting and says broil.
Jessie says
some ovens have different broil temps. I would set it to medium or 525 degrees
Lita Harrold says
I’ve made this reicpe before and it’s wonderful. I just wanted to tell your followers I use a cheesecloth sling in my crocpot that easily lifts the bird out of the crockpot and onto a casserole dish to brown up in the oven/broiler. My broiler is at the bottom of my stove so I can’t fit the bird there to brown up, instead put in a hot oven 500 for a few minutes and works like a charm to brown the skin. Thanks for this wonderful crockpot recipe. My grandkids think they are getting an oven roasted cicken when they come over for their weekly Thursay eve meal. They are 16 and 18 and we have doing weekly dinners since they stared grade school and now they have their little loves they bring, now I have four grandchildren every week for dinner 🙂 I love this recipe!!
Jennifer says
I got my chicken in the slow cooker right now, thanks for the recipe!! I bought 2 whole chickens in a package so I put both chickens in the slow cooker 🙂 I love using my slow cooker a lot as I work noon to 8pm shifts and supper is ready when my common law and son get home at 5pm 😀 looking forward to tasting it tonite!!
Glenda says
Yum Yum!! My husband and I loved it—juicy with great flavor. Now on to making a stock with the leftover juices and carcus…Thanks!
maryann says
This recipe is horrendous, barely edible. Too much lemon makes the juices bitter. We were looking forward to tasty pan juices but we tossed it. The carrots were inedibly bitter. The cooking time caused the chicken to practically disintegrate!!! Did you really test this recipe?
Julie Deily says
Hi Maryann,
I’m so sorry this recipe didn’t turn out for you. YES, I really did test this recipe and have made it least 30+ times the last couple of years if not more. And from the countless other comments of success for others, I’m bummed this recipe didn’t turn out for you. The lemon goes into the chicken for this recipe so I don’t usually taste lemon in the pan juices. We like the carrots but they definitely aren’t for everyone. The chicken does sometimes falls apart when it’s in the slow cooker longer. Anyways, again, I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you. Not every recipe works out for everyone and I get that. No need to be rude about it. I’m not going to bother publishing your other comment. Hope you have a nice day.
KeriAnne says
Maryann,
It seems to me like you didn’t read the recipe thoroughly. Did you cook set the crock pot to low? Did you put the lemon and garlic inside the chicken? Was the lemon and garlic fresh? Did you test the temperature of the meat at 4 hours to see if it was ready? This is actually a lovely very basic and common slow cooker recipe with a mild rub that is good for all pallets. it has a few spice twists which I like, none of which should cause bitterness though as you are stating it did. So unless you don’t pay attention to the directions it’s really hard to mess up. If you believe that you did follow the recipe accordingly I suggest you check the expiration date of all your spices and that of the chicken you used.
Emily says
If you used bad thyme, that could definitely cause bitterness. Also, if your lemons were bad that would definitely cause problems!
Tamerra says
I have this on now – an 8lb whole chicken. It has been in the crock pot for about 6 hours. I don’t have food thermometer. How can I know if it is fully cooked?
Jennifer says
This looks SO delicious! I have a whole chicken in the freezer right now, I’m going to try this once I thaw it! It would make a great Sunday dinner!
Shiran @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
I’ve never seen a chicken that looks so good! 🙂 The photos are so beautiful!
katie says
I remember when you originally posted about this recipe. With the baby coming I’ll need to give this a try–sounds like the ideal meal for a new mom 🙂
Dana says
I just saw you on a Top 10 list. Congrats!!! Looks good. I follow Smitten Kitchen and Cooking With Mr. C. I will now add you to my favorites. Dana
Alma Warner says
Great recipe thank you so much!You and your recipes and the wonder responses from your friends. It often answers my questions. I am 80 years old, this us a fantastic recipe!!!!!!!a
Fredric says
Veggies slow cooking for 4-8 hrs will get mushy won’t they?
Kelly says
No, shouldn’t. I slow cook frozen chicken in cream of chicken for about 8 hrs low, and used whole carrots and they were perfectly fine.. still had a little bit to them that you didn’t feel like you were eating mush.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I really really want to try this!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Oh gosh, this chicken is calling my name 🙂 yum! Looks so delicious!
Paula – bell’alimento says
Perfect for those busy days that we all have! Great post!
Bettye Evans says
I have made this and it was Great! I tightly wrapped baking potatoes and put in the bottom of crock poy surround with onions and carrots. Rest chicken on potatoes when done you have carrots, baked potatoes and delicious chicken.
Regan says
Can you believe that this 53 year old has NEVER bought a whole chicken before!!!?!!! I’ve always been a skinless/boneless chicken breast kind of gal! lol But this sounds so good and SO EASY, after the snowstorm, I’m going out to get one! Thanks so much for all of your fabulous, easy, and doable recipes! You’re awesome in every way! :o)
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Who knew a slow cooker could produce such a mouthwateringly moist, crispy chicken?! This is a must-try in my kitchen! Thanks, Julie.
Marjorie says
I made this last week for one of our meals and it is delicious! That is the second time I’ve done it and the recipe is so easy to follow…love making it!
rumela says
wow! This is awesome! Thanks for the recipe, will try this one!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
I remember when you first posted this Julie – and I can’t believe I still haven’t tried doing this (although I’ve thought about it many times).
Melissa says
Julie, this is fabulous! Thank you! I was going to look for a chicken in a crockpot recipe, but you’ve done the work for me 🙂
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
I have a recipe where I do two large chicken breasts in the slow cooker, but have never attempted a whole chicken. The other recipe I use is a lemon pepper version, so it may change things up to use the seasonings you call out. Love the idea of having extra for chicken pot pies.
Deborah says
My first time cooking the whole chicken in the slow cooker and it came out delicious, especially after I put it in the broiler for 5 minutes after it was done. Next time I will try with the potatoes on bottom.
Julie Deily says
Hi Deborah,
That’s so awesome to hear! We just made this again on Monday…it’s amazing every time! I keep meaning to make it with potatoes too!
LKG says
I’ve made this several times since seeing this recipe, and I would never go back to roasting a chicken in the oven again; this was so moist, and it was great to not have to check on it frequently. I made one change, in putting 2 quarters of the onion into the insert, which I think gives the juices, and hence the gravy a bit more of a citrus kick. I also don’t have onion powder, so always skip this in the rub, to no poor effect. I also take the chicken out of the slow cooker just before being totally done (the juices just having the faintest of pink to them), as I find the final broiling in the oven brings the bird to the safe internal temp, and I think I have really ensured no over cooking dryness. I have forwarded this recipe to many! Thanks so much for sharing!
Julie Deily says
Hi LKG, sounds great! Did you put any lemon inside the chicken with the onion? I have never liked putting onion inside chickens but glad it worked for you! This is such a favorite in my house too! So glad you like it and thanks for sharing your thoughts!! 🙂 Hope you’re having a nice weekend!
LKG says
Oh jeesh! That’s what I meant to say: I put half the lemon in the chicken and half in the insert! Haven’t tried onion in the bird. We’ve got one on for dinner tonight!
Julie Deily says
Ahh that makes more sense now! LOL
I have a version of this recipe with lemon pepper if you’re interested!
Tobius Holmes says
I like this recipe, the only thing I changed was the salt, I thought that 4 teaspoons was way to much so I added just a pinch, and then I also threw in some potatoes to the bottom with the carrots and celery…Turned out great, thanks for the recipe..
Julie Deily says
Hi Tobius, glad it turned out great for you! I have tried to reduce the salt and have never liked the results.
Tobius Holmes says
I think I liked it better with out the salt because I have not used salt for a lot of years, so my taste buds are used to it 🙂
BobbiRae says
I loved this chicken! It was so tender. I LOVE PAPRIKA! 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi BobbieRae, so glad you liked it!
Abby says
Hi Julie,
I really enjoyed your recipe- made it pretty much exactly as listed but added more garlic. The taste and texture were very good- but I found the veggies and broth a little bitter- do you think this was from the lemon?
Thanks for your advice! Maybe I will try it again with an orange instead? Unless you can suggest another reason why it may have come out bitter.
Thanks,
Abby
Julie Deily says
Hi Abby,
It might have been bitter from the lemon, sometimes I don’t taste any lemon on the veggies and sometimes I do. I know some people don’t like the veggies at the bottom of the crockpot so maybe try roasting some veggies with olive oil? So glad you liked the recipe overall though! 🙂
Also, I haven’t tried orange though, I’m such a fan of using the lemon to keep the chicken moist.
Tracey says
Hi Julie. I made this tonight, and it was fantastic! My husband said that this was my best slow cooker chicken yet. The kids enjoyed it, too. Thanks so much!
Julie Deily says
Hi Tracey,
I meant to respond forever ago. So glad you guys all liked it. It’s our favorite!! 🙂 Have a nice weekend!
Kate says
Is slow cooking chicken different from red meats which require sealing in a frypan for a few minutes before slow cooking?
Julie Deily says
Hi Kate,
If I was doing chicken parts with bone and skin-on, I might sear it before going into the slow cooker but not for a whole chicken. I don’t do it for this recipe and it works just fine. Hope that answers your question!
Brittany says
Is it ok to cook on high for 4 hours?
Julie Deily says
Hi Brittany,
I have done that before it’s worked. Check the internal temperature of the chicken and make sure it’s at least 165 degrees F. Hope that helps!
Melissa says
Loved this recipe! Even my boyfriend enjoyed it and he is very picky! I added redskin potatoes and they came out great.
Julie Deily says
Hi Melissa,
We have done that too and it’s great. So glad your picky boyfriend liked it! That’s a huge compliment! Thanks so much!
Shannon says
Is there a way to make this with just potatoes? I have everything to make this today aside from the veggies. My crock pot potatoes typically come out too hard, so I don’t want to ruin this.
Julie Deily says
Hi Shannon,
I have added potatoes before but have not done just potatoes. Are you using a hearty potato like a red potato? If you’re using a potato that’s mainly used for mashing, leave the skin on. What makes this recipe successful is if the chicken can rest on the potatoes and not cook in the broth it creates. Hope that helps!
Tsonsera says
This is a great simple recipe to expand upon-thanks so much for sharing this! I’m going to put the chicken in right now, but with my own twist. I call it my Simon&Garfunkel Chicken…guess which spices I use! 🙂 Wonder how it would taste with shallots, white wine, and green cabbage? *brandishes a wooden spoon* To the kitchen!
Jamie says
Julie, Made this tonight and it was delicious! So moist and tender and flavorful. I added some fresh tyme sprigs in the cavity with the lemons and garlic. My family loved it! Thanks for a great and easy recipe. Will definitely make again and again.
Sarah says
Just in case that was ambiguous, I mean take the skin off before cooking the chicken
Julie Deily says
Hi Sarah, it does hold the chicken together, keeps it from failing apart and lends to the moistness of the meat. You can always remove it after cooking. Hope that helps.
Sarah says
Can you take the skin off to make it less fatty and greasy? Or does it need the skin to protect it from falling apart?
Cassandra says
Thanks for posting this recipe Julie! I was looking for something just like this for Christmas dinner!
HLRogers says
Can you use a lime instead of a lemon?
Cassandra says
Yes. The flavour won’t be as summery but you will still get a citrusy tang. I’ve made chicken stuffed with oranges and lime before (Jamie Oliver recipe) and it was really good!
christy says
Hi! I did a whole chicken in the crockpot this morning similar to this recipe but added carrots, onion, cut hericot vert, mushrooms and quartered red potatoes. I put half a lemon, garlic and onion inside the chicken and let it rest on the veggies and potatoes. I sprinkled thyme, oregano, paprika, garlic powder. I have done whole chickens in crockpot before but with liquid and it came out almost soupy. I hope this comes out good! I am going to have my nanny turn it off at 3 so it will cook a total of 6 hours. I like the advance timer idea, but wouldn’t you be concerned about uncooked poultry being left out of the fridge that long?
Amy says
PLEASE RESPOND:
If I put my chicken in at 8:00am how long should it take to cook?
And when you say remove neck what does that mean?
Also, should it be completely thaw?
Just moved out from home, don’t know anything about this kind of stuff haha 🙂
Thank you in advance!
Julie Deily says
Hi Amy,
Sorry for the delay in response. You want to cook it on low for 4 to 8 hours. Sometimes they put the neck and/or gizzards inside the chicken, so you want to remove this from the inside of the chicken before you start prepping it. I have never done this with a frozen chicken so yes, I would say let it completely thaw before using. Good luck and I hope you enjoy this dish if you make it! 🙂
Matt says
Hi 🙂 just stumbled across this and it looks amazing, I’m going to try it in a hour or so, can you please suggest some other vegetables compatible with the recipe. As celery can upset me and my fiancée. Thank you in advance
Julie Deily says
Hi Matt, you can try potatoes or just increase the carrots. Hope you enjoy it!
Linda Hyde says
This was the star in a Sunday dinner for my husband and myself, and four hungry Mormon missionaries – big success!! Sooo good. I served it with salted baked potatoes, sauteed chard and spinach, and fruit salad. Thanks for this winner.
Gina says
Thank you for this quick and delicious meal. My family loved it! 🙂
John says
No liquid goes into the slow cooker with the chicken? yes or no please.
Julie Deily says
Hey John, no liquid. Hope you enjoy!
Mike says
Yes liquid! i put one cup of chicken soup over the chicken after the veggies and all the flavor absorbed into the veggies (i also used red potatoes) put in the broiler for 10 minutes basted with the juices and was awesome! just a suggestion!
Julie Deily says
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the suggestion! But it’s definitely not necessary for this recipe to be successful. Hope you’re having a nice weekend!
Mike says
Actually that was for the people who say they did not like the veggies on the bottom of the chicken. the broth makes them delicious! 🙂
Jen says
I just made this today & it’s like one of the best chicken dishes i have tried. Thank you for sharing!
Mommy 03 says
Will there be plenty of juice for a gravy to be made?
Sally says
Made this today and it was great. However I did put the chicken and all veggies (plus potatoes) in the oven for 30 minutes. Thanks
Vero says
If i put my crock pot at 8am and I arrive around 7 pm will it ruin it? I have a 3.07 pound chicken
Laura says
Your chicken will be overcooked. Get an appliance timer from the hardware store. You plug the slow cooker into the timer, set the timer for a later start, then off to work you go!
Nancy says
…I meant to say slow cooker.
Nancy says
Don’t the vegetables sitting on the bottom of the crock pot get greasy?
Julie Deily says
HI Nancy, they do a little bit. I would say that not everyone will like those veggies but they are essential to the recipe because the chicken needs to rest on something while it’s cooking in the slow cooker. Thanks! 🙂
jim says
I didn’t like the veggies that way. An alternative is to rest the chicken on top of some tinfoil balls
Aaron says
Thanks, Julie for your wonderful advice, much appreciated.
Hi Jim thanks for the tin foil balls advice. Should I also where a tin foil hat?
I guess we can also use potatoes as a base or use your imagination people.
Once again Julie you are much appreciated. May all who read this be
blessed. I am just reading a great book called,”The Cosmic Power within you”.
Jim all in fun hope you seen the humor in it. LoL
Cassandra says
If you throw them in the oven with the chicken they will brown and caramelize a bit, reducing the greasy feeling. I always roast my chicken on top of vegetables and they get infused with so much flavour!
Monica says
This recipe looks amazing. I’m going to try it today. Have you ever removed the skin before cooking and would you recommend it or not?
Julie Deily says
Hi Monica, I haven’t…I don’t know how that would go because I think the skin helps keep the chicken completely moist but if you try it, I would love to hear how it goes!
Elizabeth says
I have it on 350 is that low
Elizabeth says
I have it cooking now for about an hour and it smells and looks like it burning since there is no liquid. a few of the veggies are burnt fully.
Julie Deily says
Hi Elizabeth, I’m not sure what went wrong. so sorry about that. As for the temperature, I’m not sure because my slow cooker has a high, low and warm setting and that’s it. I often cook the chicken on high and have made this recipe many many times and not have the veggies burn. What size slow cooker do you use?
Sara says
Would I be able to put stuffing inside the chicken for this recipe?
Julie Deily says
Hi Sara, I haven’t tried that but if you do, I would look up the temperature stuffing should be to be considered to be fully cooked. Good luck!
leo says
I tried this recipe and while the flavour was great, the vegetables turned out waaaaaaaaaay too salty. Next time I’ll reduce the salt by half or more.
Cassandra says
If I want to cook this while I’m at work, would it be alright to leave it 9 hours? Will it dry out or just get soggy?
Anita says
this looks fab!! Do you think I could do this with a turkey – about 14 lbs?? Thanks
Julie Deily says
Hi Anita, my old boss used to do this same technique with a turkey but I haven’t tried it myself. 14 lbs is a big turkey to do this in a slow cooker…my 7 quart can only handle a 4.5-5 chicken. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!
Michelle says
Thanks! This recipe was incredibly delicious! The chicken just fell apart and tasted so good!
Julie Deily says
Yay, Michelle, so glad to hear this! 🙂
Emilee says
Do I need to add water to the chicken in the slow cooker?
Julie Deily says
Hi Emilee, no water needed. It creates a broth as it’s cooking.
Charlotte says
Hey question I have a whole chicken a small one and just wondering if I can speed up the time ? Like if I cook it on high for 3 hours ? Any ideas
Julie Deily says
Hi Charlotte, it depends on how small. I would check it with a meat thermometer to be sure.
Jo says
Hi,
Is it ok to put potatoes in this too at the bottom?
Julie Deily says
Hi Jo, potatoes work great at the bottom!
BEth says
If I make this overnight will it reheat in the oven ok the next evening or should I just put it in the crock pot first thing in the morning?
Julie Deily says
Hi Beth, I haven’t made it overnight before so I can’t answer to that. I usually make it during the day and we have it for dinner the same day.
rea says
no water at all?
Julie Deily says
Hi Rea, no water at all. 🙂
Amanda says
Have this in the slow cooker right now… cant wait! Thanks for the great recipe!
Julie Deily says
Hope you enjoyed it, Amanda!! 🙂
Dan says
Hi Julie…..I do most of the cooking for my wife and 2 kids and just bought a 7qt slow cooker. I just found your blog and website and am so excited to make a whole chicken in my slow cooker. I’m going to follow your recipe and can’t wait to taste it and we all love gravy as well. Thank you
Jane Roth says
Just finished making this chicken dish, can’t wait to try.
Valerie says
This is the best recipe!!! My husband and I have made it twice already and both times it has turned out deliciously. He makes a thick lemon gravy out of the juices and our friends have raved about it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jennifer says
Do you eat the veggies?
Julie Deily says
Hi Jennifer, we do! I think to some though they may be overcooked. I would make a side dish of veggies in case you don’t like the veggies that are cooked under the chicken. Hope that helps!
Rachelle says
I am making this for dinner tonight it smells amazing!! cant wait to try it! thanks for sharing!
Diana says
Can I use reduce the salt at all as 4 teaspoons seems like a lot (high blood pressure in family). Otherwise looks like the perfect recipe.
Julie Deily says
Hi Diana, I have tried it with less and it’s not as moist as I would like the chicken to be. I forgot how much I tried reducing it to but it’s worth a try to reduce in half. Just monitor it closely, if you leave it in too long, it may dry out the chicken a little. I can’t promise you it will be the same though with 4 teaspoons of salt. This is a recipe where you definitely have to have at least some salt though! Hope that helps! Please keep me posted if you try it!
Diana says
Would you believe I reduced the salt to 1/2 teaspoon and it turned out perfectly. Still very moist (the lemon must have helped) and it cooked for 8 hours on low. It was so good I’m making it again tonight.
Jerry says
You should place the chicken breast side down, so that it will self baste (breast meat is drier).
Dee says
I am preparing this recipe right now a bit behind schedule as I didn’t plan ahead. I have no onion or lemon on hand do you have any suggestions? Thank you it looks delish !
Julie Deily says
Hi Dee, you’re fine without the onions. The lemon to me is the big reason it stays super moist. I would put it on high for a few hours and check the temperature on that breast and see where you’re at. Let me know how it goes!
Samantha says
I’m afraid I don’t have a lemon, but I do have lemon juice – is there a way to make this work? I really am excited about this recipe, but don’t want to waste all the ingredients just because i have lemon juice but no lemon, lol…..
Julie Deily says
Hi Samantha,
I think you can still make it but you’ll need to watch it closely just like I told Dee (up above) since the lemon’s purpose is to keep the meat super moist.
Samantha says
Yes, I saw your response to the previous comment, was wondering if I could just squeeze in some lemon juice w/o the lemon – think that would work? I’m pretty new to the kitchen, obviously 🙂
Dee says
I found a lemon 🙂 So just no onion I am sure it will still taste great ! Thank You
Dee says
Thank you so much for your quick response !!
Jen says
Do I need to add water?
Julie Deily says
Hi Jen, nope! The chicken while it’s cooking creates a broth at the bottom of your slow cooker! If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!
Jen says
Oh wow, thanks for replying back right away I’m excited to try this recipe out
Michelle says
I din’t bother with the last step in the oven as the chicken looked so lovely and coloured just from the spices.This made the meal even easier. Best flavoured, moist but not soggy, chicken ever!
Julie Deily says
Yay, Michelle, that’s so awesome to hear!
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
I swear I stare at this recipe every day and say, “Tonight is the night!” and then I forget to put it in the slow cooker and suddenly it’s 7 p.m. and I say, “Tomorrow is the night!” 🙂 ONE OF THESE DAYS IT WILL HAPPEN!
Megan says
I have made many whole chicken in a crock pot recipes and this is by far the best I’ve ever tried. The meat was perfectly seasoned and super delicious. This is the recipe that will make it into my recipe box. Thank you so much!
Vanessa says
I made this today and it was delicious! Very tender fall off the bone, So tender in fact that when i tried to lift it into a pan to broil it the chicken just all fell apart, But nonetheless i put it in a pan in pieces and the skin turned out very crispy and very tasty. The only thing i think i did wrong was put in 2 tsp of cayenne pepper by accident because it was very spicy, too spicy for the kids, but once i took the skin off it was fine.
Genuine Jenn says
Thanks for the recipe! This was soo good, the whole family enjoyed it 🙂 Will be adding this to my crockpot list
Carl says
Have this in the slow cooker right now, if it tastes as good as it smells we’re in for a treat. Thanks for sharing.
Sharla says
Wow. I normally do not like chicken prepared in a slow cooker, but this was incredible! The recipe sounded too simple, the preparation sounded too easy, and I was sure it was going to be tasteless. But it is wonderful! And very easy to prepare! Thanks so much for this!
Megan says
This might be the best “roasted” chicken I’ve ever eaten. My husband raved. And I plan on sharing this with my mom. Maybe even my SILs. Ok. Probably my SILs. 🙂
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
I made this today & it was delish – the whole family loved it! TY!!
April says
I just tried the recipe today. Right now it’s in the slow cooker. I didn’t have white pepper or thyme, but I used a little bit of oregano, and a sprinkle of basil. I hope it turns out okay!
Jacqui says
This is delicious & one of the best slow cooker recipes!! it falls of the bone, soooo tasty & I seriously can’t wait to cook it again!!!
Kelly says
Just made this today and it is absolutely delicious. I started the whole30 3 days ago and wanted to make a chicken and not buy (since know what I put in and on my chicken) for lunch for the week. Came across this recipe, and I normally use my crock pot for stews and soups, so I was a bit curious on how the chicken would turn out with no liquid…… this came out better than I expected!! Thank you for an tasty and juicy chicken!!
Lillian says
I’ve been meaning to try my slow cookery which I’ve had since two years ago standing in a corner I finally used it the other day to make beef stroganoff. It was awesome. No I’m preparing. A whole chicken. Can’t wait for results tomorrow. Thanks for recipe
Jillian says
I was planning a Sunday night dinner with my in-laws and my oven just completely stopped working. I was freaking out wondering how I would get another one so fast. Now, I am not worried at all. I love the sound of the recipe. I can’t wait to wow the In-Laws tomorrow. I’ll worry about the oven on monday 🙂
Jean says
This recipe is awesome! I’ve made it several times and the family demolished it. It’s so easy that my cooking phobic husband is making it right now while I’m layed up with a broken ankle.
A few things: yes, everyone, you do need the celery, carrots and onions. They contribute to both the flavor of the chicken and the broth. No, don’t use discarded frozen food trays to lift the chicken out of the fat. Those trays aren’t made to be in heat for hours on end and will degrade and release chemicals into your food. Lastly, strain the liquid through cheesecloth and either make a soup or thicken it for a delicious gravy.
I love the way this recipe changed my thinking about what you can do with aslow cooker!
Allison says
This recipe is perfection. I’ve never roasted a whole chicken in the crockpot and it was perfection. I had a 5 lb bird and did have to broil it a little longer than 5 min (8-10) but I watched it like a hawk. I loved that I had all the ingredients on hand too. This will be a staple for us, thank you so much!
Louise p says
Hi there, this recipe looks fab and I’ve just piled all the ingredients in the slow cooker ready to cook in the morning. You mention putting the chicken under a ‘broiler’. Can you please tell me what this is. Also, is there any stock needed. Many thanks. LOUISE, winchester uk.
Julie Deily says
Hi Louise,
No, you do not need to add any broth to the slow cooker. I have a broil setting on my oven, the coils that heat the oven are on the top and I when I use the broil setting, it will just crisp up the skin. Not sure if you have that setting on your oven, if not…it’s totally optional and the chicken will taste fine if you don’t. Hope you enjoy it!!
Susan says
Thanks for guiding me through my first whole chicken in the crock pot! Was always concerned about not putting any liquid in, but it worked great. Used a 4.5 lb chicken from Trader Joe’s, cooked on a bed of chunky celery, added lemon and about 20 cloves of garlic with rosemary and thyme and olive oil, and cooked on high for 4 hours. Delicious. Was mostly impressed that I was able to lift it out and broil for a few minutes (with some olive oil and paprika) to crisp up the skin. I added some butter to the broth and used an immersion blender to whir up the garlic cloves into a delicious sauce. I did agonize all day about whether I should put the breast up or down, and ended up flipping it, but I’m not sure it matters either way. Thank you for your recipe! 🙂
Lynn says
Seriously yummy. A huge hit with my family!
Julie Deily says
I’m so glad to hear this, Lynn! Thank you!!
Noraida says
Your recipe was fantastic! The chicken was moist and tender. Thank you
Julie Deily says
Yay, so glad to hear this!!
Paul Sierra says
Instead of placing a quartered lemon inside the cavity of the chicken I inserted parsley stuffing and to my surprise it worked out fine. The chicken was tender and delicious. We made roast potato on the side with gravy as an extra.
PARSLEY STUFFING
Ingredients
1-large cup breadcrumbs
1-tablespoon parsley
1-large onion (dice)
1-teaspoon flour
½-teaspoon salt
1-large spoon dripping (melted)
1-egg (beat)
For Sage Stuffing add:
1-teaspoon dried sage
Add grated chicken giblets (optional)
Procedure
1. Mix all together into a thick pulp
2. Stuff into the cavity of the chicken and neck
3. Sew the cavities with cotton
Julie Deily says
Sounds great, thanks for sharing!
Cindy says
had for dinner tonight. I had a 6 lb chicken & was worried that it would not cook all the way since it was twice the size as the recipe and there was absolutly no spare room in the crock pot. it just fit. I used a crock pot liner, worked great. I added no liquid, followed recipe. Cooked on low for 8 hours. The juices were up to the top. It was a little tricky getting the chicken out of the crockpot to put in a roasting pan to brown up, it sort of felll apart. But I made a wonderful gravy with the drippings while the chicken browned up. the whole family agreed, great meal.
Thanks for the recipe.
Julie Deily says
Sometimes it does just fall apart and I use my turkey lifters to help remove the chicken. So glad everyone enjoyed it!
Karen says
I absolutely LOVE this recipe and use it frequently. We just had it tonight and it went down like a treat for my three children (9yrs, 6yrs, 3yrs). I have passed it on to friends and they love it too and last year (2011), I made a rub as a token gift to give to friends & family at Christmas.
I use the chicken to serve taco style dinner when we’ve been out play, leftovers in sandwiches or salad. Definitely a staple in our house. Thank you for sharing & posting.
Julie Deily says
So glad to hear, Karen! We enjoy this recipe too! The rub as a gift is a great idea!!
Dawn says
This is one of my favorites! I remember seeing a recipe similar and they rolled up balls of foil to put under the chicken rather than veggies. I’ve never tied the legs but will have to try that today when I make it. I always make loaded mashed potatoes and red lobster biscuits. This dinner is always a hit!
Julie Deily says
Dawn, so glad you enjoy it!!
Candice says
I love doing chicken this way! After having some of the chicken that evening with some veg & potatoes for dinner, we remove the leftover meat off the bones. Then we toss the bones back in the crockpot and add a bunch of water. Cook it overnight and strain out the bones. The broth is delicious and soup is made with adding veg and the leftover chicken meat!
LeighAnn Frommann says
I am making this recipe for a couple of friends tomorrow. I have a small fryer chicken, about 2.5 lbs how long do you suggest I let it cook for? I was thinking on low for 4.5 hours, do you think that should be enough? Thanks so much for this recipe! I can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Julie Deily says
I think 4.5 to 5 hours sounds about right. You’ll be able to tell and if you’re not quite sure, use a meat thermometer to make sure. Hope you enjoy!
Sally Matchett says
Quick, easy, delicious!! Thanks for sharing! (I didn’t have lemon, but used red apple instead… turned out great!!)
Sarah says
Hello. I made this finally and it’s absolutely delicious! The chicken tasted superb! My and i have no complaints whatsoever. I wasn’t able to brown it in the oven since I don’t have at home but the upside of it is that the chicken was v.moist and juicy. We are not big veggie eaters though; we have lots of veggie leftovers! Do you have any suggestions as to what to do with it? And the next time I’ll halve the veggies. Is that okay?
Dwayne Alicie says
Pressed for time or missing something for the delicious rub described above? Pared down version — I just sprinkle whatever I have handy! Another tip …. I liberally sprinkle chili powder over my bird and it looks almost as if it has been through the broiler when I get home. Paprika would probably work too. Cheers! Thanks for the great recipe!!!
Jess L says
To follow up on yesterday’s comment, it came out perfect this time. Thanks again for the great recipe!
Jess L says
Made this a few weeks back. My crock pot is smaller so too much of the chicken juices accumulated and the bottom the the chicken kind of fell apart when removing it. However the chicken tasted fantastic! I’m tring it again tomorrow with more veggies & I will be keeping an eye on it. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Julie H says
Looking forward to trying this today. I’ve done a whole chicken in the crockpot before and love it. Never tried it with veggies and this rub sounds delish.
– only complaint is the pictures printing with the recipe. Wasted a lot of unnecessary ink.
kristen o says
I’m seconding Laurie’s opinion. This is the first recipe that I came across for slow-cooker chicken and I’m making it tonight. I will comment again tomorrow once I’ve had a chance at tasting it. BTW, I studded my lemon and garlic with cloves, hopefully this works. I’ll let everyone know 🙂
Also: is there a difference when you use a slow cooker liner? I did and I wonder if people here noticed any changes to the taste/texture of the chicken.
L.D. says
I’ve discovered a way to re-purpose those black little oval dishes a microwave meal comes in. I inverted it and punched a bunch of holes in it and it fits perfectly in the bottom of my 5 qt crockpot, this will keep the bird out of the schmaltz(fat) while it is roasting. If the bird appears to be too heavy for the center you could support the middle with a metal cap from an olive oil or wine bottle. I’ve read where you can spoon the schmaltz into ice cube trays and freeze, then pop ’em into a zip lock bag for future use for broth or gravy. You might want to spray the trays with veggie oil so they come out easier. Can’t wait to try it, I feel like a kid with a brand new toy! Hasta La Bye Bye!
Sarah says
Thanks so much for posting this! I had noooo idea you could do this. Mine is cooking right now. 🙂
L.D. says
This is a little tip I picked up off of another website, take a hand or bath towel and fold it once or twice then lay it over the transparent lid and it should insulate it enough to lessen the cooking time. I’m going to try and use my digital thermometer, I think the lead on the probe is thin enough to lay the lid on it without losing any heat, that way all you have to do is set the temp to 165* and the alarm will sound and you never have to open the lid. If this thermometer ever quits I’m going to buy one with the remote, no lead wire and you can carry it around the house, they have a range of 50 to 75 feet, purdy neet huh! I guess you can tell I’m a guy by my dragging all this digital junk in here, well, there goes the neighborhood! Bon Appetite you “Lil Crockpotters” Hasta La Bye Bye!
Sarah says
Hi Julie. I just bought a slow cooker and I’m scouring the net for recipes and I come across yours through Pinterest and I really would like to try your recipe. But I have a question though, I don’t have an oven here at home, your recipe asks for the chicken to be broiled at the last minute. Can I not broil it? Or is there other alternative for that? Thanks!
P.S. Hope you’ll reply coz I really wanna try this at home.
Julie Deily says
Hi Sarah, you don’t have to do the last step of broiling the chicken. This is only for crisping the skin up. The chicken should be fully cooked in the crockpot. Hope you enjoy it if you make it! 🙂
Julia says
I made this for dinner last night and we DEVOURED IT!!!!!!! My husband generally doesn’t really like anything in the crockpot and barely even likes chicken. But, I took a chance and went for it. I think I caught him getting a third serving! Thanks for the recipe, Julie!
Michelle McElduff says
I just got home after being gone for over 5 hours and my house smells AMAZING!!! I had a little sample of the chicken and it’s delicious. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe!
p.s. My dog couldn’t wait to get a little taste either since he had to smell it all day. 😉
Julie Deily says
Yay! And I just loved your PS btw. 🙂 My dogs always beg for chicken when I make this dish!
Melissa says
This might be a silly question, but I’ll ask it anyway because this will be my first time using my slowcooker.. Do you add a bit of water into it?
Julie Deily says
Hi Melissa, I’m sorry I missed your question earlier. You don’t have to add water, it actually creates a juice or a broth that you can use for a stock later on.
Lisa says
Is there a recipe somewhere of what to do with the leftovers? I was hoping to make a chicken pie 😉
Julie Deily says
Why yes! At the top of the post, I linked to these wonderful chicken pot pies! https://www.thelittlekitchen.net/2011/02/12/chicken-pot-pie/ Hope you enjoy it!
Jamie C. says
We’ve made this recipe several times now and it’s ALWAYS come out great! It’s by far one of our favorite meals! That rub mixture is OFF THE HOOK! =)~
Seems any variation is going to work! I’ve used oranges instead of lemons, rosemary instead of thyme, left out the celery, added potatoes, served over quinoa.. even had to cook it on high for 3 hours instead of slow cooking because I was in a time crunch; STILL FABULOUS! When slow cooked the wings and legs literally fall off the chicken!
Thanks for sharing this AMAZING recipe!
Julie Deily says
Hi Jamie, so sweet of you to return and let me know! I love putting lemons in the slow cooker outside of the chicken too. I feel like this is a no fail dish and we make it at least once a month! 🙂 Thank you!!
Daniel Scarborough says
I cooked it too long and the joints started to tear, only reason for the tear. I usually pin the wings. Just forgot. Still turned out delicious. I threw a couple of the lemons back into the broth. Turned out Bueno.
Daniel Scarborough says
I have just finished crocking this recipe.
1st. The house smells awesome
2nd. I should have tied the legs
3rd. Do you mean kosher or table salt?
4th. I forgot to pin the wings back and they stuck to the sides and pulled off I just left them in the juice/broth.
5th. I think I will make the juice/broth into soup.
6th. Thanks for this recipe.
Julie Deily says
Hi Daniel, great to hear from you! I never tied the legs and it works fine for me. When I do a roast chicken or turkey in the oven, I definitely do tie the legs. I use table salt for this recipe. Most people don’t pin the wings back but I usually do that! Using the broth for soup is a great idea!
Laurie says
I’ve been in the kitchen for over 50 years and had never done a whole chicken in my slow cooker. Everything else, but never a chicken. When looking online for a recipe Julie’s is the first one I came across. I knew when I read it I had looked as far as I needed. The simplicity of it grabbed my attention immediately and I looked no further. I’ve made this chicken many, many times now and it has never failed me. Great to prepare for guests, family gatherings or church suppers. You get to spend more time with your guests & less in the kitchen. One of my personal requirements for a good recipe is the inclusion of ingredients I usually have on hand. This fits the bill. I want to thank you Julie, for taking the time and effort to post this. Wonderful meal, easy to prepare & perfect results every time. The only change I made was to add potatoes – my husband is convinced he can’t survive a meal without them. Thanks again for a truly wonderful recipe. Job well done!
Julie Deily says
So glad to hear this, Laurie! We love this recipe so much too! -Julie
Sarah M says
I will be trying this recipe today, i have to work today, but only for 4 hours, so i thought this would be nice to have ready for my husband when he gets home.
one question- It looks like i have a 5 lb. chicken…. so i kept it in the packaging and placed in the crockpot to see if it will even fit in there before i start cooking, and the chicken pretty much fills it to each side. there is room on the bottom and on the top, but it is right up to the edges of the crockpot. (i think i must have a smaller sized slow cooker!)
will this burn the edges of the chicken? will it be fine? I just usually have a smaller sized roast that i cook in there and have never had to squeeze my meat in.
Julie Deily says
Hi Sarah, you should be fine. Often my chicken is touching one or two sides of my crockpot. And it will shrink a little bit while cooking. Please let me know how it turns out and I hope you enjoy it!!
Megan says
On my way home to put in crockpot….cant wait!!!! Sounds yummy!!!!
Hiya says
I’m worried that it doesn’t have water added. Is this a problem?
How does the whole thing get up to temperature and cook with no extra water, and doesn’t it burn?
Julie Deily says
Hi there, it does get pretty high up in temperature and since it stays enclosed the moisture from the chicken accumulates at the bottom and doesn’t burn. I would advise against opening and closing the slow cooker while it is cooking. When it’s done cooking in the slow cooker, there is at least 2-3 cups (if not more) of broth or juice that accumulates at the bottom.
Debi Anne says
Have this in progress at home. Excited to taste how it turns out. Today is the first time I’m using my crockpot.
Julie Deily says
Hi Debi Anne, I hope it turned out well and that you enjoyed it!
Wilson Family Adventures says
I’m definitely going to put this together inthe morning and have a yummy chicken dinner with my family tomorrow night.
Julie Deily says
I hope you enjoyed it! I plan on making it again tomorrow!
Shannon says
Today is my second time making this. The first time it came out incredible!!! My family, including 2 very picky eaters, hailed it a success!! I did use a granny smith apple inside, because I was out of lemons…but other than that I followed the recipe to a tee. Today I used the lemon. Excited to eat this for dinner!
Julie Deily says
Hi Shannon, I have even gone without the lemon before, it’s not as moist but it’s still really, really good. So glad you liked it! 🙂
Moggy says
I just put my chicken in the crockpot. Was planning on roasting it in the oven until I saw my electric bill and almost had a stroke. Don’t want to heat the house up using the oven, so I thought I’d give this a try. My chicken is a little over 8lbs though so I’m really hoping its going to cook okay. Guess I’ll find out. I used `1/2 of an orange since my S.O. is not a fan of lemon and threw in a couple of extra cloves of garlic but other than that followed the recipe as written. Wish me luck. :).
Julie Deily says
Good luck, Moggy! To be honest, the lemon inside is helping to keep the chicken even more moist and tender. I don’t usually taste the lemon in this recipe. But I love lemon flavor! Hope you enjoy it!
Tania @ A Perfect Pantry says
You really can’t go wrong with this recipe… will have to try out your spice mixture on chicken in my slow cooker:)
Mary Rose says
I made this the other night, except I didn’t have all of the spices, but just substituted with whatever I had in my cabinet… and it turned out sooooooo good! thank you for sharing this!
Julie Deily says
Hi Mary Rose, that’s so awesome to hear! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Linda says
Could you use this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breast. I have a pace and would like try it.
Julie Deily says
Hi Linda, I’m not sure how moist it would turn out using boneless, skinless chicken breast. You can try roasting your chicken breast in the oven with some freshly squeezed lemon and fresh thyme since that’s what you have. I would only do this recipe with a whole chicken. Hope that helps!
Bethany says
Is there another vegetable I could use instead of celery? Looks delicious!
Julie Deily says
Hi Bethany, thank you! You certainly can, maybe potatoes? You want a whole layer of veggies on the bottom so you can certainly up the amount onions and carrots. The chicken needs to be resting on a bed of vegetables.
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
Ohhhhhh…I can’t wait to try this out! What a fabulous idea!
Eloise Zenger says
Going to try this. However, I wish it was easier to print out these recipes. I ended up having to copy and paste it to Word Pad in order to print out the last part of the recipe without printing the whole article. Since buying a new PC my printer can not be set for manual two sided printing so have to tweak a lot. Believe me, I have communicated with the manufacturer to no avail. It is a good printer so I live with it.
Julie Deily says
Hi Eloise, hope you enjoy it! Did you try the print button on the top right of the recipe? That should work, that way you don’t have to print out the entire article.
Eva says
Thank you for posting this recipe. I have been resisting buying a slow cooker because I just love being in the kitchen cooking my favorite recipes – the ones that take so long to cook – like roast beef, roast chicken, or beef stew. But, I just remembered while reading this page that I went to the garden center yesterday and bought some seedlings of tomatoes, red peppers, some herbs, and two sacks of vegetable soil. The weather here in the Bay Area is so beautiful now; I think I should really be spending more time in the garden instead of the kitchen. So, before the day is over, that slow cooker will be in my kitchen!
Julie Deily says
Eva, you’re reminding me to start my herb garden! I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as we do!
kara deitz says
hi i have a Question for this chicken recipie can the chicken be a frozen one that u put in crockpot?
Julie Deily says
Hi Kara, I haven’t tried it with a frozen chicken but I would think it would at least 2-3 hours if not more on to your cooking time. I would check the temperature with a meat thermometer to be sure it’s ready. Let me know if you try it and how it works for you!
mjz says
Hi Julie: Dumb question. Are the vegetables at the bottom of the pot usable, or are they too “greasy” from the chicken fat that drips off?
Julie Deily says
Hi there! They are a little greasy and soggy but we love them! Don’t judge us! 😀 Hope you enjoy the chicken if you make it.
Russ668 says
I tried this, and you’re right! At the end I had about an inch or more of juice from the chicken that was bubbling when I got home from work. The chicken looked great and it was so tender it was falling off the bone, BUT…it was DRY! So dry that we had to come up with some sort of gravy to finish it.
How can you keep it from drying out so bad? We cooked it on low for about 5 hours and it was about a 4 lb bird.
Julie Deily says
Hi Russ,
I’m not sure…hmm, I usually have between 2 and 4 inches of juice at the bottom of the crockpot. Did you put a lemon quartered up inside the cavity of the chicken? There was one time when we didn’t have a lemon and I still made it…the meat was a little bit dry but is definitely not when I use the lemon. I hope that helps!
Carrie says
Julie, do you set the slow cooker on high or low?
Julie Deily says
Hi Carrie-
From the recipe: “Cover slow cooker and cook chicken on low for 4-8 hours”. I usually cook it on low. Hope that helps!
Al_Pal says
Saw & bookmarked this link awhile ago!
Finally making it. 10 minutes for prep time may be true for you, but it took me about that long to get the spices measured out, since I was grinding rather than pouring salt, the veg took a few or several minutes to cut, and washing & rubbing the chicken took another five minutes.
I didn’t have thyme or white pepper, used poultry seasoning instead. Starting to smell good already! (2+ hours into cook time.)
Ema K says
For someone who loves cooking but sucks at cooking chicken, I was a little skeptical that I could pull this off. I had a whole chicken in my freezer that needed to be cooked so after some googling I found your recipe and holy cow! I can’t believe this masterpiece of poultry came out of my kitchen.
As a semi-single (husband is stationed over-seas), pregnant, working mom, easy is a plus for me and that’s just what this is. Easy and oh so good. This recipe will be used in my kitchen for a long, long, time. Thx 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Ema! So glad you enjoyed it!! We enjoy this recipe all the time! I cannot go back to regular roast chicken…it’s so easy! Thanks for stopping by to tell me!
Rosa says
Gonna try tomorow for superbowl! sounds yummy! 🙂
Megan says
and it was DELISH, I will definitely be making more of your recipes 🙂
Julie Deily says
Yay, Megan! Thanks for letting me know and for your sweet comments! We love this recipe and make it least once a month.
Megan says
Hi! I’ve had this in my crock pot today and I will be eating it in literally the next 30 mins….my excitement is so strong I can hardly wait for my husband to get home! Will let you know my thoughts later 🙂 🙂
Tim says
After browsing around, this one looks the closest to what I’m after, so charlie the chicken is in the slow cooker today, and I hope he turns out as good as your pictures look. Great recipe, thanks!
I especially like the idea of stuffing with lemon & garlic, and then putting under the broiler when it’s done to crisp up the skin. Very nice touch.
For what it’s worth, my substitutions were rosemary instead of thyme (and a lot of it – I’m a big fan), and leeks instead of onions in the veggies underneath.
I guess it’s onto your other slow cooker recipes after this!
joeanna says
saw your recipe last night and i have it in my slow cooker at home now! can’t wait to see how it come out!
Dawn says
No liquid??
Julie Deily says
Are you asking if liquid needs to be added? If so, the answer is no. If you keep the lid closed, it actually makes a ton of liquid.
Andrea (questfordelish) says
does it matter the size of your slow cooker. Mine is your typical large pot size?. I have seen some that the chicken can rest like it does in a pay. In my slow cooker it would need to stand up.
Julie Deily says
Hi Andrea,
I don’t know if it will work exactly the same way since you have a large pot sized slow cooker but I think it’s worth a try. Let me know if you do and how it turns out. Just for your information, I have an oval-shaped slow cooker that’s 7 quarts.
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Love, love, love this!!!
Big Mike says
THE most flavorful, moist, tender chicken we’ve ever had. The wife made chicken salad with the leftovers today. It’s awesome too. I know what I’m having for lunch tomorrow. Heck, I might have a sandwich for dinner tonight. Thanks, Julie. You’re the best.
Big Mike says
I just got a slow cooker last week and have been looking at recipies on the internet for the last two days. Your’s is the one. I’ll have it in the pot in about an hour. Wish me luck.
Julie Deily says
Yay, Mike! Congrats on the new slow cooker…I love mine and there are a few recipes on here that are family favorites. Hope it goes well! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Mark Alvarado says
I am just starting this right now! It really looks GOOD and TASTY!! hopefully i made it right!!
Julie Deily says
Hi Mark,
I hope you enjoy it!!!
Tasha says
Thanks, Julie! Can’t wait to try it!
Tasha Mehne says
Hi! This is probably a silly question – but I’m pretty new to cooking. I just made a roasted chicken in the oven and trussed it with butcher’s twine. Is the trussing not necessary if you use the slow cooker?
Can’t wait to try your recipe in the slow cooker!
Thanks!
Julie Deily says
Hi Tasha,
Not a silly question at all! No need to truss the chicken for this slow cooker recipe. You do want to bend back the chicken wings so they are underneath the the chicken…see how the wing doesn’t stick up in the picture? Hope you enjoy the recipe & thanks for visiting!!
~Julie~
Karabeth says
Do you know how removing the skin would affect the cooking process? I’m not a health nut or anything, I just don’t really enjoy the skin and have seen other recipes remove it.
Julie Deily says
I’m not really sure, I think the skin helps seal in the moistness of the chicken. But it’s a worth a try!
soundsdelicious says
Do you mince the garlic and rub it on outside and inside of chicken? And for the quartered lemon do you squeeze the lemon juice inside the chicken or you just put the unsqueezed quarter lemon in the chicken?
Julie Deily says
Hi there, no I just smash the garlic (remove the peel) & then I rub it on the chicken. I quarter the lemon but I don’t squeeze it before putting it inside the chicken. Hope you enjoy it!
Debbie says
Hi. I want to make this for Christmas dinner tomorrow so my question is ; I don’t have any vegetables to put at the bottom so do I put the chicken in there alone (no water) or is this recipe only if you use vegetables? I will be using the recipe for the rub, garlic and lemon but no vegetables. Also, what temp do I use med, high? Thanks for the advice.
Julie Deily says
Hi Debbie,
It’s 4-8 hours on low. No need to add water at the bottom, it’s much better with veggies so the chicken isn’t sitting in the broth that is accumulates as it cooks.It may fall apart on you but I think others have done it without the veggies. Let me know how it goes & happy holidays!
Tony says
I am going try this recipe soon! The one thing I can’t believe, is that you had leftovers. Maybe you don’t have a teenage son at your house.
Kayla says
This recipe is amazing. I actually doubled the seasonings because I had a larger chicken, and it was perfect. There was a ton of juice that was created and I used it to make gravy. Some of the best gravy I’ve made. Also when you are done eating the chicken, save the bones and put them back in the crockpot and cover with water and cook them again to make actual chicken stock. For me the “stock” that is made the first time is too rich to want to use as a chicken stock in a specific recipe, but like I said it makes great gravy. If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, you must definitely do so!
Kelly Senyei says
I’m making a list of crockpot recipes for the winter and this is HIGH ON THE LIST!
Dionne R says
I have made this recipe a few times now and it has always turned out fantastic! I use a little less cayenne so my little ones will eat it but otherwise follow the recipe- which is very unusual for me. I now use the slow cooker for chicken every time. Thank you for the recipe!
Dionne R says
I have made this recipe a few times now and it has always turned out fantastic! I now use the slow cooker for chicken every time. Thank you for the recipe!
Marianne Wedell-Wedellsborg says
Fantastic idea, Julie. I’ll see if my slow cooker is big enough for the chicken. 😉
Mary Martinez says
I have made this recipe three times already and it is a SMASH hit everytime. The rub is simply to die for…once you have all the spices on hand this dish costs approximately $8.00 and tastes like a million ! I try to use a 4 1/2 pound chicken and I only use a half a lemon inside with a ton of smashed garlic. Easily can be “fancied” up with various side dishes. Truly my “go-to” dinner !
john hamacher says
the best whole chicken recipe I’ve ever tasted! holy shit i love the lemon
Julie Deily says
Hi John! So awesome! Thanks for letting me know! Happy holidays to you!
D. Flaherty says
I just came home from work after putting a whole chicken in the crock pot this morning for 8 hours cook time, 2 hours on warm…and it is fantastic! Falling off the bone…so many things you can do for flavor…I used poultry seasoning, garlic salt, onion salt and rosemary for the rub and one onion and 4 cloves of garlic in the crock pot, set under the chicken, and some inside the chicken as well as some of the rub…soooo good! easiest dinner yet! Now I will make a stock from the juices left in the crockpot…
Heather says
Sooooooooo good! I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical as to how it would turn out in the crock pot, but it was FANTASTIC! Super-easy and you cannot beat that heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen as it cooks. (Can you tell I love chicken?) The brief stint under the broiler was a great idea. This is definately one of my new favourites. Thank you!
Noe Pina says
Am I missing something?
Ok, just finished the 49ers football game and now this dad must cook a chicken in the slow cooker because I heard it was easy. lol. Which up to now it is, I followed the directions and it’s all in there – actually took 15 min. believe it or not. However, I didn’t see that the recipe called for water? just making sure, I’m sure it wasn’t left out intentionally because it’s one of those things where it’s so obvious? Thanks! anyone?
Julie Deily says
Hi Noe,
Nope, no water needed. As along you keep the slow cooker closed the entire time, a nice little broth will accumulate at the bottom of the slow cooker. You can make a little sauce to put on top of the chicken or save and use as a stock for soup later on. I love making this recipe because it takes no time at all to put into the slow cooker! Hope it turn out well for you!
Cookin' Canuck says
I can’t believe how beautifully that chicken came out of the crockpot. I am definitely going to try this.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
This is perfect for fall!
Jeanette says
I’ve been using my slow cooker a lot lately, would love to try “roasting” a chicken in it – great idea broiling it afterwards to get that roasted look.
Mary Martinez says
Just made this for my man yestedday and it was a HIT !!! So easy and tasty and economical…I had all the spices in my cabinet already ! The house smelled delish and clean-up was a snap ! Will definitely reccommend this to all !!
marie says
What about the ‘neck and pouch with organs’ ? Any good recipes for them? I am trying your recipe out as I write this. Just bot my slow cooker today.
Julie Deily says
Hi Marie,
I hope you like it! I have heard people use the neck along with the whole chicken or a chicken carcass to make chicken stock and/or soup. You can use the liver to make chicken pate? Have fun with your slow cooker! I love mine!
Rachel (teacher-chef) says
I loved everything about this (although I had a leg and wing casualty in the moving process). The flavors were awesome and it was SO easy. I only wish my pictures would have been as beautiful (guess that means I will have to make it again). Thanks for the easy inspiration 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Rachel,
So sorry about the casualty! I use turkey lifters and usually minimize that but it does happen. I’m making this recipe again this week! So glad you liked it and thank you so much for stopping by to let me know!
Mike says
I just fixed this for dinner tonight and it was great! Thank you for a great recipe.
Eileen P says
I made this today for the first time. It was just going to be me, and I’d use the leftovers for your chicken pot pie. I timed things so the slow cooker part would be done when I got home from church, then I’d put it under the broiler. A friend snagged me after church and I ended up inviting her over. I was really hoping this would be good (as I was now having company). This is not good – IT IS FANTASTIC! I will never do a whole chicken any other way! I don’t know what makes this so moist – the lemon, the process of slow cooking? But no matter – I’m completely sold on this method on roasting a chicken from here on out! Thanks for sharing Julie!
Zaira says
This looks fantastic! YUM!!!
Rachel -- Following In My Shoes says
I love cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot — in fact, it’s what we’re having tonight. I may try this version instead — what do you do with the leftover liquid/stock? do you freeze it?
Julie Deily says
Hey Rachel!
I usually don’t do much with it but the last time, I did strain it and saved the broth for stock. It’s in the freezer right now. But remember, you don’t add any liquid to the slow cooker, the stock is created by the chicken. It’s pretty neat. I would love to hear about if you try it! 🙂
Rachel -- Following In My Shoes says
I use my crock-pot/slow cooker ALL the time so I’m down with the “not adding any liquid”. . . I meant the leftover liquid from the cooking process.
Rachel -- Following In My Shoes says
And, I’m making it tonight!
Emily says
I have this recipe on my to do list!
Margaret Goodwin says
This sounds great and I will have to give it a try!
Margaret Goodwin
Anna says
I can’t wait to make this… looks amazing!
Kristen says
I have a whole chicken sitting in my freezer… going to get it out tonight so I can make this over the weekend! What a great idea and so easy
Julie Deily says
Hi Kristen,
It’s so good and so easy. Like I told you on twitter, I’m making this recipe again tomorrow too! I made chicken pot pies with the leftovers. I hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by my blog!
lily says
I am most in need of this cookbook because I don’t have a favorite crockpot dish and am always in search for a good crockpot recipe.
Carolyn G says
Do you add any liquid? That is so awesome. I have to try this!
Julie Deily says
Hi Carolyn,
I don’t add any liquid but there is a lot of liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the slow cooker. Someone made a great suggestion, it would make a great chicken broth for something later, I might try it…strain it and save it. I do add a little of the liquid over my chicken when serving too.
Carolyn G says
Julie,
thanks for the info. I am so going to try this next week. I have been wondering how to do it. Now I know. Thanks for the recipe!
C
[email protected] Frosted Fingers says
Yes, there was a lot of liquid on the bottom. I was thinking about straining it, too! I got some cheesecloth in able to do that.
[email protected] Frosted Fingers says
Mine’s in the crockpot right now. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Julie Deily says
Paula, let me know how it turns out! I wish I had one in the crockpot right now too!
[email protected] Frosted Fingers says
We haven’t sat down to eat yet, but just trying to pull it out of the crockpot the entire chicken broke in half. I had all the breast in one piece and the dark meat stayed in the crockpot.
Julie Deily says
Hey, Paula.
I hope it still turned out okay. Like I said in the post, I use turkey lifters to remove the chicken. I haven’t had it break in half on me (yet).
Nancie says
Looks yummy… Can’t wait to try this!
Ellie says
Oh man that chicken looks scrumptious. I’m hungry now!
Shop with Me Mama says
Sounds delicious! I love using my slow cooker!
robynski says
I’m making this tomorrow! It sounds so good. And how easy is this? Going to fridge right now to take chicken out of freezer.
Julie Deily says
Ooh, I’m excited! Let me know how it turns out! Next week, I’m posting what I do with the leftovers. 🙂
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
what a great idea! I’ve done something similar, but with lots of water so it makes chicken broth as it cooks. It doesn’t turn out nearly as pretty though. This looks beautiful – I want to try it 🙂
Julie Deily says
Thank you, Megan! Even with adding no water, there is a lot of a kind of broth that ends up at the bottom of the crockpot, I’m sure you should strain it out and use it as a broth. I never thought of that, thanks!
Fabgrandma says
That has me drooling! I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love cooking in a slow cooker.
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy says
That looks yummy! Thanks for sharing 😉
Paula @ Frosted Fingers says
Totally going to try this!! I don’t think I have any whole chickens left, though. I want to make this for dinner on Sunday.
Julie Deily says
I love crockpot Sundays. Let me know how it goes if you try it! 🙂
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Mmm that looks so good! I’ve never done a whole chicken in the crock – usually just soups and stuff like that. definitely going to have to get around to trying a chicken sometime.
Julie Deily says
This is my first recipe trying a whole chicken in the crockpot and it’s definitely a keeper. Let me know if you do try it!