Making a crock pot whole chicken is an easy way to prep for paleo, keto and Whole30 meals throughout the week. And a super simple slow cooker chicken dinner.
It's the beginning of another hectic week. One of the best ways to prepare for the week ahead is to cook a whole chicken to use for different meals. Roasting a chicken in the oven is great if you're home—and something I do a lot on the weekends. But if you're running around all day, a crock pot whole chicken is a great alternative. It's an easy, healthy chicken recipe. And a great way to prep for paleo, keto and Whole30 lunches and dinners throughout the week.
Crock pot whole chicken
Cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is simple. I use the same ingredients as my herb lemon garlic roast chicken, with the addition of some vegetables to create a rack in the bottom of the slow cooker. This is my go-to flavor combination for poultry. It works well as a base for any sauces added later. And I always have the ingredients in my pantry.
The process couldn't be easier. Just add some aromatic vegetables to the bottom of the slow cooker to raise the chicken up and keep it from sticking to the bottom of the crockpot. Using vegetables for this, instead of a rack or aluminum foil, helps flavor the chicken. And if you're going to make bone broth from the chicken bones, you can just leave the vegetables in the slow cooker and add back the chicken bones and the rest of the ingredients. (Find the full instructions for making slow cooker chicken stock here.)
Flavor the chicken with lemons, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Put the chicken in the crock pot breast side up, set it to low, and walk away. The cook time will be 6-8 hours depending on the size of your chicken. It's done when the temperature reaches the recommended 165 degrees on a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part. The chicken should be falling off the bone tender.
Once the chicken comes out of the slow cooker, you can cut it up or shred the chicken to use in other recipes as you would a rotisserie chicken. (Don't forget to save the bones for making stock!) Or if you are going to serve it whole like a roasted chicken, you can brown the chicken under the broiler as shown in the video below.
So try this slow cooker whole chicken to make your week easier. And for more healthy slow cooker recipes, check out these paleo crock pot recipes.
How to cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker
An easy healthy chicken dinner that's ready when you get home.
- 2 carrots cut into chunks
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 small onion
- 1 large whole chicken
- 1 lemon halved
- 3 - 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence
- kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
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Cut carrots, celery, and onion into large chunks and line bottom of slow cooker.
- Rinse chicken, pat dry, and stuff with garlic cloves and lemon halves. Season all over with salt, pepper, and herbes de Provence.
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Place chicken on top of vegetables in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours, or until chicken is 165 degrees.
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Optional: if desired, brown chicken under the broiler.
Save the bones after serving the chicken and use them to make slow cooker bone broth.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
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Do you have any ideas for those lunches from a crockpot chicken you mentioned this is good for?
Hi Heather, here are a few of my favorites:
– Greek lettuce wraps: whole lettuce leaves, chicken, baba ganoush, tomatoes, cucumbers and Greek olives
– Chicken salad with spinach and strawberries
– sub chicken for the tuna in paleo avocado tuna salad
no water needed?
No, you don’t need to add any liquid for this recipe.
Question… does the chicken get browned in the crockpot?
When cooking chicken in the crockpot, sprinkle lightly with paprika to give it a “browned” look.
What are good sides with this main course?
Hi Carly, it will really go with just about anything. I like it with mashed cauliflower and a side salad for an easy dinner.
I did not add any liquid, but cooking the chicken produced alot of good liquid, or stock, i guess. I am also making a soup and bone broth with the chicken cooked. What should I do with the liquid i got from the crock pot after cooking the chicken this way? Should I add it to my soup, or to my bone broth? Or some to each? If so, do I add it at the beginning or the end since it is already “cooked”. I stored it in a continer in the fridge and it has a solid gelatin top to it already. But it also still has all the veggies in it from when I separated the chicken out to shred it. (I am using your crock pot chicken soup recipe and bone broth recipe.)
Thank you!!! (I am new to this, if you couldnt tell.)
Hi Natalie, you can do either. If I’m making the stock right away, I will leave the juice and veggies in the crock pot, then add back the bones after I remove the meat and just add enough water to cover.
Can you put the whole chicken in the crock pot frozen or does it need to be thawed?
Hi Julie, the chicken needs to be thawed before you cook it.
Wow! I think this is quick and easy to prepare. Deliciously healthy chicken recipe ever!
Hi, can this be cooked on high for a shorter time period as well?
It can be, just check the temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it is done but not overcooked. How long will depend on the size of your chicken.