Making a crock pot whole chicken is an easy way to prep for paleo lunches and dinners throughout the week.
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 lunches and dinners throughout the week.
MY LATEST RECIPES 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.
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.
More easy slow cooker recipes
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
-
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.
- Place chicken on top of vegetables in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours, or until chicken is 160 degrees.
Save the bones after serving the chicken and use them to make slow cooker bone broth.
Paleo Chicken Slow Cooker Recipes
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.