Cooking whole chicken in a crock pot

[JLiz]

Any one ever cook a whole chicken in a crock pot? Can you share any recipes or tips?

 

[cabanafrau]

I quarter two lemons and one to three onions, depending on size. Squeeze lemons over and inside chicken. Toss some lemon and onion quarters inside and around chicken. Peel several cloves of garlic, according to taste. Put a few inside cavity, one inside each side of chicken breast in between skin and breast and then toss a few more around chicken. Spice to taste w/ poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, etc. Add 1/4 c. white cooking wine or chicken broth & cook on low until cooked through.

 

[SandrA9810]

If you use onions, put them on the bottom to cook in the juices or else the smell becomes over powering. I usually season the bird with a bit of salt and pepper, and maybe add in onion and some garlic. Once it's cooked, it's a basic flavor that I can mix it for anything.

I've mixed it with salsa afterwards for quesadillas, made chicken pot pie, pasta and chicken, chicken soup...

The easiest way to de-bone it is to use tongs. The bones can crush under pressure of your fingers.

 

[Dsnyfireman]

I have done it many times, I like to put in my vegetables in too. Along with some onions and potatoes and carrots I put in some sweet basil ( dry) a little wine if you like( white usually ) or some thing for liquid other than just water( water brings no flavor the party) chicken broth will do. Some salt pepper and butter. Then any spices you really like , I do lemon or orange zest sometimes, you can do spicy stuff like Tabasco or hot peppers if you like. BBQ sauce or smoky spices are ok but not as well in a crock pot. I put it on low for at least 3-5 hours( depends on cooker and chicken size) until bone twists out in the leg. They have some great season packs for slow cookers at the supermarket that I like too. Good luck.

 

[lynxstch]

I do it at least once every 2 weeks. This is the 'go to ' recipe I started with..and I adjust it depending on what herbs/seasonings I feel like adding to it!

Crock Pot Chicken

Cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is super easy. First unwrap the chicken, remove the bag of innards from the cavity and give the chicken a quick rinse. I usually use a 5 lb chicken.
After rinsing the chicken , pat it dry with paper towels, you can either put it in the crock pot first and sprinkle it with herbs, or rub them in first and then place it in..spray the crock potwith non stick cooking spray first though! I use herbs de provence, garlic powder, onion powder, and bells seasoning mixed together in a little bowl then rub it onto the chicken.

You do not need to put any liquid in the pot, just the chicken. Sometimes I will place an onion, or some sliced lemons in the bottom, but I never add liquids.

Place the lid on the crock pot, set on low, and leave it for about 7 hours, or you can put it on high for about 4 hours.

7 hours later you will have a beautiful cooked chicken ready to serve for dinner.
Remove the chicken from the crock pot, cut and serve. Do not throw away the liquid in the crock pot.

If you do not want to serve the chicken for dinner, allow the chicken to cool and then remove the meat from the bones. You can use the meat like you would any other cooked chicken, in casseroles, chicken salad, chicken pot pie, pastas, etc.

Once you have removed all the meat from the bones, put the bones back in the crock pot and add about five cups of water. I also put the skin back in the crock pot . Turn the crock pot on low and let it cook for 6 hours or so and you will have delicious home made stock. Strain out the bones, skin etc, let cool till the fat rises to the top, and skim off. I put it in quart freezer bags and store in the freezer till I feel like making home made chicken soup!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If I was going to crock pot a whole chicken, I would take out innards if they are there, rinse, toss in and that it is.

Basically you put what YOU like on your chicken as far as herbs, spices, flavors, etc.

That being said, I do like those saute express sticks. I might be tempted to add some of that to the chicken.

 

[denisem]

Compliments of Pumba from the DIS crockpot thread in the cooking forum. I'd just caution you as far as reducing time if you have a slow cooker that cooks hot (like mine). I've also used this rub on my rotisserie chicken, it's very good:

CROCKPOT ROAST STICKY CHICKEN

4 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 large roasting chicken
1 cup chopped onion

In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices. Remove giblets from chicken, clean the cavity well and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice
mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and down deep into the skin. Place in a resealable plastic bag, seal and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to cook chicken put the onions into the cavity, put the bird into the crockpot and do not add any liquid. As the cooking process goes on it will
produce it's own juices. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours and it will be falling off the bone tender.

 

[lovemygoofy]

My crockpot chicken tip is making some foil balls to put in the bottom of the crockpot and then balance the chicken on top. I don't like my chicken to cook in all the grease so balancing on the foil balls allows the grease to fall down into the bottom of the crock.

 

[castleview]

All the time. Fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, onion, garlic. Go! The chicken is very loose when done in broth or water though.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Question about all of this crockpot cooking...


Does the skin get brown? It doesn't have to get crisp but I can't do white chicken skin.

 

[castleview]

Question about all of this crockpot cooking...


Does the skin get brown? It doesn't have to get crisp but I can't do white chicken skin.

It hasn't it my experience. Golden…not golden brown.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Question about all of this crockpot cooking...


Does the skin get brown? It doesn't have to get crisp but I can't do white chicken skin.

I season my chicken with rotissere seasoning and then after the crockpot cooking, I throw into the oven on 400 for a few minutes to crisp up while finishing the sides for dinner.

Generally the chicken isn't white really but its not dark by any means.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

As long as it doesn't have the weird steamed or boiled look I'm good lol.

 

[MineMail]

My crockpot chicken tip is making some foil balls to put in the bottom of the crockpot and then balance the chicken on top. I don't like my chicken to cook in all the grease so balancing on the foil balls allows the grease to fall down into the bottom of the crock.

Great tip - I used it the last time you shared it. Works great - of course, now DH keeps making jokes about how tasty the foil balls were and how many did I make for each of us.

 

[lynxstch]

My crockpot chicken tip is making some foil balls to put in the bottom of the crockpot and then balance the chicken on top. I don't like my chicken to cook in all the grease so balancing on the foil balls allows the grease to fall down into the bottom of the crock.

Great tip, Tina, thanks! Gonna try this the next time I make it!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I stick an onion, apple, or lemon in the cavity, pour a beer over the chicken, and cook on low for about 7 hours.

lovemygoofy Quote:

"Originally Posted by Soldier's*Sweeties
Question about all of this crockpot cooking...

Does the skin get brown? It doesn't have to get crisp but I can't do white chicken skin."

I season my chicken with rotissere seasoning and then after the crockpot cooking, I throw into the oven on 400 for a few minutes to crisp up while finishing the sides for dinner.

Generally the chicken isn't white really but its not dark by any means.

Ooh, I have to try this now too!! - Thanks.

 

[Dancind]

If you want a brown, crispy chicken you probably better learn to roast it. It would involve browning it first, then cooking it in a roaster (or le creuset pot) in an oven. It's a tricky one, takes practice and maybe watching some Julia Child videos!

 

[Tazicket]

I toss it in with carrots, celery and onion. A little garlic and onion powder and a sprinkle of salt and I'm good to go. Never add any liquids and always wind up with a bunch of awesome tasting chicken broth.

 

[Kellydelly]

So easy and so yummy! I just put some carrots and sliced onions in the bottom of my crock, rinse out the chicken, season the cavity, put it on top of the carrots and onions, season the top with lemon pepper, cover and let it cook on low for 8-10 hrs or high for 6. You don't need to add any liquid at all, the chicken will release tons of it during cooking.

 

[Jenn]

I season my chicken with rotissere seasoning and then after the crockpot cooking, I throw into the oven on 400 for a few minutes to crisp up while finishing the sides for dinner.

Generally the chicken isn't white really but its not dark by any means.

Thanks for this tip! Never tried a whole chicken in the crockpot before and as suggested, put it in the oven to crisp up and it was delicious!