How To Cook A Whole Chicken In A Crockpot – Cheap And Easy

Using a slow cooker also known as a crockpot is an extremely convenient way of preparing meals. A slow cooker safely cooks food at a low temperature over a long period of time, making it the perfect method of cooking for those of us that are constantly on-the-go or want an easy weeknight dinner. Crockpots are a great way to save time, due to its one pot set-up. It’s simple prepping, and easy clean-up. All you have to do is set and forget, until its time to eat! A slower cooker is a fantastic way to cook meat, such as roasts and whole chickens. Cooking the meat at a low heat for an extended period of time tenderizes the muscle tissues within the meat resulting in a juicy finish, that falls off the bone.

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

Recipe

Directions

1. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.

2. Remove giblets from chicken, discard if not using for gravy.

3. Using paper towels, pat your chicken dry and set aside.

4. Mix all dry seasonings in a small dish.

5. Rub melted butter all over the chicken, under the skin and inside the cavity.

6. Season the chicken inside and out, using the dry spice mixture. Make sure to cover underneath the bird as well.

7. Set the chicken in the crockpot and set the temperature on low for eight hours.

8. Chicken is cooked when an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees. Allow chicken to rest 15 minutes prior to carving. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Make your meal more hearty by adding different vegetables to the bottom of your crockpot to cook along with your whole chicken. Potatoes, carrots, and onions are the perfect pairing to this slow cooked meal. Although this recipe comes with its own spice rub, feel free to experiment with different flavors.

Recipe By: Brittany Baxter

What To Do With Your Crock Pot Whole Chicken

Now that you understand just how easy it is to prepare a whole chicken in a crockpot, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use. Chicken cooked in a crockpot is tender and easy to separate. If you are looking for more than simple roasted chicken, here are a few ideas on what to do with your chicken once it’s cooked.

BBQ Pulled Chicken

If you love the pulled pork sandwiches at your local barbecue joint, you’ll also love how easy it is to make bbq pulled chicken. Once the chicken has finished cooking, take a couple forks and pull the chicken off of the bones. Remove the bones and carcass, leaving behind the tender and delicate shredded chicken. If there is a lot of excess juice, strain it out to prevent the pulled chicken from being too watery. Finally, stir in your favorite barbecue sauces, along with some salt and pepper, and you’re good to go!

Enjoy A Classic Chicken Dinner

If you want to be a traditionalist, you can enjoy the crockpot chicken as is over a bed of hearty vegetables. These vegetables can be tossed with oil, salt, pepper, and herbs and then roasted. Alternatively, you can make it an easy one-pot meal by throwing the vegetables in with the whole chicken to cook in the crockpot. Make sure to place the veggies on the bottom of the crockpot and leave the chicken on top.

Make Ahead Chicken Sandwiches

Making your lunches for the work week ahead of time can be a great way to save time and money. Simply throw a chicken in the crockpot Sunday morning, then once it’s done, pull the chicken apart. Drain the juice, mix in a bit of mayo, your favorite chopped vegetables, and you have enough filling for a week’s worth of sandwiches. Don’t forget the salt and pepper. For an extra bit of complexity, mix some paprika into the equation as well.

Don’t Forget About The Drippings

The juice left behind after your chicken is done cooking is packed with great chicken flavor. You can use the drippings to enhance your dish or create some tasty sides. Make a delicious gravy using our homemade recipe. Alternatively, you can take a box of pre-packaged stuffing and replace any water it calls for with the drippings. This will kick the flavor up to 11 on a simple boxed stuffing.

Not only is it possible to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot, but it’s also highly recommended. Cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot is easy and flavorful. There is no shortage of ways to use a whole chicken once it’s been cooked in the slow cooker.