When you’re short on time nothing is more simple to prepare than a slow cooker whole chicken. For this recipe, chicken is rubbed with a savory spice blend to enhance the natural flavours of chicken, then slow cooked in a crock pot for tender mouth watering results. Chopped root vegetables and fresh herbs create a flavourful nest for your chicken to gently cook on. The chicken juices drip all over your veggies, boosting the flavour of your veggies, then create the best gravy to serve it all with! A full dinner made all in one pot!
SLOW COOKER WHOLE CHICKEN
After a long work day, imagine coming home to a delicious dinner that’s ready to devour as soon as you step in the door. If you haven’t tried making a whole chicken in the slow cooker, you’re missing out. You’ll be surprised to find how this method yields super juicy pieces of meat. Hey there! I’m Jessica Gavin, a Certified Culinary Scientist and I unravel the science behind better cooking on my website JessicaGavin.com. There’s nothing better than an oven roasted chicken for supper, but did you know there’s an even easier way to achieve similar flavors in a Crock Pot? Slow Cooker Whole Chicken is so easy to throw together!
ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
All you have to do is place all of the ingredients into the slow cooker, and let the low and slow process work its magic. After a few hours, a rotisserie-style chicken is ready to be carved. Cooking chicken on top of a mix of potatoes, carrots, onion, and celery provides a delicious balance of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates in your meal.
CAN YOU COOK A WHOLE CHICKEN IN A SLOW COOKER?
YES! Using a slow cooker yields mouthwatering results for a whole chicken. Compared to roasting which uses dry circulated heat, the moist heat cooking method of a Crock Pot simmers and steams the ingredients at around 209ºF. This plays a huge advantage for the dark meat parts of the chicken, as the hot moisture helps to tenderize by softening the connective tissues and turning the gelatin into collagen for a more flavorful braising liquid. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken will become a favourite.
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN IN A CROCKPOT
Make a nest of vegetables and aromatics for the chicken to sit on, like celery, carrots, red onion, red potatoes, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. This elevates the bird so that it doesn’t cook in its own juices making the skin soggy. Evenly coat the outside of the chicken with a mixture of paprika, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook the chicken breast-side up for 4 to 5 hours on the high setting, or 6 to 8 hours on low. The juices should run clear when the thickest part of the chicken breast and thigh are pierced with a knife. Chicken needs to rest for about 20 minutes before carving. If cut too early the juices will run out instead of stay in the meat to keep each piece moist.
CRISPY SKIN
If you’re a fan of crispy browned skin, you can take this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe to the next level with an optional step. Simply brush the skin with olive oil, and then broil until the surface turns amber in color. You’ll find that the vegetables that have been cooking alongside the chicken in the Crock Pot are extremely tasty. The hours of simmering and soaking up the chicken juices maximizes the flavor and make for a delectable side dish. I recommend broiling the vegetables for a few minutes while the chicken is resting to dry the surface.
HOW TO MAKE GRAVY
Don’t throw away the chicken drippings that collect on the bottom of the pot! Make a quick gravy by thickening the juice with a roux, using flour and butter. This recipe makes a feast perfect for a complete dinner any day of the week, or even a holiday celebration. Enjoy!
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