Cooking a whole bird in a slow cooker produces the most moist and evenly cooked chicken you’ll ever eat. This Herb Rubbed Slow Cooker Whole Chicken is so moist and juicy that it just about falls apart when you try and lift it out of the slow cooker. Broiling the bird is optional. The crispy skin is nice but not necessary. You will, however, need to leave the bird in the slow cooker 3 1/2 to 4 hours to ensure that it's fully cooked.
You can serve the onions and juice as a sauce with the chicken or leave it and use it as a base for homemade stock. I like to just throw in some carrots, celery, thyme, rosemary, sage, a bay leaf, chicken bones, whole peppercorn with water and let it cook on low for 12 hours. You’ll end up with a really flavorful stock for soups and other recipes. If you don’t plan on using it right away then toss it into the freezer. My freezer is stocked with chicken stock made in my slow cooker.
If you need a slow cooker, I use the Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker. I highly recommend it. It's been a work horse and I haven't had any issues.
Herb Rubbed Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Chicken about 3-4 pounds
- 3 Onions chopped in quarters
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano or fresh 1 tablespoon
- 1 teaspoon Dried Sage
- 1 tablespoon Dried Thyme or fresh 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon Ground Pepper AIP Reintroduction, optional
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika or Hungarian Paprika AIP Reintroduction, optional
Instructions
- Add the 1/2 of one onion, garlic, and bay leaf inside the chicken.
- Place the remaining onion in the slow cooker. This will be the bed for the chicken.
- Combine the oregano, sage, thyme, pepper, salt and paprika in a small bowl.
- Rub the herb mixture over the entire bird.
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Put the top on and cook for 3 1/2 - 4 hours on high. Please note if you use a larger bird your cooking time will need to be increased.
- Carefully remove from the slow cooker and place in an ovenproof casserole dish.
- Broil the bird in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken skin is crisp but not burnt.
This is just the juiciest and most delicious.
This is so delicious. Great recipe.
I'm glad you like it.