This slow cooker whole chicken is a rotisserie style seasoned chicken made with the help of the crock pot. It’s a super easy dinner option and the leftover chicken can be used in countless other dishes!
I love rotisserie chicken, but it can be pricey and is often filled with sodium and sometimes even preservatives and other questionable ingredients. This slow cooker roasted chicken has just a few minutes of prep time, you can set it in the morning and come home to have dinner waiting for you!
For the longest time, every time I went to Costco I’d pick up one of their rotisserie chickens for a cheap and easy meal. Then one day I read the ingredient list, and there are some additives in those chickens that I’d rather not feed my family. This slow cooker whole chicken is SO easy to make, and you can have a fresh cooked rotisserie style chicken any time you want with more natural ingredients!
Can you cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes you can! The first step is to choose your chicken, I like to use organic whenever possible. You want to make sure that your chicken will fit inside your crock pot, I use my larger oval crock pot for this task which is big enough to accommodate almost any sized chicken. If you’re using a smaller round slow cooker, opt for a smaller bird.
The chicken gets coated in a simple spice blend, then placed in the slow cooker atop a ring of foil. The foil acts as a rack to keep the chicken from steaming in its own juices as it cooks.
Is it safe to cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker?
It is safe to cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker, but it’s typically recommended that you cook the chicken on high heat for at least one hour for food safety purposes. This recipe calls for cooking the chicken on high heat for the entire cook time.
How long will it take to cook a chicken in a slow cooker?
It typically takes 3-4 hours to cook a chicken on high heat in the slow cooker, and 8 hours to cook on low heat. As mentioned above, if you plan to cook your chicken on the lower heat setting, be sure to let it cook at high for one hour before you switch to low to make sure the chicken is at the correct temperature for food safety purposes.
At the end of your cook time, you’ll have a juicy and flavorful bird!
At this point, your slow cooker chicken is just missing one thing: that golden brown skin normally associated with rotisserie chicken. I transfer my chicken to a baking pan and broil it for about 5 minutes to get that beautiful golden brown skin that everybody loves.
When I cook a 5 pound chicken for my family, we typically end up with plenty of leftovers which I use to create dinner for the next night.
Once you try this slow cooker whole chicken, you’ll never want to go back to store bought rotisserie chicken again!
Ideas for your leftover chicken
- Chicken Taco Soup
- Chicken Ranch Tacos
- Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip
- Chicken Taquitos
Slow cooker whole chicken video
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 5 lb whole chicken neck and giblets removed
- cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika.
- Coat a large slow cooker with cooking spray. Roll a piece heavy duty aluminum foil into a ring shape to fit into the slow cooker as a rack.
- Place the chicken on top of the foil ring. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or until thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers at 165 degrees or higher.
- Transfer the chicken to a sheet pan or baking dish and broil in the oven for 4-5 minutes or until chicken skin is brown and crispy. Serve.
Notes
- Nutritional facts assume calorie and fat counts for skin. If you're looking to cut calories, remove the skin before eating.
Shannon says
I have an 8lb roasting chicken. If I cook it on high for a couple of hours before I leave for work and then on low while I’m at work for 8 hours it should be cooked I would think? I’ll temp it of course.
Sara says
Yes that should work!
Kim says
Butter in cavity??
Sara says
I do not use butter in this recipe!
Jane says
We love this! Super easy, flavorful & moist.
Used foil first few times but then purchased a silicone insert with handles for easy removal. Bought ours at BedBathandBeyond but have seen elsewhere.
Have even gone out for an afternoon of golf & confidently had friends over for yummy dinner after! Also love leftovers for chicken salad plus use carcass to make broth for future meals.
Kevin says
Juicy, tender, delicious! Someone in a previous comment I mentioned using small potatoes under the chicken instead of foil. The potatoes were also delicious. So glad I found this recipe. Thanks for sharing
Caly says
Would it require same amount of cooking time for a smaller chicken?
or what time would you recommend for a chicken approx half that size (2.8lb)?
Thanks 🙂
Sara says
You can cook it for an hour less time!
Gail says
Got to try this !!!
Veronica says
I am excited to try this, but I was curious. I’m leery of using Aluminum foil as a rack. Could I possibly use lemon halves or something else to prop the chicken up?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine to do!
Vicki says
I used whole red potatoes instead of foil and it worked out great!!
Carla says
I am super excited to try this. My kiddo is IN LOVE with your BBQ rub that we use on your baked chicken wings recipe. Would that same BBQ spice rub work well on this chicken in the crock pot – or should we just leave that to wings that are baked?
Sara says
Yes you can use the same rub for this recipe!
Trish says
You should mention to people – don’t throw away the juices!! Use as chicken stock or turn into a gravy.
Hannah says
Can I make this in a Dutch oven?
Sara says
That should be ok, bake at 325 degrees F!
Toni says
Made this tonight – so easy and was delicious!
Lindy says
Could I cook this on low instead of high?
Sara says
You would need to cook it on high for at least one hour otherwise it could be a food safety issue where the chicken doesn’t come up to the proper temperature in the right amount of time.
Diane says
You can cook a whole chicken on low for 6 to 8 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
Margarett Maglio says
Ditto. I hear you sista! I cannot keep track of what I have ordered and what I actually want. I have no money to buy anything but books and that’s annoying everyone.
trisha carlson says
you dont put any liquid in the crock pot?
Sara says
No you do not!
Cheryl L Hargett says
No Trisha, you do not! The fat from the chicken will melt, and become the liquid, but it won’t be greasy.
Joyce Maggitti says
Just purchased a larger slow cooker, anxious to try this recipe
Shelley sanders says
Trying for the first time today. Can’t wait
Carol Day Scollan says
Love this recipe and I also add the veggies to make a robust dinner full of comfort and savory flavors!
James says
Pour about 1/2 can of beer in the bottom of the pot to steam the chicken
Jen says
My new go to recipe! I toss in vegetables and potatoes half way cooking time and full dinner in the crock pot!