Enjoy rotisserie-style chicken at home with this incredibly easy slow cooker whole chicken recipe. It’s a fantastic, budget-friendly dinner option, and the leftovers are incredibly versatile! While I appreciate the convenience of store-bought rotisserie chickens, they can be expensive and often contain unwanted sodium, preservatives, and other additives. This slow cooker version requires just a few minutes of prep in the morning, and a delicious, healthy dinner will be waiting for you when you get home. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect alongside other slow cooker favorites like brisket or beef bourguignon, and it’s right up there with my famous baked chicken wings as a family favorite.
For a long time, I regularly bought rotisserie chickens from Costco for a quick and easy meal. However, after reviewing the ingredient list one day, I realized they contained additives I’d prefer to avoid. This slow cooker whole chicken recipe is incredibly simple, allowing you to enjoy fresh, rotisserie-style chicken whenever you want, using only natural ingredients!
Cooking a Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker: Yes, You Can!
Absolutely! First, choose your chicken; I recommend organic when possible. Ensure the chicken will fit comfortably inside your crock pot. I use a large oval crock pot, which can handle most chicken sizes. If you have a smaller, round slow cooker, choose a smaller chicken. Coat the chicken with a simple spice blend and place it in the slow cooker on top of a ring of aluminum foil. The foil acts as a rack, preventing the chicken from steaming in its own juices and promoting even cooking.
Slow Cooker Chicken Safety:
Cooking a whole chicken in a slow cooker is safe, but it’s important to cook it on high heat for at least the first hour to ensure it reaches a safe internal temperature. This recipe uses high heat for the entire cooking duration.
Cooking Time:
A chicken typically takes 3-4 hours to cook on high heat in a slow cooker, or 8 hours on low heat. If using the low heat setting, be sure to cook it on high for the first hour before switching to low to guarantee the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
Once cooked, you’ll have a juicy and flavorful chicken! The only thing missing is the golden-brown skin of a traditional rotisserie chicken. To achieve this, I transfer the chicken to a baking pan and broil it for about 5 minutes, creating that beautiful, crispy skin everyone loves.
A 5-pound chicken provides plenty of leftovers for my family, which I use to create another meal the following night. After trying this slow cooker whole chicken, you’ll never want to buy a store-bought rotisserie chicken again!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes | Servings: 6 | Calories: 347
Description:
This slow cooker whole chicken is juicy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned with a crisp, golden skin. An easy rotisserie-style chicken made right in your crock pot!
Ingredients:
- 5 lb whole chicken, neck and giblets removed
- Cooking spray
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
Instructions:
- Mix Spices: Combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a bowl.
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Shape aluminum foil into a ring and place it inside as a rack.
- Season Chicken: Place the chicken on the foil ring and rub with the spice mixture.
- Cook Chicken: Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Crisp Skin: Broil the chicken in the oven for 4-5 minutes until skin is browned and crispy. Serve hot.
Chef Tips:
- For fewer calories, remove the skin before eating.
- Leftover chicken is perfect for soups, salads, and sandwiches!