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Whole cooked and golden chicken served on a platter with lemon wedges and fresh herbs
5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

See how easy it is to make a whole chicken in the slow cooker. Cooked low and slow, with the perfect spices, slow cooker whole chicken is always delicious.
Author Diana
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pound whole chicken giblets removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the dry rub ingredients: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, and basil.
  • Place trivet in the slow cooker, and then place the chicken in the slow cooker over the trivet. Drizzle with olive oil then apply the dry rub all over the chicken. Truss the chicken legs with kitchen twine and place the chicken breast side up.
  • Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. The chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when checked using an instant read thermometer.
  • If you wish to crisp up the skin after slow cooking, place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and place under the broiler for 5-10 minutes or until the skin is crispy.

Video

Notes

  • To make Gravy. Start by scraping the bottom of your slow cooker to remove any excess skin that may have fallen off or stuck to the bottom. Gather up ¼ cup of broth and whisk in 3 ½ tablespoons cornstarch and set aside. Next, heat a skillet over medium-high and pour in 2 ¾ cups chicken broth and the pan scrapings. Bring to a simmer then whisk cornstarch mixture into the pan and season with salt and pepper if needed. Continue cooking mixture and whisking constantly, until thickened, for about 1–2 minutes. For thicker gravy, you can add in a little heavy cream. 
  • Storing. Before storing your leftover chicken make sure it has cooled down before placing it in an airtight container and storing it in the fridge. The chicken will last up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.