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Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
 

Once you try this slow cooker whole chicken recipe, you may never roast a chicken in the oven again! You'll get super tender meat and delicious broth with a minimum of effort. 

Course: Main Course, Main Meals, Slow Cooker
Author: Julia Robarts
Ingredients
  • 1 whole chicken 5-7#
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Remove giblets from inside chicken cavity, and set aside for another use, if desired. Rinse and pat dry the chicken, and place in the slow cooker.

  2. Push the celery and lemon inside the cavity, giving the lemon a little squeeze as you do so to release some of the juice.

  3. Pour 2 cups of water into the pan.

  4. Dust the top and sides of the chicken with the celery salt, thyme, marjoram, paprika, and pepper.

  5. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. Turn off when the chicken begins to fall apart under light pressure. Remove cover and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes. 

  6. Remove the chicken, celery, and lemon to a platter and set aside. Pour the broth carefully through a mesh strainer resting on top of a medium bowl. Discard the solids in the strainger, and cover the bowl of broth. Refrigerate.

  7. Next, tend to the task of separating the tender chicken meat from the bones and skin, which you will discard. You should get several cups of meat. Store the meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

  8. After the broth has been chilling for several hours, you should be able to easily scrape off the layer of chicken fat which has settled on the top. I would recommend you leave a small amount of the fat behind, as it lends a wonderful flavor to the broth in soups and stews! The broth will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for two months or more.

Recipe Notes

*I prefer to chill the broth overnight to allow me to easily remove most (but not all ) of the chicken fat. However, you can use the broth immediately, without that step, if you prefer.

*This recipe can easily be adapted to a smaller whole chicken. Just adjust the seasonings accordingly.