whole chicken in the slow cooker

Honeythief

I wouldn't bother browning it - just rub some seasoning on it to make the skin look brown before you cook it!

This is how I cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker:
1. Put some half potatoes or onions or something to keep the chicken off the bottom of the slow cooker insert
2. Rub chicken with mixed spices or smoked paprika, just to give it some colour and a bit of flavour.
3. Put the chicken breast-side down into the insert.
4. Chuck in a few sprigs of fresh herbs.
5. Cook on high for four hours, or low for six or seven (or whenever I get in from work/out of bed to rescue it).

By this stage the bird will smell amazing and the meat will be falling off the bones.

I throw out the props from the bottom because I don't like the taste of chicken fat in my food, but I'm sure they would be delicious for anybody who does like that taste.

I don't add any other ingredients, stock or anything else. There is no need.

jackyann

That isn't a roast chicken - it's a casseroled one! (edited to meaqn first recipe!)
I roast a chicken in the slow cooker with no added stock, and like duchy, it turns out lovely! I put an onion or garlic + some herbs in the cavity.

Potatoes won't roast as such in the slow cooker, but here is one of my absolutely favourite ways of cooking a chicken when you first see new potatoes:
Peel a lot of garlic cloves (classically 40 to a chicken!), wash potatoes, a lemon and a few sprigs of rosemary.
Quarter the lemon, put one piece + some of the garlic and a sprig of rosemary in the cavity.
Spread the rest of the potatoes & garlic around the chicken, and tuck the lemon & rosemary around it. Glug some olive oil on it (I normally don't use extra virgin, but this is one time you will really get the flavour). Now slow cook. Serve with some salad leaves and fresh bread to mop up the juices.
Fit for the finest occasion!

Helen2k8

I just plonk the bird in on its own, or witha splash of water, then let it get on with it. It cooks in its own juices, though the skin doesn't crisp up. Absolutely delicious though!

honeythewitch

I put a tiny bit of oil in the bottom of the slowcooker, break the legs and chuck it in.

joanne.c_2

I usually just put mine in raw with a bit of seasoning or some lemon or garlic in the cavity and leave it to cook - no added stock or water.
When I take it out the bottom of the slow cooker is full of the most amazing stock which I use for soup

sonastin

If I have time, I brown it first. If I don't, I don't. I usually add a dribble of water - about 0.5cm deep if that - to make sure that there is enough moisture in there to form a seal before the bird starts giving up its own juices. Works for me!

squeakysue

Just chuck it in and let the slow cooker do the magic

I sometimes put a couple of mm of stock at the bottom and some onions but not necessary. My s/c is 6.5 l too. I love slow cooker chicken, the meat falls off the bone so get lots of meals with it

choose_wisely

Bought a slow cooker (or 2) a few months ago, but not used either until now. Looked for this thread as I had seen it before.

Have just cooked a chicken with a lemon that was getting a bit dry, a whole bulb of garlic cut in two and some fresh (well it was when I bought it) thyme, a drizzle of olive oil and switched it on.

I can't wait to eat it, had just a little taste and the smell is also divine. Thanks for the advice.

TDMum

EEK! I think I may have made a boo boo. I have my chook sat on some carrot, celery and onion (for the soup I'll be making with the leftovers) and I made a rub out of evoo, salt, pepper and 3 crushed large cloves of garlic. The whole house is now a death trap to anything remotely vampire like. I'm guessing because the SC gives herbs more "body" I may very well have used far too much garlic. My kids teachers are going to love me tomorrow!!! I hope it's still edible!

butterbear

Hello All

I have a whole chicken which I was planning to roast today however have to pick my son up from cub camp and my other half has just informed me that we have to nip to his parents so gonna be pressed for time to cook it, so I want to cook it in my slow cooker but havent cooked a whole chicken in it before so not really sure how to go about it.

I have new potatoes to cook with it do I just throw it all in together??
I'd really appreciate any recipes or tips

thank you in advance
Butterbear x