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Garlic and Herb Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
  • Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x

Description

An easy way to cook whole chicken in the crock pot! Lots of fresh herbs and butter make a tender and delicious chicken with very little hands on prep time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large white onion
  • 1 whole chicken (with or without skin), 3-5 pounds, thawed if frozen
  • 6 tablespoons softened butter
  • 2-3 tablespoons mixed fresh minced herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic, about 3 cloves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Trim both ends from the onion and remove the outer layer. Slice the onion into 4 thick slices like you would to make onion rings. Set the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker close together in the center. (You are making a little "onion platform" for the chicken to sit on.)
  2. Prepare the chicken by tying the legs together with cotton twine.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  4. Coat the chicken all over with the butter and herb mixture.
  5. Place the chicken on top of the onion in your slow cooker - avoid letting the chicken touch the sides of the slow cooker if you can.
  6. Place the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees F.
  7. Turn off the slow cooker, and remove the lid. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before removing it from the slow cooker.
  8. Place the whole chicken on a serving platter or cut in into pieces before serving. Serve right away while still hot.

Notes

  • Slow and low is the way to go with this recipe. I found when I cooked the chicken on high, the butter and herbs melted off the outside too quickly and didn't have enough time to make an impact on the flavor of the meat.
  • There are so many combinations of herbs that you can use. Rosemary, sage, parsley, and/or thyme are great places to start.
  • The juice that makes it to the bottom of the slow cooker is very flavorful! I recommend making gravy out of it to serve with the chicken. Gravy instructions are included in the body of this post.
  • An instant-read thermometer takes all the guess work out of when the chicken is cooked. I highly recommend getting one if you haven't already (this one is only about $10 and it works great).
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 6 hours
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Crock Pot
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: whole chicken recipe, whole chicken crock pot recipe, how to cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker

Find it online: https://www.blessthismessplease.com/garlic-and-herb-whole-chicken-in-the-crock-pot/