Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken Freezer Meal

Gluten Free

Slow cooker whole chicken

There are so many different options when you contemplate cooking a whole chicken at home. Here is my take for a slow cooker whole roasted chicken!

Enjoy this recipe because of the ease it offers and the tasty dinner you will enjoy! That moment when you walk to the table with a whole chicken you cooked is impressive and for me a very classic mom like moment.

Its crazy affordable to go buy a whole organic chicken from the store giving you high quality meat!

You can make a slow cook whole chicken in the oven and here is a recipe if that is your preferred method.

If sitting down to a family dinner of a full chicken is not your thing then this recipe is great for sandwiches salads and many more recipes! Make it and use up everything! I also LOVE using the bones to make a homemade bone broth which is the best on its own or in recipes!

You will never enjoy a meal as much as when it involves homemade chicken bone broth! So much flavor!

Try this recipe here is you’re interested in using the leftover bones to make your own bone broth.

I love finding ways to use everything like they used to back in the day. A whole chicken can get you giblets for gravy, meat for meals, bones for bone broth, and even skin for crispy chips or homemade schmaltz. and schmaltz is the secret too many recipes.

Why you will love this slow cooker whole chicken recipe.

  • 10 Minutes to Prep
  • Super Easy
  • Extremely Tasty
  • Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
  • Family Friendly
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken | Rotisserie Chicken Rub | Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Lemon | Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken with vegetables | instant pot whole chicken and rice | slow cooker whole chicken breast up or down

Do you need to put water in slow cooker with chicken?

No. The chicken will not burn because it is on foil balls, and with the skin remaining on your chicken all the moisture is sealed in and does not need added liquid during cook time. Once you prep the whole chicken simple set it into the slow cooker, set your time accordingly and enjoy dinner when ready. 
 

Ingredients you will need for slow cooker whole chicken recipe. 

  • whole chicken, thawed (4-6 lbs)
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • thyme
  • onion powder
  • paprika
  • celery seed

What if I don’t have all the seasonings?

 
No problem! For a super simple whole chicken slow cooker recipe just use salt, pepper and garlic. Or even just salt and pepper! 
 
You can customize this recipe to use any of your favorite seasoning or spice rub for a rotisserie chicken rub your family is guaranteed to love. 
 
This recipe includes our family favorite spice rub that I put on everything! Potatoes, veggies, chicken, and even quesadillas!

How to make the rotisserie chicken rub?

SUPER EASY! Just add all the seasonings called for in the recipe together into a small bowl and voila, you have the perfect rotisserie chicken rub!
 
Optional Tip: For a little added flavor try adding a lemon into the opening for a slow cooker whole chicken lemon recipe. 
 

What size slow cooker do I need to cook a whole chicken?

 
The smallest size slow cooker for a whole chicken is a 3.5L oval slow cooker. But you can use that size and any size bigger for your whole roasted chicken depending on what size your chicken is. 
 
 

 

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes! Just be sure that your whole chicken is completely thawed before cooking in a slow cooker. I leave my whole chicken in a fridge for 24-48 hours before cooking in the slow cooker. 
 
If you are cooking with individual chicken breasts, thighs or legs you can cook the meat frozen. But a whole chicken frozen is too large to maintain safe levels in the slow cooker as it cooks.  
 

What to serve with this slow cooker whole chicken?

Serve with some potatoes or veggies. My kids love a good crockpot whole chicken and potatoes dinner! You could also serve with some vegetables or rice depending on your dietary preferences. 
 

How to store this healthy slow cooker whole chicken recipe?

After cooking store in fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
 
You can even try freezing the chicken removed from bones individually for an easy salad, sandwich or anything else!
 

Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?

You can use a slow cooker or crock pot for this recipe. It is designed to be fast and easy so you do not have to take the time to cook all night.
 

Can I use an instant pot instead?

Of course! If your instant pot is large enough to fit a whole chicken you can definitely use an instant pot. For a great pressure cooker whole chicken with vegetables be sure to place your thawed chicken atop the roasting rack.
 
If you are tight on time or a last minute cook then throw everything in the instant post and adjust cook time. For slow cooker to instant pot conversion times click here to get a simple instant pot cheat sheet. You will never have to guess or research an instant pot cook time again!
 
Instant pot whole chicken and rice is also amazing!
 

*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food 😉 ).

How do you make this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Recipe? 👇 

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Whole Roasted Chicken
Servings: 10 Adults
Calories: 142kcal
Author: Hannah Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, thawed (4-6 lbs)
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp crushed black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp celery seed

Instructions

Directions:

  • TIP: If frozen, be sure chicken is fully thawed. It may take 24 hours to fully thaw so take it out of freezer and set into the fridge a day or two before you plan on cooking it.
  • Mix together the seasonings in small bowl and set aside.
  • Rinse whole chicken inside and out with cold water. Pat dry and then set aside. (You may be tempted to skip this step but it helps the chicken immensely in the slow cooker so I would not suggest skipping this step.)
  • Rub spice mixture all over chicken, including beneath the skin. (The skin will remain on the whole chicken but can be easily separated to create space for the seasoning if you slide your fingers between the skin and breasts).
  • Place chicken breast side up into a slow cookers and cook on low for 6-8 hours. (Timing will depend on the size of your chicken. a 4 lb chicken will be closer to 6 while a 6 lb chicken will be closer to 8 hours. Be sure chicken is cooked to an internal temp of 165 degrees).
  • Ready to serve! Chicken should break apart easily and be juicy and tender!

Freezer Directions:

  • Place whole chicken from grocery store into freezer.

Cooking from Frozen Directions:

  • Do not cook a whole chicken from frozen. Be sure to thaw your whole chicken for 24-48 hours in the fridge and then follow directions above. It is not reccommended to place a frozen whole chicken in the slow cooker or crockpot for safety reasons.

Notes

  • Get creative with different spice blends to create your own flavored roasted chicken.
  • TIP: Set whole chicken atop foil balls so the drippings fall down below chicken while cooking. (This step is optional but ends up with a great result).

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Tag @My_FamilyDinner or #MyFamilyDinner

How freezer meals will change your life.

Makes homecooking Easy

Only spend one hour in the kitchen for a whole week of dinners. Day of, throw your freezer meal in the slow cooker or instant pot and enjoy dinner!

feel confident

Knowing you have a fool proof systen for something that is easy and works gives you confidence in the kitchen. So wether you're a seasoned chef or occational home cook the method of freezer cooking will work for you!

Eat Healthier

Because you're prepping the freezer meals with fresh foods you're eating healthier. Anytime you cook at home instead of eating out you get the benefits of healthier food.

Enjoy less stress

Have you ever felt the pressure of forgetting about dinner, or having to cook at the end of a long day?! No more, just grab something out of the freezer and you're good to go.

Frequently asked questions

Unfortunately cooking a whole frozen, or partially frozen chicken is not safe in the slow cooker. 

It is recommended to thaw the whole chicken completely. I like to leave my frozen whole chicken in a fridge for 24-48 hours and then cook it when thawed. 

It’s so easy! Just rub with some spices and throw it in the slow cooker!

Follow the instructions in the recipe above for detailed cooking instructions. 

Dark meat has more fat so it doesnt dry out as quickly. Luckily when you are cooking a whole chicken it has dark meat and skin wraped around the whole thing.

This skin layer keeps the meat from drying out as long as you do not overcook it. By following the recipe directions your will get a whole juicy chicken straight out of your slow cooker at home!

I also like to set the chicken in the slow cooker breast side down to keep the white meat juicy!

A serving size assumes 1 1/2 cup of chicken at 142 kcal per serving. 

Set your chicken in the slow cooker breast side down so that your white meat stay juicy and cooks perfectly. 

On average 6 hours in the slow cooker. If your whole chicken is closer to 4 lbs it will be closer to 6 hours and the bigger the chicken the longer your cook time. 

Absolutely! It is perfectly safe to cook a whole chicken at home in the slow cooker! As long as your chicken is fully thawed you can enjoy a perfectly roasted whole chicken in the comfort of your own kitchen. 

Don't forget to pin this recipe and save it for later! 👇

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken | Rotisserie Chicken Rub | Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Lemon | Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken with vegetables | instant pot whole chicken and rice | slow cooker whole chicken breast up or down

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4 Comments

  1. This is probably a silly question but is a foil ball just foil rolled up into a ball? ???? Had never heard of it before. Going to try the recipe.

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