Whole Roasted Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4-6 lb whole chicken thawed
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 3 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp celery seed
Instructions
Freezer prep directions:
- Place whole chicken from grocery store into freezer.
Slow Cooking directions:
- Ensure the chicken is fully thawed before cooking. It may take up to 24 hours in the fridge, so plan accordingly.
- Mix together the seasonings in small bowl and set aside.
- Pat chicken dry and then set aside. (You may be tempted to skip this step but it helps the chicken immensely in the slow cooker.)
- 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!
Get creative with different spice blends to create your own flavored roasted chicken.
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.
Instant Pot Directions
- Ensure the chicken is fully thawed before cooking. It may take up to 24 hours in the fridge, so plan accordingly.
- Mix together the seasonings in small bowl and set aside.
- Pat chicken dry and then set aside. (You may be tempted to skip this step but it helps the chicken immensely in the instant pot.)
- 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 the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. This will create the steam necessary for pressure cooking.
- Put the seasoned chicken breast side up on the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Set to High Pressure for 6 minutes per pound, then allow a 15-minute natural release followed by a quick release.
- Note: 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!
Dietary Adjustments
Make it Gluten-Free:
Make it Dairy-Free:
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
- This recipe is naturally dairy-free.
Freezer Labels
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).
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 377kcalProtein: 54gFat: 14.6gSaturated Fat: 3.8gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 3891mgPotassium: 586mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 1.1gCalcium: 77mgIron: 4mg
Sign up for the My Family Dinner MembershipLearn More