Whole Chicken Crockpot with Potatoes

How to cook a whole chicken Crockpot with potatoes and carrots is here. This is a dinner you will love! We will share the best way to cook a slow cooker frozen whole chicken or fresh below so they turn out super moist and flavorful every single time.

How to Cook Whole Chicken in Crockpot

We eat a lot of chicken in this house! Some nights I don’t have an hour or an hour and a half to Bake a Whole Chicken at 350 in the oven. In that case I like to use my slow cooker instead first thing in the morning. You can add potatoes, carrots and onions all at the same time for a one pot meal.

You can certainly serve it cut up into pieces but typically shredded is the way to go. Since it is so tender the meat will just fall off of the bone, no doubt about it. Steamed fresh or frozen the cook time is no different either way.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Whole Chicken Crockpot Recipe

You literally only need a whole chicken, seasoning, and 4 potatoes or a roll of aluminum foil for this easy chicken recipe. I like to use Russet or red potatoes but if I don’t have a few on hand and I’m not in the mood to go to the store, aluminum foil will work as well. This is how you make a whole chicken in the crockpot.

Whole Chicken in Slow Cooker with Potatoes

I almost always use russets but you could use red too if you preferred. If left whole I use as trivets under the bird but you could cut into large bite size pieces instead of you preferred. Throw in a bag of baby carrots and sliced onions and you’re set.

Can you overcook chicken in a Crock pot?

I mean if you left it in there a really really long time beyond the cook time listed in your recipe yes everything would get dry. Within 30 minutes of the timing would be just fine. That is why I like the programmable models that turn to warm after you set the # of hours on the pot.

How to cook a whole chicken in a Crockpot

Set aside 5 – 8 hours to get this done. Just wash and poke all 4 potatoes with a fork all the way around so they can get nice and tender.  Try to get them to be somewhat the same size because these will be the trivet for your roasted chicken.

If you don’t want to have Crockpot baked potatoes when done, or don’t have any, just wad up balls of aluminum foil large enough to have the chicken lifted off the bottom of your slow cooker, or cut into 6ths with other veggies underneath to sit on. You don’t want it to sit in the juices the whole time and get mushy.

1. Prepare the chicken by remove the giblets from the cavity if they are included. Rinse under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper both inside and outside.
2. Season the chicken by mixing together things like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried herbs. Rub this seasoning mixture all over the chicken, ensuring it is evenly coated. You can also gently lift the skin and apply some of the seasoning directly onto the meat for added flavor.
3. If desired, place quartered onions and garlic cloves inside the cavity. These aromatics will infuse additional flavors into the meat as it cooks.

Grease the crockpot with a non-stick spray or a small amount of oil to prevent sticking. Carefully place the bird into the crockpot on top of your taters, breast side up. If the chicken is too large for your crockpot, you may need to tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help it fit.

How Long to cook Whole Chicken in Slow Cooker

Cook on low heat for about 6-8 hours, depending on the size. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken and the specific crockpot model, so it’s best to use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the meat.

1. Let it rest once it has finished cooking Then carefully remove it from the crockpot and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow to rest for about 10-15 minutes before carving. This will help the juices distribute evenly throughout the meat.
2. Serve and enjoy with your favorite sides like roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad. You can also use the cooking liquid from the crockpot as a flavorful base for making gravy or as a drizzle over the chicken for added moisture.

Cooking a whole chicken in a crockpot is a hands-off approach that yields juicy and tender results. The low and slow cooking process ensures a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Whole Chicken in a Crockpot recipe

If you are making homemade chicken noodle soup with whole chicken then you can just use as is and follow these directions. No need to broil since you’re going to remove the skin anyway for this meal. use the drippings in the bottom + packaged broth to add into the mix. What if you want to crispy chicken skin on your slow cooker whole chicken?

There are a few ways you can do this depending on the appliances you own. Of course first you will want to ensure the meat is done on the inside. If it reaches 165 degrees when the thermometer is inserted into the middle of the breast you’re good. Then to get crispy skin you can:

• Put it into a baking dish and into your oven using your broiler setting for 3-5 minutes.
• If you have an air fryer this is the BEST way to do it. You’ll need a large air fryer or Ninja Foodi in order to accommodate the size.
• This is how to crisp chicken in the Crock pot once it’s done. 😉

Here’s a run down on how you make it: This is what it looks like after you’ve left it on low for 4.5-5 hours. It is incredibly moist when it is done.

If it’s done early just move it to warm. It can sit for a good hour or two until you’re ready! That’s how easy cooking a whole chicken in your crockpot really is. If you love easy crockpot recipes try my 5 ingredient crockpot chili and a few others below like;

After you try this easy slow cooker recipe, try these others using a whole chicken?

• Instant Pot whole chicken and other chicken recipes you can make in no time at all
• Dutch oven whole chicken comes out fall off the bone moist with veggies.

Can you cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes, it is possible! If the meat is cooked too long it could end up dry and not juicy and tender. Also, if you use frozen chicken in Crockpot or more chicken than the recipe calls for, you may need to add additional time.

• If you aren’t quite ready to eat but time is up, just switch to warm instead of allowing it to continue to cook.
• You can remove it and put it into a pan with foil on top to keep warm and not overcook it too.

Tips when choosing a whole chicken: I’m personally very picky when it comes to buying poultry. I’ve purchased cheaper or store brand birds and have regretted it big time. I feel like there is a BIG difference when it comes to the quality of chickens.

I am frugal but spending an extra few dollars to get an organic one makes all the difference. If you haven’t tried it you should at least once. How to make air fryer whole chicken is probably my favorite method! It is done in an hour and so crispy as you see here.

In my opinion it is much more tender and never has that stringy texture you sometimes encounter after it’s been cooked. They are a bit smaller for the most part but it is mostly due to the fact that they aren’t stuffed with fillers to make them appear larger. 

Whole Chicken in Crockpot with Potatoes

Rinse your whole chicken and take bag out of cavity if it is there. Place rinsed 4 potatoes that have been pierced with a fork inside your Crockpot. This is where you will place your chicken (breast side up) so make sure they’re about the same size and crockpot lid will close. If too large cut in half and place together as your “trivet”.

To make skin more like rotisserie chicken, put under the broiler inside a pan for 4-6 minutes. OR throw in your air fryer, spray with olive oil on top at 400 degrees F for 15 min. until crispy.

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