by Texas Homesteader ~
This slow cooker savory whole chicken recipe is convenient and flavorful – all done by suppertime. The slow cooking process allows the chicken to be tender, juicy & exploding with flavor. I have no idea where the name comes from, but stay with me now – you’re gonna LOVE THIS!
Slow Cooker Simplicity & Benefits
There are SO many benefits to slow-cooker meals. Slow cooking:
Retains Moisture & Flavor
Is Convenient & Time Saving
Tenderizes Tougher Cuts Of Meat
Enhances Flavor Through Slow Cooking
Just combine ingredients the night before or even in the morning, set the crock in its base, turn it on and supper cooks while you’re not even there.
Then walk into the house tired & hungry that evening to the delightful aroma of supper already prepared & ready!
No need to gather up the kids and drive to the local fast-food place to plunk down your hard-earned money on a substandard fast-food meal. You’re looking at real home-cooked goodness right in front of you.
You can see all our slow-cooker recipes by clicking the button below:
Savory Spices For Cooking Whole Chicken
To make this simple and delicious spicy chicken, first you’ll want to combine the spices in a bowl:
-
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Thyme
- Salt/Pepper
Preparing To Cook Whole Chicken In A Slow Cooker
To prepare your chicken first trim off excess fat & skin. (I’m careful to place the trimmings into a bowl in the fridge for use later. I’ll explain why in a minute.)
Rub the mixed spices over the entire surface of the chicken both inside and out, reserving just a little to sprinkle on top of the chicken after it’s placed in the slow cooker crock.
Quarter an onion and place it inside the chicken. I’ll admit sometimes I add the onion and sometimes I skip this step altogether because (say it with me now) “Flexibility is key in our Homestead kitchen!“
Place the seasoned chicken into the slow cooker, sprinkling the reserved seasoning on top.
Cooking Whole Chicken In A Slow Cooker
Now that your chicken is ready to cook simply place the lid on top, set the slow cooker to low and cook for 8-10 hours. Then step out to tackle the world, that chicken will be slowly cooking to perfection while you’re away.
There’s no need to add any liquid. The chicken will make it’s own broth as it cooks.
And y’all, listen carefully: You’re gonna want to save that savory liquid to give you a jump-start to making your own chicken broth with the chicken trimmings you saved in the fridge as well as the skin & bones.
That’s right, even after this chicken has done hard duty feeding your family it still has even more to give and you certainly don’t want to miss out!
What Is The Internal Temperature of Cooked Chicken?
After about 8 hours you’ll want to check to see if your chicken has reached the proper internal temperature. According to the USDA, the Safe Internal Temperature for Chicken is 165ºF.
I have several instant-read thermometers, and I use them all the time.
The secret to tender juicy chicken is to cook it to a safe internal temperature but no higher.
Supper Ready When YOU Are!
When you drag yourself back home after a hard day at work, remove your Wonder Woman cape and step into your kitchen.
You’ll be so glad you planned ahead this morning. The aroma of perfectly seasoned chicken will be delightful. Dinner is a snap now!
Yeah, that Wonder Woman cape isn’t hanging in the hall for nothin’ sistah…
PLUS there are six (yes count ’em – S-I-X) ways I’m able to use this one chicken! See how I fully utilize this one bird in six different ways.
What Goes With Slow Cooker Whole Chicken?
Here are a few of our side-dish options we enjoy with slow-cooker whole chicken:
Sauteed Fresh Garden Vegetables
Or whatever your family loves most. Just add a couple of sides or maybe a nice salad and you’re all set.
NOTE: Help us show up in searches by rating this Slow-Cooker Chicken recipe in your comment below!
Slow Cooker Spicy Sticky Chicken
Easy slow-cooker chicken recipe with spicy seasonings like cayenne pepper and paprika. This is our favorite way to enjoy inexpensive whole chicken!
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
Instructions
INSTRUCTIONS:
-
Remove chicken from packaging and set aside to allow water to drain. In the meantime in a bowl mix the spices.
-
Rub chicken skin generously inside & out with seasonings, reserving a small amount to sprinkle on top later.
-
Insert quartered onion into chicken cavity and place chicken in slow cooker. Sprinkle top of bird with remaining seasoning.
-
Cook on low 8-10 hours or until meat thermometer placed into the thigh section (but not touching bone) reaches 165 degrees.
-
Remove chicken from slow cooker and allow it to rest for about 5 minutes. Then carve & enjoy.
~TxH~
Reference:
USDA: Cooking Meat To Safe Internal Temperatures
Other Meal Ideas
Ground Meat
- Poor Man’s Stuffed Steak (hamburger)
- Award-Winning Cowboy Chili
- Savory Meatloaf
- Jumbo Sheet-Pan Quesadillas Feed A Crowd
- Lazy Cook’s Chile Relleno
- Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
- Meat-Stuffed Ravioli
- Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Meat & Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Quick Southwest Quesadillas
- Taco Spaghetti – Simple 1-Pot Meal
- Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Lasagne Served In Its Shell
Chicken/Poultry
- Homemade Chicken & Dumplings
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Leftover Chicken Into Quick Chicken Fried Rice
- Healthier Crispy Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer
- Slow-Cooker Spicy Sticky Chicken
- Pecan Smoking A Whole, Spatchcocked Turkey
Other
Cooking Tips
Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Goulash – Comfort Food FAST!
- Homemade Tamales (includes Instant-Pot shortcut)
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
Air Fryer
See All Our Recipes
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This sounds delicious! I really need to start using my slow cooker more often and this recipe gives me a good excuse! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
This is going on my menu for next week — I love the slow cooker too! Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! 🙂
My grandson, age 6, looked at the picture of the spices and saw a pig! Can you see it? The recipe sounds wonderful. I will probably try it.
We go to Sam,s about 4 times a year since we also live a 110 mile roundtrip from it.Tomorrow is our planned trip.Since I have a whole chicken in the freezer I have time to let it thaw over night and do your recipie before we leave.It will drive the dogs crazy when they smell it cooking,but oh it will be so nice to come home to it.Thank you.
I make something similar but always bake it in the oven. I think I’ll have to try it in the slow cooker to make my life much easier! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Oh yeah, I’m all about making life easier Amanda. 😉 ~TxH~
I’ve been planning to buy a crock pot (I assume it’s the same as a slow cooker) and I’m definitely saving this recipe. It looks delicious! Thanks so much for linking up with #ShareTheWealthSunday!
xoxo
Lisa
Yes, I believe crock pot is a name brand of slow cooker but many people call all slow cookers crock pots. ~TxH~
I’ve never made an entire chicken in the slow cooker, but this will be great to try during the summer since I hate turning on the oven. Will try this.
I’m like you Erlene, I hate to turn that heat-producing oven on in the summer. Even when I’m firing up my slow-cooker I move it to our covered porch to cook – I try very hard to keep all cooking heat possible outside during the summer. ~TxH~
I need to join this group- I love my slow cooker too. I work from home but it is still great to throw something in in the morning and – wa la a meal at 5pm. What is not to like !!! Thanks for sharing – we would like this. Visiting from Pretty Pintastic.
Looks wonderful.
Has been quite sometime since I prepared a whole chicken. I normally just buy a rotisserie chicken at Sam’s
I was talking to my daughter last night about one of the many grocery stores she loves that are between her job & her home. She was amazed that we shop as seldom as we do. I told her that when you live out in the country and have to go to another city just to find a grocery store you learn to be efficient. The closest Sam’s to us is several cities away so I haven’t shopped there in years. But I’ll admit, rotisserie chicken is DELICIOUS! ~TxH~
This sounds great but I need to tone down hot/peppery seasonings when I cook. Would this be too bland if I reduced the cayenne and pepper? Thanks!
Well, I like it pretty spicy Kay so I’ve always used these seasonings. But I’d think if you replaced the hot/peppery seasonings with the savory seasonings you love like rosemary or thyme you should still have a delicious chicken. ~TxH~
Crockpot chicken is now the only way I will cook a whole chicken. I love that when it’s cool, I can get every single bit of meat off the bones with no effort!
Yes oh yes JoAnna. And then there’s the broth from those bones – so easy, so delicious. Slow cooker is the only way we do whole chicken as well. ~TxH~