Description
Succulent slow cooker whole chicken with garlic elevates home cooking with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Tender meat infused with aromatic herbs promises a comforting meal you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 whole chicken (4–5 pounds / 1.8–2.3 kilograms)
Seasoning Blend:
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or regular)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Aromatics and Liquid:
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Meticulously cleanse the whole chicken, eliminating moisture with fresh paper towels and removing any internal organs.
- Craft a robust spice blend combining aromatic herbs and ground seasonings, thoroughly massaging the mixture across every exterior surface and gently underneath the delicate chicken skin.
- Enhance the chicken’s interior by nestling crushed garlic cloves, bright lemon segments, and fragrant onion chunks within the cavity, creating a flavor-infused core.
- Lavish the chicken with a generous drizzle of golden olive oil, positioning it elegantly breast-side upward in the slow cooker basin, then cascade chicken broth around its base.
- Shield the slow cooker with its lid, allowing the chicken to gently roast on low temperature for approximately 6-7 hours, ensuring the meat reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F throughout the thickest muscle sections.
- For those desiring a crisp exterior, carefully transfer the tender chicken onto a sturdy baking sheet, introducing it briefly to a high-heat broiler to develop a gloriously golden, crackling skin.
- Grant the roasted chicken a peaceful resting period, allowing internal juices to redistribute for 10-15 minutes before skillfully carving and presenting alongside complementary accompaniments.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry to ensure crispy skin and better seasoning absorption.
- Gently separate the skin from the meat to help the spices penetrate deeper, creating more flavorful results.
- Choose a smaller chicken (3-4 pounds) for more even cooking and tender meat in the slow cooker.
- Consider using a meat thermometer to check doneness without opening the lid and losing moisture during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg