How long does it take to cook raw chicken in the Crock Pot?

A large whole chicken about 5 pounds, takes 5-6 hours on low heat.

Do you need to add liquid to chicken in the Crock Pot?

You actually do not need to add any liquid. As the chicken slow-cooks, it produces its own juices.

Should you cook chicken on high or low heat setting in the slow cooker?

We always prefer low setting, as it's much more forgiving in the case you accidentally cook a bit longer than needed.

How do you know when Crock Pot Chicken is done?

Though 5-6 hours is plenty of time to fully cook a large chicken, you can be sure by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, without touching the bone. It should read 160-165F.

Crock Pot Whole Chicken

★★★★★

4.9 from 10 reviews

Crock Pot Whole Chicken is even better than store bought rotisserie chickens! It’s fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy, and supremely flavorful. The seasoning is spectacular.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 large onion, chopped
1 large (5-6 lbs) whole chicken
4 tsp salt
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Prepare Chicken: Place chopped onion on bottom slow cooker. Remove giblets from chicken and towel dry entire chicken well, both inside and out – this step is important to ensure chicken doesn’t turn out “watery.” Using your fingers, gently pry the skin away from the chicken all around, so you’ll be able to season chicken underneath skin.
Combine Spices (can be done in advance:) In a small bowl, combine all the spices, from salt to black pepper. Mix well. Use your hands to evenly spread two-thirds of the spice mixture onto chicken, underneath the skin. Be sure to include all areas of chicken (legs, back, thighs, etc.) Use remaining spice mixture to spread on top of skin. Place seasoned chicken on top of chopped onion in slow cooker. Cover and keep chilled overnight.
Cook: When ready to cook, turn slow cooker on Low for 5-6 hours only. Keep on warm until ready to serve.

Notes

If you’re using a smaller chicken, adjust for less salt.

This dish is delicious over fluffy rice or potatoes so you can fully enjoy the sauce.

For best results, allow chicken to sit in seasoning overnight. I simply prepare the entire thing overnight and turn Crock Pot on the next day!

If you’d like more browning on top, place cooked chicken on a sheet pan and broil for 5 minutes or so, watching carefully not to burn.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating 🙂

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1
Calories: 192
Sugar: 0.9 g
Sodium: 954 mg
Fat: 7.2 g
Carbohydrates: 3.1 g
Fiber: 0.8 g
Protein: 27.2 g
Cholesterol: 80.2 mg

Category: dinner, main
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Keywords: slow cooker roast chicken, slow cooker whole chicken