Description
Elevate your dinner with slow cooker whole chicken with garlic, a succulent marvel that infuses tender meat with rich, aromatic flavors. Juicy chicken emerges perfectly seasoned, promising a delightful meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 whole chicken (4–5 pounds / 1.8–2.3 kilograms)
Dry Seasonings:
- 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 Liquids:
- 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 excess moisture with kitchen towels and removing internal organs if present.
- Craft a robust spice blend combining aromatic herbs and ground seasonings, thoroughly massaging the mixture across the entire chicken surface, ensuring penetration beneath the skin for maximum flavor infusion.
- Create an internal flavor profile by nestling crushed garlic cloves, zesty lemon segments, and fragmented onion pieces within the chicken’s cavity.
- Enhance moisture and richness by delicately drizzling olive oil or melted butter over the seasoned poultry, positioning it breast-side upward in the slow cooker’s basin and gently introducing chicken broth.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow gentle, consistent heat to transform the chicken over 6-8 hours on low setting or 4-5 hours on high, monitoring until the internal temperature precisely reaches 165F (75C) in the thickest thigh region.
- For those desiring a golden, crisp exterior, carefully transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet and activate the broiler, watching intently for 3-5 minutes until the skin develops a beautiful bronzed finish.
- Grant the chicken a brief resting period, permitting juices to redistribute, then ceremoniously carve and present alongside complementary accompaniments for a sumptuous dining experience.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry to ensure crispy skin and better seasoning absorption.
- Use a blend of dried herbs under the skin for deeper flavor penetration.
- Create a flavor-enhancing salt rub by mixing herbs and spices for maximum taste impact.
- Choose bone-in whole chicken for maximum moisture and richer taste compared to boneless cuts.
- For gluten-free adaptation, verify all seasonings are certified gluten-free.
- Consider removing skin before serving for lower-fat dietary needs.
- Elevate leftover chicken by shredding meat for salads, tacos, or sandwiches within 3-4 days.
- Enhance meal prep by adding root vegetables like carrots and potatoes around the chicken during slow cooking for a complete one-pot meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg