Swap the classic roast chicken for this effortless chicken dinner. With only 15 minutes prep, the slow cooker does the rest, and the result is juicy tender chicken with a hint of zest and spice and everything nice. The five-star reviews say it all: everyone love, love, loves this chicken!
How to make slow cooker chicken: key tips
The slow cooker is a fantastic appliance in which to cook a chook. It essentially steams the chicken in its own juices along with the added lemon and herbs placed in the cavity of the bird. It will take 6 hours to cook, so allow yourself enough time for cooking, as well as making a gravy with the slow cooker juices, if that’s how you wish to serve it. If you like, you can add a few root vegies to the cooker, such as peeled carrots and potatoes, and onions cut into wedges. These will add extra flavour to your chicken, as well as any gravy you might make, plus you can serve the veg alongside the chicken.
Key ingredients in this slow cooker chicken recipe
This recipe calls for a 2kg chicken, which is enough to feed 4-6 people. As a rule of thumb, fresh chicken should have a pinkish colour and smell clean and neutral. When buying from a supermarket, be sure to check the use-by dates of the chickens and grab the freshest one there. The lemon, herbs and spices will impart a very delicate flavour throughout the chicken as it cooks. You can swap the herbs for oregano or parsley, if this is what you have on hand, and you can use a pinch of cayenne pepper instead of the paprika.
A Sunday roast chicken never gets old, so here are 11 more whole chicken recipes, so you can have the best roast chook on the table. And if you’re looking for a side, then try some classic roast vegetables or these sensational easy salads for inspiration.
This recipe was originally submitted by Hannah88, a member of the Australia’s Best Recipe community. Introduction and additional recipe notes by Natasha Shaw.
Ingredients
- 2 kg whole chicken fresh
- 1/2 lemon
- 3 garlic cloves
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
- 1 pinch paprika
Method
-
Step 1Wash chicken then pat dry with paper towel.
-
Step 2Place the lemon, garlic and thyme into the cavity of the chicken.
-
Step 3Season chicken with some salt, pepper and paprika.
-
Step 4Place in oiled slow cooker and cook on high for 6 hours.
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Recipe Notes
How can I tell if the chicken is cooked?
There are a couple of ways to test if your chicken is cooked through. The easiest way to check for doneness is to insert a skewer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh – the juices of the chicken will run clear when cooked. You can also insert a kitchen thermometer into the chicken thigh, the temperature should be at least 75°C.
What can I serve this chicken with?
Serve this chicken with your favourite roast vegetables and turn the cooking juices in the slow cooker into the most delicious gravy to drizzle over. In warmer weather, you could also serve it with a lovely coleslaw, couscous salad or potato salad.
Recipe Reviews (51)
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Log in Register