This Crockpot Whole Chicken is an easy, filling, paleo/Whole30 dinner! With only a few minutes of prep, the slow cooker does all the work! It’s delicious! Naturally gluten free and made with only 7 ingredients.
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You MUST try this Whole30 Lemon Rosemary Crockpot Whole Chicken recipe. It’s loaded with flavor, extremely simple to make, and naturally paleo/Whole30.
Requiring only 10 minutes of prep time, the slow cooker does all the work in this easy recipe!
Have you ever made a whole chicken in the crockpot? It is seriously to die for! So many people stay away from making whole chickens because they think they are a lot of work to cook but really – they’re SO simple to make.
With this whole chicken recipe, you only need 7 ingredients, a crockpot , and 10 minutes of prep time – the slow cooker will do the rest of the work.
Why we love a whole chicken:
There are so many benefits of cooking a whole chicken – here are a few of them!
- Affordable:Whole chickens are ridiculously cheap. In fact, the ones I bought were almost 75% less than the price of a package of chicken breasts. You guys know me, and you know I’m always looking for ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget. Let’s be real – meat is expensive, especially when you buy free range/organic. Whole chickens are extremely affordable.
- Easy to cook – In addition to being extremely cheap – they’re actually super easy to cook. Taking out the giblets and organs may seem really icky.. but I promise it’s not as bad as it seems and many chickens come without them! If you’re really grossed out by it, grab some disposable gloves, and just get it done.
- Great leftovers – In addition to being cheap and easy to make, they’re SO versatile. I get 2 meals out of this.. because after we eat the meat that’s on the chicken, I throw all of the bones back into the crockpot, fill it with water and make the easy crockpot bone broth EVER
- Lower sodium- Most store bought rotisserie chickens have a TON of added salt. By making your own you control the sodium level and other ingredients!
So now that we’re all in agreement that whole chickens rock, let’s talk about this recipe.
Lemon + rosemary are a pretty epic flavor combo, and when they’re cooked low and slow with a whole chicken… it’s just too good.
The chicken has 8 hours to cook low + slow and absorb all the delicious flavors of the herbs and citrus as it cooks in the slow cooker. The best part about the recipe is that it’s made in the slow cooker.. There is seriously nothing better than walking into your house and having dinner almost entirely done.
If you wanted to have a whole chicken for dinner regularly, you would have to bake it for at least an hour (you can use this One Hour Whole Roasted Chicken recipe if you need something quicker)
With this meal, all you have to do is pair it with a few sides, and you’re good to go. (I recommend these Garlic Rosemary Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Sheet Pan Roasted Potatoes)
Ingredients for slow cooker whole chicken:
To make slow cooker whole chicken you’ll need:
You don’t need rosemary or lemon, but they do add flavor!
There are substitutions listed below if you want to swap out any of these ingredients!
Cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot only takes about 10 minutes of prep time. You’ll need 3-4 hours to cook it on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Can the chicken be frozen before putting in the crockpot? No. You can not put a frozen chicken in the crockpot to cook. This is a major food safety issue! Defrost your chicken 24-48 hours ahead of time in the refrigerator and once thawed, cook per directions.
How to cook a whole chicken in the crockpot:
I’m going to show you how to make a crockpot whole chicken step by step
- Pat your chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Stuff your chicken with your lemons/herbs. There’s really no specific way to do this.. just fill up the center of the chicken.
- Step 3 is what your chicken should look like when it’s stuffed.
When your chicken has been stuffed, set aside.
- Roll 4 small aluminum foil balls and place in the base of the crockpot.
- Place the chicken on top of the foil balls (with the wings facing towards you!) pour olive oil on top of chicken and rub into the skin of the chicken.
- Sprinkle with salt/pepper and add remaining herbs/lemons alongside the chicken in the crockpot base.
- Set the crockpot to low for 8 hours and allow it to cook.
When it’s done cooking, the chicken should look like this.
Does the skin get crispy? No it does not! You can transfer the chicken to a glass baking dish and broil in the oven for 5-6 minutes for crispy skin. You do not need to do this, the chicken will be ready to eat as is!
Tips for cooking a whole chicken
- Don’t be afraid. People seem to be so grossed out or nervous about cooking it… it’s really not that different than regular boring chicken breasts! If you’re really grossed out by it (I mean, I get it.. sticking your hand in a chicken is weird and unpleasant), you can wear disposable gloves.
- Make sure to clean out the inside of the chicken. Many chickens will come with the insides pre-cleaned. Sometimes they leave the organs inside in a little bag or pouch. You want to toss those (this is where those gloves come in handy.)
- Always pat your chicken dry before spraying, stuffing and seasoning it. This allows the skin to get really crispy + full absorb the flavors.
Do you need to use aluminum foil in this recipe?
No, if you prefer not to you don’t need to use aluminum foil. The bottom of your chicken might get a little over cooked and mushy, but it will still be fine to eat!
P.S. – If you love crockpot recipes, check out these 45 Healthy Crockpot Recipes!
Substitutions for slow cooker whole chicken recipe:
There are a few substitutions for this recipe listed below
Whole Chicken-This will work with any size chicken. You could use a smaller chicken (3 or 4 lbs) and just reduce the amount of cook time for 1-2 hours.
Oil– You can use refined coconut oil or avocado oil if you prefer
Herbs – If you don’t like rosemary feel free to substitute with thyme/oregano/sage. Any spices will be delicious. If using dried rosemary – only use 1.5 tablespoons
WW Freestyle Note: Did not include olive oil in points calculation. This could be a 0SP meal if you just eat the chicken breasts without the skin
Gravy– As the chicken cooks it will release juices. You can use these juices to make gravy. Here’s a great recipe for healthier gravy.
Can I add vegetables? Yes! Feel free to add chopped carrots, onions or celery to the bottom of the pan!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken FAQ
Yes, you’ll need to add a tiny bit of water or chicken broth in the slow cooker with chicken. This helps basically steam the chicken. If you don’t add it, it will be ok but your chicken could be dry!
Yes! It’s totally ok to put raw chicken in the slow cooker. Make sure it is fully defrosted and let it cook completely.
It takes roughly 6-8 hours for raw chicken to cook in the crockpot. Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temp of 165 degrees.
No, if you want crispy browned skin you’ll need to bake the chicken in the oven to get the brown color!
No. You should not put frozen chicken of any kind in the crockpot. It will not cook correctly and can be a food safety issue.
Sides to pair this whole chicken with:
This chicken goes well with pretty much any side dish, but here are some
- Crispy Sheet Pan Roasted Potatoes
- Crispy Garlic Thyme Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Garlic Rosemary Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Healthy Green Beans Almondine
- Pumpkin Mushroom Risotto
Crockpot Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 5 lb whole chicken
- 3 lemons halved
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped, plus additional rosemary for coating chicken
- Aluminum Foil
Instructions
- Roll 4 2-inch balls with aluminum foil and place in a square at the bottom of the crockpot (This is not necessary, but allows the chicken to be propped up so it doesn’t get mushy.)
- Remove filling (giblets, organs, etc) from inside chicken and fill chicken with halved lemons + 2 whole rosemary sprigs.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and place chicken on top of aluminum foil balls.
- Pour olive oil on chicken + rub into the skin to coat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and chopped rosemary.
- Add in 1 cup of chicken stock to bottom of crockpot and set to cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours
- You can transfer the chicken to a glass baking dish and broil to make the skin crispy, or serve directly from the crockpot!
- Tip: Save all of the bones, skin & other scraps in the crockpot so you can make Easy Crockpot Bone Broth
Video
Notes
- Don’t be afraid. People seem to be so grossed out or nervous about cooking it… it’s really not that different than regular boring chicken breasts! If you’re really grossed out by it (I mean, I get it.. sticking your hand in a chicken is weird and unpleasant), you can wear disposable gloves.
- Make sure to clean out the inside of the chicken. Many chickens will come with the insides pre-cleaned. Sometimes they leave the organs inside in a little bag or pouch. You want to toss those (this is where those gloves come in handy.)
- Always pat your chicken dry before spraying, stuffing and seasoning it. This allows the skin to get really crispy + full absorb the flavors.
Substitutions for this recipe:
- Oil– You can use refined coconut oil or avocadol oil if you prefer
- Herbs – If you don’t like rosemary feel free to substitute with thyme/oregano. Any spices will be delicious. If using dried rosemary – only use 1.5 tablespoons
- WW Freestyle Note: Did not include olive oil in points calculation. This could be a 0SP meal if you just eat the chicken breasts without the skin
Nutrition Facts
AFTER YOU FINISH THE RECIPE: Remove all of the aluminum foil, lemon halves, and rosemary sprigs (it’s ok if some of the rosemary stays in the pot).
Add all of the bones, skin & scraps into the crockpot, and follow the instructions for this Easy Crockpot Bone Broth. 2 meals, made in the crockpot, with minimal effort?! Count me in!
joseph
Hello Liz & Tyler,
Never try a whole chicken. It looks great! I think this is the right time to try a whole chicken. Thanks for the recipe.
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Joesph – I think you’ll love it! Let me know if you give it a try!
Alyssa
I really liked this recipe! I was intimidated to cook a whole chicken but this recipe looked so simple that I thought this would be a great one to try. This recipe required minimal prep, was super easy to cook and the chicken had a really nice flavor! It was super moist and there was liquid leftover to reheat with the chicken later which is always a bonus!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Alyssa!! It is definitely easier to cook a whole chicken than you think 🙂 You can also save the scraps and make bone broth!!
September
I made this last night and it was absolutely delicious. I was not on my game and ended up starting the crock pot later than anticipated so therefore cooked the chicken on”high” for four hours – I cooked mine a little long as my chicken was only about 3lbs so I probably could of gotten away with cooking it for three or so hours on high. This will be a staple recipe for our Butcher Box whole chickens. Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple
Yay!! I’m glad it worked for you, September! It’s the perfect way to cook a whole chicken – so easy and delicious!!
Kimberly Mowdy
I love slow cooker meals and that you can make so many different meals with this. I also love that bone broth recipe! 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you!! This chicken is so versatile -you really can do anything with this!
Michelle
Thank you for the yummy chicken recipe for the crockpot. I was scared to make a whole chicken. As you said, it was easy and it fell apart. Super yummy!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Michelle! We’re so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Tamara Hagerty
This recipe is so simple, delicious and provides a 2nd opportunity to make bone broth. Win. Win. Win!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you like it, Tamara! The bone broth is my favorite part 🙂
Joni
We got this going in the crockpot last night with carrots, onion and celery, and while we haven’t eaten the meal yet, I did taste the chicken once it was done and it was very good. We only had one lemon and dried rosemary last night, so that is what we used with salt and pepper. It had a hint of lemon without being too strong. We now have your bone broth recipe going in the crockpot (with fresh rosemary this time) and more of the same veggies, so looking forward to tasting that tomorrow!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you enjoyed it, Joni! It’s one of our favorite easy meals 🙂
Nicolette
This was so easy and good. Thanks so much for the tips! I have never bought a whole chicken in my 37 years of life but got one through Butcher Box when they were short on cuts…. then I made bone broth too. Really appreciate what you do! Definitely making again!
The Clean Eating Couple
This makes me so happy to hear, Nicolette! Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Valerie Loveall
The best whole chicken recipe! Thank you!!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Valerie! I’m so glad you liked it!
Kerri
Cooked this chicken overnight and it came out amazing!! Even easier to take apart than a rotisserie. Using the scraps to make the bone broth recipe as suggested; I’m sure that will turn out great as well!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Kerrie! Hope you love the bone broth!
Yanhel
I bought a whole organic chicken today with this recipe in mind! Can’t wait to try it out. I don’t have a slow cooker, only an instant pot, but I read that I can use the Slow Cook option on the instant pot and add an extra hour of cooking time due to the temperature of the instant pot running about 30-50 degrees F lower than the slow cooker. Wish me luck!
The Clean Eating Couple
Let us know how it came out!
Elizabeth
This was so easy and delicious!! Very juicy (even the white meat). After cooking this, I then did the Easy Crockpot Bone Broth and I highly recommend!! Definitely plan on recommending to my friends and family!
The Clean Eating Couple
This makes me so happy to hear! Thank you!!
Sandy C
This chicken recipe is so delicious!! And so easy to follow, pretty much set it and forget it. I cooked it for 4 hours on high like the recipe suggested and it turned out perfectly. I believe the foil balls are a great tip. I will definitely be using this recipe again.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you enjoyed it, Sandy! Thank you so much!!
Ashley Orfitelli
The idea of making a whole chicken was intimidating! I never wanted to do it because I’m thought or sure I’d mess it up and waist the money! This recipe is great! Easy to follow and all the seasonings I had on hand. This recipe is perfect because I can use my crock pot and the directions were great step by step. I always use this recipe now to make a whole chicken now!
Tamara
Best crockpot whole chicken recipe and the broth is amazing!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Tamara! Thank you!!
Linda
This whole chicken is delicious and moist! Highly recommend this for cooking a whole chicken.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you, Linda!! I’m so glad you liked it!
Chrissi
This chicken was delicious, and it made excellent bone broth from your bone broth recipe! I’ll definitely be making this band the bone broth again!
The Clean Eating Couple
Love that, Chrissi! Hope you loved the broth!
Tamra
I tried this and loved it. The best part is you can keep the bones and scraps and and make her bone broth recipe after.
The Clean Eating Couple
Glad you liked it, Tamra! The bone broth might just be the best part 🙂
Berni
I make this once a month so I can use the bones and extra bits to make the bone broth (also a recipe this site). It is so easy and quick to get started in the crockpot. The mean literally falls off the bone. You cannot even get the chicken out whole it is so tender.
The Clean Eating Couple
Love hearing that, Berni! Thank you so much!!
Shanelle
First time trying a whole chicken and I was skeptical, but it turned out so good! Added a little extra seasoning to the chicken once I removed it from the bone, but the skin was spot on. Wish I would have made broth with the bones so I didn’t waste them, but I will do that next time!
The Clean Eating Couple
Love hearing that, Shanelle! Thank you!!
Mary
I don’t generally like cooking with chicken other than chicken breast. I find it gross BUT this recipe is delicious and super easy. We have been making chicken every week and are enjoying how juicy and tender it is. Don’t skip this recipe.
The Clean Eating Couple
Yay! Love to hear this! Thank you!
Jennifer
Much easier than I expected to take the meat off! I got a little skeeved out when it came to the spine area, but powered through. Didn’t take nearly as long as I anticipated, so I’ll definitely be doing this in the future! Great for meal prep to keep cooked protein on hand. Used my silicone sling from my IP (instead of the aluminum balls) and it worked well and made it extremely easy to take the chicken out at the end. Threw everything back in the crockpot to try the broth recipe tonight, so cleanup was easy for now!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Jennifer!! Thanks for giving it a try!
Mike
Can this be used in an instant pot? If so, what are the instructions for cooking.
Thank you
The Clean Eating Couple
No it can’t. This is a crockpot whole chicken recipe. If you’d like to make it in the instant pot I’d suggest googling ‘instant pot whole chicken’. I’ve tried to make a whole chicken in the instant pot both times and really didn’t like it. It was tough and not as juicy or tender as when it’s cooked in the crockpot so I can’t say I’d recommend it.
Justine
I’ve made this recipe twice now and each time the chicken turned out perfect. So flavorful and not dry at all. I actually saved the bones and followed the attached recipe to make bone broth. That was also so easy and the broth turned out amazing!
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so happy you liked it, Justine! Thank you!