Description
Succulent slow cooker whole chicken with garlic mingles Mediterranean flavors in a simple one-pot meal. Herb-infused chicken emerges tender and juicy, perfect for family dinners you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (4–5 lbs / 1.8–2.3 kg)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked or regular)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 tbsps olive oil or melted butter
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly cleanse the whole chicken, patting dry with paper towels and removing internal organs, ensuring a pristine canvas for flavor infusion.
- Seasoning: Craft a robust spice blend, massaging the aromatic herbs and ground seasonings meticulously across the entire chicken surface, including beneath the delicate skin for maximum flavor penetration.
- Flavor Layering: Introduce a flavor core by tucking crushed garlic cloves, vibrant lemon segments, and aromatic onion chunks into the chicken cavity, creating a complex flavor profile from within.
- Slow Cooking Setup: Drizzle the chicken with golden olive oil, positioning it breast-side up in the slow cooker basin, then gently pour chicken broth around the base to create a moist cooking environment.
- Cooking Process: Cover and slow roast on low temperature for 6-7 hours, allowing the chicken to tenderize completely while ensuring the internal temperature reaches a safe 165°F throughout the meat’s thickest sections.
- Finishing Touch: For a crisp exterior, transfer the succulent chicken to a baking sheet and briefly broil to develop a gloriously golden, crackling skin that adds textural contrast to the tender meat.
- Serving: Allow the roasted chicken a brief resting period of 10-15 minutes to redistribute internal juices, then carve and present with complementary accompaniments for a memorable culinary experience.
Notes
- Thorough Chicken Prep: Pat chicken completely dry to ensure crispy skin and better seasoning adherence.
- Strategic Spice Application: Massage spices under the skin for deeper flavor penetration and more intense taste experience.
- Moisture Management: Add minimal liquid to prevent boiling instead of slow roasting, maintaining rich chicken texture.
- Broiler Technique: Watch carefully during final browning to prevent burning, using just 2-3 minutes for perfect golden skin.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg