Slow Cooker Roast Chicken is the juiciest, most forgiving and easiest whole chicken recipe I know. It’s such a great way to cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker that’s incredibly quick to prepare with beautiful flavours reminiscent of Greek food!
This roast chicken recipe can be slow cooked OR pressure cooked. You can serve up a Sunday Roast Chicken dinner any day of the week!
Slow Cooker Roast Chicken – A Gold Nugget Recipe
If you’re new to making a whole chicken in a slow cooker, this is going to be life changing.
No false promises! This crock pot whole chicken recipe is truly one of my gold nugget recipes. That elusive combination of quick and easy, incredibly forgiving, but in no way a compromise of a great classic Roast Chicken. Here’s why:
✅ The flesh of this chicken (even the breast) is so juicy, you’d swear it’s been brined;
✅ Ultra forgiving – Even if you go 2 hours over the cook time, it’s still juicy. The magic of slow cookers!
✅ It looks and tastes like a traditional oven roasted chicken – albeit (I kid you not) the breast meat is more tender and juicier;
✅ Various cooking options with exactly the same outcome. Slow cook on low (5 hours), high (3 hours), or pressure cook for 24 minutes.
✅ It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare to get it in the slow cooker, and you can prep ahead. Plus, the Lemon Sauce is effortless – just add cornflour/cornstarch into the slow cooker juices.
Crock pot whole chicken recipe ingredients
This is all you need for this recipe:
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker
This Lemon Garlic slow cooker whole chicken starts with an olive oil paste that’s made with lemon, garlic, salt, pepper and dried herbs of choice (I use thyme, oregano and parsley).
For maximum flavour, I put most of the paste under the skin of the chicken. This is not hard to do – and doesn’t need to be “perfect”!!! Watch the video. 🙂 Just loosen the skin using a dessert spoon (hugs the curves, avoids piercing skin).
Then spoon the paste under the skin.
Roughly spread the paste using your hands or the spoon on the surface of the skin. Doesn’t need to be perfect, the paste will slide and naturally spread as it cooks.
Pop the used lemon inside the chicken.
Place the chicken on a rack in the slow cooker (or use balls or a ring of scrunched up foil). This keeps the underside of the chicken from being submerged in liquid which makes it cook faster.
Slow cook for 5 hours on low or 3 hours on high.
Brown the skin – When the chicken comes out of the slow cooker, it will smell gorgeous but will look thoroughly unappetising – pale and colourless. Just a quick 5 to 10 minute broil/grill fixes that – you will be amazed how quickly the skin goes from bland to crispy golden brown!!!
How long does a whole chicken take in the slow cooker?
A 2kg/4lb whole chicken will take 5 hours on low, or 3 hours on high. This will be a juicy and carvable, chicken like a traditional oven Roast Chicken.
If you want one where the meat is more tender and can basically be pulled off the bone with little effort, slow cook for 7 to 8 hours on low.
Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Option!
This Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken can also be made in a pressure cooker. It comes out exactly the same – just a heck of a lot faster! 😂 Just add 1/2 cup of water and pressure cook for 24 minutes on high. Let it depressurise naturally for 10 minutes then release the valve.
Lemon Sauce
I used to call this a gravy, but it somehow seemed odd to have a lemon flavoured gravy. So I reverted to just Lemon Sauce!
You’ll love how straight forward this is compared to usual gravies. No messing around with oily pans and cooking flour and straining. Just add cornstarch / cornflour then simmer until thickened. That’s it!
Oh the possibilities!!!
The beauty of recipes like this is that it’s easy to adapt this cooking method to make it your own. I’ve kept it straightforward because it’s an everyday roast chicken recipe.
Here are some ideas for variations:
Other dried herbs – or use fresh instead;
Add spices – or skip the herbs and use a rub instead;
Add a quartered onion and halved head of garlic (or smashed garlic cloves) under the chicken (it will make the gravy even tastier! Strain out of sauce)
Add fresh herbs and a halved head of garlic inside the chicken (you need lots of garlic to be able to taste it)
Use butter instead of oil (use more!)
OK, so that’s it from me! Longer than usual post, but I have a lot to say when it comes to this Slow Cooker Roast Chicken. 🙂 Hope you enjoy. And I’d really love to hear what you think if you try it – or how you make it your own! – Nagi x
Lemon Garlic Slow Cooker Roast Chicken
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Lemon Garlic Slow Cooker Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 kg / 4 lb whole chicken , patted dry (Note 1)
Rub (Note 2):
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2.5 tbsp olive oil (or melted butter), plus extra for drizzling
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 large lemon , all zest + all juice
Lemon Sauce:
- 1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
- 1 extra lemon , just in case
Instructions
- Rub – Mix Rub ingredients. should be fairly thick and sludgy. Adjust with extra oil if too thick.
- Loosen Skin: Use upside spoon to loosen skin of chicken (see video). Spoon most of the Rub under the skin, leaving about 1 tbsp mostly oil for the skin. Use hands or spoon on skin to spread the paste – doesn’t need to be perfect.
- Stuff used lemon inside the chicken.
- Put rack inside slow cooker (Note 3), place chicken on top. Spread with remaining sludge, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Slow cook 5 hours on low or 3 hours on high, or until juices run clear or internal temperature is 75C / 165F using a meat thermometer. (Note 4 for other cook methods)
- Brown skin: Remove chicken from slow cooker, drizzle with a bit of extra oil. Grill/broil on medium high for 5 to 10 minutes to brown the skin (~25cm /10″ from heat source). Or oven 240C/450F for 10 min.
- Spoon over pan juices, then serve with Lemon Sauce! (No need to rest chicken)
Lemon Sauce:
- Pour all slow cooker liquid into a saucepan, add cornflour / water mixture. Mix.
- Bring to simmer over medium high and cook until liquid thickens to thin syrup (depends how much liquid you have, usually 3 min or so). Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add more lemon if desired (the extra lemon). Pour into jug.
Recipe Notes:
Pressure cook – Add ½ cup water and pressure cook for 24 minutes on high (depressure naturally 10 min before releasing valve).
Oven – Follow directions in this juicy Roast Chicken recipe. 5. Slow Cooker Cook Times:
1-1.5kg / 2-3 lb – 4.5 hrs on low
1.75-2.25kg / 3.5-4.5 lb – 5 hrs on low
2.5kg / 5lb – 6 hrs on low
For almost “all apart” meat, add 1 to 2 hours onto the cook times. Flesh is still juicy! Pressure Cooker: 6 minutes per 500g/1lb of chicken. 5. Prep Ahead / Storage: Prepare chicken with rub under and on skin. Refrigerate up to 48 hours then slow cook per recipe. Cooked chicken keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. 6. Nutrition per serving assumes all sauce is consumed.
Nutrition Information:
Originally published August 2014. Updated January 2019 – recipe improved, everything completely rewritten, new photos, new video. Most importantly, Life of Dozer section added! 😂 Just in case anyone is after the original recipe, here it is.
More whole chicken recipes
Life of Dozer
He was captivated by the video for this slow cooker chicken…. 😂😂😂
Michelle says
Oh my gosh this is delicious. I made this last Sunday and it was a huge hit with the family. The lemon sauce was perfection. It looked a bit weird putting it in the slow cooker with the foil at the bottom but the aroma filling the house as it cooked was fantastic. Thanks Nagi – another great receipe
Nagi says
That’s so nice to hear Michelle ❤️
Shifa Mwesigye says
I cooked with this recipe today. My GOD. The Chicken was great. Delicious. My husband is going to propose to me again. LOL
Nagi says
You nailed it Shifa! – N x
Gary says
This was a hit last time I cooked it. Trying it again today. btw there’s a timing error in the recipe section – it says 8 mins instead of hours.
Elizabeth says
I just put this in my crockpot! Can’t wait…🤞
Nagi says
I hope you love it Elizabeth!
Reenu says
Would avocado oil work?
Nagi says
I haven’t tried to be honest Reenu, I don’t see why not!
Carla says
Best “roast” chicken I have ever made, hands down! Thanks Nagi, this is going to be a regular for me.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Carla – N x
Phil says
Wow Nagi,
That chicken is crazy good!!!
Super easy to do and definitely got the Mmmm factor 😄 Definitely going on my in house menu board lol.
Thank you Nagi,
Enjoy your day!!
Phil x
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Phil!!
Jennifer Rowe MBE says
I am coming late to slow cooking (74 y/o ) as I’m newly widowed and friends all said you need a slow cooker. Lemon chicken is an all time favourite of ours so it sounds just perfect. I wish I had discovered this years ago.
Nagi says
That’s so fantastic to hear Jennifer!
Anna says
I’m am just making the rub for this chicken and it isn’t pasty at all. Was I meant to add all the lemon juice? It is more if a liquid so hopefully I can get enough of it under the skin.
Nagi says
Hi Anna, it’s the zest and juice of a whole lemon, it should be slightly runny ❤️
Marie says
Hi Nagi,
I will be trying your Lemon Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken tomorrow as it looks so delicious!
Unfortunately my slow cooker does not have High / Low settings which leaves me wondering how long I should cook this chicken for?
Nagi says
Hi Marie – you might be better doing the oven version – I hope you love it!
Liliana says
What is the oven version? I want to make this for tonight’s dinner
Nagi says
Liliana – here it is: https://www.recipetineats.com/roast-chicken/
Lynne says
This was a winner with my family so thanks for creating the recipe, Nagi. The flavour was subtle yet tasty and the meat was really tender. I used fresh herbs from my garden as I prefer them to dried. I thought the sauce might be too lemony but after reducing it was delicious as well. My nephew wanted to know if I will be making it again which is a not so subtle hint 😄👍.
Kathleen says
Delicious!! I roasted the chicken rather than cooking it in the slow cooker. Sooo tasty.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Kathleen!!
Nadine says
Have made this a few times and everyone has loved it. Great flavour and the chicken was really moist. The sauce is also delicious. Thank you 🙂
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Nadine! Thanks for the feedback!
Laurie Dulaney says
Hi Nagi I made lemon whole chicken in crockpot then put in broiler to brown this was s very good recipe I will make again I have made quite a few of your recipes thanks for sharing
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Laurie, I’m so happy you enjoyed the chicken!
Laurie Dulaney says
I am making this morning I will let you know results!
Nagi says
I hope you love it!!
Cherie Swatek Fedder says
Hi Nagi. I made the lemon garlic chicken in my Instant Pot this past Sunday. It turned out beautifully and was very good! It is only my husband and myself so I’m wondering what I can do with the leftovers. Any ideas!. I mixed the chicken and the sauce together and put in the freezer. Any of your thoughts would be appreciated! Love your site and follow you every day!!
Nagi says
Hi Cherie, I’m so happy you liked it! I love using my left over chicken in salads or tossed through pasta!
Margie says
Today was a cold snowy day (so far 9 inches/22 cm accumulated in our area) and this was a great warming dish to enjoy. Turned out delicious, chicken was moist and juicy and skin was crispy. Not waiting for another snow day to make this again! 😉
Nagi says
Brrr! I’m so glad this warmed you up Margie!
Barbara Marriott says
I wish I could allocate more than 5 stars to this beauty. MOTH made it on the weekend and OMG how amazing are the flavours and totally agree on how moist is the chicken.
This is such an easy peasy recipe that sure packs a punch.
Nagi says
Woah what great feedback!! Thanks so much Barbara!
Sohail says
Beautiful recipe. Can’t be any better. Great advice to adapt to ingredients of choice. Instead, of making lemon sauce, I used the juices to build rice. Served it with yogurt sauce and coriander, mint, green chilies, chutney
Nagi says
That sounds sooooo good!
L Albino says
Got thumbs up from my family. But I need more “meat” to feed them. Can you adapt this recipe for bone in chicken breasts so I can get more breasts in the slow cooker?
Nagi says
Sure can! Just adjust the cook time and check the internal temp with a thermometer to ensure it’s cooked. N x