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…. 😂😂😂
LynetteM says
Yum, so good. I made this last night and while my chicken didn’t look as beautiful as the photos, the flavor and texture were spot on. I used the Instant Pot – easy, pretty quick and delicious. Even my picky daughters ate it up.
Nagi says
Flavour is the only thing that matters Lynette!! I’m so glad it was a hit!
Sandra D says
Made this yesterday; it’s very good, thank you! This site still has a glitch. When I hit tab to enter the comment section it takes me up to the search space.
Linda Lassman says
When I’m roasting a meat, rather than using a rack (which must be washed, I usually put a layer of chopped onions, carrots, and celery (or any other vegetables I feel like–potatoes are also lovely) on the bottom and rest the meat on them. They cook up nicely and you can either serve them up separately or press the juices out of them for making your gravy.
Richard says
Dear Nagi,
We made this delectable slow cooker lemon chicken last night and it tasted just as you say….totally moist and delicious especially accompanied with the sauce. We did a 3 hour slow cook with no problems at all. Second helpings tonight!
Thank you Nagi
Diane says
I’m not much of a cook, but I have worked up enough courage to try this out after reading your simple & easy to follow instructions. Wish me luck. Love your new website.
Hilary says
Hi Nagi
First I want to thank you for your lovely fuss free recipes. I have tried and constantly come back to so many. Got so many wonderful comments this Christmas for dorothy’s Carrot cake, mango cheese cake and the spinach puffs I took to a party. Second and why I am writing thanks for putting pressure cooker timings on the garlic lemon roast chicken. I use my pc constantly and have converted, after some trial and error on timing but mostly stuffing up on the liquid amounts, so many of your recipes that are oven bake;lots of thigh/breast chicken, pork char sui etc then I finish them off quickly under the grill to get the brown crunch we all love so much. Don’t get the pan stripes and the look but the flavours are good. Marinade goes through the meat really well too saving time in the fridge. Saves my poor hot house and $s in power. So thanks and if it’s not too much trouble can you keep doing the pressure cooker instructions too where possible? Thanks again. Really appreciate all your well thought out instructions and especially the videos.
Vera G says
Of course Dozer loves video he knows all about chicken! Good receipt but it has to wait. We had 42 C, am stuffed turkey. Friends and neighbours try to save frit, VEGES so am having big supply of apricots, pink grapefruit, peaches. Last night was till 11.00 HR in kitchen making jam. Also was given potatoes, herbs.next two days mild tem. So will be making vege soup and stuffed red peppers. This week they are only 3.90 kg and raspberry, blueberry 2.50. At a moment we seem to be eating the same food. Would be good if you are bit closer to help me with all prep and cooking. Enjoy your w/ end!
Jayne Knight says
Happy New Year to you and Dozer. xxx
Michele says
I don’t have a slow cooker so I’m going to try the pressure cooker method. Do I still elevate the chicken Nagi?
Edel Logan says
I look forward to trying this recipe but, I really need to add veggies to make it a one pot meal. Do you think it would be a problem if I threw in some carrots parsnips potatoes onions as a base for the chicken?
Gae Fleming says
The only success I’ve had roasting a chicken. Yours are the best recipes in Australia. You’re a genius.
Gae
Jayne Knight says
Nagi’s recipes are seriously competitive here in the UK. Keep on rocking those recipes .xx
Howard Hor says
Yummy,easy recipe to follow,delicious to eat
Rowan Sander says
Glorious!
Kage G Bee says
thanks will try this out this weekend
Donna says
This chicken and lemon sauce is amazing. So tender and juicy just like you described. Any of your recipes I have tried have been successful and tasty. Thank you!!!
Richard says
Happy Healthy New Year Nagi to you, your great mum and of course, Dozer!
This delicious, tender slow cooked chicken sounds right up my alley 😋 Recipe prep time 10min, cook time 8min, total time 18min print error or is that for the sauce 🤔
J says
Oh N…this chicken looks so juicy and yummy! I can’t wait to try it in my oval crock pot! It’s still good to make even in the winter!
I also have cooked a ham in my crock pot. That’s why I bought an oval crock pot in the first place. 😂
No wonder Dozer has his eyes peeled right to your computer and is salivating! Poor dog…he’s trying to figure out how to get that chicken out of there, so he can eat it!😂
I’m not getting all your posts either as well as other ones. I’m looking for a new server and carrier! 😟
Happy Healthy New Year N, to you, Dozer and your family! J xxx 🎉🎉🎉
Jason says
I love the sound of this and we have just had a butchers open near us that does great chickens – no added water!
With our instant pot we’ll be able to make the gravy without even needin a saucepan. Thanks Nagi!
Josephine B says
Hi Jason and Nagi, I’m a newbie to the “Instant Pot” and would like to know what setting and how long would I need to make the sauce in my IP. Thank you.
I’m anxious to try this recipe of Nagi’s out as it sounds so delicious!
Nagi says
Yes! I forgot to add that tip when using an Instant Pot – thanks Jason! N x
Krisby says
Love your recipes and reading about Dozer. Will be making this Lemon Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken this week. Can’t wait. Yum
Nagi says
Hope you get a chance to try it Krisby!! N x
Dianne Watts says
Hi Nagi. Definitely going to try this one. But I don’t have a grill (mine doesn’t work anymore) so is there something to use that “browns” the skin? Love all your recipes!
Nagi says
Hi Dianne! No problems, just crank up your oven as high as it will go 🙂 It takes a bit longer but works a treat. You just don’t want it in too long because we don’t want to cook it! N x