Here’s an easy way to use a whole Chicken without the worry of whether it’s cooked through or not or whether it’s dried out in the oven. And you can cook the veggies right along with it, giving them a great, through-and-through roasted flavour! Just follow the easy instructions that follow…
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Carrots, Potatoes and Onions.
Out of the Cooker and onto the serving dish…
We all know that Meat – any Meat – gets progressively more expensive the more attention the Meat cutter gives it. The cheapest cuts are those which have been handled the least. That’s why a sale on whole Chickens always get my attention. We get them for as little as $1.99 a pound here, about once a month. So I get a half dozen of them and freeze them. Some I cut up into quarters. Some I leave whole, and the whole ones go great in this Slow Cooker recipe…
What you need…
1 whole Chicken (2 1/2 – 3 lb. / 1.5 kg)
2 medium Carrots, cut into ‘coins’
1 medium Onion sliced
12 Baby New Potatoes, washed
3-4 cloves Garlic, minced or pressed
1 tsp. / 5 ml Thyme
1 tsp. / 5 ml Sage
1 Bay Leaf
1 tsp. / 5 ml Salt
1 good pinch White Pepper
4 cups / 1 L Water or Chicken Stock
What you do…
Place the Onions, in the bottom of the Slow Cooker.
Rinse the Chicken inside and out with Cold Water.
Rub the Chicken with the Herbs and Garlic.
Place the Chicken on top of the veggies in the Cooker.
Place the Potatoes and Carrots around the Chicken.
Sprinkle the Sat and Pepper over the Chicken along with whatever remains of the Herbs and Garlic after rubbing.
Toss in the Bay Leaf.
Pour Water or Stock around the Chicken, trying not to disturb the Herbs and Seasonings on top of it.
Cook covered on low for 4-5 hours, until the Meat falls off the bone. (To test, jiggle a drumstick.)
Serve with…
You can use Celery Chunks, Turnip cubes and other Veggies along with the Potatoes and Carrots, per your taste. Just remember, whatever Veggies you choose will have to withstand the long cooking process without turning to mush. I’ve thrown in whole mushrooms aboiut n45 minuites before the enbd of cookming time with great results!
Any way you dress it, it’s an Herby, flavourful Chicken with Veggies to match!
~ Maggie J.