Easy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
This slow cooker whole chicken is one of the simplest ways to prep ingredients for several meals at once. The chicken turns out tender, juicy, and easy to shred, and the slow cooker does all the work. Once the chicken is cooked, you can use the meat for salads, soups, wraps, casseroles, or any quick lunch or dinner you need during a busy week.
The best part is that nothing goes to waste. After removing the meat, you can put the bones right back into the slow cooker to make a batch of homemade bone broth. It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to stretch one chicken into several meals.
📌 If this is something you’ll want to make again, save it to your favorite Pinterest board so it’s easy to find next time.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chicken
- Whole chicken
- Aromatics such as onion or garlic (optional)
- Water or broth
- Salt and pepper (optional)
How to Cook Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Prepare the chicken by removing any packaging and giblets. Place it in the slow cooker. (I love my Hamilton Beach 6-quart Set & Forget Programmable slow cooker! I love it so much I bought the same for my sister when she broke her crock pot and needed a replacement.)
- Add aromatics if you’d like extra flavor, or leave the chicken plain for maximum versatility.
- Pour in a small amount of water or broth (optional). The chicken will release its own juices as it cooks.
- Cook until the chicken is very tender and pulls apart easily. If you want to double-check, you can use a simple meat thermometer to confirm the USDA recommendation of a safe internal temperature of 165°F for poultry.
- Remove the meat from the bones and set it aside to use in meals throughout the week. You can shred the chicken with forks, or use meat claws if you prefer.
- Return the bones to the slow cooker, add water, and simmer to make bone broth.
How Much Chicken This Makes
A whole chicken usually gives you enough shredded meat for multiple meals along with plenty of bones for broth. The exact amount varies, but it’s typically enough for several lunches or dinners.
This is a great method if you like to prep ingredients ahead or prefer using one chicken for several recipes.
How to Use the Chicken
- Chicken salad
- Soups and stews
- Wraps and quesadillas
- Pasta dishes
- Casseroles
- Meal bowls with rice or vegetables
- Dog-friendly additions to kibble or vegetables
How to Use the Bones for Broth
Slow cooker broth is an easy way to get even more value from your chicken. You can use broth for:
- Cooking rice or vegetables
- Making soups
- Adding flavor to stews
- Sipping warm on cold days
- Adding moisture and flavor to dog meals
Dog-Friendly Note
If you leave out onions, garlic, and heavy seasonings, plain slow-cooked chicken is safe for dogs in small amounts. Many dog owners like to mix a little shredded chicken or homemade broth into their dog’s meals for added flavor and hydration.
⚠️ Please check with your veterinarian for dog-safe foods.
Final Thoughts for This Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Recipe
This slow cooker whole chicken is one of those simple kitchen routines that pays off all week long. With very little prep, you end up with tender shredded chicken for meals and bones for broth, which helps stretch your ingredients and keep meal prep simple.
If you try this method, let me know how you used the chicken. I love seeing how people turn it into quick meals throughout the week.
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken about 4-5 pounds
- aromatics such as onion or garlic optional
- water or broth
- salt and pepper optional
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken by removing any packaging and giblets. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add aromatics if using, or leave the chicken plain for more flexibility in later recipes.
- Pour a small amount of water or broth into the slow cooker (optional)
- Cook on Low for 8 hours until the chicken is very tender and pulls apart easily.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, remove the skin, and take the meat off the bones.
Notes
- Leaving the chicken unseasoned keeps it versatile for multiple meals.
- Use the shredded chicken in salads, soups, casseroles, wraps, or quick lunches.
- After removing the meat, use the bones to make broth for even more value.
- If sharing with a dog, skip onions, garlic, and heavy seasonings. Plain slow-cooked chicken and homemade broth are both safe in small amounts.
- The amount of cooked chicken and broth will vary based on the size of the whole chicken.
