Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Gravy
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
479 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Gravy
Description
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Gravy brings together a 4-pound whole chicken rubbed with a mixture of paprika, smoked paprika, seasoned salt, garlic powder, black pepper, dried parsley, and thyme. The chicken is placed breast-side up on foil balls and onion slices inside the slow cooker to lift it. Cooking on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours delivers thoroughly cooked, moist meat. For a crisp skin, the chicken can be briefly broiled after cooking.
The cooking drippings are turned into gravy by straining out the solids, adding chicken broth if needed, and thickening the liquid with a cornstarch slurry on high heat until reaching the desired consistency. This method makes use of the flavorful cooking juices for a sauce that pairs naturally with the chicken.
This dish suits a comforting family meal, easily served with mashed potatoes or vegetables. The slow cooker method frees you from oven monitoring while delivering tender results with layered smoky and herbal notes from the seasoning mix.
The recipe suggests resting the chicken before slicing to keep juices intact. Optional additions like carrots in the slow cooker base can add flavor variety. Nutrition is estimated without added chicken broth, so adding broth will change the nutritional profile slightly.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken about 4lbs, whole
- 2 lices onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- cornstarch
- chicken broth optional
Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon parsley dried
- ½ teaspoon thyme dried leaves
Instructions
- Combine all seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl.
- Brush chicken with olive oil and rub seasoning into chicken.
- Roll up balls of foil and place in the bottom of the slow cooker with 2 thick slices of onion. Place chicken on foil, breast side up so it is slightly lifted off the bottom of the slow cooker. (You can use onion and carrot chunks instead if you prefer).
- Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours. (165 degrees)
- Remove chicken and place on a small pan. Broil 3-4 minutes to crisp skin (optional). Rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Gravy
- Remove foil and onion from slow cooker and turn onto high. If required, add broth to create about 2 cups of liquid.
- In a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons cornstarch with 4 tablespoons water to create a slurry.
- Whisk about ⅔ of the cornstarch into the drippings/broth and let cook on high. Depending on the amount of liquid you may need to add more of the cornstarch slurry to reach desired consistency. Let cook at least 5 minutes before serving.
- Taste and season with salt & pepper.
Notes
- Use two thick onion slices and foil balls to elevate the chicken off the slow cooker bottom for even cooking.
- Broiling after slow cooking crisps the skin but is optional depending on preference.
- Rest the chicken for 10 minutes after cooking before slicing to retain juices.
- Adjust cornstarch slurry amounts gradually to reach preferred gravy thickness.
- Add chicken broth if drippings are insufficient to make about 2 cups of gravy base.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 479 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 479 | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 35g | 70% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 142mg | 47% |
| Sodium | 716mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 392mg | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 760IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 21mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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