This whole chicken slow cooker recipe is the one thing without fail I make every single week. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post it because it’s a recipe I’m constantly sending my clients who are looking for help making quick, healthy meals.

This couldn’t be easier or take less time to make. All you do put the chicken it in the slow cooker. Sprinkle it with seasoning. Set the timer and four hours later. DONE.

I use the slow cooker to cook a whole chicken for a few reasons: 1.) It’s too dang hot right now to turn on the oven. 2.) I can prep and cook dinner far in advance (like when my kids are napping) so I’m not scrambling later in the evening adding to what’s already chaos. and 3.) Cooking meats low and slow breaks down the proteins making the meat easier to digest. The chicken falls off the bone so it’s easier to take the whole chicken apart, too.

Really, a Whole Chicken?

I know a whole chicken can be intimidating but don’t let it scare you. If you can get past it, you’ll see you get so much more for your money this way.

A whole organic or pasture-raised chicken runs about $3.99 per pound. If you typically buy just the breast meat of the same quality, you’re spending $8.99 a pound!

I realize for some out there no amount of money saved will justify the yuck factor but I encourage you to at least just try it once. It’s one of those things that you do it one time and realize, “hey that wasn’t so bad!”

Also, in another post I’m going to show you why buying the whole bird gives you even more for your money. I want to show you how to make bone broth out of the leftover bones…. With that recipe you may never have to buy chicken stock again. Add those savings to the money you’re going to save on breast meat and I think that justifies a new top… or a pedicure… Anyone else a believer in shopping math?

Cooking for the Week

I use this whole chicken slow cooker recipe on Monday and then use the leftovers to make other meals later in the week, like chicken salad, or a stir-fry, or I’ll just add chicken on top of vegetables or a green salad.

When you shift from cooking for each night to cooking for the week you can save time, money, energy and stress.

This is what I’m talking about when I talk about creating a routine that gets your family eating nutritious, home-cooked meals without you having to spend hours in the kitchen each night.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard, stressful or take a lot of time.

You just need a solid plan. And you need to know what to buy and how to use it to set yourself up for a whole week of awesome meals.

This whole roasted chicken recipe is just one example.

In my Eat Healthy program you get two full weeks of meal plans and recipes that tell you exactly what to buy and how to prepare for a week of healthy eating.

It’s everything you need to make it easy so you can really do this, make it a routine and get everyone eating better.

Go check out my Eat Healthy Program page to learn more.

Whole Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe

1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
Italian seasoning
sea salt
black pepper

Place the whole chicken in slow cooker on top of grate. If you don’t have a grate, use aluminum foil rolled into balls to prop up chicken so it cooks outside of it’s juices. Sprinkle whole chicken with Italian seasoning, sea salt and black pepper so the outside is covered in seasoning. Set slow cooker on high heat and set the timer to cook for four hours.

When done, remove from slow cooker and place on a carving board. (If the timer goes off and it’s done cooking awhile before dinner, it’s ok to leave it in the slow cooker or warm.)

To disassemble the chicken, first remove the wings and legs from the bird using a knife and fork. Then cut the breast meat away from the breast bone, one side at a time.

Serve with salad or cooked vegetables. Store leftovers in airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.