Crockpot Lemon and Garlic Whole Chicken

This crockpot lemon and garlic whole chicken is a great recipe to make when you have a busy day ahead of you and want to come home to a delicious meal.

Have you ever made a whole chicken in your crockpot? If you haven’t, you should try it! I would hands down prefer to make my own whole chicken at home than buy a rotisserie chicken from my local grocery store. It tastes so much better.

This crockpot lemon and garlic whole chicken is a great recipe to make when you have a busy day ahead of you and want to come home to a delicious meal. This recipe also makes for great leftovers or you can shred the remaining chicken and use it in another recipe to mix things up. This is a pretty simple recipe and if you’ve never made a whole chicken before don’t be intimidated.

Jump to:

• Why use a whole chicken to cook with?
• How do I pick a whole chicken out at the grocery store?
• What sides go well with this recipe?
• What ingredients are needed for this recipe?
• How do I prepare the whole chicken for the crockpot?
• What size crockpot do I need to make a whole chicken?
• How to make a lemon and garlic whole chicken in your crockpot
• Crockpot Lemon and Garlic Whole Chicken

Why use a whole chicken to cook with?

There are so many perks to buying a whole chicken and cooking with it. Usually, buying a whole chicken is cheaper overall because less processing is involved. I’ve found that my local Costco usually has the best deals on whole chickens followed by another local grocery store that often runs buy one get one free specials time to time. Just watch out for sales. If you find a deal you can freeze your whole chicken and defrost it later. You can also use leftovers to make casseroles, chili, and other dishes. You can even use the carcass for stock, if desired. Not only will you save on your grocery bill but I think after you cook your own whole chicken, you will never want a grocery store rotisserie chicken again!

How do I pick a whole chicken out at the grocery store?

You will probably find a mix of whole chickens at your local grocery store. You’ll see game hens, broilers, fryers, or roasters. You’ll want to skip the game hens for this recipe and go for a roaster or a larger broiler or fryer.

What sides go well with this recipe?

I love to serve this crockpot lemon and garlic whole chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans. It’s such a traditional comfort meal for my family. Sometimes I like to also get my regular sized crockpot out (that’s right, two crockpots at once!) and make these crockpot baby carrots as a side dish with this whole chicken. Really, almost anything goes well with this whole chicken. You could also serve macaroni and cheese, roasted vegetables, rolls, or dressing. There are so many options.

What ingredients are needed for this recipe?

To make this recipe you will need:

• Whole chicken: Mine was a roasting chicken around five pounds.
• Yellow onion: The yellow onion brings out a great flavor in the chicken.
• Lemons: You’ll want about three medium or large lemons.
• Garlic: This recipe calls for two tablespoons of minced garlic but you can add more.
• Chicken broth or stock: You don’t need to cover the chicken entirely, just add enough for the crockpot to cook the chicken in. It’s best if you leave the top of the chicken uncovered.
• Mrs. Dash original seasoning: This seasoning goes great on whole chickens
• Butter: Just a little for flavor. Unsalted is best.
• Salt and pepper: Add to taste.

How do I prepare the whole chicken for the crockpot?

You will need to remove the neck and any giblets from inside before cooking. Your chicken may already be ready to go depending on your store.

What size crockpot do I need to make a whole chicken?

You will need a 6 quart or larger size crockpot to make a whole chicken.

How to make a lemon and garlic whole chicken in your crockpot

If you are working with a frozen bird, please see my other post about defrosting your whole chicken safely. If you have a fresh chicken or your chicken is already defrosted then you will need to begin by removing the gizzards from inside the chicken and discarding them. Depending on where you got your whole chicken from it may already be ready to go

Spray your crock-pot with non-stick spray and then place one tablespoon of the butter on the bottom of your crock-pot. Place your bird breast down and then add about half of the onion and a half of the lemon inside of the bird.

Slice the lemon into slices and add around the bird along with the rest of the onion, then add the remaining butter, garlic, Mrs. Dash original seasoning, and salt and pepper.

Add the chicken stock and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

You do want to add a little liquid for cooking but if you add too much liquid it can actually dry out your bird. It seems opposite that adding liquid would dry out your whole chicken, but it will!

I think about one cup of chicken stock is enough, especially when you’re using your crockpot and leaving it on for so long.

Remember when serving that this chicken tends to fall apart (it’s a good thing!) and there will be small bones to look out for like a rotisserie chicken.

Other crockpot recipes:

• Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
• Copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots in the Crockpot
• Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore {Easy & Freezer Friendly}
• Crockpot Brown Sugar and Garlic Whole Chicken