This crockpot whole chicken with beer is so easy to make. You can also shred and freeze leftovers for later!

Cooking a whole chicken is an economical and easy way to get dinner on the table. As a busy mom of two, I’m all about easy wins!

If you’ve never cooked a whole chicken before, don’t be intimidated. It is actually pretty easy, you just need to be sure to remove the gizzards from the inside before cooking.
Ingredients needed
For this recipe, you will need:
- Whole chicken: My whole chicken was about 4 pounds.
- Paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a bay leaf: To season the chicken with. Be sure to remove the bay leaf before serving.
- Yellow onion: You’ll need one medium yellow onion that’s been diced.
- Beer: You’ll need 8 ounces of beer, use whatever beer you like best. I used an Octoberfest beer because that’s what my husband had in our fridge.
- Butter: To help the seasoning stick to the chicken. I used unsalted butter so I could control how much salt went into the recipe. If you only have salted butter then you may just want to use less salt or leave it out.
What to serve with this chicken
Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese (I love this copycat McAlister’s macaroni and cheese), and freshly steamed vegetables all make great sides for this whole chicken.
Tips for this recipe
- This recipe should be cooked for at least 6 hours on low.
- Selecting a 4-5 pound whole chicken is best for the crockpot.
- Place your chicken breast down. This will make for a juicy chicken.
How to freezer leftovers
Shred any leftovers with two forks and then place in a plastic storage bag (such as Ziplock). Squeeze any excess air out. Leftovers will be good in your freezer for up to four months.
You might also like these other crockpot recipes:
- Crockpot lemon and garlic whole chicken
- Crockpot brown sugar and garlic whole chicken
- Crockpot chicken caccatiore
- Crockpot sweet Hawaiian chicken
Crockpot Whole Chicken with Beer
Equipment
- Large crockpot or slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken about 4 to 5 pounds
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 bay leaf remove before serving
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
- 8 ounces beer use your favorite type
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray.
- If necessary, remove the giblets from inside of your chicken and discard.
- Place your chicken breast down and then add about half of the onion inside of it.
- Place the remaining onion around the chicken and then sprinkle the seasonings on top.
- Pour your beer in and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Notes
- 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.
- Place your chicken breast down. This will make for a juicy chicken.
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