Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

4.2 of 5 (108)
member ratings
Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 4
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 277.8
  • Total Fat: 11.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 129.7 mg
  • Sodium: 283.6 mg
  • Total Carbs: 2.9 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g
  • Protein: 41.7 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken calories by ingredient


Introduction

Those rotisserie chickens from the supermarket are a busy cook's best friend. When you have time to plan ahead, make your own--in your slow cooker! Those rotisserie chickens from the supermarket are a busy cook's best friend. When you have time to plan ahead, make your own--in your slow cooker!
Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

    1 lemon, cut in half
    1 teaspoon dried thyme
    1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    1 whole chicken, (about 4 1/2 pounds)

Tips

Lifting the whole chicken up off the bottom of the slow cooker insert will keep air flowing all around the bird and let most of the fat fall to the bottom of the slow cooker.

You may not need a knife to cut this chicken once cooked-- the meat will almost fall off the bone.

You can use other herbs and spices, if you prefer.


Directions

Place an inverted shallow ceramic dish (one that is oven-proof) into the bottom of your slow cooker insert. Your chicken should be able to fit on top and still allow the lid to close tightly.

In a small dish, squeeze the juice from half the lemon, then stir in the thyme and pepper.

Starting at the tail end of the bird (the end where the legs are), slide your fingers between the breast and the skin. Loosen the skin from the flesh as you work your way to the neck end. Once the skin is loosened from the breast, cut it off and removing any fat, using kitchen shears if necessary. Continue the process with the skin over the legs. Discard the skin.

Place the remaining 1/2 lemon into the cavity of the chicken, along with 1/4 of the herbed lemon juice.

Cross the legs of the chicken, then tie them together with cotton kitchen string.

Place the chicken in the slow cooker, atop the inverted dish.

Coat the top of the chicken with cooking spray.

Spoon the remaining herb mixture over the top and sides of the chicken.

Cover and set on low. Cook at least 4 but up to 8 hours, until temperature of the inner part of the chicken thigh reaches 170 degrees.

Transfer chicken to cutting board, let rest for 15 minutes, then remove the meat from the bones.


Serving Size: One 4 1/2 pound chicken yields almost 10 ounces cooked dark meat and 16 ounces cooked white meat. Approximately 2 ounces dark meat and 4 ounces of white meat per serving.

Member Ratings For This Recipe


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    191 of 192 people found this review helpful
    Instead of inverted dish. I got 4 potatoes, covered them in alum foil and put them in the bottom of the crock pot and then placed chicken on top. Potatoes and chicken came out fantastic. I left skin on chicken and discarded it after cooking. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    97 of 97 people found this review helpful
    Instead of an inverted dish, I use balls of aluminum foil. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    44 of 57 people found this review helpful
    Yesterday at the store, a rotisserie chicken was $5.48 and a same weight raw chicken was $5.15! 33 cents for them to cook the chicken for me? Yes please!

    Also, I've tried this before and the chicken was so tender I couldn't get it out of the pot in 1 piece. This method just doesn't make sense to
    - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo

    O.K.
    39 of 55 people found this review helpful
    This is just another way to cook chicken. It's nowhere near the rotisserie chicken at the stores. This is fast, though, in terms of prep. I use Lawry's seasoned salt for more flavor, closer to rotisserie. Don't comment on the salt. I don't care what you think. I'm just sayin, Lawry's. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    31 of 37 people found this review helpful
    will try this! I don't have a dish for the bottom of my slow cooker so I always just put some big peeled carrots &/or celery on the bottom to hold the meat up. Works great and flavours the gravy too! - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    28 of 35 people found this review helpful
    This is a great easy dish. Thanks SP for supplying all these FREE great recipes. So easy to just add to your recipe collection and add the points for the day. I've lost 20 lbs using this easy to follow method. What a blessing! - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    19 of 19 people found this review helpful
    Very good way to prepare poultry. I have also done turkey breast and leg quarters this way. I agree to elevate. My slow cooker cake with a roasting rack. I like the idea of crisscross chop sticks. I use Mrs. Dash or similar, but nothing like rotisserie chicken. Still very good and very moist. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    18 of 32 people found this review helpful
    i am with the others, why are you showing a picture of a totally different chicken? not very trustworthy. no way this is going to brown like that. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    13 of 17 people found this review helpful
    very good even if the picture is incorrect - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    11 of 12 people found this review helpful
    I like the thought that I can control the salt and fat that would normally come with a store bought rotisserie chicken. Thanks for the suggestions on using other items for getting the chicken raised up off the bottom of slow cooker. I would never have thought of it. Will try this next week. - 3/8/14


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    11 of 11 people found this review helpful
    I added a dusting of paprika to the outside of the chicken to give it some color since it doesn't truly 'brown' in a slow cooker. - 5/14/13


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    10 of 10 people found this review helpful
    I don't have ceramic insert so used inverted tin foil pan instead. The bird does not SIT in the juices but still came out moist and tender. I boiled the carucs for soup and added the wonderful broth from the crock. I put the leftover chicken in freezer for future meals. - 1/28/13


  • no profile photo


    8 of 8 people found this review helpful
    I place the chicken on onions.After I remove it I place all the bones back in the crock pot liquid, add some celery and carrots and then fill with water a half inch rom the top and cook on low all night.Let cool,strain and place in containers.I freeze mine in 4- quart size canning jars. - 12/4/14


  • no profile photo


    8 of 9 people found this review helpful
    Yes I have cooked chicken in the crockpot many times and I use large uncooked potatoes in place of the ceramic dish.Never thought to wrap them in Aluminum foil but next time I will try that,this is a great recipe but needs more spices,we use lots of garlic and onion powders. - 1/21/14


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    8 of 10 people found this review helpful
    I find Chef Meg's recipe to be amazing good. It has more flavor than those you buy from a deli. - 3/23/13


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    8 of 8 people found this review helpful
    This was excellent.......very juicy. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    8 of 11 people found this review helpful
    This sounds great! If I use a chicken that doesn't have salt added I can reduce the sodium! My husband said he would place two layers of chopsticks in the bottom of the pot! - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    7 of 7 people found this review helpful
    I have been crocking my chickens for about 43 years like this. I reserve the stock in my crockpot overnight in the fridge, skim off the fat, put it in a ziploc bag in freezer for future chicken and dumplings or rice, or soup! I do not use lemon, but garlic, poultry seasoning and sage. - 10/26/15


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    7 of 7 people found this review helpful
    For someone like me who has to control the salt in their food, this recipe is perfect. Only one store sells rotisserie chickens without salt, antibiotics, etc. and it can be hard to get there sometimes. The usual rotisserie chickens sold in stores are loaded with salt. Thank You for this recipe. - 1/5/14


  • no profile photo


    7 of 13 people found this review helpful
    I think I will try this, I trust in Chef Meg's recipes, and think she does alright my me. - 3/7/13


  • no profile photo

    Good
    6 of 11 people found this review helpful
    I make chicken soup this way with a boiler chicken. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
    to LLSGIRL1015- Yes, a slow cooker is the same as a crockpot. I think some recipe writers are careful b/c crockpot is also a brand name. You have to look for recipes for both terms or you will miss some when you do a search for this style cooking. - 4/24/13


  • no profile photo


    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
    I prefer the dry heat of roasting to the moist heat of the crockpot. The chicken in the photo was certainly dry roasted. - 10/26/17


  • no profile photo


    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
    Tried this tonight and followed the recipe as is. I love Chef Meg's recipes. But I am Italian, and tend to use lots more spices in my cooking. This was a bit bland for my taste, so I won't be using it again. But I was nonetheless very happy to come home to a dinner fully cooked. - 10/28/14


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
    Perfect! My family raved about the flavor. I used the meat for chicken salad and for the Spark recipe Healthy Chicken Vegetable Casserole. Instead of a dish or rack, I criss-crossed a couple of carrots and celery ribs in the bottom of the crock pot. Served the purpose and added flavor. - 5/21/13


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    4 of 5 people found this review helpful
    My family loves this. - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    3 of 8 people found this review helpful
    I read and read thru this recipe and complex, where it said to loosen the skin of the chicken, which is also fat, after placing the lemon/herb mixture under the skin! Could you please clarify this? thank you!

    - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I make this basic chicken often. Sometimes I ad about 6 cloves of garlic crushed along with another cut lemon in the cavity before cooking. Hubby loves the garlic that goes through the meat of the bird - 10/26/17


  • no profile photo


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I'm curious why you took off the skin but the photo shows a chicken with skin on it. Interesting... - 6/17/19


  • no profile photo


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    mine turns out pale and not roasted like the rotisserie makes it - 10/15/18


  • no profile photo


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Mine did not brown. The picture looks more appetizing then mine did... next time will leave the skin on and remove after cooking. - 10/1/18


  • no profile photo


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I'm glad there were comments about substitutes for an inverted dish. Those were helpful and will encourage me to make this recipe sooner. - 1/25/18


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I get 6 servings from this recipe. The breast with salad is one, the legs and thigh meat removed for chicken Ala king with rice for another, and chicken soup (dumplings in our house-or tiny pasta) is the last. - 10/22/17


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Great recipe that is easy to make and fun to experiment with. Find flavors that appeal to your own taste buds and make it your own. My family loves garlic and chipotle. - 6/23/17


  • no profile photo


    1 of 4 people found this review helpful
    Sounds too good to be true.
    Think I will try this method with a turkey breast I have in the freezer. Thanks
    - 1/31/13


  • no profile photo


    1 of 3 people found this review helpful
    I can't wait to try this! Thanx for sharing! - 1/29/13


  • no profile photo


    1 of 12 people found this review helpful
    Wish I had a slow cooker with that insert, but I will improvise. Can't wait to try this one! - 1/21/13


  • no profile photo


    Air Fryer works wonders. - 7/11/21


  • no profile photo


    thanks - 7/11/21


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    good - 6/30/21


  • no profile photo


    Worth a try. Just bought a chicken, so will try Sunday. - 6/26/21


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    I love this recipe. I have a silicone lifter to set it on - 5/24/21


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    yummy - 3/9/21


  • no profile photo


    :) - 2/17/21


  • no profile photo


    I use balls of foil to lift mine off the bottom. - 12/27/20


  • no profile photo


    Great ideas! - 12/17/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Good eats - 12/11/20


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    tasty - 12/7/20


  • no profile photo


    Looks wonderful but I just buy mine at Kroger. - 11/28/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Yummy - 10/30/20


  • no profile photo


    What a brilliant idea! I can't wait to try this! - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo


    The chicken in the picture appears to have been roasted on a real rotisserie complete with the skin on and the hole through the thigh where the rotisserie bar was skewered into it. Your slow cooked, skinned chicken will not look like the one in the picture.
    - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo


    going to try this - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Ok - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo


    The photo is of a rotisserie chicken. (See the skewer holes?) And it still has skin on. (That's where the legs are tucked.) - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo

    Good
    I have tried this and it isn't bad - 10/26/20


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    Yes, but I could never get it to be brown. Taste is delicious. - 6/29/20


  • no profile photo


    This is something I must try...looks so yummy! - 6/4/20


  • no profile photo


    I haven't tried this yet but just want to say the picture makes it look so yummy! - 6/1/20


  • no profile photo


    I prefer Costco roasted for $4.99. - 5/9/20


  • no profile photo


    very good. I like fall off the bone chicken as so tender and moist - 4/14/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    wonderful - 3/29/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Great flavor! I incorporated some of the suggestions in the comments - rested the chicken on potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery. They absorbed the chicken flavoring that dripped to the bottom of the cooker. Delicious! - 3/19/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Fantastic - 3/3/20


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    YUMM - 3/1/20


  • no profile photo


    sounds delish and looks yummy - 11/8/19


  • no profile photo


    A great way to enjoy chicken - 11/6/19


  • no profile photo

    Good
    I followed the suggestion of a fellow Sparker and placed 4 potatoes instead. Came out okay but still prefer the oven for tasty roast chicken - 10/27/19


  • no profile photo


    It makes more sense economically to get the chicken at the store. Rotisserie chickens are so cheap that they are a "loser" for the stores. And a winner for the shopper. - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    I also used my crock pot and put veggies on the bottom and around the chicken after I had taken the skin off it was delicious, definetly will use this recipe again - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo


    One of our favourites that we cook every week - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    Just the recipe I've been waiting for! I am big on cooking ahead, portioning and freezing in food sealer bags. Using my slow cooker makes it even more convenient. - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo


    The picture looks appetizing, although it is apparent from the holes in the side, that this is indeed a rotisserie chicken, not one cooked in a crock pot. - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo


    yummy - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo


    rotisserie chicken is so versatile - 10/26/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Very good! - 9/12/19


  • no profile photo


    I left the skin on. The meat was juicier that way, I think. - 9/1/19


  • no profile photo


    I could eat this every day - simple and easy but incredibly tasty! - 7/21/19


  • no profile photo


    I use 4 small balls of aluminum foil under the chicken. - 7/16/19


  • no profile photo


    just remember to not eat the skin - 6/4/19


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    So easy and so yummy. I took another reviewers advice and cooked the chicken on top of whole potatoes. Turned out great! - 4/19/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Sounds delicious..... I will most definitely try this😀😀😀 - 3/17/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Sounds good and easy too. - 3/15/19


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Thanks for sharing - 2/1/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Great - 1/26/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Sounds good - 1/23/19


  • no profile photo

    Good
    I liked how the chicken was tender and moist. I will try different spices next time. Adding garlic sounds nice. - 1/14/19


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    yummy...I don't eat meat anymore but will make it for JB... - 11/24/18


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    It tasted good but mine wasn’t brown. - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo

    O.K.
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Pretty good, but time consuming for 2018. - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo

    Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    good - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    thanks - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    thank you - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo

    Very Good
    Delicious I use the leftover chicken different ways - 10/26/18


  • no profile photo

    Incredible!
    A family favorite. - 10/25/18


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    NICE - 10/4/18


  • no profile photo


    Wow! So easy and moist! - 10/3/18


  • no profile photo

    Good
    Love the suggestions from other readers on this one - 10/3/18


  • no profile photo


    So simple - great results - 10/3/18


  • no profile photo


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I love roasted chicken! - 9/25/18