Easy Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

Like many families, Sunday dinner is a cherished tradition in our home. It’s a special time to gather around the table to share a home-cooked meal, and even more important – our lives! So in order to spend more time with family (and less time in the kitchen), I like to keep our dinner menu as simple and easy to prepare as possible.

This simple slow cooker rotisserie style chicken is one of my favorite easy Sunday dinners, which is why it frequently appears in my free weekly meal plans. It’s such a huge time-saver since you can toss everything into your slow cooker and go about your day knowing that a delicious and nutritious dinner will be waiting for you and your family when the dinner bell rings.

And the best part is the leftovers can be used to make a whole host of quick-n-easy, family-friendly dinners during busy weeknights! (Get lots of delicious ideas below.)

How to Make Rotisserie Chicken in Your Slow Cooker

The secret to making rotisserie chicken in your slow cooker is to use low heat and elevate the bird using root vegetables. The result is a moist and tender chicken with flavorful meat that’s nearly falling off the bone! Plus, you’ll have a ready-made garlic-infused root veggies side dish too – it doesn’t get easier than that!

Step One: Create a tasty base for your bird

Evenly layer the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with baby potatoes, chopped carrots and peeled garlic cloves.

Step Two: Dress your bird

Clean the bird and remove the giblets (save them for making homemade stock). Stuff the bird with additional garlic cloves and fresh thyme. Then season the bird and place it centered over the root veggies. Cover and cook on low. (See recipe instructions below.)

Step Three: Dinner is served! Not once, but twice!

One five-pound whole chicken generally provides about six cups of shredded chicken meat. This means the average family of four can enjoy not one, but two meals or more meals from just one roasted bird! (See my favorite quick-n-easy dinner ideas for leftover roast chicken below.)

Plus, once you’ve picked the carcass clean, the bones can be used to make a savory and nutritious slow cooker bone broth that can be used to create even more quick, nutritious meals!

Looking for more delicious slow cooker recipes? Be sure to check out our "Favorite Healthy Whole Food Slow Cooker Recipes Round Up."

Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

One 5 to 6 pound whole chicken
2 pounds baby potatoes
2 large carrots
1 head garlic
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme

Savory Seasoning Mix
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried rosemary

1. Remove the giblets and neck; reserve for making stock. Thoroughly rinse the bird in cool running water, trim away any excess skin; set aside.

2. In a small bowl, combine all of the seasoning mix ingredients; set aside.

3. Cut the carrots into 3 inch pieces. Smash and peel all of the cloves in one head of garlic.

4. In a six-quart slow cooker, evenly distribute the baby potatoes, carrot chunks and half of the garlic cloves along the bottom.

5. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the top of the chicken. Then stuff with the remaining garlic cloves, along with a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together, if desired.

6. Place the bird breast side up on top of the root veggies. Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours until cooked through. Chicken is finished when an instant read thermometer registers 165 degrees.

7. To crisp the skin, carefully transfer the bird to a broiler pan. Set oven to broil and position the bird about 12 inches from the heat source. Broil for approximately 4-5 minutes, just until skin browns and crisps. Delicious and easy! (Remember to save the chicken bones to make easy and healthy homemade slow cooker bone broth.)

Leftover Chicken = Dinner in a Snap!

Dinner couldn’t be easier when you have leftover chicken on hand. Here are my five favorite ways to create quick-n-easy weeknight dinners. 
• Roasted Chicken Chili – Create a delicious one-pot meal using leftover roast chicken, fresh veggies and the perfect blend of chili seasonings.
• Easy Chicken Pot Pie – Whether you have leftover roast chicken or turkey on hand, you can’t go wrong with this incredibly easy & tasty pot pie using flaky biscuits in place of pie crust.
• Chicken & Veggie Pasta – Toss some leftover roasted chicken into this simple veggie pasta dish for a quick & nutritious meal!
• Chicken & Veggie Quesadillas – Enjoy some kids-in-the-kitchen fun creating one of the easiest dinners that even picky veggie-phobes love!
• BBQ Chicken Sandwiches – Add your favorite BBQ sauce to leftover shredded chicken for a simple weeknight meal.

More Healthy Recipes for You and Your Family!

For even more healthy and delicious family-friendly recipes, be sure to download our free weekly whole food meal plans. Three cheers for simple healthy meals!

It’s always a blessing to share healthy meals with you. Let’s give thanks to the Lord for providing us with the opportunity to nourish our families in this way!

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly at The Nourishing Home