Slow Cooker Whole Chicken And Sweet Potatoes

Crockpot whole chicken with a rotisserie-style rub, potatoes, vegetables, and a delicious gravy to drizzle over everything. Perfect for meal prep or for Sunday dinner!

Just like my favorite Instant Pot whole chicken, this crockpot whole chicken gets the job done easily! Not only do you get perfectly juicy rotisserie-style chicken, but potatoes, carrots, and a seriously delicious gravy.

overhead view of crockpot whole chicken in slow cooker before cooking

With juicy chicken, gravy and veggies, this recipe is just like a traditional Sunday dinner, but is so easy thanks to the slow cooker (and no need to have your oven on all day!)

You can use this recipe for meal prep (check out this whole chicken meal prep for some ideas), or enjoy for dinner.

Why you'll ♡ this crockpot whole chicken

you can get a Sunday-style dinner cooking and go about your day
you can use it for meal prep
it's gluten-free, free from typical unpronounceable rotisserie chicken additives, and delicious

Recipe Video

There are a few steps to get this chicken on and cooking, and the best way to make sure you get it right is to watch the 1-minute video below! It's so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

collage image showing how to prepare the slow cooker whole chicken with vegetables

Let's talk ingredients!

whole chicken- I recommend a 3-4 lb chicken as larger ones may not fit in a slow cooker. The one pictured in this post is 3.3 lbs.
rub- we are making a simple rotisserie-style rub from scratch with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika
olive oil- to make a paste with the rub that allows it to spread under and over the skin
root vegetables- carrots and parsnips are pictured. I have also tested with squash (I don't recommend as it gets mushy), and sweet potatoes (were good!)
potatoes- use whole baby potatoes. If you use larger potatoes you will need to cut into small chunks
red onion- one for the chicken cavity and one for the slow cooker
fresh herbs- thyme and rosemary add a subtle and delicious flavor to the gravy and the vegetables as they cook.

crockpot whole chicken and potatoes in slow cooker before cooking

15 minutes prep for a Sunday-style dinner

We are transforming simple, fresh ingredients into a gourmet dinner! Here's how to get the chicken on and cooking:

rub- first we mix together the rub ingredients and rub under and over the skin of the chicken.
veggies- chop the veggies and arrange in the bottom of the slow cooker. Reserve some veggies for around the sides of the chicken.
chicken- place on top of the veggies. Stuff the cavity with a red onion (quartered) and fresh herbs.
more veggies- arrange reserved veggies around the sides of the chicken.
cook- high for 4 hours- this time works great for a 3-4 lb whole chicken

overhead view of crockpot whole roasted chicken before and after broiling

How to get crispy skin

When your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, it is ready to come out of the slow cooker. You are welcome to serve it as is, but I like to take the extra step of crisping up the skin.

To crisp up your chicken skin

transfer to a baking sheet (along with the potatoes)
broil for 3-5 minutes

A few quick tips for crispy skin:

* You may want to cover the chicken breast with a bit of foil to prevent burning while the legs and lower parts of the chicken brown up.

* Broiling the potatoes helps them get a nice 'roasted potato' texture.

cooking the gravy for crockpot chicken whole

Do not skip the gravy!

Do not, I repeat: do not! Skip the gravy! The gravy adds so much flavor to this recipe!

To make the gravy, we will collect the drippings from the bottom of the slow cooker in a small-medium pot. Strain out the herbs and veggies.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with cold water and simmer for 5-10 minutes. That's it!

side view of crockpot whole chicken sliced

How can I tell when my crockpot whole chicken is ready?

I highly recommend investing in a digital thermometer! Check the internal temperature of your chicken in several spots and make sure it has reached 165°F.

Can I cook this recipe on low for longer?

I do not recommend it, as I find the potatoes get extremely dry when cooking for long periods of time in the slow cooker.

Can I skip the potatoes and veggies?

You absolutely can, but it is important to keep your chicken out of the pan drippings (as it can become soggy). You can ball up some foil and place in the bottom of the slow cooker, or maybe even see if an Instant Pot trivet will fit!

Can I cook the chicken from frozen?

No. Unlike the Instant Pot, where we were able to cook a whole frozen chicken, for food safety reasons, you cannot do this in the slow cooker.

Which size of slow cooker will I need?

You need a large, 6 quart slow cooker <--I love this one! I recommend an oval-shaped one as it fits the shape of the chicken.

Serve with extra veggies

While the chicken and potato portions were sufficient, we were fighting over the last carrot. I would recommend serving this with a side salad or 4 cups of extra veggies . Unfortunately size constraints of the slow cooker mean it's impossible to fit any extra veggies in there.

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
Apple, Fennel, Brussels Sprouts Slaw
Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic Butter
Our Staple Kale Salad

slow cooker whole chicken with vegetables and potatoes on a plate

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Crockpot whole chicken with a rotisserie-style rub, potatoes, vegetables, and a delicious gravy to drizzle over everything. Perfect for meal prep or for Sunday dinner!Crockpot whole chicken with a rotisserie-style rub, potatoes, vegetables, and a delicious gravy to drizzle over everything. Perfect for meal prep or for Sunday dinner!

Rub

▢ 2 teaspoons onion powder
▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 1 teaspoon pepper
▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil

Crockpot Whole Chicken

▢ 1 chicken (3-4 lbs)
▢ 4 carrots (peeled and coarsely chopped)
▢ 4 parsnips (peeled and coarsely chopped; see *)
▢ 2 red onions (cut into wedges)
▢ 10 sprigs thyme
▢ 5 sprigs rosemary
▢ 1.5 lbs baby potatoes (left whole)

Gravy

▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
▢ 2 tablespoons cold water

Rub

Stir together spices for the rub, then add in the olive oil and stir to make a paste.
Pat dry a whole chicken.
Use a spoon to loosen the skin from the breast meat. Spoon ⅓ of the rub under the breast skin and try to spread evenly.
With your hands, spread the rub all over the chicken breast, legs, sides and wings.

Crockpot

In the bottom of a large slow cooker, add the potatoes, half the carrots, half the parsnips, and half the onions. Add 5 sprigs of thyme and 3 sprigs of rosemary.
Place the chicken on top of the veggies. Squeeze 1 of the onions into the cavity of the chicken along with the remaining thyme and rosemary.
Arrange the remaining veggies around the sides of the chicken. Make sure that the chicken is deep enough in the slow cooker that the lid does not touch the chicken.
Cook on high for 3 ½- 4 hours. Check internal temp at 3 ½ hours.

For Crispy Skin

When chicken is ready, carefully remove from the slow cooker and transfer to a baking sheet along with the potatoes. See *note
Broil for 3-5 minutes, keeping an eye on the chicken skin so it doesn't burn.
Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Gravy

While chicken is broiling and resting, strain off solids and transfer pan drippings to a small/medium pot.
Stir together cornstarch + water and whisk into the pot. Simmer, stirring frequently for 5-10 minutes, until thickened.
Serve chicken with a drizzle of gravy.

* when broiling the chicken, you may want to place a small square of foil over the breast meat, removing during the last few minutes, so the chicken browns evenly

** this recipe does not make a huge portion of vegetables (due to the size constraints of the slow cooker). I recommend preparing an extra 4 cups of veggies or a side salad to serve.

*** larger chickens may work for this recipe, but you will need to reduce the amount of veggies in the slow cooker and cook for longer.

Serving: 1 /6 of batch , Calories: 439 kcal , Carbohydrates: 33 g , Protein: 27 g , Fat: 22 g , Saturated Fat: 6 g , Cholesterol: 95 mg , Sodium: 516 mg , Potassium: 1000 mg , Fiber: 6 g , Sugar: 5 g , Vitamin A: 7215 IU , Vitamin C: 32 mg , Calcium: 59 mg , Iron: 3 mg

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