Crockpot Chicken

A friend just asked what I make for dinner when it's hot. The simple answer is, I make quite a few things in my crockpot. This is one of my favorites and I LOVE to freeze the leftover meat and broth from a few chickens and make something yummy from that too. Start a gallon ziploc and keep adding each time you have some broth or chicken, when it's almost full..make soup or dumplings.

I'm not a prep the night before kind of girl. I'm also not a huge fan of touching raw chicken so I "sprinkle" with seasoning. You can use any variety of spices, this is just the ones that I used last time or you can just use salt, pepper and some garlic powder. However, make sure you use at least 4 t Salt or equivalent because the chicken needs the salt. It's been wonderful every time. Other than the crunchy skin, it's very similar to Beer Can chicken that is done on the grill.

Here's what you'll need if you want to follow the recipe:

4 t Salt
2 t Paprika
1 t Cayenne
1 t Onion Powder
1 t Thyme
1 t White Pepper
1/2 t Garlic Powder
1/2 t Black Pepper
1 Whole Chicken
1 medium Onion chopped
2 cloves Garlic

In a small bowl, combine the spices. If you bought a chicken with giblets and/or neck..remove those. Wash the chicken well, taking extra care with the cavity. Sprinkle the spice mixture on to the chicken, inside and out. Try to make sure it's evenly distributed.

Place garlic and chopped onion into cavity of chicken and put in the crockpot. You don't need any liquid because the chicken will make it's own juice. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, I cooked 10 because that's how my day worked out, it was falling off the bone. Slice it up and you can spoon some of the juices on top if you desire. I threw the onions/garlic out.

Here's your spice mix. OR if you want to be as lazy as I am, just sprinkle the spices on the top and don't mix together. It works, I promise.

Just a whole chicken, wash it
Sprinkle with seasoning, throw the onion in the middle and a couple cloves of garlic

Doesn't this look yummy!
I cut it up, poured a bit of pan juices on top and put in the oven on warm while I made the sides. Forgot to take a "pretty" photo, sorry.