Table of Contents
Introduction
Today I want to share with you a very simple recipe, but at the same time tasty, filling and healthy. And, an extremely important aspect is that this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken is a good choice among children, or at least Sofia really loves it.
Precisely because I want to present you a family friendly crock pot meal idea, I chose to use very few spices, and these are the simplest, which are available for anyone, anytime.
Practically, using the wonderful Crock Pot Express Multicooker any other Slow Cooker, whether it’s a Crock Pot or another brand, you will effortlessly obtain slow cooker chicken that can be easily enjoyed for lunch, as a main course, or for dinner, because it is a light, but nourishing healthy meal.
There are many easy Crock Pot dinners that you can find here, suitable also for lunch inspiration. Also,
So, let’s discover together how you can get this wonderful garlic oregano chicken, tender and tasty, without any effort.
What is the Slow Cooking technique?
I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but I love to cook food using the Slow Cook program of my multicooker. I don’t own a Slow Cooker, but I have the opportunity to enjoy the same benefits using the Crock Pot multicooker. Also, there are both Slow Cookers and multicookers on the market that allow you to do the same thing, from various more or less well-known companies.
I have only used Crock Pot Express Multicooker, I have not tried another brand, and I am very satisfied with it. I own the first multicooker model from Crock Pot and have been using it successfully for almost 5 years, without having any problems with it.
For other easy Crock Pot dinners, I suggest you to check out this amazing Kidsfriendly Chili con Carne recipe. It will be a hit for the entire family.
But let’s go back to Slow Cook, which represents a relatively new cooking technique, which could also be done in the past, before the appearance of these special cooking devices – Slow Cookers – using a lower cooking temperature, especially in the oven, for a long time.
You can use the same method even now, if you don’t have a Slow Cooker, but I think that such a device, which you can find on the market at a very affordable price, will make your work much easier and, in addition, it is not necessary to supervise the cooking device while cooking your food.
Practically, the main advantages that a Slow Cooker offers are the following:
- Ease of cooking
For busy parents, the slow cooker is a lifesaver. You can simply add ingredients to the cooker in the morning, set it, and come home to a fully prepared meal. This convenience frees up time in the evening for family activities or attending to children’s needs, without the stress of preparing a meal from scratch. So, I recommend you to start using a Slow Cooker because you have the possibility to introduce all the necessary ingredients for the preparation of a dish right from the start, without the need for your intervention in the cooking process;
- Obtaining healthy meals
One of the standout benefits of slow cooking is the preservation of nutrients. The low and slow cooking process, typically at temperatures between 170°F and 280°F, helps retain the vitamins and minerals in food that can be lost through high-heat methods like boiling or frying. This means that the meals your children eat are not only delicious but also packed with the essential nutrients they need for healthy development. So, by cooking with a slow cooker, all the nutrients from the ingredients used are kept inside the pot, nothing is lost through evaporation, as in the case of traditional cooking;
- Obtaining tender dishes:
The gentle cooking method of the slow cooker makes food exceptionally tender. This is particularly beneficial for young children who may have difficulty chewing or digesting tougher food textures. Slow-cooked meals are easier on little tummies, making them ideal for kids at various stages of growth and development. So, using a slow cooker, especially the meat, being cooked at a low temperature for a longer period of time, is very well penetrated and thus becomes very tender. The same aspect is available for vegetables.
This last aspect is extremely important for me, because Sofia does not eat meat if it has a stronger texture. I’m sure there are other children with the same preference, for very soft meat, and since I own this wonderful Crock Pot Express Multicooker – but I repeat, this happens for any other type of Slow Cooker or multicooker that has the Slow Cook cooking function – I have the possibility to achieve meals with extremely tender, soft meat, which actually falls off the bone, or breaks into pieces if you poke it with a fork.
Precisely for this reason, one of the most famous dishes prepared at the Slow Cooker is Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken, which practically allows you to use a whole piece of pork or chicken, seasoned with your favorite spices, and in the end you will shred the meat with a fork, thus obtaining some fine and soft strips of meat, which you can use for various types of casseroles, Burgers or Sandwiches.
If you need more crock pot ideas, you should try the vegetarian Potato Stew or the Turkey Stew Recipe. You will love these simple, yet delicious warm meals.
How to slow cook whole chicken?
Preparing a Slow Cooker whole chicken is the easiest way to get a delicious, filling and healthy dish, suitable for the whole family.
Practically, if you use a whole chicken, which you season as you like, you then place it into the cooking pot of the Slow Cooker or the multicooker, and in 7 hours, using the Low temperature, you will get a tender and delicious slow cooker whole chicken.
Also, together with the seasoned chicken, you can put some vegetables or potatoes in the cooking pot, also seasoned with your favorite spices and this way you will get, without any effort, a slow cooker chicken and potatoes or veggies. If you cook only the chicken in the Slow Cooker / Multicooker, I recommend you to try the Potatoes Au Gratin as a side dish or some mashed potatoes and a fresh salad.
It is so simple that you will fall in love with this easy crock pot chicken recipe.
Another super easy and delicious crock pot chicken recipe is the 20 Minutes Chicken and Vegetables Stew Recipe, which will definitely be a great choice for a quick lunch or dinner inspiration.
The simplest way is to think of a rotisserie chicken. Basically, the final result that you will get if you follow this amazing whole chicken in crock pot recipe, will be similar to the rotisserie chicken, only that in the case of this slow cooker chicken recipe, the meat will be much juicy and tender.
If you want to get an absolutely fabulous result, I’ll give you some advice. This means preparing the chicken to be cooked the day before, but I assure you that it is worth doing this extra step. What do you have to do? Well, simply clean the chicken well and then rub it with olive oil and your favorite spices all over its surface, then inside. Place the seasoned chicken in a large bowl, which you can cover with a lid or plastic film and let those spices penetrate well into the chicken for a few hours in the refrigerator, or overnight.
When I talk about the spices used, I mean the simple ones, such as salt, pepper, sweet or spicy paprika, garlic and oregano, but you can also add other ingredients, such as a little lemon juice, honey or for spicy flavor enthusiasts, you can add chili, for example.
This Slow Cooker chicken is a simple but extremely versatile dish, which allows you to play with tastes and aromas, to transform a common ingredient – whole chicken – into an absolutely fabulous culinary dish, without using a lot of cooking dishes or without burning the oven tray. There is no need to supervise the appliance during the cooking process, you can prepare this crock pot chicken recipe overnight, when you are sleeping, or during the day, while you are away at work or while doing other household activities, or spending quality time with you little ones.
You will only use the oven at the end, for 15-20 minutes, to obtain a crispy crust similar to that of the rotisserie chicken. Simple, right?
Let’s see the step-by-step recipe, to convince you that this Slow Cooker whole chicken is the perfect choice for the next delicious family dinner.
Garlic and Oregano Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Recipe
As I have already mentioned many times in this article, I used the Crock Pot Express multicooker, using the Slow Cooking function, to get this fabulous Slow Cooker Whole Chicken, but if you don’t have a device to ease your cooking, you can also use a roasting tray with lid, to cook the chicken in the oven, at a low temperature, for a longer time.
Garlic and Oregano Slow Cooker Whole Chicken – A Super Easy and Delicious Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker |OR| Multi Cooker |OR| Roast tray |OR| Cast iron pot |OR| Oven tray
Ingredients
- 1 pc whole chicken without organs (max 1.5 kg, to fit into the cooking pot)
- 3-4 pcs garlic cloves or 2 tsps garlic powder
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Sweet paprika
- Olive oil
Instructions
- First, clean well the chicken using cold water. Also, remove excess water using paper towels;
- Now, mix the spices together;
- Brush the chicken with olive oil. Make sure to cover all the surface, then grease the inside of the chicken with olive oil;
- Now, scrub the chicken on the outside and inside with the spices and the crushed garlic;
- Fasten the chicken thighs together, using cooking thread
- Optional: Place the seasoned chicken into a large bowl covered with lid or plastic film and leave the flavors to penetrate the meat into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
- Place the chicken into the Slow Cooker / Multicooker at cook it at LOW TEMPERATURE using the SLOW COOKING program for 7 hours (you can also use the Slow Cooking program on HIGH TEMPERATURE for 3.5 hours); You can also add seasoned potatoes or veggies;
- Once cooker, transfer the chicken into a baking tray or a roasting tray, add a little juice from the pot in which it was cooked and roast it into the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 200o Celsius (392o F);
- Serve the garlic oregano Slow Cooker chicken with veggies or mashed potatoes and a fresh salad.
Nutrition
Conclusion
I hope you will try this amazing Slow Cooker garlic oregano chicken which is delicious, healthy and tender, suitable both for lunch or dinner. I am extremely curious to find out what you think about this amazing recipe and also, if you little ones enjoyed the juicy and tender flavored chicken meal.
Please remember that you can share your thoughts, suggestion and reviews in the comments section. Until the next easy and delicious homemade recipe, here o easeyourcooking.com, I wish you all a great time spent with your loved ones. Bye 😊
