Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Perfectly Spiced Rub Recipe
A flavorful and tender whole chicken recipe cooked to perfection using either a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. This versatile method infuses the chicken with a blend of paprika, garlic, and herbal spices, resulting in juicy, succulent meat that is easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners or meal prepping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-8 hours (Slow Cooker), 24-30 minutes (Instant Pot, 6 min per pound plus pressure release time)
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes (Slow Cooker), approx. 40 minutes (Instant Pot)
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 to 5 pound whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instant Pot Only
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: If your chicken has a bag of giblets inside the cavity, remove it carefully. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure the skin crisps nicely during cooking.
- Apply Oil: Drizzle the tablespoon of oil evenly all over the chicken, coating it thoroughly to help the seasonings adhere and keep the chicken moist.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle this seasoning mix evenly all over the chicken, covering all sides and inside the cavity for maximum flavor.
- Choose Cooking Method: Decide whether to cook the chicken using the slow cooker or Instant Pot based on your time preferences.
- Slow Cooker Preparation: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned chicken into the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cook the chicken on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours until fully cooked and tender.
- Rest the Chicken (Slow Cooker): Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and let it rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before slicing.
- Instant Pot Preparation: Place the trivet inside the Instant Pot pressure cooker. Pour in 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth or water. Place the seasoned chicken on the trivet to elevate it above the liquid.
- Pressure Cook the Chicken: Close the lid and seal the valve. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure and cook for 6 minutes per pound of chicken.
- Release Pressure and Rest (Instant Pot): Once cooking completes, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then perform a quick release for any remaining pressure. Remove the chicken and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Removing the giblets ensures even cooking and better flavor inside the chicken cavity.
- Patting the chicken dry before seasoning helps achieve crispier skin.
- The spice mix can be adjusted based on your heat preference by modifying the amount of cayenne pepper.
- Resting the chicken after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a moister texture.
- The slow cooker method is ideal for hands-off cooking, while the Instant Pot offers a faster alternative.
Keywords: whole chicken recipe, slow cooker chicken, Instant Pot chicken, easy chicken dinner, paprika chicken, tender chicken
