Have you ever tried crockpot rotisserie chicken? It’s cheap and easy! Learn the best ways to cook a whole chicken and what to make with rotisserie chicken!
*Recipe and photos updated 1/2022*
Hi Friends!
Let’s talk about this crockpot rotisserie chicken! Did you already know you can make a rotisserie-style chicken in the crockpot? It’s not actually a rotisserie chicken because it’s just sitting in your crockpot, not spinning, but the end result is similar!
You get fall-off-the-bone tender meat with very little effort on your part. Plus, it’s healthier than the rotisserie chickens you get at the store (although those certainly are delicious, aren’t they?!).
What to make with rotisserie chicken
The best thing about cooking a whole chicken this way is the amount of meat you cook at once. Depending on the size, you should have enough for 2-3 meals for the family, which makes it ideal for food prep!
Here are a few recipes you could make using your chicken:
How to make crock pot rotisserie chicken
Here’s how you do it in just a few simple steps:
- Place foil balls in the crockpot.
- Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle with seasonings.
- Place breast-side down in the crockpot with a little water and cook on low.
Here are the full directions:
PrintCrockpot Rotisserie Chicken
This crockpot rotisserie chicken is the easiest way to cook a whole chicken to use for multiple meals.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 whole young chicken (5–6 pounds)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt & pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Tear four sheets of aluminum foil, scrunch them up into balls and place them in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Remove the giblets from the chicken and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Sprinkle with seasonings.
- Place the chicken breast side down on top of the foil balls. Add 1/2 cup water to crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until the meat easily pulls off the bone.
- Optional step- remove all the meat, fill the crockpot with water and cook on low another 10 hours to make chicken stock.
Chicken can also be cooked on high for 4-5 hours but I’ve found that cooking it on low and also cooking it breast-side down yields the best results.
Notes:
- The aluminum foil balls help elevate the chicken so it isn’t just sitting on the bottom of the crockpot.
- The seasonings listed above are just suggestions. Use your own favorite spices, or try adding some grated garlic or lemon zest to the mix!
- The skin will not get crispy in the crockpot. If you’re looking for crispy skin, the oven is definitely the way to go.
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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Lisa says
This sounds so simple. I definitely love this idea for busy days when you just need to throw something quickly in a pot before work.
Jetta says
Hey, I am writing healthy recipes down and I was wondering what the servings and what the nutritional facts are about this recipe. It looks scrumptious and we’d like to try it but are on a strict calorie intake at the moment. Thank you.
Lindsay says
I don’t have that info but you can put the recipe into the recipe part of my fitness pal to find out!
Kerry @ The Adventures of Z and K says
I JUST made chicken like this for the first time last week. Isn’t it amazing?? So juicy and tender. I prepped in the beginning of the week then used the chicken on all sorts of things: as a topping for salads, filling for sandwiches (mixed w/mashed avocado), on crackers as a snack. Will most certainly be doing again next week.
Lindsay says
me too! definitely gonna become a staple in my prep!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
wow! we really like rotisserie chicken! i’ve never bought a whole chicken before because it kind of intimidates me. this sounds simple enough though… if i can get past the “remove the giblets” ugh lol
Lindsay says
that’s the easy part. they come in this nice little bag. i just close my eyes, reach in and grab it and throw it straight in the trash!
Kierston @candyfit says
Easy and delish. I love my chicken spiced like you 🙂
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family says
I do this ALL THE TIME. To get the convenience of the crockpot and the crispyness of the skin I take it out of the crockpot and broil it for 2-3 minutes at the end. Works like a charm!
Lindsay says
great idea!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes says
This sounds amazing!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
I love crockpot recipes! This chicken sounds so moist and flavorful!
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness says
I bet the added cayenne in this is sooo good! I’m going to bookmark this receipe!
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl says
Okay, I’m so trying this! My husband and I were just talking last night about how I really didn’t like buying the store-bought because of some added questionable ingredients. Thanks for sharing such a great idea!
Lindsay says
you’re welcome! enjoy, kim!
Ari @ Ari's Menu says
I just like to pretend that they don’t use any oil or butter on those cost co chickens. I mean, the chicken just naturally tastes buttery, right??? 😉 Those get pricey though, and I love to use them in chicken salad, so I am loving this way cheaper, healthier and super easy version!
Lindsay says
haha i like to pretend that too 🙂
misszippy says
This is so perfectly timed! We just went by the local farm to pick up some organic, free-range chicken and this is just what I’ll do with it!
Lindsay says
yay! hope you like it!!
Betsy says
Looks yummy! I love crockpot recipes!
Becky @ Olives n Wine says
I LOVE this idea!! I’m a huge fan of rotisserie chickens but they’re not the best for you – I’m totally going to have to give this a try next time I want to cook chicken 🙂
Lindsay says
enjoy, friend!
carlisa says
This looks so easy.. Yummy
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats says
I really want to get a crockpot as this looks amazing but so simple to make 🙂
Jody - Fit at 55 says
I LOVE EASY! Now to get a crockpot! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
So uh… You are going to laugh, but typically I am always in my car – I really live in my car because I am so busy and… Because it takes 48734384 to drive a 1/2 mile in Los Angeles. So anyways, I brought from shredded chicken with me to eat on the go, and I put it in my lap when I was driving and I had a side of mustard also in my lap… Well I was eating and driving, and I swear the dude behind me thought I was DRUNK. The kicker?! I started CHOKING!!! I had to stick my hand down my throat to take the chicken out! LOL!! I am laughing NOW but I wasn’t then. And you want to know where I was driving? To meet up with Giada De Laurentiis – so of course when I get there, I am super flustered – LOL!! Amazing!
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats says
Good to know this works. I have a recipe similar that I’ve wanted to try. I love chicken 🙂
Lisa @ RunWiki says
My kind of meal, fix it and forget it, plus my kids love chicken!
Lindsay says
double win!!
Kim says
I love my crock pot and making chicken in it!
I haven’t done your exact recipe so I think that will be my next one – thanks for sharing!!
Chris C says
This looks so good and so easy! We will be trying this. Thank you for sharing!
Lindsay says
you’re welcome! enjoy!
Nutmeg Nanny says
I’m a huge fan of using my crock pot 🙂 this chicken looks fantastic! I can’t wait to use this recipe!
Andrea says
I put all the innards (items in the little bag) in pot of water and add my favorite spices, some onion, celery, carrot, etc and boil them down, strain, put in plastic container and freeze to make my own chicken stock. This serves two purposes… I always have fresh chicken stock on the freezer and I don’t get stinky trash since the innards have been cooked down.
John says
Sounds fantastic! Thank you. This is for Sunday dinner methinks!!
Jen says
Can you cook it for 8 hrs on low?? Does it make a difference? I want to put this in before I go to work, but typically work 8-9 hr days
Lindsay says
i’m honestly not sure. but i’d say it’s worth a try!!
Kim says
I love it. It’s in the crockpot now. Except I didn’t follow the directions. Bad Kim! I crushed the garlic in along with all the spices and that was my rub. Oops. It smells delicious though. So, I’m hopeful that it will taste as good as it smells. Thank you for the awesome recipe.
Lindsay says
Sounds fabulous! Hope it was great!
Simonne says
I bulk buy chicken when it comes on sale, skin them, season and freeze ready for the crockpot – on the day of I just take out of the freezer, prepare the crockpot, set it and go… 1 day of mess and the rest is simple.
Leslie says
Do you think I could put a frozen chicken in the crockpot and this would work? I usually put all meats into my crock pot frozen, so I can leave it on low for 8-10 hours while I am at work. I have NEVER cooked a whole chicken though, so I’m unsure…
Lindsay says
i’ve never tried it…but i think it would definitely work..would just take longer so 8-10 hours would probably be perfect!
Linda says
What size crock pot?
Sara says
Hi! There were so many comments, so I hope I don’t ask the same thing! I’d love to make this, it looks so delicious and would make a perfect snack for a poor student to keep in the fridge so I don’t binge on only nut butter on my late night cramming sessions. My question is: what is a crock pot? What is it made of? I can’t find a translation or a description anywhere! I have a huge pot made of cast iron, is it like that? Or is it made of ‘clay’ (hope you know what I mean)? And – when you have it in the oven, should the lid be on? 🙂
Thanks for a great blog, your recipes along with Minimalist Baker are making sure I keep eating healthy! Plus I get really good at converting measurements. 😉
Lindsay says
you could do it in a cast iron pot in the oven if you have a lid. This is a crockpot:http://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-Programmable-Touchscreen-SCVT650-PS-6-5-Quart/dp/B001KVZTFO/ref=lp_694666_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1423504593&sr=1-3
Sara says
Great! 😀 I’ll try that today! 😀
Jennifer Marshall says
Do you know how this could translate for a instant pot?
Lindsay says
i haven’t actually tried one in the instant pot yet but i know it can be done!
Terri Gershenson says
I can’t wait to try the chicken. However I haven’t used aluminum foil for anything for decades because it caused
dementia, at least that’s what we heard at that time. Any other suggestions so the chicken won’t sit on the bottom?
Thanks for the lovely recipe.
Lindsay says
you can put some carrots and potatoes on the bottom to prop it up!