Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

I have only just entered into the world of slow cooking and I’m never going back!! For the sake of 10 minutes preparation in the morning I can come home from work to a hot dinner ready to eat – it’s like having my mum living with me!

I haven’t really ventured out into any of the complicated recipes yet. Last week I just chucked some carrots and sweet potatoes into the slow cooker, popped a whole chicken on the top, seasoned it a little, turned it on and crossed my fingers that I would come home 10 hours later to something edible! And wow did I – it was amazing to walk through the door to all the amazing smells of roast chicken, meat that falls straight off the bone and the juices…… sorry I’m getting carried away!! I will just get on with the recipe, that’s what you are here for after all, not my ramblings!!

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

(Apologies for the raw chicken picture! We were half way through eating dinner when I realised I hadn’t taken a picture of the end product! A hazard of blogging such yummy food! I will upload the finished version picture when I make the dish again)

Ingredients:
• 1 whole chicken
• 6 carrots chopped in half
• 2 – 4 sweet potatoes peeled
• 2 garlic cloves peeled and put in whole
• 1 onion chopped into quarters
• Sprig of fresh rosemary
• Blend of mixed dry herbs including Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano
• 1-2 Bay leaves
• Salt (and cracked pepper – if not AIP)

Method:
1. Put vegetables, onion and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker
2. Pop the chicken on top
3. Mix all the dry herbs, salt (and pepper) together and rub onto chicken
4. Add bay leaves and Rosemary around the edge
5. Cook on low setting for 8+ hours or medium for 6+ hours or until chicken has reached 165 degrees (mine was on low for 11 hours and it was just fine)
6. Come home to a delicious hot dinner

Use left over chicken to make soup – see my chunky chicken soup recipe here