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Home » Blog » Recipes » Slow Cooker Roast Chicken And Gravy

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken And Gravy

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This is my fool-proof method for cooking a delicious whole roast chicken in a slow cooker/Crock-Pot. You’ll make a wonderful Paleo gravy, too!

A shot of a chicken leg covered with gravy on a bed of mashed cauliflower and kale.

In the past, I’ve always had terrible results when I’ve tried to cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker or Crock-pot. The bird would always be overcooked, stringy, mushy, and dry. Super icky. Last night, I cooked a whole chicken in my slow cooker and it was AMAZING! I‘ll never prepare a whole chicken any other way again. Yes, that was a hyperbolic statement but I’m sticking with it.

The method I followed was a mash-up between Sarah Fragoso’s Spice Rub Crock Pot Chicken and the chicken in a pot recipe from Slow Cooker Revolution.  I heart both, so how could I fail?

(Update: I rarely use a slow cooker these days. Instead I make this recipe in my Instant Pot!)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 2 onions, chopped medium (or 2 cups of your favorite alliums)
  • 6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste (you can use up to a tablespoon to add more umami)
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup white wine (replace with ¼ cup extra chicken stock if on Whole30)
  • 1 (4-pound) organic chicken
  • 1 tablespoon Sunny Paris seasoning (or your favorite herb blend)

Equipment:

  • Measuring spoons
  • Large skillet
  • Measuring cups
  • Chef’s knife
  • Cutting board
  • Slow cooker
  • Immersion blender
  • Silicone ice cube molds

Here’s what you do:

Melt the ghee in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and gather your chopped veggies.

A plate of chopped onions, whole garlic cloves, and tomato paste.

When the ghee is shimmering, add the onions and garlic (I threw in some scallions, too)…

Sauteeing onions and leeks in a skillet.

…and the tomato paste.

A closeup of a spoonful of tomato paste.

The aromatics should be softened and lightly browned after 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper.

A closeup of sautéed alliums tossed with tomato paste.

Then, deglaze the pan with the wine and/or chicken stock, and transfer everything to your slow cooker. Dry off the bird and season it well – inside and out – with salt, pepper, and your favorite salt-free herb blend. (I like Sunny Paris seasoning from Penzeys Spices.)

A whole raw chicken covered with seasoning blend.

Place the chicken breast side down in the slow cooker, put on the cover, and set it to cook on low for 4-6 hours.

A seasoned raw whole chicken is breast-side down in a slow cooker.

This bird was close to 4 pounds, so I aimed for about 4.5 hours of simmering.

When the chicken is done cooking…

A shot of Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Gravy ready to be taken out of a slow cooker

…take it out of the slow cooker and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken resting in a white platter.

De-fat the braising sauce (if desired)…

A large metal spoon defatting the gravy in a slow cooker.

…check for seasoning, and blend it with an immersion blender…

An immersion blender in a slow cooker is blending up the gravy.

… to make a delicious gravy.

An overhead shot of a white bowl filled with gravy.

This gravy is amazing and makes great leftovers!

Rip up the chicken up with your hands like a true cavegirl or caveguy…

Breaking up Slow Cooker Roast Chicken with hands.

…and serve it with the gravy.

Another shot of the leftover gravy from Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy.

My favorite thing about this recipe is the breast stays moist! Love it! Don’t ever cook chicken longer than 6 hours on low!

And DON’T FORGET TO SAVE THE GRAVY! It’s pretty much incredible on everything. I freeze the extra gravy in these silicone ice molds.


Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).


 PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Gravy by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com
Print Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Gravy

This is my fool-proof method for cooking a delicious whole roast chicken in a slow cooker. You'll make a wonderful Paleo gravy, too!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time5 hrs
Total Time5 hrs 10 mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, Crock pot, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, Primal, slow cooker, Whole30
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 526kcal
Author: Michelle Tam

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 2 onions chopped medium (or 2 cups of your favorite alliums)
  • 6 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste you can use up to a tablespoon to add more umami
  • Diamond Crystal Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup white wine replace with ¼ cup extra chicken stock if on Whole30
  • 1 4-pound organic chicken
  • 1 tablespoon Sunny Paris Seasoning or your favorite herb blend

Instructions 

  • Melt the ghee in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and gather your chopped veggies.
  • When the ghee is shimmering, add the onions, garlic, and the tomato paste. Sauté, stirring occasionally. The aromatics should be softened and lightly browned after 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper.
  • Then, deglaze the pan with the wine and/or chicken stock, and transfer everything to your slow cooker. Dry off the bird and season it well – inside and out – with salt, pepper, and your favorite salt-free poultry seasoning. (I like Sunny Paris seasoning from Penzeys Spices.)
  • Place the chicken breast side down in the slow cooker, put on the cover, and set it to cook on low for 4-6 hours. (Check a 4-pound bird at the 4 hour mark to see if it's done. Continue cooking if necessary.)
  • When the chicken’s finished cooking, take it out of the slow cooker and let it rest for 20 minutes.
  • De-fat the braising sauce (if desired), check for seasoning, and blend it with an immersion blender to make a delicious gravy.
  • Serve the chicken and the gravy! 

Notes

  • DON’T FORGET TO SAVE THE GRAVY! It’s pretty much incredible on everything. I freeze the extra gravy in these silicone ice molds.
  • I rarely use a slow cooker these days. Instead I make this recipe in my Instant Pot!
Tried this recipe?Mention @nomnompaleo or tag #nomnompaleo!

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 36g | Fiber: 1g
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb says

    November 17, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    5 stars
    Really love this recipe! I only use my slow cooker bc I like it best.

    Reply
  2. Sarah Kay says

    January 11, 2022 at 10:38 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! This was a terrific – and easy! – Whole30 dinner that everyone at our house loved. Looking forward to checking out more of your yummy recipes. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    January 16, 2022 at 7:59 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been making this recipe for several years now, I’ve lost count of just how many. It’s a family favorite. I use my own spice blend to season the bird since it’s hard to get Sunny Paris here, & I remove the skin before cooking as we aren’t soggy chicken skin fans, but follow everything else to a “T”. The bird just falls apart when it’s done. Perfection!

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth Spring says

    October 4, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    My slow cooker died on me! Can I make this in a Dutch oven? If so, what temp? LOVE this recipe!!

    Reply
    • Regina Chan says

      October 7, 2022 at 8:10 pm

      Don’t think Michelle has a dutch oven version but she does have an Instant Pot version here: https://nomnompaleo.com/post/156918257623/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-chicken-and-gravy

      Reply
  5. AM MacK says

    October 13, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    This has been a staple for me since you first printed it years ago! Making it right now with ten chicken thighs and it’s just as brilliant. Thank you.

    Reply
    • AM MacK says

      October 13, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      Forgot the 5 stars! 🥰

      Reply
  6. Christine says

    December 27, 2022 at 2:50 pm

    Do you recommend a substitute for the tomato paste? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      December 29, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      You can leave it out!

      Reply

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