Slow-Cooker Rotisserie-Style Chicken

Prep 10 min
Total 2 hr 50 min
Servings 6

All you need is four ingredients and a slow cooker to make an incredibly moist and meltingly tender crockpot whole chicken that’s way better than the store-bought version.

By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Updated June 14, 2019

Ingredients

2

tablespoons packed brown sugar
2

teaspoons chili powder
2

teaspoons salt
1

whole chicken (3 to 4 lb)

Steps

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1

Spray 5-quart oval slow cooker with cooking spray.
2

In small bowl, stir together brown sugar, chili powder and salt.
3

Pat chicken dry, both inside and outside, with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with brown sugar mixture.
4

Place chicken, breast-side up, in slow cooker.
5

Cover; cook on High heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or until legs move easily when lifted or twisted and thermometer inserted in thickest part of inside thigh reads at least 165°F. Remove chicken from slow cooker; let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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Be sure to that the chicken is no longer pink near the bones and the juices run clear when pierced by the tip of a knife. The internal temperature should be 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
If you like a little kick to your chicken, add 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) to the brown sugar mixture.
Serve this chicken whole, as you would a roasted chicken, or remove the meat from the bones, and shred into bite-size pieces to use in any number of other recipes.
The flavor of rotisserie chickens is a barbecue combo of a little sugar and lots of spice. Add some ground red chile—cayenne or smoked chipotle—for more kick.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 120

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 14g; 21%
Saturated Fat 4g 19% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 85mg; 29%
Sodium: 890mg; 37%
Potassium: 240mg; 7%
Total Carbohydrate: 5g; 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Sugars 5g
Protein: 27g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 8%; 8%
Vitamin C: 0%; 0%
Calcium: 2%; 2%
Iron: 8%; 8%

Exchanges:

0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

We’ve all gotten used to the term “rotisserie” to describe pre-cooked, ready-to-chicken. But actually, rotisserie is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit. With a long solid rod to skewer it, the meat is cooked over a fire or roasted in an oven. What on special in the five-items-or-less-line at the market likely wasn’t grilled on a spit over an open flame, so not try your hand at making your own chicken? Meet your new dinner life-saver, whole chicken in crockpot. To make it happen, you just need a little organization and ten minutes of prep time will give you a whole chicken that tastes better than store-bought. Not only will slow cooker chicken be delicious tonight, but you can check out this guide to stretching more meals from a rotisserie chicken, with quick-start ideas for more weeknight dinners, including soups, salads, sandwiches and more. And check out Betty’s best chicken recipes for even more ideas.