CrockPot Whole Chicken or Turkey Breast Recipe
This super easy Crockpot Slow Cooker Whole Chicken or Turkey Breast recipe is the juiciest, most flavorful dish you’ll ever have!
NOTE: This recipe works for a whole chicken OR turkey breast!
Holiday Turkey Breast
Last week, I posted a pic on Instagram of a slow cooker (need a new slow cooker?) turkey breast that I made for Thanksgiving and THE INTERWEBS WENT WILD.
This is, by far, the juiciest turkey that I’ve ever had. To be honest, I’m not usually a big turkey fan because it’s so often dry and flavorless, but this one? SO MUCH FLAVOR AND TENDERNESS.
Why Turkey Breast is Better Than a Whole Turkey
Picking a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals has a bunch of good points.
- Fast Cooking: Turkey breasts cook quicker than whole turkeys. This is great, especially when time is tight during the busy holiday season.
- Even Cooking: Turkey breasts cook more evenly. You won’t struggle as much to get both dark and white meat just right since turkey breasts are mostly white meat.
- Just the Right Size: If you’re having a smaller group or want a more manageable amount, a turkey breast is perfect. You still get the traditional holiday dish without dealing with too much food.
- Easy to Handle: Dealing with a turkey breast is easier than a whole turkey. It takes up less space in the oven, making it simpler to manage side dishes and cooking times.
- Can Mix Things Up: A turkey breast lets you try different seasonings, marinades, or stuffing options. You can create a unique holiday meal that suits your taste.
- Not Too Many Leftovers: While leftovers can be nice, not everyone likes dealing with a ton of them. A turkey breast gives you a more moderate amount of leftovers, so you’re not stuck with too much extra food.
In the end, going for a turkey breast for your Thanksgiving and Christmas meals is a practical choice that fits your preferences, time, and the size of your gathering. It lets you enjoy the holiday meal without the extra fuss of handling a whole turkey.
Crockpot Whole Chicken
I just knew that I had to try it again, but this time on a whole chicken. I assumed that it would perform the same as the turkey, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Would it create its own juice as before? Would it be just as flavorful and tender?
The answer was YES! It was absolutely delicious.
This chicken (or turkey) is the easiest and most delicious one that I have ever made. I seriously could not get over how yummy it was and the amount of juice that was created without any addition. Another bonus was that it created a ton of leftovers for chicken salad, shredded chicken tacos, and the most savory juice for gravy!
Okay, let’s just get on the recipe, shall we? 🙂
Crockpot Whole Chicken or Turkey Breast Recipe
CrockPot Whole Chicken or Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 5-8 lbs bone-in one whole chicken or turkey breast thawed
- medium yellow onion
- head of garlic
- 1 tsp dried rosemary or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp dried thyme or 5 sprigs of thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- drizzle of olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice yellow onion into fours and halve garlic head, then place them on the bottom of slow cooker.
- Remove any bags of gizzards, etc. from inside of the chicken/turkey. Rinse chicken/turkey under water, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Mix all dried spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle all around the chicken/turkey (top, bottom, and sides). Place chicken on top of onion and garlic in slow cooker. Add fresh spices (optional if you do/don't have dried spices).
- Drizzle a bit of olive oil on top of the chicken, then cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (for a 6 lb chicken or breast). You can also check the turkey breast packaging for recommendations on length of slow cooker time if you have a bigger size.note: The vegetables and chicken/turkey will create its own juices as it slow cooks, but feel free to add a tiny bit of stock if you like (I've never had to).
- Using a meat themometer, check for thorough cooking of chicken/turkey before removing from slow cooker. Slice right before serving for the best tenderness and flavor! Enjoy!
Video
Friends, make this chicken or turkey soon. You will be so impressed and never use the baking method again, I promise! Need a new slow cooker? CLICK HERE!
Also, if you like this recipe, please pin the image below. Thanks for reading!
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For 16 years, I have been the creator & full-time blogger of Mom Spark. I’ve also created content for numerous outlets such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, & Huff Post.
102 Comments on “CrockPot Whole Chicken or Turkey Breast Recipe”
I just bought a whole chicken yesterday. I was going to bake it, but now I’m going to try this. Thanks for the recipe!
Yes, you must! Let me know how it turns out!
This looks so delicious and nutritious and easy, I made a grocery list and can’t wait to try it. Thanks.
Let me know how it goes!
I’m sure this is delicious and tender, I have a very similar recipe that I have used previously!
What weight chicken did you use?
what weight chicken did you use and did it come out moist and not dried out?
I didn’t check, but I believe it was around 6 pounds. Not dried at all. Super moist, which is why I prefer this method over baking.
Can you use a 9 pound chicken
You can if it fits into the slow cooker nicely. You may need to cook longer than 6-8 hours. I’d experiment and just check it after 6 hours to see if it seems tender enough.
Can I add lemon slices to the veggies under the chicken and can I add lemon wedges inside the chicken cavity?
You can certainly try it, but I personally found it too bitter.
I loved the look of this so am making it for dinner :-). My chicken is only 3.8 pounds – do I need to worry about it drying out if I leave it in 6-8 hours? Thanks so much!
I would check on it after 4 hours or so to see! It may be ready to serve or could use more time to tender up. 🙂
And this will brown as pictured?
If you add the spices and olive oil as the recipe describes, yes!
Thanks for the suggestion of watching it after 4 hours! For those with smaller chickens, 5 hours cooked a 3.8 chicken on low 🙂 It was DELICIOUS!
Oh, yay! So good to hear!
do you recommend breast side up or down?
I don’t have a preference. I’ve done it both ways with the same results. Both sides are juicy!
Can you put the whole chicken in frozen?
Readers have told me that they have with success, so I know it’s possible! I’m not sure if the spices will stick as well, but you can certainly try! You would need to cook longer, of course. Good luck!
make sure you take the bag containing the liver, gizzard, heart and neck out of the inside then rinse it out—they sometimes do not do a good job on chickens and turkeys.
Yes, I’ll make sure to add that!
You put the vegetables in the crock pot with the skin on them?
I left the skin on. 🙂
Have you made it without the skins of the vegetables? I have never seen leaving the skins on.
Making this now…actually, the crockpot is doing all the work. House smells good. Didn’t have any lemon pepper, so I threw a little lemon juice on the chicken.
Even if you don’t have all the spices, it will still taste yummy! I hope you have the best dinner!
I threw the chicken in the pot, following directions. Worked at the computer all day while the house was filled with the rich aromas of onion and garlic infusing the bird. Eight hours later, chicken was cooked perfectly, i.e., moist and tender and full of flavor. This recipe is a keeper for the long winter days sure to come. Thanks.
I’m so happy to hear it! It’s one of the easiest dinners to put together!
For those wondering about leaving the skin of onion and garlic on: those vegetables will be discarded anyway if you decide to strain the juices for making gravy.
Yes, exactly!
I’m having some trouble emailing recipe to a friend. H-E-L-P! 🙂
Hi there! It may be easier to copy the link and email that to her. The link is: https://momspark.net/the-easiest-slow-cooker-crock-pot-whole-chicken-recipe/
What if you add potatoes and carrots for a whole meal in one?
I haven’t tried it yet, but I have been toying with the idea myself. I think it would be an awesome meal!
I made this today for our dinner tonight. It was delicious. The hardest part of the whole recipe is the cooking time. My chicken was 4.9 lbs and I went with 6 hours. It was just a little over cooked and I should have checked it sooner. Even my youngest one (14 months) loved it.
Ahhhh, yes, yours was a bit smaller than mine. It will take some practice, but it sounds like you have a good plan.
I have used the crock pot method and never thought to use onion and garlic and olive oil. I will be trying this tomorrow morning.
Good luck!
How do you get it to brown? We did exactly what the recipe said. Cooked it for 8 hours in the slow cooker. It was juicy and tasty but when it was done it was the same color as it was when it went in.
The spices and drizzle of olive oil. 🙂
Making it now. Just put it in a little while ago. Hardest part is waiting to eat it. Thanks for the recipe. I pinned it on Pinterest.
Oh yay! Thanks so much for pinning, too! It will fill your house with the most delicious smells!
Yes, this was tender, but the chicken lacked flavor. Maybe I should have taken off the skin first since nobody eats skin here. ?
Oh really? Did you add the spices in the amounts I mentioned? Also, were you able to add any fresh herbs? That surprises me because mine always has a ton of flavor.
Made this yesterday using a 3 # chicken and cooking for 5 hours on low. The aroma was wonderful, however, next time I will use less garlic (used whole head and only half stayed unpeeled the rest broke apart-peeled but threw it in anyway–whole head much to much for my taste. The chicken was very moist and tender.
Yup, it’s all trial and error to our personal taste. Glad it worked out for you!
Mine is 4.79 pounds should I cook it for 6 hours or what?
Another reader did 6 hours for a 4 pound. I would check it after 5 hours and go from there. 🙂
Ok thanks so much. 🙂
Why is the chicken cooked upside down. I have always done it breast side up.
Feel free to do as you always do. No rules on crockpot cooking, I always say.
I made this yesterday! I put a 4lb chicken (give or take) on low at 7am, went to work, got home around 4pm, switched the cooker to warm, and left the chicken in the slow cooker until my gf got home at 7:30pm. The chicken was soooo good, moist, fell right off the bone making it incredibly easy to debone afterword. Thanks for the Video, i’d been wanting to do this for some time, but this video put me over the edge. This is a reat way to clean eat and make your house smell incredible. Oh yeah, and it doesn’t get much easier than this. Prepped in about 5mins.
I’m so happy to hear this!! It sounds like it was a huge success! Isn’t it the easiest dinner ever? Pair with veggies, rice or potatoes and you have one easy meal! I use the leftovers for shredded chicken tacos or chicken salad!
It was amazing!!!!!! Flavor was awesome!!!!! Next time I fix it I will do different spices just to switch it up. Thanks again for the amazingly good recipe!!!!!
Yay!!! Yes, you could absolutely change up the spices! So happy to hear that it worked out for you. 🙂
Smells delicious. Can’t wait to eat it.
I’m making this recipe for the second time in less than a month. My husband said it’s the most tender, moist chicken he has ever had. I have to agree. The flavoir is amazing. The last time I strained the liquid & put in the freezer. It will be great to use in soup!
I’m so happy that you both loved the recipe so much! I plan on making it tomorrow for my family as well. 🙂
Great idea on the liquid for soup!
Sounds great!!! How do you think it would do with turkey thighs? How long would you cook?
I’ve never tried turkey thighs, but I would think that it would work beautifully! I wouldn’t think you’d need to cook them nearly as long, perhaps check after 3-4 hours?
I placed the garlic and the onion in the cavity of the chicken. The recipe was good.
That’s a great idea! I’m so glad to hear that it turned out yummy. 🙂
What kind of chicken? Is it a baking chicken? Sorry, feel so stupid!
No worries! It’s just a raw whole chicken. 🙂
Looking forward to trying this meal. It is in the slow cooker now, ready at 17.30. It is a 4.5lb chicken but I will leave it for the full 8 hours for beautiful pulled chicken. The juices will make a lovely gravy to compliment the chicken. Can’t wait, thank you so much
Fabulous!
I can’t wait to try this dish, looks so easy and tasty!!
Can’t wait to try it, looks easy and delicious!
Very impressive and simple recipe! I think what impressed me most is that the skin was browned quite well. Although I have been cooking various meats in my crock pots for years, I don’t recall getting this much browning, but I am going to try this recipe. Thanks.
Just a bit puzzled–did you throw the onion & garlic away? It’s not peeled or anything in your video, so what do you do with it? I hate to waste anything “food”, so I’ll probably peel them tomorrow before the cooking…just curious.
I usually toss the garlic and onion, but you could totally peel it and keep it for a sauce, gravy, or anything you like. 🙂
OK I am actually making it for dinner tonight. Currently in my crackpot. Yumm…I didn’t do the onions as I am allergic. But I did all the spices and the garlic with a can of chicken broth. I can’t wait to try it.
I hope it turned out yummy!!!
The amount of liquid from a cooked chicken might not be what you think. Sometimes I can get good sales on chicken and I cook it up for my dogs (more healthful for them and cheaper than premium not healthy dog food). I don’t add anything at all, no seasoning, no water, nothing. I usually slow cook. When the chicken is done there is a huge amount of liquid too. Chicken is packaged after being injected with whatever it is. Look on the package for sodium content. One time I was going to get a frozen turkey. The package said 480 mg of sodium per serving! This cannot be healthy for man nor beast. And I have tried, there is no way to get chicken in a grocery store without all these sodium injections.
I place baby carrots , a few small red potatoes and sliced onion on the bottom of crock, place chicken on top of veggies. Meal in a pot !
Yum!
I made this yesterday with a 6 pound chicken, cooked it 8 hours. It was perfect and delicious.
Fabulous news! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
I’ve made this 3 times now, the first time with a whole chicken and the last 2 with chicken breasts. Fresh rosemary & thyme from the garden. Delicious every time!! This is one of my all=time favorite recipes.
I love hearing this! Thanks so much for sharing it. 🙂
Sooo- did you put it under the oven broaster to get the skin crispy?
Nope! The olive oil makes the skin crispy on top just like the photo shows. 🙂
My chicken didn’t come out brown on top. Any suggestions?
Hmmmm, did you drizzle olive oil on top?
i love this recipe i have made it several times it’s quick and easy comes out so tender but i didn’t use the onion and garlic i took 4-5 sheets of foil waded them up and put in the bottom of the crockpot laid the chicken on top it came out great ..
This looks wonderful, but what size chicken is it?
I’m going to try this for Sunday dinner tomorrow. Looks delicious! I’ll let you know how it goes.
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How big of a turkey can be used, need to feed 10 to 12 and how much time would i then need?
I am going to try this Sunday when my son comes for dinner. Looks absolutely delicious. Thanks
When the insta pot is set to slow cook do we vent?
Thank you.
Ps
It’s in the pot now. Looking forward to the meal
and the skin browns as in the picture?
and skin browns as in picture?
You can leave the garlic, onion and juices in the crockpot, throw the bones back in with some veggies, fill with water, set to low and in the morning you’ll have wonderful broth.
I peal garlic cloves and make a few pockets under the skin,it adds a great flavor,and no it’s not strong,so soft and mild to make gravy,add your favorite thickener for gravy,I use potato flour and that adds more flavor
Great idea, thanks!
I am doing WW. In order for me to figure out the points, I need the caloric, protein etc….. info. Do you know if that info is available?
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A thumbs down chicken did not brown even after 7 hours of cooking. I do not recommend.