Dwelling » Sluggish Cooker » Crockpot Entire Hen
This Crockpot Entire Hen recipe makes probably the most flavorful, juicy rotisserie fashion hen. A complete hen and greens prepare dinner collectively within the sluggish cooker for a simple but spectacular dinner!
With directions for find out how to brown sluggish cooker hen and make gravy from the drippings, plus a step-by-step recipe video.
Hen is a dinnertime staple, and relating to hen recipes, this crockpot entire hen is likely one of the greatest.
Cooking a complete hen within the crock pot is simple and the outcomes are actually scrumptious. This recipe requires easy components to make a seasoned roast hen, greens and gravy.
Add in some biscuits, yeast rolls, or garlic knots for a meal worthy of firm or a Sunday dinner at house with the household.
Table of Contents
How you can Cook dinner a Entire Hen in a Crock Pot
Here’s a fast overview of the components wanted and the steps to make the most effective crockpot entire hen. You’ll discover the complete recipe with ingredient quantities and directions within the recipe card under.
Elements
- Onion, Carrots & Potatoes: These go within the backside of the sluggish cooker, to maintain the hen out of the juices so it gained’t get soggy because it cooks. You can too use different greens reminiscent of celery, parsnips or turnips. Should you choose to not use greens you’ll be able to put a couple of foil balls underneath the hen to maintain it out of the juices. If you wish to serve your hen with mashed potatoes, you’ll be able to depart the potatoes out of the sluggish cooker.
- Entire Hen: You wish to purchase a complete hen that isn’t too giant, so it simply suits in your sluggish cooker. I used a 4 pound hen, which match completely in my 5 quart sluggish cooker. The hen needs to be contemporary or thawed, not frozen.
- Seasonings: This recipe makes use of a easy seasoning mix much like what I exploit in my Immediate Pot Entire Hen recipe. It’s scrumptious, and the paprika within the seasoning offers the hen a good looking browned look.
- Olive Oil: To rub on the hen to assist the seasonings stick.
- Lemon & Contemporary Rosemary or Thyme Sprigs: You’ll put these within the cavity to taste the hen because it cooks.
- Butter & Flour: Should you select to make a gravy with the cooking juices, you’ll want butter and flour.
How you can Make Crockpot Entire Hen
- Put one thing underneath the hen within the sluggish cooker to maintain it out of the juices because it cooks. On this recipe I exploit onion, potatoes and carrots, which make an ideal aspect dish for the meal.
- Pat the hen dry and rub it with olive oil after which the seasonings. For probably the most taste, rub some seasoning underneath the pores and skin on the breasts.
- Put half a lemon and contemporary herb sprigs within the cavity. If desired, you’ll be able to tie the legs along with kitchen twine. That is for presentation solely and won’t have an effect on how the hen cooks.
Do I Have to Add Water?
No, you don’t want so as to add water or different liquid as a result of the hen will launch some juices because it cooks. You don’t need the hen sitting in water as that may make it soggy.
How Lengthy to Cook dinner a Entire Hen within the Sluggish Cooker
I like to recommend cooking the hen in your sluggish cooker’s excessive setting in order that the hen will attain a meals secure temperature sooner. The precise prepare dinner time will depend upon the dimensions of your chicken and your explicit sluggish cooker, however needs to be about 4-5 hours on excessive.
Keep away from lifting the lid whereas the hen cooks to maintain the warmth within the crockpot. It’s alright to test the hen for doneness close to the tip of the minimal prepare dinner time. Use an on the spot learn thermometer to test if the hen is completed. It ought to register at the very least 165° F on the thickest a part of the leg, not touching the bone.
How you can Brown the Hen
You may serve the hen and greens straight out of the sluggish cooker, however I choose to brown them underneath the broiler within the oven. This helps to crisp and brown the pores and skin and caramelize the veggies.
To brown the hen, put it on a rimmed baking sheet. Prepare the greens across the hen, leaving the juices within the sluggish cooker. Broil for 4-5 minutes. Let the hen relaxation for 10 minutes to permit the juices to redistribute earlier than slicing and serving.
How you can Make Gravy with the Juices
Making hen gravy with the juices from the sluggish cooker is so easy! On the range, soften butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour after which the hen juices from the sluggish cooker. Cook dinner till thickened after which season with salt and pepper. The gravy is so good served with the hen and greens!
Can I Cook dinner a Frozen Hen within the Sluggish Cooker?
No, you shouldn’t prepare dinner a frozen hen within the sluggish cooker for meals security causes. In case your hen is frozen, let it thaw within the fridge for a couple of days earlier than cooking it within the sluggish cooker. Should you don’t have time to let it thaw within the fridge, you’ll be able to prepare dinner a complete frozen hen within the Immediate Pot.
Leftover Hen Recipes
You may retailer any leftover crock pot hen in your fridge for as much as 4 days. It makes scrumptious sandwiches, or strive certainly one of these straightforward recipes:
- Hen Salad
- Hen Taquitos
- Hen Enchiladas
- Hen Enchilada Casserole
- BBQ Hen Pizza
- Hen Florentine Pasta Bake
- Hen Pot Pie with Biscuits
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