Few dinners are as satisfying as sitting down to a beautifully cooked whole chicken—and even fewer are as easy as this 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
With just three basic ingredients and your slow cooker doing nearly all the work, you can make chicken that's tender enough to pull apart with a fork, flavorful enough for Sunday dinner, and versatile enough to turn into several meals throughout the week.
Whether you're feeding the family, preparing meals ahead of time, or simply want a comforting dinner without a lot of effort, this recipe is worth keeping close.
Why You'll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken
This recipe is all about simplicity.
- Only 3 main ingredients
- Minimal preparation
- No complicated cooking techniques
- Tender, juicy chicken
- Great for meal prep
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for busy weeknights
The slow cooker gently cooks the chicken over several hours, allowing the meat to become tender while the seasoning works its way throughout.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, about 4–5 pounds
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
That's it!
The onion soup mix provides plenty of savory seasoning, while the broth creates moisture in the slow cooker and helps keep the chicken tender.
Optional Additions
Although the recipe only needs three ingredients, you can add extras if you'd like:
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh rosemary or thyme
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Sliced onion
- Lemon wedges
- Carrots
- Celery
These additions aren't necessary, but they can give the chicken a slightly different flavor.
How to Make 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
1. Prepare the Chicken
Remove the chicken from its packaging and take out the giblets if they're included inside the cavity.
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Drying the skin helps it brown better if you decide to finish the chicken under the broiler later.
2. Season the Chicken
Sprinkle the onion soup mix over the chicken.
Rub it over the skin and, if possible, gently work some of the seasoning underneath the skin around the breast area.
Because onion soup mix can contain quite a bit of sodium, you generally don't need to add additional salt.
3. Add the Broth
