This Slow Cooked Whole Chicken and Pasta is the ultimate hands-off effortless meal for the entire family! Just slow cook the chicken and add pasta right at the end for a hearty, wholesome, delicious meal!
Right now I’m also loving to use my Crock Pot for slow cooker chicken breasts, pulled BBQ chicken in crockpot and slow cooker rump roast!
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I always buy whole chicken, organic at Costco or from my local farmer, because it is much cheaper than buying chicken parts. And once you learn how to cut a whole chicken, you will be doing it all the time.
All my boys love my grandma’s crockpot chicken noodle soup recipe and last time Alex went to Costco, he got a 2 pack of organic whole chickens. I had one left in a freezer and decided to try making slow cooker whole chicken with rosemary, lemon, garlic, and pasta.
All the magic happens right in a slow cooker. First you cook the chicken and then add pasta right at the end, just like in my crockpot chicken spaghetti.
Where Instant Pot whole chicken and Instant Pot frozen whole chicken is for times when you want that chicken on your table quickly or are running late, this slow cooker version is perfect for setting in the morning and forgetting about it until dinner time!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chicken and Pasta
- Whole chicken
- Pasta
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Salt
- Chicken broth or water
- Dried rosemary
How to Make Whole Chicken in Slow Cooker with Pasta
Here’s a quick overview how to make whole chicken in Crock-Pot.
I first rubbed chicken with lemon juice. I placed whole chicken on a plate while dressing it because plate is easier to wash than a cutting board.
Then I rubbed chicken with crushed garlic, dried rosemary and salt. Then place on top of squeezed lemon halves to prevent chicken sitting in a liquid for hours and to flavour the broth.
I tied chicken legs, which I consider an extra step, it’s optional. If you don’t, your chicken will come out wide leg spread because it will be that tender and fall off the bone. It is absolutely fine, just looks a bit different.
You don’t need to add any water because this delicious broth will appear during cooking.
Discard the lemons because they are bitter.
Now, I knew from previous experience with slow cooker chicken thighs, I will have a lot of broth. So, I decided to stretch my 2 pounds bird further and cook pasta in it. But first, let me tell you a secret to a slow cooker whole chicken with a crispy skin, that looks kinda rotisserie style.
Whole chicken cooked in a slow cooker is a chicken somewhere in between roasted and boiled. To make that skin crispy, you place chicken under the broiler for 5 minutes. Voila.
Then you add pasta to the broth and top with boiling water just enough to cover pasta.
You had a slow cooker cooking chicken all day while at work (that is when programmable slow cooker comes in handy). Then you get home and remove chicken from the slow cooker. Add pasta, cover and wait 25 minutes. Quickly broil chicken and tadah. Dinner is served.
2 cups of dry pasta was enough for 3 boys. You can add more, no problem. I didn’t because my chicken was tiny. You can use fresh rosemary. Boil water in a kettle. I always add boiling water to any recipe calling for water because it cuts back on cooking time.
That is it. Enjoy!
More Chicken Recipes to Try
- Slow cooker shredded chicken
- Chicken lemon pasta
- Instant Pot chicken pasta
- Crock pot chicken and rice
- Instant Pot chicken and potatoes
You can also browse through my entire collection of healthy chicken recipes, for more ideas!
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds whole chicken giblets removed and pat dried
- 3 tablespoons pot roast seasoning or any other
- Cooking spray I use Misto
Instructions
- Using your hands, rub seasoning all over whole chicken, going into all crevices.
- Spray sides of large slow cooker well with cooking spray. Place trivet, 5 canning jar lids or foil balls at the bottom. Place seasoned chicken breasts side up on top.
- Close the lid and cook chicken on low heat for 7-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, or until meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part, not touching the bone, registers at least 165 F.
- Using two large spoons or sturdy spatulas, carefully transfer chicken onto baking tray and broil for 4-5 minutes or until skin is golden brown.
- Serve hot with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Store: In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: In a freezer safe bag up to 3 months, thaw before using.
- Low heat: For food safety, if cooking chicken on low heat, be sure to cook it for at least 1 hour on high heat at any point.
If I have the chicken broth liquid mixture in a instant pot can I use it the same as I would in the slow cooker for making the pasta like keeping it on the warm feature for 25 minutes? Or is it pretty much just for slow cooker?
Yes you can, for sure. Might be even less than 25 mins. Check and see.
Tasty.
That was just a perfect recepe for tonight dinner!!!The chicken was very juicy and tender! Just instead of pasta I cooked brown rice. Thank you!
You are welcome.:)
Do you think I could use gluten free pasta instead of whole wheat?
For sure.