Garlic and Dijon Slow Cooker Chicken

Tender garlic and dijon slow cooked chicken, finished off under the broiler to create the perfect crisp skin.

Garlic and Dijon Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

Did you hear that 24 is coming back for another run?! 12 episodes next May. I know it’s week old news but I’m still excited about it. I’m looking forward to getting wrapped up in the saga of Jack Bauer all over again. It’s kind of torturous to watch a single episode at a time. I guess that’s why when we first started watching the show, we were lucky it was on DVD and got to watch several episodes at a time. Whenever a disc arrived, we knew what our Saturday or Sunday plans were going to be. Sit down and watch Jack Bauer save the day. Because he always did. You expect that of him. Failing isn’t an option.

It’s that time of year when shows are getting axed for next season. Not a big deal this year for me. I’m pretty sure last year there were a few that annoyed me. The only one that really stood out to me this year was Last Resort. It wasn’t our favorite show by a mile but we enjoyed watching it. I suppose it didn’t really have much left that could be done but who knows.

I’ll be sad when other shows end. Like next year How I Met Your Mother is ending. And they just revealed who Ted’s wife and mother of his future children will be. They’ve only been taunting us with that for seemingly ever – right?

Do you have a favorite show or shows? Did it make the cut?

Garlic and Dijon Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

So this chicken… have you ever roasted a chicken? It’s super easy, but I made it easier. I took the concept from Julie and threw it (not literally) into a slow cooker and let that baby do all of the work for me. Okay… most of the work. Just a bit of seasoning and then the slow cooker does 95% of the cooking. It’s finished off in the oven, broiling the skin to a beautiful deep golden color. Crisp skin is basically a must when we’re talking about chickens.

The result is a tender and flavorful chicken with perfectly crisp skin. I love this method and will stick to it in the future because it gives absolutely perfect results. Plus, you can’t beat making a chicken while you’re at work, out shopping or even doing something anything other than cooking and monitoring the oven. The majority of the country is heating up, so why have your oven heat up the house for over an hour when you can use your slow cooker?

Don’t save roast chickens for cool weather months. Enjoy them year round with this simple recipe and method!

Perfect compliments to this recipe:
Sausage and red pepper stuffed mushrooms
Spicy stuffed mushrooms
Parmesan and onion dinner rolls
Garlic knots
Clover rolls
Parmesan roasted potatoes
Parmesan scalloped potato stacks
Potatoes au gratin
Creamy garlic mashed potatoes

Garlic and Dijon Slow Cooker Chicken

Tender garlic and dijon slow cooked chicken, finished off under the broiler to create the perfect crisp skin.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours 10 minutes
Total Time4 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4.5 lb whole chicken
  • 1 medium onion
  • 4 celery stalks
  • 5 carrots
  • 1 lemon
  • 5 garlic cloves divided
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Create a bed of carrots and celery stalks in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl.
  • Prepare chicken: remove neck and giblets, discard. Rinse inside and out well, pat dry. Sprinkle inside with salt and pepper. Add a quartered lemon, onion and 3 smashed cloves of garlic. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Place chicken on a bed of carrots and lettuce.
  • In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, Dijon mustard, 2 cloves garlic minced, salt and pepper. Cover the outside of the chicken and under skin with the Dijon paste. Place chicken in slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
  • Carefully transfer to a broiler safe pan. Broil for 5-8 minutes or until sufficiently browned, but not burnt. Check temperature of breast meat to ensure it reaches at least 165°F. If needed, cover chicken with foil, reduce oven temperature to 350*F and continue cooking until internal temperature rises.
  • Allow chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before carving. Enjoy immediately or store in a covered container, chilled for up to several days.

Notes

An original recipe from Baked by Rachel
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47 Responses to “Garlic and Dijon Slow Cooker Chicken”

  1. #
    1
    Liz @ The Lemon Bowl — May 20, 2013 at 8:01 am

    This is brilliant! The other day I was at a friends house and she had two whole chickens in crockpots – one to eat, one for stock. It was a lightbulb because embarassingly I’ve never put a whole chicken in a crock pot! That needs to change. And you need to eat a sweet potato..

    • #
      1.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm

      Ha! I promise I’ll try one this year. :)

  2. #
    2
    Tieghan — May 20, 2013 at 8:12 am

    What an awesome idea and it i perfect for the warmer since you dont have to heat up the oven!

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      2.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm

      Exactly!

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    3
    amanda @ fake ginger — May 20, 2013 at 8:53 am

    Love roasted chicken! never done it in the slow cooker though because I was worried the skin would be soggy. gonna try it soon!

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      3.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:27 pm

      The key to the skin is roasting it in the oven after, otherwise it probably wouldn’t be as desirable to eat.

  4. #
    4
    Erin|The Law Student's Wife — May 20, 2013 at 9:14 am

    Slow cooker = personal chef. This is gorgeous, and I love garlic-dijon flavor combo. Lovely Rachel!

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      4.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:28 pm

      Thanks, Erin!

  5. #
    5
    Leah | So, How's It Taste? — May 20, 2013 at 9:55 am

    I love this idea of letting the slow cooker do the work for you. Your pictures look mouth-watering!

    • #
      5.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks, Leah!

  6. #
    6
    Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking — May 20, 2013 at 10:25 am

    This looks so mouthwatering, Rachel! I’ve never made a whole chicken in a slow cooker but yours looks perfect. You definitely inspired me!

  7. #
    7
    Marie @ Little Kitchie — May 20, 2013 at 11:39 am

    Can’t ever get enough good slow cooker recipes! Garlic and dijon are two of my favorite flavors, so I will definitely be trying this! Pinning!

  8. #
    8
    Courtney @ BakeMeBetter — May 20, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    I like that this is a slow cooker recipe. How was the blogging conference?

  9. #
    9
    sally @ sallys baking addiction — May 20, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    I will be heartbroken when How I Met Your Mother Ends. :( Literally, heart broken. Never knew I would care about a TV show this much!! PS: I’m always looking for hew chicken recipes! Saving this one.

    • #
      9.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      It’s kind of the newer Friends in a way so definitely sad to see it go. Hopefully there’s another good replacement when it’s over.

  10. #
    10
    Rachel Cooks — May 20, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    This sounds fantastic!

  11. #
    11
    Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry — May 20, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    MMM I love roasted chicken but I have never thought about cooking it in the slow cooker. Awesome recipe.

  12. #
    12
    claire @ the realistic nutritionist — May 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    That is one sexy chicken!

    • #
      12.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      Ha! I always love your comments.

  13. #
    13
    nessa — May 20, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    My brother is so excited that 24 is coming back! The chicken looks just great!

    • #
      13.1
      Rachel — May 20, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      Thanks, Nessa!

  14. #
    14
    Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen — May 21, 2013 at 10:03 am

    I am super excited about 24!! I am a crazy Jack Bauer fan!

  15. #
    15
    Tracey — May 21, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    I’m so crazy excited about the return of 24. We were completely obsessed with it when it was on. Anyway, the chicken looks fantastic – I love that you crisped up the skin at the end. YUM!

  16. #
    16
    natalie@thesweetslife — May 21, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    i’ve never done chicken in the slow cooker (a whole one) but I have wanted to try—this sounds like the perfect recipe!

  17. #
    17
    steph@stephsbitebybite — May 22, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Love whole chickens for dinner, nothing is more homey and more easy!

  18. #
    18
    Megan {Country Cleaver} — May 22, 2013 at 10:52 am

    I haven’t watched any of HIMYM this last season – I kinda gave up after it was SEVEN seasons in an we hadn’t met the mother yet… ugh. I was terrified my favorite show Scandal wasn’t going to make the cut, but it did. Whew!!
    And this chicken totally makes the cut, it’s gorgeous!

    • #
      18.1
      Rachel — May 22, 2013 at 7:19 pm

      Funny you hung in there for so long and finally gave up. Then again that’s me with Grey’s!

  19. #
    19
    PapaLos - The Man, The Chef, The Dad — May 22, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    I’ve never done a chicken in the slow cooker before! What is wrong with me? Sounds and looks amazing and I could only imagine how juicy it is.

    And as for 24… ha.. I can’t even mention 24 without smiling, I’m such a dork. I’m sad that it’s only for 12 episodes and it kind of makes me scratch my head, but I am such a nut for that show it’s not even funny. So intense. And i was the same with with the wife – we marathoned it like the security of the United States depended on it. Can’t wait!

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      19.1
      Rachel — May 22, 2013 at 7:19 pm

      It’s so easy! Definitely a must try.

  20. #
    20
    ashley - baker by nature — May 22, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    This post has me ready to buy a slow cooker once and for all!!! Gorgeous bird!!

    • #
      20.1
      Rachel — May 22, 2013 at 7:20 pm

      They’re a must have small appliance in my book. ;)

  21. #
    21
    Carla @ Carlas Confections — May 22, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    I have never thought to put an entire bird in the crockpot. I need to change that. If only I could eat the whole thing and call it part of the detox week ;)

    • #
      21.1
      Rachel — May 22, 2013 at 7:20 pm

      omg I bet you totally could. I mean it’s meat… not sugar ;) I already failed at the detox but not going crazy. Maybe once I get my butt to whole foods I’ll be able to really try a detox.

  22. #
    22
    Kelly @ Mostly Homemade Mom — May 22, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    I think I may be one of the 5 people on the planet that hasn’t watched 24… maybe I need to start on Netflix. But I will definitely miss How I Met Your Mother when it’s done next year!! LOVE this chicken, mouthwatering!

    • #
      22.1
      Rachel — May 22, 2013 at 7:21 pm

      Oh my gosh!! You must start watching asap so you can get to know Jack Bauer in his full glory and prepare for the final run.

  23. #
    23
    Julie @ Table for Two — May 22, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    i love that you can throw this entire chicken into the slow cooker & walk away and come back to a crazy good looking chicken. i bet your house smelled amazing! so good seeing you this past weekend – i really miss you and us gabbing and just laughing!

    • #
      23.1
      Rachel — May 23, 2013 at 7:44 am

      Miss you guys too!! And yes, it smelled amazing! The torture of a slow cooker ;)

  24. #
    24
    katie — May 22, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    This chicken looks so good! When I saw Julie’s post earlier this year I thought it was brilliant. I need to give this method a try!

  25. #
    25
    Angie — May 23, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I still haven’t made a slow cooker chicken, now I just have to this weekend, yummy!

  26. #
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    Nutmeg Nanny — May 24, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    This chicken looks perfect! I love using my slow cooker :)

  27. #
    27
    JulieD — May 26, 2013 at 11:18 am

    I can’t bring myself to roast a chicken in the oven anymore bc of this! So glad you like it too!! :) I love your version!!!

    • #
      27.1
      Rachel — May 27, 2013 at 7:48 am

      I have a feeling I’ll never go back to 100% oven roasted again! :)

  28. #
    28
    Arleta (@Arleta_W) — February 12, 2014 at 6:55 am

    Great variation. Thanks for sharing.

  29. #
    29
    Sharon — August 31, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Sounds wonderful! Question, can I cook it on low for 8 he’s? Will it make a difference?

    • #
      29.1
      Rachel — September 1, 2014 at 8:01 pm

      I haven’t personally tried it on the low setting. But, typically you can do either or and just adjust the time accordingly. Be sure to watch it at the end and check the temperature to make sure it’s properly cooked. Enjoy!

  30. #
    30
    therese — October 12, 2014 at 8:00 am

    SOUNDS WONDERFUL! DO YOU ADD WATER TO THE CROCKPOT?

    • #
      30.1
      Rachel — October 12, 2014 at 8:12 am

      No water is added. Follow the directions exactly. Enjoy!

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