Mastering Your Slow Cooker: Effortless Roasted Chicken & Nutrient-Rich Homemade Bone Broth
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Get ready for a culinary treat, because today, we’re not just offering one incredible recipe, but two for the price of… well, free! These aren’t just any recipes; they represent one of my essential weekly “real food chores” that makes healthy eating incredibly simple, even for the busiest schedules. If you’ve ever struggled to incorporate wholesome, real food into your diet due to time constraints, this is your game-changer. Both recipes combined require only about 15 minutes of active preparation, with your trusty slow cooker doing all the heavy lifting. This truly makes eating real food a breeze, proving there’s no excuse for not nourishing your body with delicious, home-cooked meals.
A few weeks ago, I shared 5 Real Food Time Saving Tips, and these slow cooker chicken and broth recipes are a perfect embodiment of those principles. They transform a seemingly complex task into an effortless routine, providing you with flavorful, tender chicken and nutrient-dense broth that can be used in countless other dishes throughout your week. Say goodbye to store-bought, additive-filled alternatives and embrace the simplicity and health benefits of homemade.
Crock Pot “Roasted” Chicken
Prepare to be amazed by how easily you can achieve a “roasted” chicken texture and flavor in your slow cooker. This method guarantees juicy, tender meat that effortlessly falls off the bone, perfect for a stand-alone meal or as a versatile base for future recipes. The beauty of this recipe lies in its minimal effort and maximum reward, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend cooking.
“Roasted” Crock Pot Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 raw whole chicken preferably organic and free range, approximately 3-4 lbs
- Half of a medium onion, diced
- 2-3 carrots, roughly chopped
- 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, halved or smashed
- Dried Herbs and Spices I typically use about 1/4 tsp each of dried rosemary, oregano, parsley, and thyme, or your favorite poultry blend.
- Sea salt or kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
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Begin by preparing your aromatic vegetables. Roughly chop the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic. These vegetables will not only infuse flavor into the chicken but also create a natural “rack” to elevate the chicken slightly from the bottom of the slow cooker, preventing it from sitting directly in juices and enhancing the “roasted” effect. Place these chopped vegetables evenly at the bottom of your crock pot.
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Next, prepare your whole raw chicken. Ensure it’s clean and patted dry. Place the chicken directly on top of the bed of vegetables in the slow cooker. Season the chicken generously all over with your chosen dried herbs (rosemary, oregano, parsley, thyme are excellent choices), salt, and pepper. Don’t be shy with the seasoning, as it will deeply penetrate the meat during the long cooking process.
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Cover your crock pot with the lid and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. Cooking times can vary based on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken, so monitor for doneness. The chicken is perfectly cooked when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) reads 165°F (74°C). The meat should be incredibly tender and easily pull away from the bone.
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Once the chicken is fully cooked, carefully remove it from the crock pot and allow it to cool for a few minutes until it’s comfortable enough to handle. This short resting period allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more succulent chicken. Then, meticulously take all the meat off the bones, shredding or dicing it as desired. Save those bones and any remaining skin and juices! They are gold for our next recipe. Place the bones and any leftover cooked vegetables and liquid back into the crock pot to transition directly into making a homemade, nutrient-rich chicken stock.
Nutrition
Maximize Your Meal Prep: Uses for Cooked Crock Pot Chicken
The beauty of making a whole roasted chicken in the crock pot extends far beyond just one meal. Once you’ve cooked and deboned it, you’re left with a generous amount of incredibly tender, flavorful chicken that can be used in a multitude of “super quick recipes” throughout the week. This makes meal prep a breeze and ensures you always have a healthy protein source on hand, cutting down on cooking time when you need it most.
Quick Dinner Ideas with Shredded Crock Pot Chicken:
- Tacos and Burritos: Simply warm the shredded chicken with a sprinkle of taco seasoning and serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings like salsa, guacamole, and cheese.
- Salads: Toss cooled shredded chicken into a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette for a refreshing and satisfying lunch or dinner. It’s also fantastic in a chicken Caesar salad.
- Sandwiches and Wraps: Mix the chicken with a little mayonnaise, celery, and herbs for an easy chicken salad sandwich, or wrap it up with some hummus and veggies in a whole wheat tortilla.
- Casseroles: The pre-cooked chicken reduces casserole prep time significantly. Think creamy chicken and rice casserole, or a comforting chicken pot pie filling.
- Pasta Dishes: Stir the shredded chicken into a warm pasta dish with a light cream sauce or pesto, along with some seasonal vegetables.
- Soups: As we’ll see with the broth, this chicken is a natural fit for quick soups. Add it to a simple vegetable soup, noodle soup, or a hearty chili for added protein and depth of flavor.
- Quesadillas: Layer shredded chicken with cheese between two tortillas and cook until golden brown for a quick and satisfying meal.
Having this versatile, pre-cooked chicken on hand is a true gift to your busy self. It reduces decision fatigue and allows you to create healthy, delicious meals in minutes rather than hours. Stay tuned, as I’m always experimenting with new ways to utilize this staple, and I hope to share even more of these time-saving recipes with you very soon!
Homemade Chicken Broth
After enjoying your delicious crock pot “roasted” chicken, don’t let those valuable bones go to waste! Transitioning directly into making homemade chicken broth is one of the smartest and most economical things you can do for your kitchen and your health. Store-bought broths, even organic ones, often contain added sugars, excessive sodium, and artificial flavors. By making your own, you control the ingredients, ensuring a pure, nutrient-dense liquid gold that’s packed with flavor and health benefits.
Homemade chicken broth, or bone broth, is a powerhouse of nutrients. It’s rich in collagen, amino acids like glycine and proline, and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. These elements are fantastic for gut health, joint support, skin elasticity, and boosting the immune system. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make with virtually no active prep time, especially when you’re already using the bones from your slow-cooked chicken. This process is not just about saving money; it’s about investing in your health and maximizing every bit of your food.
Homemade Crock Pot Chicken Broth
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Ingredients
- 1 set of Chicken bones from at least 1 chicken (preferably organic and pasture-raised for best nutrition, including carcass, neck, and feet if available)
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, roughly chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, halved or smashed
- 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar (helps extract minerals from the bones)
- Approximately 4 quarts of cold filtered water (or enough to cover ingredients)
- Salt and Pepper to taste (optional)
- Additional Herbs like a bay leaf or 1 tsp whole peppercorns (optional)
Instructions
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Begin by placing the chicken bones (from your recently cooked chicken, or raw bones), along with the roughly chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into your slow cooker. Ensure all ingredients fit comfortably. Pour in approximately 4 quarts of cold filtered water, or enough to fully submerge the bones and vegetables. Adding cold water helps with the extraction of impurities and nutrients.
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Next, add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This is a crucial step as the acidity of the vinegar helps to draw out valuable minerals, collagen, and gelatin from the bones, making your broth more nutritious. If desired, add a bay leaf and a teaspoon of whole peppercorns for additional flavor, and season lightly with salt and pepper (you can always adjust seasoning later).
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Cover the crock pot and cook on low for a minimum of 8 hours, and ideally up to 24 hours. The longer the broth simmers, the more nutrients and flavor will be extracted from the bones, resulting in a richer, more gelatinous broth.
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During the first 1-2 hours of simmering, you may notice a layer of “scum” (impurities) rising to the surface. Use a spoon or a fine-mesh skimmer to carefully remove and discard this scum. This step helps to ensure a clearer, cleaner-tasting broth.
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Once the cooking time is complete, turn off the slow cooker and allow the broth to cool significantly within the pot. This is important for safety and to prevent any container from cracking. Once cooled enough to handle, carefully strain the broth. You can use a fine-mesh sieve to remove the larger solids (bones and vegetables), and for an even clearer broth, you can line the sieve with cheesecloth. Discard all solids.
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Pour the strained homemade chicken broth into airtight jars, containers, or even ice cube trays for smaller portions. Allow it to cool completely before sealing and storing. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer for several months. Freezing in individual portions is excellent for quick access to exactly what you need for future recipes.
Notes
Nutrition
See wasn’t that easy? And you got two recipes for one, effectively maximizing your ingredients and minimizing waste! I consistently use this rich, homemade stock to make quick, comforting soups, enhance the depth of flavor in various sauces, or even cook grains like rice or quinoa in it for an added nutritional boost. Beyond its incredible flavor, homemade chicken broth is incredibly healthy for you!
Your body will truly thank you for this nutrient-dense elixir. The collagen, gelatin, and amino acids found in properly made bone broth are known to support gut health, reduce inflammation, strengthen joints, and even improve skin and hair. It’s an ancient remedy recognized for its healing properties, easily brought into your modern kitchen with the help of your slow cooker.
By integrating this two-part process into your weekly routine, you’ll discover how simple and rewarding it can be to consistently prepare nourishing, real food meals. It’s an efficient way to stock your fridge and freezer with foundational ingredients that will empower you to create quick, wholesome dishes all week long, without relying on processed alternatives.
What is your favorite way to use homemade stock? Share your ideas in the comments below!