Clean Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

So, I don't know if you have ever roasted a whole chicken in the oven before, but if you have you know how the skin usually gets all nice and crispy brown?!?!?!  Well, that used to be one of my favorite results of roasting a chicken in the oven.  In the past I would have a hard time resisting eating that brown, crispy deliciousness...

However, we all know the skin is definitely not the healthiest.  So, now instead of roasting my chicken in the oven I put it in the crock pot so I am not tempted by that crispy, brown stuff.  Here is how I roasted the most recent chicken.

Oh yeah and before I forget, my next favorite part of roasting a whole chicken is all the chicken that is leftover and the options of meals to eat with it.  Talk about planning ahead...what better way?!?!?

Ingredients:
1 Whole Chicken for Roasting (I usually buy a 5-7 pound whole chicken so I can have plenty leftover)
2 tbsp. Olive Oil + a little more (in the past I used to use a lot, and when I say a lot I mean at least 1 - 1 1/2 sticks of butter)
Spices and Herbs of your choice:  This time I used dried thyme, rosemary, basil, onion powder, dried oregano powder, black pepper & salt.  You could use any variety or combination of the aforementioned spices.   Other options would be to use Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper Seasoning; Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning; Chili Powder with some Paprika, just salt & pepper, the possibilities are endless.

Directions:
- Get out your crock pot and pour a small amount (about 1 tsp.) on a paper towel and wipe the inside of your crock pot.  Or, if you have olive oil cooking spray, spray the crock pot with some olive oil cooking spray.

- Before starting prepping the chicken, in a small bowl, pour the 1-2 tbsp. Olive Oil and the combination of spices you used - excluding the salt and pepper.  Sorry I don't have exact measurements I just sprinkled the seasonings until I thought it looked and smelled like there were enough.  Mix up the olive oil and spice mixture.

- Unpack the chicken from the packaging and remove the giblets, neck and any other fun and mysterious objects located inside the cavity of the chicken (this can be kind of yucky if you don't like touching these kinds of things once in a while, unless you get lucky and the chicken you bought has them nicely wrapped in paper than it isn't so messy).

- Rinse the chicken and place it in the crock pot.  Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

- Now, you have to get your hands dirty again - work your fingers underneath the chicken breast skin of the chicken and work to separate the skin from the chicken breast.

- Once the skin is separated from the chicken breast, pour or spoon the olive oil mixture as best as you can under the skin.  Get your hands in there and rub it around and massage the oil into the skin.

- Now you are almost done, wash your hands and then sprinkle salt and pepper over the skin of the chicken.

- Put your lid on the slow cooker and set it to LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours and forget about it.

- Now go do something for yourself and have a great time knowing dinner will be ready for you in a few hours and all you have to do is pair it with a salad or other veggies, some brown rice, quinoa or a sweet potato and you have a delicious healthy meal!  ENJOY!!!

- Now take the leftovers and make some Clean Chicken Quesadillas, Clean Chicken Noodle Soup or some Savory Sweet Potato and Chicken Hash! (check back for the recipes in the very near future!)