Crock-pot Lemon Roasted Chicken
Slow Cooker Days
My favorite thing about going to potlucks is the fun fellowship. The next reason I enjoy going to potlucks is to discover other ideas, flavors and recipes that I would normally not experience. Well, I was at a potluck a few weeks ago and was introduced to roasted lemons. Yes, roasted lemons. Roasting lemons is something that I would not ever have thought to do. My friend Jen had brought Martha Stewart’s Roast Spatchcocked Lemon Chicken which was absolutely amazing, and I didn’t even eat the chicken part! I was just savoring the roasted vegetables and lemons.
This experience totally inspired me to roast my chickens in the slow cooker
and infuse them with lemons. I was absolutely AMAZED at the results. If you are a lemon-lover and have never put a couple of lemons, sliced in your chicken skins and around your chicken, drop your computer now, go get a chicken and a couple of lemons, or go to the freezer and thaw that whole chicken you got on sale. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate; go do it now)
The Verdict: The lemons make this chicken!! I don’t think I ever want to crock-pot a whole chicken without the lemons now. They are so invigorating!!
**Updated 5/15. Be careful when using the glass. I haven’t ever broken any glass in my crock-pot, but I just thought I had to say something.
The first time I made this I had the lemons at the beginning of cooking. Later when I made this, I added the lemons in the middle of cooking because I didn’t have the lemons on hand and had to procure them from the store. It’s best if you can add the lemons at the beginning of cooking because it give the lemon peels more time to break down. I know it might sound weird to some people, but you can actually eat the lemon peel because it becomes so tender. The lemons I have eaten after cooking all day are so much more amazing, and the flavor of lemon infuses the chicken. I can actually taste lemon in the shredded chicken afterward when I use the leftovers in other dishes like Taquitos or Chicken Salad.
Sometimes I add a couple of cubed potatoes. They become lemon-infused, too! Here is my chicken after an entire day of slow cooking, when I didn’t prop it up, and it is drowning in its own juices, which isn’t necessarily bad in the least. I made a broth with these strained drippings, the leftover chicken bones and added vegetable scraps. It was fabulously infused with lemon flavoring.
Amazing Crock-pot Roasted Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb. whole chicken giblets removed (yes, you can use boneless chicken breasts, but the bones give the chicken more flavor and nutrients and it is much more frugal per pound so I haven't bought boneless chicken breasts in at least a year)
- 2 lemons sliced
- optional 2-3 medium potatoes, cubed
- 1 onion sliced or diced
- 1/4 cup organic olive oil
- 2 T fresh minced garlic
- 1-2 T Italian seasonings or seasonings of choice
- dash of cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper
Instructions
-
Mix olive oil with all seasonings.
-
Prop up chicken, legs up, on some balls of foil or small glass bowls so the chicken doesn't touch the bottom of the crock-pot. This allows the chicken to turn out more like a roasted chicken with browned skin. Do not put any liquid in the bottom of the crock-pot. If you haven't crock-potted a chicken before, you'll be amazed at how much liquid comes out of the chicken due to the slow cooking.
-
Rub olive oil mixture all over the chicken and inside the skin (you can use a spoon to insert the oil mixture between the skin and the meat).
-
Place lemons all over the chicken, inside of the skin, and inside the cavity of the chicken.
-
Place/sprinkle onions all over the chicken.
-
If you are using potatoes, you may want to toss them with a tablespoon or two of olive oil, and then place them at the bottom of your slow cooker.
-
Cover, and cook on low for approximately 10 hours, or until the juices flow clearly and the legs can easily wiggle.
Have you tried Orange Ginger Chicken?
Oh, I think I’m going to make this for Easter dinner! Thanks! Just one question- would upside-down ramekins be okay to prop the chicken?!?
Hi Sabrina. Hope you enjoy! I bet the ramekins would work, but use at your own risk.
Hi Sabrina. Hope you enjoy! I bet the ramekins would work, but use at your own risk. Happy Easter!
I love the taste of lemons and integrate them to a lot of meals I prepare, so roasted lemons and chicken sounds delicious! 🙂 I will be giving this a try for sure! nice pictures! 🙂 visiting from Taters and Jello Ingrid
Hi Ingrid. If you love lemons, then you will totally love this recipe. You can even eat the lemon peel if you’d like.
I like this simple recipe! Thanks for posting!
It really is so simple, yet SO flavorful! Thanks for visiting, and you are welcome for posting it!
This looks wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing this on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday. I’ve pinned it 🙂
This sounds wonderful! I’m going to have to try it!
Hi Lexi, I bet you’ll love it. Thanks for visiting!
This looks yummy! I love cooking things in my crockpot and this will be the next dish I will make. Thanks so much for sharing this. Btw, I discovered your site via the Sew Many Ways linking party. ~~Vickie
Hi Vickie, I hope you enjoy! Thanks for visiting!
You had me at lemon and crock pot. Both are favorites! Thanks for sharing at Church Supper. Have a blessed week & come back soon.
This is a great idea! I always like finding new ways to use the crock pot to make whole food meals. Roasting a whole chicken is something I’ve done in the crock pot before, but I never thought of adding all of the lemon! I think I’ll add some garlic, too. 🙂 I found you through Simple Lives Thursday at GNOWFGLINS. I’m glad you shared!
I mean add extra garlic. 🙂
Bring on the extra garlic!! Thanks for visiting, Kristen!
I’m so glad I found this…I have tons of lemons and am always looking for new recipes to use them in. Thanks!
Hi Krissa, The lemons give an invigorating flavor to the chicken. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for visiting!
I have never made a whole anything in my life (turkey, chicken, ham) but YOU have inspired me. Off to Kroger’s I go :)…I’m thinking Sunday dinner after church :D. I’m loving your blog!
Hi Anita, I am so glad you found us. You have just blessed me with your kind words! I would love to know how it goes for you. The lemon chicken is simply divine!
🙂 I am too! I’ve been browsing around since yesterday. Thank you for taking the time to post and share, I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates it. PS-the milk jug watering can was spot-on! 😀
I love lemon and chicken together. Perfect combo! Thanks for the recipe. I love how many things you cook in the crock pot!
Hi Missy, The flavors together are really amazing!! You are welcome for the recipe. Have a great weekend!