A Writer’s Got To Eat: Busy Mom’s Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

This slow cooker rotisserie chicken is the perfect solution for wholesome goodness on a busy school night. Pair it with rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, your family’s favorite veggie or a tossed salad.

Busy Mom’s Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

Prep time: 5 minutes; Cook time: 8 hours

1 whole chicken (neck and giblets removed from cavity)
1/4 c. Olive oil or melted butter
2 tsp. (approx.) Herbs/seasonings of choice
1 Onion cut up in quarters
1 Apple/orange/lemon cut up in wedges (no need to peel), sprig of rosemary or thyme (optional)
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Aluminum foil

Directions:

1.) Roll up three to four balls of foil depending and place on the bottom of the crockpot.

2.) Stuff the chicken with quartered onion and apples or oranges/lemons, sprig of rosemary or thyme if have it. You could also squeeze the oranges or lemons over the chicken before stuffing into the cavity. This step can be skipped completely if you don’t have anything on hand to stuff the chicken with.

3.) Place the chicken on the balls of foil, which will allow the fat to drip down.

4.) Mix the olive oil with your favorite herbs and/or seasonings like lemon pepper, herbs de provence or rosemary and garlic, etc.

5.) Baste the chicken with the olive oil and herb mixture.

6.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

7.) Cover and set the slow cooker to low. Cook for eight hours.

*If you have leftover chicken, pack and freeze it for other meals like chicken noodle soup or quesadillas.

**Make a chicken broth out of the bones. Remove the foil and cover the chicken bones with water. Throw in any leftover vegetable scraps like onion skins, celery tops, carrot tops/peels, etc. Re-set the crockpot to cook overnight on low. In the morning, strain the broth out through a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer. Refrigerate for a few hours. Skim the fat off the top and then freeze the broth in smaller containers or in an ice-cube tray for future uses in soups and other recipes.

Christa Melnyk Hines is a freelance journalist, family communication expert and author. Through her books, articles, blog and newsletter she inspires today’s busy families to grow happier and stronger through healthy communication. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World , a guide for parents interested in nurturing a versatile set of social skills in this generation’s digitally-charmed kids. She is also the author of Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying Social Life , which helps moms build and sustain a thriving, balanced social life that supports their emotional health.

When she’s not writing, Christa is centered in her busy family which includes her two active sons, her golf-impassioned husband, and a pair of sweet dogs. She and her family reside in the lovely Kansas City metro area, home of world-class barbecue, beautiful fountains and legendary jazz. For timely communication tips, helpful resources and inspiring ideas that can benefit your entire family,  subscribe to her blog or sign up for her monthly newsletter.