How Can I Cook a Fresh Whole Chicken?

QM · 01-15-2009, 06:31 PM

I know to some of you this is a crazy question, but how do you cook a fresh whole chicken? What's your easiest and yummiest recipe? (Fresh whole chickens are on sale at my local grocery store, and I need to know how to cook it before buying one or more.) DH is usually the cook in our house, so I'm not experienced in this department.

For those who use slow cookers, what's your cooking recipe/instructions?

Thanks everyone!

**redhead68** · 01-15-2009, 06:34 PM

I usually roast mine, but here's a recipe for whole chicken in a slow cooker.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-15-2009, 06:39 PM

I usually boil mine. Put it in a pot, fill 1/2 way with water, sprinkle the top with salt and pepper. Boil for an hour or until juices run clear. then you could eat it (save the broth) or you could make rice with it in a double boiler. I put 1 cup of long grain rice with 2 cups of broth and more salt and pepper and then cook on low (after the water boils) for an hour. then when the rice is done you have a very yummy dinner and afterwards you can boil the bones to make more broth.

**redeme** · 01-15-2009, 06:55 PM

I either roast it in the oven with thyme and sage and 1/4 onion inside

or

In the slow cooker season chicken with rosemary, take 1 lemon cut in half, juice over chicken, put halves inside chicken and cook on low all day, high for half day times will depend on your slow cooker.

After dinner I take what's left and pull the meat, put the rest in stock pot for chicken broth.

**thehughughes** · 01-15-2009, 07:11 PM

I take a bowl and mix what ever seasonings I want, then rub it all over the chicken, put it in a casserole dish with out the lid at 400 for about 2 hours I always just watch it so i can't say exact time but close. If I have fruit that needs used I'll cut up an orange, pear, or lime and put in it. After dinner pull any meat off that is left and boil the carcus for soup later. Good Luck mines in the oven now.
YUMMY

**Nishu** · 01-15-2009, 07:21 PM

I use one of these but a different brand. I got it at a thrift store.

Super easy and the kids love it. Sometimes I don't even season it.

**khjmom** · 01-15-2009, 08:11 PM

We just roast it with olive oil brushed over it and a sprinkling of herb seasoning over the top of the chicken. I slow roast it in the oven...until it is crispy and golden brown. I then use the drippings to make a quick gravy. Very rarely do I have leftovers...but I do boil down the carcass for a quick chicken broth which after sitting in the fridge over night, goes into the freezer.

**LastDragonfly** · 01-15-2009, 08:15 PM

wash it inside and out real well, then put an onion salt and pepper on the inside. Put a little oil on the outside and put in the crockpot. It will cook till it falls off the bone.

**Missy** · 01-15-2009, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by thehughughes

I take a bowl and mix what ever seasonings I want, then rub it all over the chicken, put it in a casserole dish with out the lid at 400 for about 2 hours I always just watch it so i can't say exact time but close. If I have fruit that needs used I'll cut up an orange, pear, or lime and put in it. After dinner pull any meat off that is left and boil the carcus for soup later. Good Luck mines in the oven now.
YUMMY

that's what i do too.

**Nana2two** · 01-15-2009, 10:44 PM

I put mine in the oven with some onions and peppers with a clove

of garlic.I keep putting the juice on it cover with foil and the last 30 minutes i uncover to brown it.

**annertak** · 01-15-2009, 11:44 PM

If you want to do it in the crock pot, a good way is to make a hole bunch of foil balls and ut them in the bottom of the pot, put the whole chicken on top of them, then season the chicken with whatever herbs you want to use. I cook it on low for 6-8 hours. The purpose of the foil is to keep the chicken up out of the juices, and the chicken ends up like deli chicken - kind of steamed. It turns out really good!

**Nishu** · 01-16-2009, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Nishu

I use one of these but a different brand. I got it at a thrift store.

Super easy and the kids love it. Sometimes I don't even season it.

Sorry> I meant to post a link.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004UE87/ref=s9sdps_c2_79_at2-rfc_g1_si1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=0EGR4MT581SJD0YWG3AH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463383451&pf_rd_i=507846"]Amazon.com: Norpro Stainless Steel Vertical Poultry Roaster: Kitchen & Dining[/ame]

**brook** · 01-16-2009, 01:51 AM

whole chickens can be cut up.. you can cut it in half, quarter it, or disjoint it (legs, thighs, wings, breast cut in half, back which can be again cut in half).

Since chicken is a very light flavored meat you want to use lighter flavored herbs such as thyme and/or sage, however, stronger herbs such as rosemary can be used if used sparingly.

Chicken is forgiving and can be cooked every way you can think of. We prefer to use a Rotisserie and cook two chickens at a time.

We love soup and put the entire chicken in a crock pot with water with onions, celery, thyme, sage and a little salt, and a little diced carrots. Cook until the bones fall off, remove bones and add noodles or rice and eat.

I also cook chicken in my crock with water and cook until meat falls off the bone, shred the meat and use it in tacos, burritos, and chili.

If the chicken is cheap enough, buy several of them, cut them up and freeze in like containers.. legs together, thighs together or leg quarters together, breast together.

I raise my own chickens to eat so we eat a lot of chicken.

**LastDragonfly** · 01-16-2009, 02:03 AM

yummy this is such a great thread! I'm saving it for my next oamc.

**frugal-fannie** · 01-16-2009, 02:11 AM

I do a steamed chicken. I put a whole cleaned chicken in a bowl with room for juices and then put that in a large pan with lid and with water on the bottom of the pan. I steam the chicken for around 1 hour and serve with rice and dip it in soy sauce and sesame oil and chopped ginger(some of the family add chili to the mix. Veggies served on the side.