Crockpots are great for stews, chilis, and soups. The crockpot is also the easiest way to create an amazing Whole Chicken! This Lemon Thyme Crockpot Chicken and Vegetables is simple and delicious. The chicken is juicy and falls right off the bone. The vegetables cook underneath the chicken and take on all that lemon thyme flavor too! You probably have many of these ingredients on hand too. This budget friendly meal is one you and your wallet will LOVE!
The vegetables cook underneath the chicken and take on all that lemon thyme flavor too! You probably have many of these ingredients on hand too. This budget friendly meal is one you and your wallet will LOVE!
In the new year, I’m taking part in the Real Food Experience 2015. This experience is all about cleaning up our diet and eating real food, you know the stuff our great-grandparents just called “food”. One of the goals is showing how to use simple, whole ingredients to create delicious and healthy meals. This crockpot whole chicken recipe is one of those recipes. A crockpot is a useful tool to help save time in the kitchen. You just place everything in it and forget it. It does all the work for you. I use a basic 4 Quart crockpot for my family of 5. I found it for under $25 at Amazon.
Real food doesn’t have to be expensive. It is possible to eat fresh, unprocessed foods and still stay on a budget. One of the ways I do it is by shopping at Aldi, a national chain grocery that offers great prices on many real food items. For a local blog, I recently wrote Eat Healthy on a Budget at Aldi. It shows the real food items full of tips to help you save money.
This recipe for Lemon Thyme Crockpot Chicken and Vegetables cost be $11.80 to make. I added a green salad of organic greens, cucumber, and tomatoes for an additional $4.17. So for $15.97, I have a meal for my family of 5. Plus tomorrow, I’ll make Leftover Chicken and Vegetable Soup (serves 12) for an additional $1.78. So that brings my total for 2 meals plus a lunch to $17.75. Not bad!
Lemon Thyme Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients
- Whole Chicken, 4-5 pounds
- 5 Russet Potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 5 Carrots, chopped
- 3 stalks of Celery, diced
- 2 Cloves of Garlic
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
Instructions
- Place the chopped potato, onion, carrots, and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker. Mince one clove of garlic and sprinkle in over the vegetables.
- Remove any giblets from the chicken and set them aside. Smash the remaining garlic clove and rub into all over the outside of the chicken. Place the clove inside the chicken when done.
- Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze the half of the lemon over the top of the chicken. Place both halves inside the chicken.
- Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and thyme all over the chicken.
- Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker and cover with lid.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
- Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Remove vegetables and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
Click NEXT PAGE to learn how to make homemade chicken broth for FREE and a recipe for Leftover Chicken Soup.
Great flavours on this chicken. Sounds like a great comforting meal.
Thanks Cindy.
What a wonderful family-friendly dish to start out the New Year!
Thanks Linda
I roast chickens all the time. I’m going to try this easy chicken recipe real soon! 🙂
This version is a no brainer. It’s so easy that the kids could do it. Plus, it comes out moist EVERY time.
I love easy to make meals, and this is one of them. Nothing is worse than having to clean oily and sticky sauce pans!
Clean up is always messy with roast chicken. This version makes clean up super easy.
I’m back to healthy eating as well and this will be a perfect addition to my crockpot recipes. I bet this smells so good while cooking and I love to use my crockpot. Thanks.
It smells amazing! It’s hard to stay out of it until dinner
Nicky this chicken looks so tasty I’m getting hungry! We love crock potting. I’ll be putting this on the menu in the near future! Yum!
Thanks Diane! It’s a great dish and perfect when you are short on time
You have shed a ray of susnnihe into the forum. Thanks!