Crock Pot Whole Chicken and Rice Dinner
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Whole Chicken and Rice in the Slow Cooker Flavored with Onions and Spices! This Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Dinner is a win! You can’t Go Wrong with this Meal in the Crock Pot!
This Crock Pot Chicken and Rice dinner is both effective in the summer, and one that will provide great sustenance during the school year. You really can’t go wrong with it.
The end result is a juicy whole chicken perfectly seasoned and slow cooked along with cheesy rice. For me this is a comfort food that my entire family loves and I do too because it’s so easy!
I am talking about whole chicken and rice in the slow cooker. Yes, rice can be cooked in the slow cooker and it yields great results just make sure to follow the cook times recommended in the recipe or your rice will turn mushy.
Why this Recipe Works:
- Whole chickens are often times on sale and make an inexpensive meal.
- Everyone is happy because they can pick their favorite cut of chicken to eat!
- Pair this easy dinner that’s ready when you come home with steamed or roasted vegetables for a quick and easy dinner.
Have an Instant Pot? You might like my IP Chicken and Rice!
Ingredients Needed
- Whole Chicken – About 3 lbs
- Spices – Dried Oregano, garlic powder, cayenne powder, salt and pepper give this dish a delicious flavor.
- Condensed Soup – We used cream of chicken and cream of cheddar soup for a cheesy rice, but you could use all cream of chicken soup.
- Instant Rice – Either white or brown rice will work. Make sure it’s instant and not long grain rice.
- Chicken Broth – I recommend a low-sodium broth.
- Onion – Grab frozen diced onions to save time.
Steps to Prepare
- First step is to combine all the sauce and rice ingredients in your slow cooker.
- Next you’ll want to place your whole chicken on top of the sauce and rice and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne and oregano.
- Throw the cover on your crock pot and turn it to low for 4-5 hours or until chicken reaches 160 degrees F. I highly recommend this crock pot with a temperature probe so you will know exactly when the chicken gets to 160 degrees F.
- If you want a crispy skin remove the chicken from the crock pot and place onto a pan. Throw it under the broiler in your oven for a few minutes until the skin is chicken!
Expert Tips
-
- Use Instant Rice. Like I said I have grown up and use long grain rice most of the time, but with this recipe I went back to instant rice. You will need to use this for the correct cooking times. You can use instant brown rice, but that’s as much as you want to change up things!
- Broil at the End. If you want to achieve a crisp chicken skin you will want to remove the whole chicken from the crock pot at the end of the cooking time and pop it under the broiler. The crock pot will not give you a crisp skin. Totally optional.
- Add More Vegetables. I stuck to onions with my rice but you can easy add carrots, peas, celery etc. to beef up your vegetable intake!
Have leftovers? You can use the chicken to make my Easy Chicken Salad!
More Crock Pot Dinners
- Who says stuffing is just for Thanksgiving? This Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing is the perfect meal for busy nights.
- Tender, fall apart roast in the Crock Pot that’s flavored with Balsamic! Balsamic Crock Pot Roast is a delicious flavor twist on your normal roast recipe.
- A family favorite recipe that is always gone is this easy Crockpot Italian Chicken.
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:
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Did you try this recipe and love it? I’d love it if you’d give it a rating below and comment.
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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
Video
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, any inside parts removed
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
- Salt and Pepper
Sauce and Rice:
- 2 (10 oz each) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10 oz) can condensed cream of cheddar soup (or another can of cream of chicken soup)
- 2 c. instant rice
- 1 c. chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 medium sized onion, diced
Instructions
- Combine all the sauce and rice ingredients into a 6-quart slow cooker. Mix until combined. Place whole chicken on top and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and oregano.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until chicken reaches 160F.
- If desired, move chicken to an over safe pan and broil chicken until skin is nice and crispy.
Tips
- Use Instant Rice. Like I said I have grown up and use long grain rice most of the time, but with this recipe I went back to instant rice. You will need to use this for the correct cooking times. You can use instant brown rice, but that’s as much as you want to change up things!
- Broil at the End. If you want to achieve a crisp chicken skin you will want to remove the whole chicken from the crock pot at the end of the cooking time and pop it under the broiler. The crock pot will not give you a crisp skin. Totally optional.
- Add More Vegetables. I stuck to onions with my rice but you can easy add carrots, peas, celery etc. to beef up your vegetable intake!
Brett Sobkowich says
Haven’t tried it yet, as for the ingredients and ease, it makes perfect sense and is a great for a leftover.
Mom from reno says
Can I use regular long grain rice due to weather and transportation I can’t get instant and want to make this for dinner.
Julie Evink says
I think it will work, you just might have to cook it a bit longer.
Cyndy Dee says
I used a 6lb chicken for r family, it was fabulous!!!! My hubby loved it me too, the cheese soup.mixed w/cream if chicken was super yummy, thx so much for ur idea, will do it again soon, be safe
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it Cyndy! Thanks for coming back, rating the recipe and commenting!
Jane Fetsch says
I have never made Chicken & Rice in my life . . . This recipe is fabulous! I just made it for dinner tonight and it was simply delicious!! Would it taste just as good with a whole turkey or breast?
Julie Evink says
I think a whole turkey would be to large, but a similar sized in weight for turkey breast would work I think!
Caroline says
this looks so delicious I just got it in the crockpot…. I’ve made a whole chicken before in it… just not with anything else… I got the wrong herb and did a pinch of cumin instead of the cayenne powder… I also did oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, a hint of paprika and brown sugar rubbed all over on the whole chicken… rice mixture did exactly as your recipe said to… will review again after dinner tonight… thanks for sharing your recipe :^ )
Michelle Sperr says
Hope you loved it Caroline! Sounds delicious!
Caroline says
Hi thanks for your reply… I did like this dish a lot… I tried to even take the chicken out of the crockpot when it was done and lol it all just fell off the bone it was moist, tender and delicious… it was a really flavorful meal and I would def. make again… my only drawback was the same as a lot of other reviewers…… too much liquid and grease… so next time I will cook the whole chicken by its self as I have always done and do the rice separately…other than that I wouldn’t change a thing about this recipe
Michelle Sperr says
Thank you for the feedback Caroline! I’m glad you loved the recipe and I’ll take your comment into consideration! Thanks.
Rhonda kleckner says
Well I’m trying the whole chicken and rice minus the broiler. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I will let you know tonight.
Julie says
Perfect! I hope you enjoy!
Ajay Rana says
I have never been a big fan of chicken but i certainly am going to try your recipe, it looks divine !!
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoy it!
Anita Jones says
What do you do about serving this to company without all the gristle and small bones getting mixed in with the rice?
Ajay Rana says
i love chicken and its really new dish for me ill try this
Julie Evink says
Enjoy!
Linda Howard says
Could you do this in the oven
sue hubbard says
this is just like old standby chicken and rice casserole, but i had always used comushroom instead of cheese soup, but im so glad to see it for crockpot!! tysm. and with whole chicken as well, very good 🙂
Julie Evink says
Always great to have a recipe you can cook multiple ways!
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoy it!
lorna olszak says
can regular rice be used instead
Julie Evink says
I have not tested it like that sorry!