A whole chicken in the crock pot is a simple main dish that can be served with anything. This recipe isn't fancy, but it is tasty!
Ingredients:
3 raw carrots, thickly sliced
3 raw celery stalks with leaves
2 medium onions, chopped
One whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 Tablespoons dried basil
Directions:
1. Spread carrots, celery and onions evenly into the bottom of the crock pot. Place the whole chicken on top.
2. Slowly pour the chicken broth over everything. Season with garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
3. Sprinkle basil on top, crushing the dried herbs between your fingers as you do (this releases more flavor).
3. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours, until chicken is no longer pink inside.
Sides to Serve with Chicken
While a whole chicken might be enough on its own, you might want some sides to offer with it! Check out these great ideas:
- Applesauce. Applesauce is light and flavorful, with lots of health benefits. A whole chicken is a lot to eat, so you might not have room for big, hearty sides. Applesauce is a great solution to this.
- Cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is fairly light as a side dish, but it comes packed with extra protein. If you're currently on a fitness plan, cottage cheese can be a great way to get extra protein in. Make sure you get the low-fat variety.
- Fruit salad. Fruit isn't particularly filling, but it's delicious and nutritious. Grab whatever fruit is in season in your area, or buy a pre-made fruit salad. Some fruit ideas for a fruit salad include grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, or watermelon.
- Egg noodles. Pasta and chicken is a common combination, so why not add some egg noodles to dinner tonight? Butter them up for extra flavor, or offer sprinkle parmesan if that's something your family enjoys.
- Baked potato. If you're looking for something more filling and hearty than the suggestions we've provided so far, look no further! Baked potatoes are fun to eat, since you can offer lots of toppings for your family to pick from. They're also fairly easy to prepare.
- Rice. Chicken and rice is a classic dish that many families have likely enjoyed before. Serving light, fluffy rice with your whole chicken is a great idea. Go for white or brown rice, whichever you prefer. Just remember to wash your rice beforehand!
- Green bean casserole. If you have the time and the energy for a side dish that's more complex, go for green bean casserole! This is a hearty, comforting dish that will definitely make your chicken dinner complete. It's also an easy way to help your family get more vegetables in their diet.