One of our new favorites – originally found here at Recipezaar, but we like it with a few changes.

I'd debated on sharing a picture…really, I don't find it terribly appetizing, but then Caleb noticed the heart shaped piece of onion between the chickens legs.  For that reason alone, I'm sharing the terrible photo =)

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons kosher salt
•  1.5  teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
•  2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large roasting chicken (with pop-up timer if possible)
• 1 cup onion, chopped (optional)

Directions:

• Combine spices in a small bowl.
• Remove giblets and clean chicken.
• Rub spice mixture on chicken.  You may or may not want to make the chicken dance to Singin' in the Rain prior to this step.  I find it amusing…my children do not.
• Optional step for those who are planning ahead: place in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate over night.  I've yet to get this done and the chicken is always great.
• When ready to cook, place the chopped onion in the bottom of the crockpot.
• Add chicken, breast side down (which would be the opposite side of the photo).
• No liquid is needed – the chicken will make it's own juices.
• Cook on low 4-8 hours (depends on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken).

Notes:

• This is great with mashed potatoes.  The chicken makes a ton of "chicken juice" to make gravy, and honestly it's some of the best gravy I've ever made.  I just mix together a little flour and milk, and then cook it with the juice in a pan on the stove while the chicken rests.
• For our family of 4, the chicken provides a plentiful dinner and enough leftover chicken for enchiladas or soup. 
• I did try putting the carcass back in the crockpot with some of the juices, a few carrots and celery and some more water to see what sort of broth I came up with.   It's definitely different than the stock I'm used to making! 
  

  I ended up with about 10 cups of broth but because of the spices on the chicken, it's not quite as "general use" as the stock I make on the stove.  I'm planning to try cooking my brown rice with it and see if I like it for that.

This recipe shared at:

• The Grocery Cart Challenges Recipe Swap
• Foodie Friday