Stretch your grocery dollars when you learn how to cook whole chicken in the slow cooker to make shredded chicken and homemade chicken broth.<\/h2>\n
Learn how to cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker, and you\u2019ll end up with a double dose of $$ savings and chicken for dinner or your freezer!<\/p>\n
I am a \u2018freezer shopper\u2019\u2026meaning that I often times shop from my freezer when it comes time to prepare dinner. I am quite the bargain grocery shopper and prefer to never pay full price for anything at the store.<\/p>\n
And as a result, I\u2019ve learned the fine art of stockpiling food in the freezer\u2026just about everything goes (minus a few things!)\u2026from sandwich bread to fresh fruit to blanched broccoli heads to meat sauces to meatballs to shredded chicken (more on that below) and lest we not forget the cookie dough.<\/p>\n
(Freezing cookie dough is generally a failed attempt at keeping myself from eating it. Because I think I prefer to snack on it right out of the freezer. I\u2019ll just keep trying to fool myself!)<\/p>\n
The reason that I wanted to start with the \u2018cooked, shredded chicken concept\u2019 is because I always have some on hand in the freezer because it can be used in so many different recipes,<\/strong> doesn\u2019t add any prep time to meals on busy weeknights and really has a small \u2018hands-on\u2019 time when you\u2019re picking the meat off the bones.<\/p>\n AND\u2026because you get homemade chicken broth from the chicken too. (See below for the deets.)<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get to it shall we\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Drop the nekkid bird into the base of the slow cooker. No need to add any liquid\u2026it will release plenty of juices and we will dilute them later for homemade broth!<\/p>\n Season as you wish.<\/p>\n I usually use garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika, whatever!<\/p>\n Add some onions, garlic, carrots, celery\u2026which will give the broth more flavor.<\/p>\n Slow cook on low for 8 hours.<\/p>\n See how much liquid it releases. Don\u2019t discard that, you can use it for broth!<\/p>\n Remove bird, onions and garlic.<\/p>\n Pull\u00a0skin off, pull drumsticks off, pull meat off.<\/p>\n Run your knife down the center breast bone and pull the breast and tenderloin off. Pull off as much meat as you can.<\/p>\n Flip the bird and pull off the thighs and any meat from the back.<\/p>\n Pile the meat you want to shred all up!<\/p>\n Toss in the onions and garlic for added flavor. They are really soft and will almost \u2018melt\u2019 in with the chicken!<\/p>\n Using 2 forks or your stand mixer, shred the chicken.<\/p>\n Kaboom.<\/p>\n You have shredded chicken to use in any of the recipes below.<\/p>\n I can usually get 2 or 3 meals worth from 1 whole chicken, depending on the meal!<\/p>\n To Freeze: Let the shredded meat cool completely before adding in 2-3 cup portions in a plastic freezer baggie or container. <\/strong><\/p>\n Strain liquid.<\/p>\n Let sit for a few minutes.<\/p>\n Skim off the fat, and then\u2026<\/p>\n Dilute with about the same amount of water that you have liquid.<\/p>\nHow to Cook Whole Chicken in Slow Cooker<\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.5dollardinners.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/How-to-Cook-a-Whole-Chicken-in-a-Slow-Cooker.jpg\")
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