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Slow cooker roast chicken is perfect for a Sunday supper, elegant enough to make for company, and simple enough to become one of your favorite back to school crock pot recipes!
Intense, exotic aromas and flavors can turn a basic roast chicken into a gourmet meal, but when you make it in your slow cooker, you can enjoy something special with little work, even on busy weeknights. Fancy, flavorful food doesn’t get easier than this Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken.
No matter what time of year it is, or what the occasion, the slow cooker is one of my best friends in the kitchen. In the summer, I may not want to heat up the kitchen or slave over a hot grill, but I still want some pork barbecue or pasta sauce made with farm fresh veggies. Wintertime is all about comforting chilis or stews. Sometimes we need to have our taco fixins waiting for us when we get home from a busy day, and other times it’s all about “roasting” a big ol’ turkey breast so that we can have a wonderful Sunday dinner and leftovers all week. So when Hamilton Beach gave me the opportunity to review their new Set & Forget® 6 Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker, I jumped at the opportunity.
Why? Well first of all, they besides Manual mode where you just turn it on to Low or High and come back later, you can also program it to cook for a set length of time and then switch over to the Warm setting so that dinner is perfectly cooked waiting for you when you get home. I used this feature she I cooked the Tomato Basil Pulled Chicken that I shared just a couple of days ago. But it also has a temperature probe! I’ve told you before how much I love to roast a whole chicken in my slow cooker because it is just so ridiculously easy. Well this feature makes it even easier to ensure perfectly cooked bird. Truth be told, I was so excited about this chicken that I was making that I pulled it out the second it reached the target temperature when I probably should have given it 5-10 minutes to rest once it switched to the Warm setting. But it was still easier than setting it for an arbitrary time that totally depends on the size of the chicken you are cooking. I am really excited to try it with a roast.
Another feature about this slow cooker that I totally love – the lid locks down, so no rattling or buildup and dripping of excess moisture that collects around the edge. Also, it’s a big slow cooker. You can make a huge vat of chili to feed an entire football team!
Or one eight and a half pound chicken will fit with no problem…
And let me tell you about this slow cooker roast chicken recipe.
Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken is a recipe I adapted from a fabulous recipe in Weber’s Big Book of Grilling.
We thoroughly enjoy that version, but it requires an overnight marinade, plus setting up the rotisserie on the grill. That’s all fine and dandy, except it’s not something I’m going to do when I am on my own with the boys in the middle of the week. So I took the same ingredients and tossed them into my Hamilton Beach Set & Forget® 6 Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker. I figured that the long cooking time would allow the flavors and aromas to permeate the meat and keep it juicy without requiring that marinating time.
And boy was I right! The citrus flavor totally came through the meat, even at its thickest part, and the little crusting of salt, pepper, garlic and saffron coated the outside. I guess you could have made a citrusy gravy or sauce from the juices that collected in the slow cooker, but we aren’t really gravy folks, and we totally enjoyed the chicken just as-is. My boys even had seconds and thirds of the slow cooker roast chicken. I threw the leftovers in the freezer because we were heading out of town, but if we weren’t, this would have made a great topping for a salad.
What is the first thing you’d make in your new slow cooker?
Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- One 6-8 lb chicken
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- two oranges zest of both and juice of one, plus the other one quartered and set aside
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 clove garlic minced or crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 onion quartered
- a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme
Instructions
- Dry the outside of your chicken and place inside the slow cooker.
- In a bowl, stir together the olive oil, zest of both oranges and juice of one orange, salt, pepper, garlic, saffron, thyme and rosemary.
- Separate the skin from the meat of the breast to form a pocket, and pour the mixture over the inside and outside and underneath the skin of the breast and rub all over to coat the chicken completely.
- Place the remaining quartered orange, onion, and sprigs of rosemary and thyme inside and around the outside of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the breast reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker, carve and serve.
Categories:
Enjoy!
Want more slow cooker recipes?
- Slow Cooker Pineapple Chipotle Beef Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Tomato Veggie Sauce with Sausages
- Lightened Up Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken
Plus a few from my friends…
- Slow Cooker Caldo de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Soup) from The Lemon Bowl
- Slow Cooker Spicy Asian Beef Short Ribs from Hip Foodie Mom
- Slow Cooker Jalapeño Honey Mustard Pulled Pork from Foodie with Family
I’m always on the hunt for a good crock pot meal to use on busy weeknights and this one looks so good! Thanks for sharing! Although I’m a wimp a little afraid of whole chickens haha. Maybe I’ll get brave and go for it!
Do it! It’s really not that scary!
Could I just use chicken breast .I do not like dark meat.
Absolutely, Lorie!
your Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken looks so delish!! I so want to make that first!
I would make Red Chile Con Carne.
This looks beautiful! I would roast a chicken first. The recipe sounds wonderful.
Thai coconut peanut chicken!
I need that recipe!
Pulled Pork!
i would make my mom’s delicous potroast
I need a new slow cooker!
All this food looks delicious
Your chicken recipe has me salivating so I’ll def be trying that out first!
I would either make a beef roast or pulled pork. This would be an awesome crock pot for me. I am away from the house 10 hours a day, and almost anything I put in mine is too done by the time I get home. Would love to have one I could program so I could try new recipes like this one.
Mmmmm! This chicken recipe sounds so good. My favorite crockpot recipe is an african stew … I would perhaps make one of these first, if I won this crock pot!
This looks totally awesome! I am a huge fan of citrus and chicken! Can’t wait to try it!
I love to make chili in the crock pot so that would probably be the first thing but there are a lot of recipes I want to try!
This amazing Orange chicken recipe would be the first thing I tried in my new Hamilton Beach slow cooker, it sounds yummy!
Sounds great – thanks for the give away!
I love my slow cooker and sure could use a new one. I would make a balsamic pork. It works well with chicken too!
I would make a good sunday meal of a roast with all the fixings!!
Homemade, slow-cooked spaghetti sauce 😉
Applesauce.
I would make a
My favorite slow cooker meal is Teryaki Chicken!
First thing I’d make is pulled port BBQ.
Cauliflower Breakfast Casserole with sausage/cheese ! Or pulled pork!
Oh, did you see that recipe I posted? So good!
I would cook a pot roast!
Chicken that won’t get mushy!
I’d make mom’s beef and vegetable stew.
and this orange saffron chicken looks delicious. must try it as soon as get a slow cooker!
The first thing would be sweet and sour meatballs
I would make white chicken chili!
Anything just so dinner was ready at the end of the day!
Omg i don’t know a soup oh wait a pot roast um maybe a turkey breast. Mmmm short ribs
Crock Pot Spaghetti
That chicken looks awesome!
STEW!
Sounds delish! And I really need a new crockpot. 🙂
a big pot of chili
I’d make a big pot of chilli
I’d start out with a pot of dried beans.
The first thing I would make is called Feisty Fiesta. It is a Roast with onions, bell peppers, rotel tomatoes, diced jalapenos, small can of tomato sauce, and water and let it cook down for about 6 hours till you can shredded it and then eat it with flour/corn tortillas and toppings it is awesome. My kids are always asking for it. Then I want to learn how to make cakes and then a breakfast casserole for the next day.
I love making slow cooker pulled pork. It doesn’t get smokey like it would on a smoker but it is sooooo much easier making pulled pork in a slow cooker.
Pork carnitas to make tacos. Yummy
I’d probably make chili first – it’s finally cooling down enough to do it in Florida and talk about timing. My old crock pot just bit the dust.
It seems that I use my snow cooker more then anything. In the summer it is either grilling outside or slow cooker meals as it is to hot to use the oven. The cooler temps have hit, but now ppl at work are calling in sick and I try to pick up the slack as much as I can which means I get home late. It is so nice to be able to throw things in it in the morning and dinner is ready eff y when I get home. Now I need a new one as hubby there a towel over it the last time I used it and melted the knob, so it only cooks on high now.
I’d make chili first, but I have a whole bunch of recipes just waiting in the wings….
this looks amazing
I think the first thing I would make is slow cooker lasagna. I have been wanting to try it.
I do not have a slow cooker, so I would love to win one. Never made a meal in one but the tomato basil pulled chicken is one I would love to try. Thanks
I’d make a turkey breast, so hungry for turkey and gravy!
Saffron orange chicken! Sounds amazing!
pulled pork!
Saffron orange chicken!
Anything cooked in a slow cooker is great. You have the time saved and the beautiful aroma of a meal waiting for you when you step into the door.
I think I would make a soup or beef stew or Viet coconut yellow curry chicken
I would love to make a delicious beef stew!
I would love to make my spicy apple butter first in that!
I’d try this chicken recipe you just blogged about! I’ve always been intimidated by making a whole roast chicken:-)
Orange chicken!!
Pot roast!
I think I’d like to make your orange saffron roast chicken.
Can’t wait to try it.
I would make crock pot lasagna! It is so easy and so yummy!
Pulled brisket for Sammie’s!
If I won, the very first thing I would make would be Chili. My family loves it in the slow cooker and I use ground turkey to make it healthier 🙂
I love the looks of this slow cooker!! Would love to slow cook roasts with all the veggies. Good luck to us all!! Thank you 🙂
I would love to try the chicken recipe above. It looks delicious!
I would make a vegan lentil curry dish or a vegan chili.
First up is my Butternut Squash soup!
Pumpkin white bean soup
I LOVE those Hamilton Beach Slow Cookers! My Mom has one and has used it to make amazing meals! My first meal would have to be the Orange Saffrom Slow Cooker Roast Chicken – it looks AMAZING! My second meal would be a Beer Cheese Soup recipe from my Aunt Sharon! YUM!!!!
Pork and kraut.
I need this for my son who is single and just bought his first house. He loves to cook and I think this would come in very handy for him.
I love slow cooker recipes! I have a favorite vegetarian chili recipe, with sweet potatoes, black beans, tomatoes and peppers. Sweet, spicy, and filling!
I would make pork ribs with my homemade BBQ sauce.
Beans!
I would make a roast with potatoes and veggies! Your chicken recipe looks really good!! Trying it soon!
I would probably make Italian beef sandwiches.
I would make cauliflower hashbrowns in my new slow cooker!
Black Bean Soup.
I love slow cooker recipes! Great when you are busy working!
i would make a vegetable chili recipe! great for the cooler fall temperature
I want to make this chicken!!
Our family favorite is stew, a full meal (meat n’ starch n’ veggies) all in one!
barbecue pulled pork
I love roasting a whole chicken in the crock pot. Then I use the bones to make broth. So good.
I do the same!
I’m not sure what the first thing would be. I have so many recipes I can’t wait to try!
Mushroom Tikki Masala. Then more bread. And some soup. More barbecue chicken…everything?
I will make a dessert in my slow cooker. I HAVE to get on top of this!! Your chicken recipe looks fantastic.
A new Crock Pot? I’d have to search out a new recipe to break it in! If not, probably an old stand by, something like Pumpkin Chili. Thanks so much!
chicken noodle soup!
Yummm…..I think the first thing I’d make would be the recipe!!! It sounds so delicious!
ribs i love this in the slow cooker
Beef Stroganoff, my kids’ favorite. 🙂
I already have a slow cooker but could use another. I make applesauce..lots of hot dishes…..but I would really like to find someone who does not have one and give it to them and get them started using it because you can cook when you are away from home and busy moms and grandmoms even..all cooks can use a time saver like that.
That would be awesome!
I would make beef pot roast
Love making chili and kale, sausage and white bean stew in the crockpot! Can’t wait to try this recipe!!
I would make a big pot of chili, so good.
First thing I’d want to make is my white chili – oh yum!
thank you
Chicken cacciatore. Kids love it!
Cocktail meatballs!
i will make some pulled pork with my new slow cooker. Thank you
I would make some pulled pork bbq
Beef Stroganoff
The lid broke to my Hamilton Beech crockpot when we moved. I needed a replacement fast so i bought the first one i saw which was much smaller and round. With a new one I can cook all our favorites without having to skimp on ingredients our risking boiling over. It would make our chili and soups last longer saving us money on meals.
White chicken chili.
Definitely some type of chicken. I would want to check out that probe! LOL
I’d make a big pot of pasta sauce
Some chilly
Beef stew!!!
I want to try a breakfast in a crockpot.
I Would Love To Make A Hearty Chili or A Nice Rustic Beef Stew, Maybe Even A Lamb Tagine.
I would make a great big beef roast!
I’d make a big pot of posole.
Love the Orange with herbs .The chicken looks perfectly moist.
LOVE to use a slow cooker. Great flavors!!!
BBQ pork shoulder
I would probably make a pot roast with potatoes and carrots. I love coming home after a long day at work and having dinner ready.
Roast chicken:) I do a garlic version with fresh basil and cook it with an apple in the cavity. Sounds strange, but it makes the best applesauce side dish!
Oooh, I have to try that combo!
My first meal would be a beef stew. Love that dish.
I really want to try crockpot lasagna!
Love my slow cooker. Used it twice this week!
Slow-cooked pork
Sante Fe Chicken!!!!
I would make a pot roast on the first cool day.
Balsamic Pork! But this chicken looks good too, so maybe the chicken!
I would make pot roast
I love using a slow cooker and they are even great when camping. So much fun to be had you don’t want to stop to cook. The next thing I want to try is an overnight oatmeal recipe.
Love my slow cookers!
Would love to win this!
I would make bbq in it.
chili
I would love to have this slow cooker!!! Mine is so outdated and doesn’t heat very well anymore. I am just drooling thinking about all the yummy food I could make.
Pulled pork of some kind – so easy and so versatile.
I’d make some Pork Carnitas since I’ve seen some recipes floating around that have left my mouth watering!
I would chili !
BBQ RIBS
Chili! : )
I want to make chocolate lava cake in this! =)~
Chili I am looking forward to some chili tonight.
I would make a big pot of chili.
The first thing I’ll make is Slow Cooker Lasagna!
I would make a delicious veggie chili in my new slow cooker!!
Is it possible I can smell the orange throught the screen! This looks amazing!
The orange really comes through and makes it so flavorful!
I would have to make chicken first! This chicken looks perfectly moist, but not falling apart like it usually does in the slow cooker. I love how you can still cut it.
I think the temperature probe really helped cook it to just the right temperature so that it didn’t just fall apart!
I’d like to try sesame chicken with pineapple!
Beef stew!
Love the orange with the herbs! Yum!
It is a yummy flavor combo!
The slow cooker gets a lot of use around here all year. This looks so good! Pinned!
Thanks so much Marye!
I would love to make a nice roast with lots of potatoes, carrots and onion 🙂
Yum! I’d definitely make this recipe at some point, at it looks like such a great way to have moist, flavorful chicken. But the very first recipe I’d make would be my fall staple: chili.
I will most likely make a hearty chili as a first meal with this new slow cooker–BUT–the next thing would be any meat that would require the use of that probe!! The less use the oven gets (especially in warmer weather), the happier I am.
The temperature probe is such a brilliant idea!
This is one of those feel good recipes. There is something about chicken in the slow cooker that just puts a smile on my face. This looks fabulous, and love that you used saffron.
Any kind of roast chicken is such comfort food to me! I thought the saffron was a nice way to “glam up” a traditional meal.
chili
Chicken stock! I love using the crockpot to make homemade stock.
Me too!
I would make Vegetable rice or soup.
I’d probably make a roast of some sort. Or a soup. Hmmm…so many choices.
I would love to make hot cinnamon apple cider right about now!
The first thing I would make is slow cooker sweet potatoes! My favorite way to cook potatoes
Turkey chili
Vegetarian chili!
I have a recipe that has chicken and stuffing and it makes the chicken so juicy and tender, it is soooo good!
I have had that slow cooker for a couple years, and love it! I have never done a roasted chicken in there though. Love the flavors, going to have to change that!
It is seriously the easiest way to roast a chicken!
I’ll make slow cooker lemon garlic chicken.
I would love to make some pulled pork BBQ.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Entered the rafflecopter form as “Wild Orchid”
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Brianne,
I love this chicken!! orange saffron sounds fabulous!!! I just walked away with a slow cooker last weekend when visiting Better Homes and Gardens. . otherwise, I would totally enter this awesome giveaway!! and thank you for much for sharing my Spicy Asian Beef Short Ribs! 🙂 made my day!!
I really need to make more short ribs, so I am always looking for more recipes!
tortilla soup
I love love LOVE my slow cooker — so much that I now have TWO! Lucky you for getting to test drive a new one.
My slow cooker’s knobs are duct taped on :(. Would love a new one. Yummy recipes btw.
I absolutely love the taste (and color!) of dishes with saffron. I know it’s expensive, but it’s SO worth it. I need to stock up, because this chicken recipe looks fabulous!
The great thing, though is that you only need a little to get great flavor and gorgeous color.
I would make my famous bbq !
BBQ pulled chicken!
I’d make ham and green beans.
I would make pot roast with carrots and onions. Mash potatoes to go with all the rich gravy.
I would make a beef roast with lots of vegetables and gravy.
Chicken tacos!
I would make my yummy pulled pork in my new slow cooker!
I will probably make chili and rice first in the slow cooker
If i won the first thing i would make is my family’s favorite beef stew.
I would love to start with some bbq chicken!!
beef stew
I would make Pulled Pork with apples and onions
The first thing I would make would probably be chicken tacos. A giant amount of them! We feast and then we use them throughout the week for all sorts of other delicious things.
I would make some fall soups…I can’t get enough of them this time of the year! Thanks for this giveaway : )
I’d make my mom’s pot roast!
I want to try making a dessert..cake or bread pudding!
That looks absolutely delicious. I would love to make a fresh pot of homemade chicken and dumplings! Perfect for this weather,too. I think that it would be great on salad,too!
I do enjoy slow cooker recipes this time of the year. Or anytime of the year, really! I have this awesome chicken teriyaki recipe my mother makes that I would like to make in a Hamilton Beach slow cooker