Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken
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.
Disclosure: I am a Brand Ambassador for Hamilton Beach, and they provided me with a Set & Forget® 6 Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker to review, and one to give away to a reader. No additional compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own.
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 [amazon_textlink asin=’B00CAYIQL4′ text=’Weber’s Big Book of Grilling’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’cupkalchi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’825201ec-7306-11e7-9699-6d98f1476976′].
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.
And now the fun part for YOU! It’s your chance to…
As long as you are a resident of the United States and 18 years of age or older, you can get your hands on one of these babies! You have till 11:59 pm on October 28th, 2014 to enter! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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.
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
And even an entire Pinterest Board!
Follow Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips’s board Slow Cooker Obsession on Pinterest.
Shannon says
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!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Do it! It’s really not that scary!
Lorie says
Could I just use chicken breast .I do not like dark meat.
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Absolutely, Lorie!
carol easterday says
your Orange Saffron Slow Cooker Roast Chicken looks so delish!! I so want to make that first!
naprince says
I would make Red Chile Con Carne.
Connie Summers says
This looks beautiful! I would roast a chicken first. The recipe sounds wonderful.
kelly smith says
Thai coconut peanut chicken!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I need that recipe!
Bridget Montgomery says
Pulled Pork!
Lisa says
i would make my mom’s delicous potroast
Mary Tine says
I need a new slow cooker!
Shawn says
All this food looks delicious
Cordelia says
Your chicken recipe has me salivating so I’ll def be trying that out first!
Alicia Boarts says
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.
Susan - ofeverymoment.com says
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!
CASEY says
This looks totally awesome! I am a huge fan of citrus and chicken! Can’t wait to try it!
DeeDee says
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!
Joanie Lovell says
This amazing Orange chicken recipe would be the first thing I tried in my new Hamilton Beach slow cooker, it sounds yummy!
Stacy Abrams says
Sounds great – thanks for the give away!
Debbie Lind says
I love my slow cooker and sure could use a new one. I would make a balsamic pork. It works well with chicken too!
cynthia jones says
I would make a good sunday meal of a roast with all the fixings!!
Lea Rogers says
Homemade, slow-cooked spaghetti sauce 😉
Tracy says
Applesauce.
Mayela says
I would make a
My favorite slow cooker meal is Teryaki Chicken!
klynn says
First thing I’d make is pulled port BBQ.
Stephanie-Oh says
Cauliflower Breakfast Casserole with sausage/cheese ! Or pulled pork!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Oh, did you see that recipe I posted? So good!
Violeta V Gill says
I would cook a pot roast!
Allison Keiser says
Chicken that won’t get mushy!
Najihah Alkaff says
I’d make mom’s beef and vegetable stew.
Najihah Alkaff says
and this orange saffron chicken looks delicious. must try it as soon as get a slow cooker!
DAWN SCHMIDT says
The first thing would be sweet and sour meatballs
Linda says
I would make white chicken chili!
Amy H says
Anything just so dinner was ready at the end of the day!
Gail says
Omg i don’t know a soup oh wait a pot roast um maybe a turkey breast. Mmmm short ribs
Kelly Pompa says
Crock Pot Spaghetti
Sharon Stevens says
That chicken looks awesome!
Lynn K. Powell says
STEW!
Elisa says
Sounds delish! And I really need a new crockpot. 🙂
Mary says
a big pot of chili
Mary says
I’d make a big pot of chilli
Sheila Beasley says
I’d start out with a pot of dried beans.
Tiffany Williams says
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.
Aaron Bretveld says
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.
Brandy says
Pork carnitas to make tacos. Yummy
Kristina Slocum says
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.
stephenie h. says
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.
kath g says
I’d make chili first, but I have a whole bunch of recipes just waiting in the wings….
JEnnifer Gross says
this looks amazing
Crystal says
I think the first thing I would make is slow cooker lasagna. I have been wanting to try it.
Denise says
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
Terri C says
I’d make a turkey breast, so hungry for turkey and gravy!
SARA CROMPTON says
Saffron orange chicken! Sounds amazing!
christina nguyen says
pulled pork!
Darcy says
Saffron orange chicken!
LINDA says
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.
Linda Yip says
I think I would make a soup or beef stew or Viet coconut yellow curry chicken
Julie M says
I would love to make a delicious beef stew!
Julia says
I would love to make my spicy apple butter first in that!
Jaye L. says
I’d try this chicken recipe you just blogged about! I’ve always been intimidated by making a whole roast chicken:-)
Michelle says
Orange chicken!!
Melba Prior says
Pot roast!
Andrea Troutman says
I think I’d like to make your orange saffron roast chicken.
Kinsey Byrd says
Can’t wait to try it.
Karen Dearing says
I would make crock pot lasagna! It is so easy and so yummy!
Barbara D says
Pulled brisket for Sammie’s!
Betsy Barnes says
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 🙂
Audrey Miller says
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 🙂
jenni Albright says
I would love to try the chicken recipe above. It looks delicious!
maryann grace says
I would make a vegan lentil curry dish or a vegan chili.
Renee says
First up is my Butternut Squash soup!
Laurie says
Pumpkin white bean soup
Tonya says
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!!!!
Amanda Falicki says
Pork and kraut.
Shelly says
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.
Belinda says
I love slow cooker recipes! I have a favorite vegetarian chili recipe, with sweet potatoes, black beans, tomatoes and peppers. Sweet, spicy, and filling!
Birdiebee says
I would make pork ribs with my homemade BBQ sauce.
Jason says
Beans!
Jamie F says
I would make a roast with potatoes and veggies! Your chicken recipe looks really good!! Trying it soon!
SharonF says
I would probably make Italian beef sandwiches.
Mary says
I would make cauliflower hashbrowns in my new slow cooker!
Jodi Jones says
Black Bean Soup.
Mary says
I love slow cooker recipes! Great when you are busy working!
paige C says
i would make a vegetable chili recipe! great for the cooler fall temperature
SandyN says
I want to make this chicken!!
Mary Prevost says
Our family favorite is stew, a full meal (meat n’ starch n’ veggies) all in one!
sharon says
barbecue pulled pork
Karen says
I love roasting a whole chicken in the crock pot. Then I use the bones to make broth. So good.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I do the same!
Angie W says
I’m not sure what the first thing would be. I have so many recipes I can’t wait to try!
Christie says
Mushroom Tikki Masala. Then more bread. And some soup. More barbecue chicken…everything?
Betsy @ Desserts Required says
I will make a dessert in my slow cooker. I HAVE to get on top of this!! Your chicken recipe looks fantastic.
Susan Spence says
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!
Julianne says
chicken noodle soup!
AlexisB says
Yummm…..I think the first thing I’d make would be the recipe!!! It sounds so delicious!
Erica Best says
ribs i love this in the slow cooker
Lynn says
Beef Stroganoff, my kids’ favorite. 🙂
Deborah Singletary says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
That would be awesome!
MaryAnn says
I would make beef pot roast
Whitney Wall says
Love making chili and kale, sausage and white bean stew in the crockpot! Can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Megan E says
I would make a big pot of chili, so good.
Barbara Montag says
First thing I’d want to make is my white chili – oh yum!
thank you
Jodi says
Chicken cacciatore. Kids love it!
Rebecca Marie Migliore says
Cocktail meatballs!
Maria Juliana Armenta says
i will make some pulled pork with my new slow cooker. Thank you
Jeannie says
I would make some pulled pork bbq
Cheryl says
Beef Stroganoff
Katrina Schubach says
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.
Brandy says
White chicken chili.
Tammy Northrup says
Definitely some type of chicken. I would want to check out that probe! LOL
Karen D says
I’d make a big pot of pasta sauce
Cupcake says
Some chilly
Ashley Hughes says
Beef stew!!!
Michelle Kole says
I want to try a breakfast in a crockpot.
Lena P. says
I Would Love To Make A Hearty Chili or A Nice Rustic Beef Stew, Maybe Even A Lamb Tagine.
Riley H says
I would make a great big beef roast!
Celeste B says
I’d make a big pot of posole.
Szu-Wei Yang says
Love the Orange with herbs .The chicken looks perfectly moist.
Valerie D. says
LOVE to use a slow cooker. Great flavors!!!
Sheilah Lowe says
BBQ pork shoulder
Pamela Etienne says
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.
Hannah H. says
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!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Oooh, I have to try that combo!
Diana Kaye says
My first meal would be a beef stew. Love that dish.
Kari Anderson says
I really want to try crockpot lasagna!
Michelle thayer says
Love my slow cooker. Used it twice this week!
Jim Kottke says
Slow-cooked pork
Jessi A says
Sante Fe Chicken!!!!
Amy says
I would make a pot roast on the first cool day.
Lauren says
Balsamic Pork! But this chicken looks good too, so maybe the chicken!
JAMIE G says
I would make pot roast
Martha says
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.
Rachel Rachel says
Love my slow cookers!
Rose Donovan says
Would love to win this!
colomama says
I would make bbq in it.
Rhonda says
chili
Kris says
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.
Amy B. says
Pulled pork of some kind – so easy and so versatile.
Jeffrey says
I’d make some Pork Carnitas since I’ve seen some recipes floating around that have left my mouth watering!
Ellen Casper says
I would chili !
LINDA BURLESON says
BBQ RIBS
Melissa Saenz says
Chili! : )
patty pierce says
I want to make chocolate lava cake in this! =)~
Marcie says
Chili I am looking forward to some chili tonight.
Tina W says
I would make a big pot of chili.
Wendy Rozema says
The first thing I’ll make is Slow Cooker Lasagna!
Marina D says
I would make a delicious veggie chili in my new slow cooker!!
Serena @ Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
Is it possible I can smell the orange throught the screen! This looks amazing!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
The orange really comes through and makes it so flavorful!
Jessica DeMay says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I think the temperature probe really helped cook it to just the right temperature so that it didn’t just fall apart!
Leslie says
I’d like to try sesame chicken with pineapple!
alexandra robertson says
Beef stew!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Love the orange with the herbs! Yum!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
It is a yummy flavor combo!
Marye says
The slow cooker gets a lot of use around here all year. This looks so good! Pinned!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Thanks so much Marye!
Lori Ginn Reed says
I would love to make a nice roast with lots of potatoes, carrots and onion 🙂
Merry says
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.
Stephanie K. says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
The temperature probe is such a brilliant idea!
Kim Beaulieu says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
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.
cat says
chili
Rachael says
Chicken stock! I love using the crockpot to make homemade stock.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Me too!
mita says
I would make Vegetable rice or soup.
Julie says
I’d probably make a roast of some sort. Or a soup. Hmmm…so many choices.
jessica z says
I would love to make hot cinnamon apple cider right about now!
megan says
The first thing I would make is slow cooker sweet potatoes! My favorite way to cook potatoes
Auntiepatch says
Turkey chili
Shoshana says
Vegetarian chili!
Susan Broughton says
I have a recipe that has chicken and stuffing and it makes the chicken so juicy and tender, it is soooo good!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
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!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
It is seriously the easiest way to roast a chicken!
HS says
I’ll make slow cooker lemon garlic chicken.
Gina M (Wild Orchid) says
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
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
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!!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I really need to make more short ribs, so I am always looking for more recipes!
mona says
tortilla soup
Yankee Kitchen Ninja (Julianne) says
I love love LOVE my slow cooker — so much that I now have TWO! Lucky you for getting to test drive a new one.
colomama says
My slow cooker’s knobs are duct taped on :(. Would love a new one. Yummy recipes btw.
Becca from ItsYummi.com says
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!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
The great thing, though is that you only need a little to get great flavor and gorgeous color.
Shar says
I would make my famous bbq !
Meg says
BBQ pulled chicken!
Adrienne says
I’d make ham and green beans.
Sandy Headtke says
I would make pot roast with carrots and onions. Mash potatoes to go with all the rich gravy.
cindy jones says
I would make a beef roast with lots of vegetables and gravy.
Ashley says
Chicken tacos!
Alison H. says
I would make my yummy pulled pork in my new slow cooker!
Lisa Brown says
I will probably make chili and rice first in the slow cooker
Linda romer says
If i won the first thing i would make is my family’s favorite beef stew.
Kim Henrichs says
I would love to start with some bbq chicken!!
ccc says
beef stew
Dee Fedor says
I would make Pulled Pork with apples and onions
tammigirl says
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.
Angie Jerde says
I would make some fall soups…I can’t get enough of them this time of the year! Thanks for this giveaway : )
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I’d make my mom’s pot roast!
Shaina says
I want to try making a dessert..cake or bread pudding!
Starla B says
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!
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating says
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