How do I adjust recipes for the slow cooker?

[Jaime in Winnipeg]

Hi! I'm going to buy a slow cooker tomorrow and want to make a whole chicken for Sunday supper. I found some very yummy recipes, but none of them are for a crockpot/slow cooker. How do I adjust the recipe/cook time? Also, can I put carrots and/or potatoes in the slow cooker at the same time and cook them too? If so, how does that work time-wise? Do I put them in with the chicken or do I add them later?

[Julesong]

Jaime G wrote:
Hi! I'm going to buy a slow cooker tomorrow and want to make a whole chicken for Sunday supper. I found some very yummy recipes, but none of them are for a crockpot/slow cooker. How do I adjust the recipe/cook time? Also, can I put carrots and/or potatoes in the slow cooker at the same time and cook them too? If so, how does that work time-wise? Do I put them in with the chicken or do I add them later?

Hi, Jaime.

If I were you, I'd go through the crockpot chicken recipes here and find one that you like that's already adjusted for a slow cooker, rather than trying to adapt a non-crockpot recipe. Especially since it looks like this is your first time using a crockpot, yes?

[Kris H.]

Jaime G wrote:
Hi! I'm going to buy a slow cooker tomorrow and want to make a whole chicken for Sunday supper. I found some very yummy recipes, but none of them are for a crockpot/slow cooker. How do I adjust the recipe/cook time? Also, can I put carrots and/or potatoes in the slow cooker at the same time and cook them too? If so, how does that work time-wise? Do I put them in with the chicken or do I add them later?

Hope this isn't too late--the recipe cook time will depend on the heat and size of the crockpot. I know that's not very helpful, but there are so many sizes and types of crockpot now that I can't really give any better answer! (Edit to add)--You may find some guidelines in the manual that comes with your pot.

Vegetables, especially hard ones like carrots and potatoes, actually cook more slowly in the crockpot than the meat, or chicken. When I use them with chicken, I put them in the bottom, first. (I have an old round Rival where the heating elements are on the sides, not the bottom). That way, they are in any liquid which seems to help them cook. When I use garlic and onions, I often put them inside the chicken. And celery, also, which I only use for the flavor as I don't like to eat the cooked pieces.

I use a little bit of liquid, either water or wine (or both) mainly to get the vegetables started, but the chicken will make quite a bit of juices on its own, so if you are trying to adjust a recipe, be mindful of the amount of liquid.

Like any cooking, crockpot cooking is an experimental art. Have fun learning!

If you post what kind/size of crockpot you buy and ask about hints for using it, there will no doubt be somebody on here who has that very kind and is an expert with it!