Can you cook a dinner with everything together in a slow cooker?

Question

Say for example I wanted a chicken dinner. Could I put a whole chicken in with potatoes and 2 types of vegetables all in the pot?

Additional Details

And all at the same time, or do you have to add potatoes and veg after the chicken has been cooking a while first?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

That's the whole point with slow cookers, everything can go in at once for the whole day.
Start with root vegetables: potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, on the bottom.
Next add flavourings: onions, celery, leeks, garlic, etc.
Then put in the meat: beef cubes, chicken parts, pork chops, lamb shanks, etc.
Meat usually has more flavour if browned first in hot oil.
Things like dried beans should be soaked overnight, drain & rinsed, before adding.
Small vegetables like peas or kernel corn, only need 15 minutes of cooking.
Rice takes 40 minutes & pasta needs only 10 minutes.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks. I just got a slow cooker but not sure about cokking things in it yet. I thought be good to cook the whole dinner in it instead of the traditional way on the cooker. Sounds good.

Answer 2

Yup, just throw them in all at the same time and cook real slow. The trick is layering, best grease the pot then a layer of sliced potato, put the chicken on that, then layers of potatoes and the other veg.

For more details and other recipe ideas, check out dutch oven cooking, its best done over a fire bu works good in slow cookers.

Answer 3

You have to add the veggies later, otherwise they will cook to mush before the chicken is thoroughly cooked - and with a slow cooker, you do have to make sure the chicken is well done. It won't be crispy, but it will taste good.

Answer 4

My favorite crock pot reciepe is to put your favorite cut of roast in the crock pot and drench it with beef stock, than sprinkle onto the roast a packet of onion soup mix. I use the stock for brown gravy. Instead of using water that brown gravy packet calls for I use the stock. My guys love this. Of course, you can add the traditional potatoes and carrots if you'd like.
Happy Cooking!

Answer 5

Yes, you can cook them all together in a crock pot. However, the veggies will probably be pretty mushy. If you give the chicken a couple hours head start on the veggies, you will like the results better.