A whole chicken is an affordable base for a meal. Roasting in the oven is the common cooking method, but a whole chicken also cooks well in a slow cooker, grill or rotisserie. Venturing beyond the roasting method brings variety to your dinner menu and takes advantage of a whole chicken's diversity. Regardless of the cooking method chosen, always cook your chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oven
The classic oven-roasted chicken comes out moist inside and crispy on the outside when cooked correctly. Rinse the whole chicken before preparing it for the oven. Brushing the skin with olive oil or melted butter helps create a crisper outside. Herbs and spices rubbed on the chicken enhance the flavor. You can also fill the cavity with herbs, spices and vegetables to flavor the meat.
Start with an oven preheated to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to quickly crisp the outside of your whole chicken for the roasted flavor. Lower the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit after 10 to 15 minutes for the remainder of the cooking time.
Slow Cooker
A slow cooker produces a moist whole chicken that is so tender if falls off the bone. This method is also simple because you just place your chicken and other ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it all cook. You don't have to mess with basting the chicken during the cooking time. Add onions, carrots and other vegetables in the slow cooker for more flavor and to have side dishes along with your chicken. A whole chicken cooks in about eight hours on the low setting or four hours on the high setting of most slow cookers.
Grill
Grilling is typically used for smaller pieces of chicken, like the breast, but you can grill a whole chicken. Of course, it will require a longer grilling time than individual pieces. To help it cook faster, cut the chicken in half through the backbone and around the bottom so you can flatten it, similar to butterflying a piece of meat.
Another option is the beer-can grilling method. Pour out about half of a can of beer. Place the can with the remaining beer inside on the grill. Place the chicken with the cavity over the beer can so it stands upright, using the legs to help balance the chicken. Put the lid on the grill, and cook the chicken for about one hour and 15 minutes.
Rotisserie
Grocery stores often sell rotisserie chickens already cooked in the deli section, but you can make your own at home with an inexpensive rotisserie cooker. The rotisserie method creates a crispy outside while keeping the meat juicy. The cookers are typically counter-top models that allow you to cook a whole chicken or other meats inside. You can also get a rotisserie attachment for some grills.
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