Not sure I should ask this...

[meriad]

after the posts on the more adventurous gamey meats, but....

I have a whole chicken that I'd like to make a casserole with - in the slow cooker. I've never done that before and I'm not sure if I need to brown the chicken before hand or if I can just place the whole chicken on a bed of raw leeks, onions, potatoes and carrots with a bit of stock straight into the slow cooker and leave it to do it's thing?

I've also got mushrooms and broccoli and cauliflower that I could add, but not sure about those?

[Diflower]

Meriad I'm definitely not the right person to answer, for a start I'd never put raw onions in the slow cooker, but I know other people do and love the results. And I've never cooked a whole chicken in it, but would only say don't overdo it too much or it will be really soft and pappy and you'll have to fish the bones out.

I think actually you could do what you say and see what it's like. Personally I'd cook the cauli and broccoli separately, and am not sure mushrooms would 'go'.

[debih]

I have cooked a whole chicken in the slow cooker many times - I have a lovely sweet and sour chicken recipe that I do that calls for a whole chicken.

I always brown it beforehand - and I would also brown the onions.

The recipe I do works really well and the chicken is always succulent. But, be warned - it releases a lot of fat - we don't tend to eat much of the sauce that it makes as it is very oily.

[Workingman]

Ria, I also do whole chickens in the SC and I am with Debih/Di on this.

Seal the chicken and sauté the onions and leeks, then let the SC do its thing.

I would cook the other veg separately and add them to the juices, once most of the fat is removed, to make a thickish sauce/gravy. If cooked with the chicken the potatoes will turn to mush.

ETA Do not add water to the chicken as it cooks, just spoonful. Add it to the gravy once it is done.

[meriad]

Thanks everyone - I'll give it a go and let you know the result.

Debih, that sweet sour recipe sounds fabulous - could you post it when you have a chance please?

[debih]

I will - I just need to find the little book that came with my slow cooker - I've a feeling that it is packed away somewhere.

I will try to search it out, but it may take some time!

[meriad]

Thanks Debih - no rush I promise. Only if you do come across the book - please don't go out of your way searching for it. x

[Kaz]

I've never cooked a whole chicken in mine, sorry, only casseroles I never bother browning for those but know some do

[meriad]

Well, it's been cooking for a few hours now - 2 on high and then 3 with one more to go on low and it's smelling good, even if I say so myself. In addition to the stock, onion, leek, carrot and potato I've added a tiny bit of bacon.

I did have a bit of a panic moment when it came to putting the chicken into the slow cooker - it justfit - so, note to self; next time buy a smaller chicken

[miasmum]

I never brown anything first, I just bung it in