Cranberry sauce isn’t just for the holidays. It can be used in recipes all year round and is delicious when used to make this easy slow cooker recipe for Whole Chicken Cranberry Bake.
I use my Best Ever Homemade Cranberry Sauce but if you don’t have homemade you can use store bought whole berry cranberry sauce.
This recipe is also a great way to use up any cranberry sauce you may have leftover from Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other meal where you’ve served it.
Whole Chicken Cranberry Bake
Ingredients to make Whole Chicken Cranberry Bake:
- 1 – 5 lb whole chicken
- Half of a large onion, sliced or 2 medium sized onions
- 2 half pint jars of homemade cranberry sauce or 1 – 8 oz can of store bought
- ¾ cup of pineapple juice (orange juice works well too)
- 1 clove of garlic, minced (approx 1 tsp)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
Wash and drain the chicken.
Thickly slice the onion into about one quarter inch slices.
Add half of the sliced onions to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Place the chicken, breast side up in the slow cooker and layer on the remaining sliced onions.
In a small sauce pan, combine the cranberry sauce, pineapple juice, minced garlic and salt and pepper. Cook just until the cranberry sauce is melted and the pineapple juice is mixed in.
Pour over the chicken and onions.
Cook on high for 2 hours and then switch to low for 4 to 5 hours, until done.
If you need to start the Whole Chicken Cranberry Bake first thing in the morning before leaving for work or other activities, cook on low for 8 to 9 hrs.
Carefully lift the chicken out of the slow cooker and transfer to a plate for carving.
Depending on how long you’ve cooked it, it may even fall apart a bit.
Serve with with your favorite sides.
Here I’ve served it with potato puffs made from leftover mashed potatoes and steamed green beans.
Doesn’t it look delicious!
Whole Chicken Cranberry Bake makes a great meal no matter what time of year you serve it.
Want more cranberry recipes? Click on the links below:
Best Ever Homemade Cranberry Sauce
How to Can Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Drop Cookies
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