Slow cooked lemon and thyme chicken

This recipe is for a whole chicken cooked in a slow cooker, which gives the most beautifully tender and flavoursome meat with minimal effort.

Tools and ingredients

3.5l slow cooker

1 medium chicken (approximately 3.5lb in weight)

1 lemon - zested and then cut into quarters

Fresh or dried thyme

1 onion - cut in half with the skin left on

50 ml water

Salt and pepper

Instructions

1.  In the bottom of the slow cooker crockery, put the onion and lemon so that you create a trivet for the chicken

2.  Place the chicken on top, then sprinkle with the lemon zest, thyme, salt and pepper

3.  Put the water in the bottom of the pan to help create a little steam, then put the lid on and set on low. Leave to cook for about 8 hours.

At the end of this time you will have a chicken that can literally be taken apart with a spoon.  Be careful when taking the chicken out of the slow cooker, as it will break apart very easily.  I use two large slotted spoons to do this

Serve on a bed of rocket with a warm honey and mustard vinagrette and roasted root vegetables