Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients:

• 8 cups water
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into large dice
• 3 medium celery stalks, large dice
• 1 medium yellow onion, small dice
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbs kosher salt, add more to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, add more to taste
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 whole chicken (4-5 lb), neck and giblets removed from the cavity
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 2 tbs coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Directions:

1. Place the water, carrots, celery, onion, and bay leaf in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker and stir to combine; set aside.
2. Place the measured salt, measured pepper, and thyme in a small bowl and stir to combine; set aside.
3. Place the chicken on a work surface or cutting board and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut off and discard any extra fat hanging around the body cavity.
4. Drizzle the oil on the chicken and rub it all over the skin. Season inside and out with the thyme mixture.
5. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through and falling off the bones, about 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
6. Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet. When it’s cool enough to handle but still warm, use your hands to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces (discard the skin, cartilage, and bones).
7. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and add the parsley.
8. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

GF/DF/Paleo

Borrowed from ChowHound