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Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is the perfect way to get tender, juicy turkey with a fraction of the prep but all the flavor. Let the slow cooker do ALL the work!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredible Flavor: Because this cooks all day in a slow cooker, all the flavors meld into the juicy turkey meat, creating a tender, delicoius turkey!
- Convenient: Using the slow cooker for your turkey frees up the stove and oven for all the amazing side dishes. Stuffing, Famous Mashed Potatoes, The Best Sweet Potato Casserole, The World’s Best Green Bean Casserole and some Parker House Rolls.
- Versatile: This turkey is so flavorful and delicious that you will want to make it more than just on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s great any time of year.
Turkey Breast Ingredients For the Slow Cooker
Making the turkey in the crockpot is the best! That way, you have the oven to make everything else. Not only that, but the turkey’s flavor and tenderness are unbeatable! Scroll to the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
Turkey
- Boneless Turkey Breast Roast Thawed: It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey! Just make sure the breast will fit in your crockpot and has had 24 hours to thaw in the fridge.
- Onion: Adds a hint of sweetness and savory flavor that perfectly complements the turkey breast.
- Garlic Cloves: Gives the turkey that incredible punch of savory flavor.
- Whole Carrots: Provide a bright sweetness while softening, releasing their juices, and infusing into the breast.
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and flavor into the turkey while it cooks.
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh Rosemary and Sage add a bright, earthy note to the turkey breast while it cooks.
Butter Herb Rub
- Softened Butter: The base for the rub that soaks into the slow cooker turkey while it cooks. You can use salted or unsalted butter, whatever your preference.
- Garlic Powder: Gives extra garlic flavor in the butter rub.
- Dried Onion Flakes: Adds a sweet, slightly tender flavor and texture.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Enhances the flavors of everything in this recipe.
- Paprika: Complements the vegetables and addds a hint of peppery heat.
- Dried Herbs: Combine Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, is the ultimate combination in dried herbs for classic flavor.
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe
It only took me a short time to prep everything and throw it into the slow cooker. In just a few hours, I had the most delicious, moist, and tender turkey I have ever had! Trust me, you will want to make this all year long!
- Prep: Prepare the turkey by thawing it ahead of time. I thawed mine in the fridge 2 days in advance! Line your slow cooker with a liner or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place the onion, garlic, carrots, chicken broth, and herbs sprigs in the slow cooker’s bottom.
- Stir: Combine the softened butter, garlic powder, dried onion flakes, salt, paprika, sage, rosemary, thyme, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir to incorporate the herbs into the butter.
- Coat: Spread the butter mixture generously all over the thawed turkey.
- Cook: Place the turkey into the crockpot and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer. Carefully remove your turkey from the slow cooker and then place it on a platter. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing, and enjoy!
Crockpot Turkey Breast Tips and Variations
- Turkey: Make sure your turkey breast will fit in your slow cooker! 5-6 pounds will fit in standard 7-quart slow cooker.
- Citrus: Add sliced lemons or oranges to the bottom of the slow cooker for added flavor!
- Boneless vs Bone-In: I prefer boneless turkey breast because it’s easier to slice and has more meat! You can use a bone-in turkey breast if you prefer. It will add more flavor to the meat, but you will also need to cut and remove the bones and skin after it is cooked.
- Rest: Allowing the turkey to rest before carving gives the juices time to distribute evenly through the meat. It sounds weird, but it’s totally true. Let it rest before cutting.
- Thaw: Be sure to thoroughly thaw your turkey breast in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Do not thaw at room temperature.
- Gravy: Make gravy to go with it!
How to Store Crock Pot Turkey Breast Leftovers
- In the Refrigerator: If you have any leftovers store them in the fridge in a tightly sealed container or even a freezer bag for up to 4-5 days.
- In the Freezer: Place cooled leftover turkey in an airtight container or sealable bag. Freeze for up to 3 months! Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- To Reheat: Reheat any leftovers in the microwave until warmed through.
More Turkey Recipes to Try
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Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Amazing juicy and perfectly tender turkey breast that slow cooks all day in the crockpot!
Ingredients
Turkey
- 5 pounds boneless turkey breast roast thawed
- 1 onion peeled and quartered
- 3 garlic cloves
- 3-4 whole carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 sprig sage
Butter Herb Rub
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Line your slow cooker with a liner or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the onion, garlic, carrots, chicken broth, and sprigs of herbs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Combine the softened butter, garlic powder, dried onion flakes, salt, paprika, sage, rosemary, thyme, and pepper in a bowl. Stir to incorporate the herbs into the butter.
- Spread the butter mixture generously all over the thawed turkey.
- Place the turkey into the crockpot and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. The turkey is done when the temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a thermometer.
- Carefully remove your turkey from the slow cooker and place it on a platter. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoy!
Notes
Updated on November 6, 2024
Published on November 24, 2020
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 57gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 167mgSodium: 1211mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4139IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
I used this recipe last year for Christmas and I’m making it again this year. It’s delicious and so easy. Turkey breast is the way to go for just four guests.
I used this recipe for our Thanksgiving turkey breast and it was the absolute best! Tender, moist, delicious and easy. My entire family devoured it. I added 2 packs Knorr Turkey gravy mix just thicken up a bit. Perfect in every way. Thank you!
I’m a little confused. The picture shows a whole turkey and shows the seasoning on the turkey “before” adding the salt/pepper/seasoning. The recipe says bone in turkey recipe and says to add salt/pepper/seasoning, after pouring on the cranberry mixture? I’m guessing the cook time of 8 to 9 hours, is for a whole turkey, so how long do you cook the bone in breast?
I have (2) 3 pound boneless turkey breasts. Should I put then both in one crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or in separate crock pots and lower the cooking time? How long would it take for a 3 pound breast?
Thank you!
I enjoyed the simplicity of this recipe and the flavors were great. However why is there a photo of a whole turkey?? It’s very confusing to those searching for a turkey breast recipe.
I never leave comments but this was amazing even though I didn’t have oj I subbed cranpinapple. So good!!
Hi there….Wondering if the juices left on the bottom of the crockpot can be used as a sauce or if it has done its job after cooking.
Thanks very much for posting!
Instead of using cranberry sce could you use a can of mangos or peaches I’m going to try with a can of mangos
This was AMAZING…maybe the best ever! Definitely one of the best turkey breast recipes I’ve ever used. I’m excited to make this year round. It’s so easy and insanely delicious and tender.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!!