This slow cooker turkey breast is coated in a seasoned herb butter, then placed in the crock pot to cook to tender perfection. It’s the perfect way to free up oven space for your big holiday meal, and the turkey comes out perfect every time!
I love to make this slow cooker turkey, it’s a fuss free way to have a delicious and elegant main course. I serve my crock pot turkey with some of our favorite side dishes like cranberry jello salad and bacon brussels sprouts. Don’t forget the pecan pie bars and pumpkin meringue pie for dessert!
Can you believe that such a browned and succulent turkey breast can come from a slow cooker? It’s true, and it couldn’t be any easier to make. Plus there are plenty of drippings which make the best gravy.
How do you make slow cooker turkey breast?
This recipe starts with a seasoned butter, which is made with a blend of herbs and spices. The butter goes on top of, and underneath the turkey skin. The turkey breast then goes into the crock pot and simmers all day until it’s tender and flavorful.
The bottom of the slow cooker gets lined with thick slices of onion, which serves as a rack to elevate the turkey breast so it doesn’t sit in a bunch of liquid. You want your onion slices to be about 1 inch thick. As a bonus, the onion flavors the cooking liquid which forms the base of the gravy.
Slow cooker turkey breast tips
- I’ve used a half breast here, but you can use a whole breast if you’re serving more people. Simply double the amount of the seasoned butter and proceed with the recipe. You will also need to increase the cook time.
- Love crispy skin? Me too. After the turkey comes out of the slow cooker, it gets broiled for a few minutes to get the skin crispy and golden brown.
- You’ll need a larger oval slow cooker to cook a turkey breast. A standard round slow cooker will not be large enough.
- I highly recommend using a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast as it will be much less likely to get dry.
How much turkey per person?
You’ll want to count on buying one pound of turkey breast per person. If you want more leftovers, try to aim for 1 1/2-2 pounds per person.
How long does it take to cook turkey in a slow cooker?
A standard sized turkey breast will need to cook for approximately 6 hours on low heat. The turkey is done when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165 degrees F.
After your slow cooker turkey breast is done, you can strain the liquid left over in the slow cooker and turn it into the best gravy. I like to serve my crock pot turkey with some amazingly delicious side dishes including
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- Zucchini Gratin
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Butterflake Rolls
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Once you try making turkey in a slow cooker, you won’t want to go back to the oven roasted method!
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Ingredients
For the turkey
- 6 lb bone-in, skin-on turkey breast
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large onion peeled and cut into 1 inch thick slices
- fresh herbs for garnish optional
- cooking spray
For the gravy
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken or turkey broth
Instructions
- Place the 4 tablespoons of butter, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir until combined.
- Loosen the skin of the turkey. Spread half of the butter mixture under the skin of the turkey and spread half all over the top of the turkey.
- Coat a large oval slow cooker with cooking spray and line the bottom of the slow cooker with the onion slices.
- Place the turkey breast on top of the onion slices. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees F.
- Transfer the turkey breast to a baking sheet. Preheat the broiler.
- Broil the turkey for 4-5 minutes or until skin is browned and crispy.
- Pour the liquid from the slow cooker through a strainer; discard the solids.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium pan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine.
- Cook the flour and butter mixture for 1 minute.
- Pour 1 cup of strained drippings and 1 cup of chicken broth in the pan.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes or until just thickened, stirring constantly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Slice the turkey and serve with the gravy. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Ruby says
Would this recipe work in an Instant Pot? What would be the cook time?
Sara says
You’ll want to cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes per pound, then let the pressure release naturally.
Jodi Wagner says
Do you add any liquid to the slow cooker? Also, I am trying a half breast(2.5 lbs.) Should I reduce cooking time?
Sara says
You don’t need to add any liquid, the turkey will produce it’s own liquid! I’d try 4-5 hours for that size breast.
Jan says
Made this tonight….I didnt have thyme so I used poultry seasoning instead….worked fine. I also skipped the broiling at the end….Too much trouble tonight and it didn’t need it. Didn’t like the cooked globs of seasoning so I scraped it off along with the skin. It was still wonderfully seasoned and moist!! Will use this every time I do a turkey breast!!!
Sara says
So happy to hear it worked out well for you!
Elyse says
I had such a hard time spreading the butter, it kept wanting to stick to my hands instead of the turkey and gloop up and fall off. I ended up with globs of butter and seasoning all over the turkey. What am I doing wrong?
Sara says
I typically use a nonstick spatula to spread it, you can also coat your hands in a little cooking spray to keep it from sticking. That being said the butter doesn’t have to be applied perfectly since it’s going to melt and run all over the turkey anyways!
Lydia says
Are you patting the turkey all the way dry after rinsing it?
Sara says
You don’t need to pat the turkey dry for this recipe!
Maria says
I am confused by the cook time. It says 4 hours but with the recipe it says 6 hours or to 165. Big discrepancy is this a typo and which is correct?
Sara says
6 hours is correct I fixed the recipe card!
Christina Turner says
I will be trying this with a boneless breast. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Merry Christmas!!!
Sara says
Hope you enjoy, Merry Christmas to you too!
Debbie Arvin says
How can you adapt this to be slow cooked in a cast iron with porcelain coating? eigher on top stove or oven slow cooked?
Sara says
You could try cooking it covered in the oven at 300 degrees F for the same amount of time!
Yolanda Jimenez says
Can I cook the turkey on high, for less time. Or should I leave it at is. Thanks
Sara says
You can cook in on high in half the time it takes on low! I find that the turkey comes out more tender and moist on low heat though.
Chantal says
Bought accidentally potter that is garlic and herb. It has chives parsley garlic salt Dell pepper and paprika. Can I use this instead of make my own mixture?
Sara says
Do you mean butter? If so, yes that’s fine!
TishOlinski says
What to do if liddoesn’t fit? Can I use aluminum foil?
Sara says
Yes, use a generous amount of heavy duty aluminum foil, and make sure it’s totally covered and try to crimp the foil around the ring of the crock pot to create the best seal that you can. You also may want to spray the top of the turkey with non stick cooking spray so that it doesn’t stick to the foil as it cooks.
Sarah Hancock says
Is a boneless turkey breast ok?
Sara says
Yes that should work fine but it may take less time to cook. I’d start checking at the 4 hour mark depending on the size!
Morgan Magelssen says
Our oven is currently broken so I have been scouring the web for a good slow cooker turkey breast recipe and this looks great! Quick question though: will the skin still be at least a little crispy if we aren’t able to broil it at the end?
Sara says
Does your stove work? You could try putting the turkey skin side down in a frying pan with a little butter or olive oil to crisp up the skin.
To be the perfect mother says
It looks so delicious, I’ll try it this weekend
Debbie says
Perfect recipe and easy too! Makes my mouth water!
Kris says
Thank you for getting right back to me. Would I still cook it for the same amount of time as a bone in turkey breast.
Kris says
Can you use a frozen boneless turkey breast
Sara says
I would thaw it first, but boneless will work just fine!
Caroline says
Breast meat up or down?
Sara says
Breast meat up!
sim says
This recipe sound so good and you have put up such great pictures to go along with it!
Definitely going to try this recipe out!
Jenny Silva says
This looks absolutely delicious! Who needs to wait for a holiday? I’d have that right now.