Perfectly seasoned with butter, herbs, onions, and garlic, this juicy, tender turkey breast is easy to make in the slow cooker. Easy Crock Pot Turkey Breast is the perfect recipe when you don’t want to make a whole turkey, and no oven space is needed!
Add easy-to-make homemade Turkey Gravy, Orange Cranberry Sauce, and Baked Potato Casserole for a classic combination that’s perfect for any meal!
In This Post
Thanksgiving is traditionally a busy day for cooks, with many recipes and lots of dishes. That’s how it is at my house. I love all that comes with preparing a big, special meal, but I also like to use a few shortcuts that allow me to enjoy the process.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Cooking a turkey breast is terrific if you are hosting a small gathering, have folks who like white meat, or want to make turkey sandwiches.
- The turkey is cooked slowly, making it tender, juicy, and full of savory flavors from the butter, garlic, and herb seasoning.
- This hands-off cooking method frees up time and valuable oven space.
- You’ll have delicious turkey drippings in the Crock Pot to turn into gravy.
Ingredients For Crock Pot Turkey Breast
This slow cooker turkey breast recipe is super easy to master. You don’t need a fancy roasting pan because the cooking rack is made from veggies. I use carrots, celery, onion, and garlic placed in the bottom of the crock pot to rest on the turkey breast on.
- Turkey Breast – thawed
- Butter
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Cracked Pepper
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Dried Thyme, Dried Sage
- Celery
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Onion
What Type Of Slow Cooker Is Recommended?
For this recipe, you’ll need to use a large crock pot so that the turkey breasts easily fit inside. I use an 8-quart slow cooker for a whole bone-in turkey breast.
How To Thaw Frozen Turkey
Make sure your turkey is fully thawed. Keep the turkey breast in its packaging and thaw it in the refrigerator. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least one day of thawing for every 4 lbs of turkey.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Turkey Breast In The Crock Pot?
Turkey breast made in the crock pot should always be cooked on LOW. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should read 165 degrees when done.
Weight
2 pound
3 pound
4-5 pound
6-7 pound
Time
3 hours
4 hours
5 – 5 ½ hours
5 ½ – 6 ½ hours
Tips For Making The Best Crock Pot Turkey Breast
- Lightly coat the crock pot with cooking spray before cooking.
- Slightly melt butter in a small bowl, then add garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Mix everything, then slather on the turkey breast.
- Place the turkey BREAST SIDE DOWN in the crock pot.
- There is no need to add chicken broth or other liquid to the slow cooker. The fat from the turkey and the butter will make the meat juicy all on its own.
- Use the juices in the bottom of the crock pot to make gravy.
- After the turkey is done, remove it from the crock pot and place it in a baking dish. Set the oven to broil. Place the turkey under the broiler to crisp up the skin for 5-6 minutes.
What To Serve With Juicy Turkey Breast
This turkey recipe will surely be a hit on any holiday table, but it can easily be made any time of the year! It’s excellent for family dinners, with enough leftovers for turkey sandwiches. Crockpot turkey breast is also great to make during the spring and summer for potlucks and church socials.
Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve turkey:
- Southern Candied Yams
- Classic Ambrosia Salad
- Skillet Green Beans
- BLT Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Cranberry Sauce
Love Turkey? Then Try These Easy Recipes
More Thanksgiving Classics
If you’re looking for more ideas to help you celebrate the season, I’ve got you covered. These easy-to-make, showstopping side dishes are destined to become family favorites in no time!
If you tried this Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Recipe Card With Instructions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2-3 whole carrots
- 2-3 stalks celery
- ¼ quartered onion
- 1 bulb garlic cut in half
- 1 4-5 pound bone-in turkey breast
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, slightly melted
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
Instructions
- Lightly coat the crock pot with cooking spray. Place the carrots, celery, onion and garlic in the bottom of the pot.
- Place the softened butter in a small bowl, then add garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Mix everything, then slather on the turkey breast. Place the turkey, BREAST SIDE DOWN in the crock pot.
- Set the heat to LOW and the timer to 5 hours. At the end of cooking time, use an instant-read thermometer to test to ensure the turkey is done. It should read 165 degrees. Cook for an additional 30 minutes if needed.
- After the turkey is done, remove it from the Crock Pot and place it in a baking dish. Set the oven to broil. Place the turkey under the broiler to crisp up the skin for 5-6 minutes.
- Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes, then carve and place it on a serving platter. Serve with gravy.
Homemade Turkey Gravy
- Strain the liquid from the bottom of the Crock Pot. Add chicken stock or water for a total of 2 cups if there's not enough liquid from the Crock Pot. Set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium size pan. Sprinkle in 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of liquid and whisk until the gravy is smooth. Add remaining liquid and cook, stirring or whisking constantly, until gravy has thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Store any leftover turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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darli t
seriously, best turkey i have ever cooked..super moist and yummy. my go to for cooked poultry in soooo many ways! thank you so very much for sharing…
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words and the great rating.
~Donya
Shery Sullivan
Would you just make a box dressing as a side? Or if I make it homemade, do you have a recipe for that?
Angela
Excellent recipe!! The whole family loved it even the picky eater!:) We had 3lbs boneless turkey breast it was done in 3 hours, internal temp went to 200 fortunately it was perfectly moist!!! Whew!
Wonderful! Thanks so much.
~Donya
Gail
Hi Donna, This sounds amazing and delicious. I am making turkey breast and my question is what do you so with all those veggies you put in bottom of crockpot?
Thanks Gail
Onions, celery, and carrots normally.
~Enjoy,
~Donya
Linda R
Very flavorful and juicy.
Kelly Sams
Hi Donya, I was wondering if a WestBend slow cooker rather than a Crockpot could be used to slow cook the turkey breast using this recipe?
Sure, it should work just fine.
~Donya
Barbara Van Houten
Hi Donya, Can I follow this recipe for a boneless turkey breast? Sounds delicious and looking forward to making this.
Hey Barbara.
Sure! I would watch the time, though. Depending on the size of the bird, maybe back off on the cook time just a bit. You can always go longer and make sure you check the temp – it should be 165 degrees internally. Let me know how things turn out.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Donya
Barbara Van Houten
Great – I will let you know how it comes out!
Barbara Van Houten
Can you do this recipe with a boneless turkey breast?? In any event, this sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks! Barbara
Marilyn Gennace
I’m so anxious to try your recipe for the crockpot turkey breast. It sounds wonderful!!
Donya
Hey there Marilyn!
I am so happy to hear that you’re giving this recipe a try, I think you’re going to absolutely love it! This is a terrific way to prepare your turkey if you’re hosting a smaller crowd of people, it comes out tender and juicy every time! Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for your support, let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help!
~Donya