Crock Pot Turkey Breast

Crock Pot Turkey Breast fuss-free way to having turkey for dinner! It also is great during the holidays because it frees up oven space. The end result is a tender, juicy turkey breast with homemade gravy that has a ton of flavor.

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If you think making a turkey dinner is a big hassle and only worth doing once a year at Thanksgiving keep reading! I’m showing you how to use your crock pot to make a juicy, tender turkey breast! You also get an easy gravy to go along with it.

You guys know how much I love my Crock Pot. I’ve used it to make Pot Roast and Chicken and Rice and now I am so excited to share this turkey breast recipe with you! If you are a crock pot fan then you are going to flip over this easy Crock Pot Stuffing.

My family loves turkey, but cooking a big old bird anytime other than Thanksgiving just seems like a big pain. That’s why I love turkey breasts – they’re small enough to fit in the crock pot and you don’t end up with days and days of leftovers.

We save the big turkey for Thanksgiving, but if you’re serving a smaller group for the holiday this Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a great option. It’s coated with a smoked paprika spice rub and cooked on celery, onions, and herbs so it has so much flavor.

Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

• Free up oven space for the holidays!
• Small turkey perfect for when you have a small crowd for the holidays or for an easy dinner recipe.
• Juicy, perfect turkey that you don’t have to worry about drying out.
• So much flavor!

Ingredients for Crock Pot Turkey Breast

There are three parts to this Crock Pot Turkey Breast: the aromatics, the rub, and the gravy. Don’t be put off by the seemingly long ingredient list – I promise all of it is quick and easy!

Turkey and Aromatics:

• Bone-in turkey breast, thawed
• Celery
• Onion
• Fresh thyme

For the Rub:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Seasoned salt
• Black pepper
• Butter

For the Gravy:

• Broth from the cooked turkey
• Butter
• All-purpose flour
• Black pepper
• Salt

How to Make Turkey Breast in Crock Pot

Spray a large (5-6-quart) crock pot with cooking spray. Place the celery, onion and thyme in the bottom of the crock pot.

Mix the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl. Rub it all over the turkey. Gently separate the skin from the meat and rub some under the skin, too. Place the turkey breast side down in the crock pot so it is resting on top of the vegetables.

Cook the turkey breast on low for 6 to 7 hours, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the crock pot and let it rest for 20 minutes. Once rested, transfer the turkey to an oven-safe baking dish and place it under the broiler until the skin turns golden and crispy.

Strain the juices in the crock pot into a measuring cup. It should be about 2 cups. If less, you can top it off with some chicken broth. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until smooth. Add one cup of the broth and whisk until a paste forms. Add the other cup of broth and whisk until smooth. Add the salt and pepper and simmer the gravy until it’s thickened.

How do I thaw Turkey?

The safest way to thaw turkey is in the refrigerator.

A 5-pound turkey breast will take approximately 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.

Keep the turkey breast in it’s packaging and place it in a baking dish to thaw. This will prevent cross-contamination if the juices leak out.

Once the turkey breast is thawed you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to two days longer before you cook it.

What size turkey breast is best?

We used a 4-5 pound bone-in turkey breast for this recipe. You could also use a 3-4 pound boneless turkey breast, which will take about 6 hours to cook through.

What size Crock Pot should I use?

Use a 6-7 quart crock pot to fit your turkey breast into it properly.

How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in the crock pot?

This recipe take about 7 hours to cook your turkey breast in the crock pot.

How do I know what my turkey is done?

Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your cooked turkey. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat. You know when the turkey is done when the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to store leftover turkey

Refrigerator: Place leftover turkey in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Freezer: To freeze place the leftover turkey in a freezer safe container or freezer safe resealable bag. Store for up to three months in the freezer. To defrost frozen turkey place it in the refrigerator overnight or until thawed.

How to Reheat Leftover Turkey

Place turkey in an oven safe baking dish with a little broth or water. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or until warmed through.

Juicy, tender chicken with a flavorful gravy all done with the crock pot! Whether you make this next weekend or for Thanksgiving you’re going to love how easy this turkey breast is to make! Of course, what is a turkey dinner without some sides? Be sure to check out some of our favorites!

What should I serve with Crock Pot Turkey Breast?

• The Best Green Bean Casserole
• Cranberry Sauce Recipe
• Crock Pot Stuffing
• Potatoes Au Gratin
• The Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe
• Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
• Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

What should I do with leftover turkey?

• Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
• Turkey & Corn Chowder
• Cheesy Bacon Turkey Sliders
• Turkey Tetrazzini

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 23 votes

Crock Pot Turkey Breast

A quick and easy turkey recipe perfect for dinners, holidays or for meal prepping!

Prep:15 minutes mins

Cook:6 hours hrs

Total:6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

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6

Ingredients

Turkey

• ▢ 4-5 pounds bone-in turkey breast completely thawed
• ▢ 4 stalks celery
• ▢ 2 onions cut into chunks
• ▢ 5 sprigs fresh thyme or 3 tsp dried thyme leaves

Rub

• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons butter softened

Gravy

• ▢ 2 cups broth from turkey
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons butter
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Crock Pot Turkey

• Spray a large (recommended 6 quart) crock pot with non stock spray.
• Place the celery, onion and thyme in bottom of Crock Pot.
• Place rub ingredients in bowl and mix to combine
• Rub the rub mixture on the outside of turkey and make sure to gently lift the skin and rub under the skin.
• Place the turkey breast with the breast side down, on top of vegetables in Crock Pot so it is elevated.
• Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or until the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
• Remove the turkey from the Crock Pot and let is rest for 20 minutes before crisping the skin.
• To Crisp the Skin – Preheat broiler to high. Place the oven rack 1 foot from heat source. Place the turkey breast in a heatproof serving dish and place the dish on oven shelf. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy. Keep an eye on this because it will brown quickly.

Gravy

• Strain broth from crock pot into a measure cup. You should have at least two cups. If you don’t top it off with chicken broth.
• Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in flour until it is smooth. Pour about 1 c. broth into the flour mixture and whisk until it forms a past. Add 1 c. of broth and whisk to combine. Whisk in the salt and pepper then simmer until it is thickened.
• It will thicken as it cools so make sure to take it off right before it reaches you desired thickness.

Tips

Tips & Tricks!

• Choose a turkey breast that is approximately 4 to 5 pounds. It should fit well in a 6-quart crock pot.
• Choose a skin-on, bone-in turkey breast. You will get a juicier and more flavorful turkey breast once it’s cooked.
• Be sure to place the breast side down in the crock pot. This will ensure they turkey breast cooks evenly and all of the juices run into the breast meat so you have a juicy tender turkey breast.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your cooked turkey. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat. You know when the turkey is done when the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
• Be sure to let your turkey rest before you crisp the skin. Resting it allows all of the juices to redistribute to they don’t all run out when you slice it.
• I don’t recommend skipping the broiler step! Turkey cooked in a crock pot won’t develop a golden and crispy skin. Popping it under the broiler for a few minutes is the key to a beautiful (and delicious!) turkey.

How to safely thaw a Turkey Breast

• The safest way to thaw turkey is in the refrigerator.
• A 5-pound turkey breast will take approximately 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.
• Keep the turkey breast in it’s packaging and place it in a baking dish to thaw. This will prevent cross-contamination if the juices leak out.
• Once the turkey breast is thawed you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to two days longer before you cook it.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 557kcal (28%), Carbohydrates: 13g (4%), Protein: 61g (122%), Fat: 31g (48%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Cholesterol: 202mg (67%), Sodium: 1770mg (77%), Potassium: 209mg (6%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 2g (2%), Vitamin A: 797IU (16%), Vitamin C: 11mg (13%), Calcium: 34mg (3%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.