Name: Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 h
Total time: 5 h 10 min
Yield: 5 people
Ingredients: 1 Turkey Brine Recipe; 1 Herb Butter Recipe; 1 large white onion; 8 garlic cloves; 5 lbs boneless turkey breast

This Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is perfect for a small family or Thanksgiving dinner and the easiest way to make a juicy turkey with minimal prep and flavors of garlic, onion, and herbs.

Sliced Turkey Breast with herbs on a white plate with half an orange, parsley, and garlic in the background.

The Easiest Turkey Dinner

This Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is the easiest way to prepare juicy, tender turkey for a cozy, intimate dinner. Serve it alongside Stuffing, Corn Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, and Yeast Rolls for a delicious dinner feast!

And, might I add, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! I love the idea of making Crock Pot Turkey Breast for smaller holiday celebrations.

If you’re hosting a few loved ones, why wrestle with a huge turkey and spend hours and hours cooking it?

Or perhaps you want your house filled with the aroma of roasted turkey before or after the big day. If you’re not hosting the holiday but you want leftovers, make this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast to enjoy all week!

Sliced Turkey Breast with herbs on a white plate with half an orange and parsley in the background.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Turkey Brine
Herb Butter
Large White Onion
Garlic Cloves
Boneless Turkey Breast

Turkey breast being brined in a plastic bag in a green bowl.

I made 2 of these for Thanksgiving, and it was an absolute hit! Thank you for making me a culinary star!

– Antwoine

Onions and garlic in the bottom of a slow cooker.

How To Cook Turkey Breast in a Crockpot

1. First, the meat is brined in a Turkey Brine that has notes of orange, cinnamon, bay leaves, and pepper.
2. Next, the meat is then rubbed under and above the skin with a savory Herb Butter (add a bit of garlic powder to the butter for even more flavor!) to add flavor and tenderness.
3. Then, line the bottom of the slow cooker with sliced white onions and crushed garlic cloves and place the turkey breast in the slow cooker on top of them.
4. Finally, cover and cook and enjoy a moist, delicious turkey breast made from the easiest recipe ever! Seriously… this is a foolproof way to cook a turkey breast, so it’s perfect for first-timers.

Turkey breast in a slow cooker covered in herb butter.

Overhead photo of a turkey breast covered in herbs and sliced on a plate with oranges and parsley.

How To Freeze Slow Cooked Turkey

We love making this and freezing it and using it in everything from soups to quesadillas! If you’re using a bone-in turkey breast, remove all of the meat from the bones before freezing.

You can slice, dice, or shred your meat before freezing. Then place it in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing and freezing for up to 6 months.

To thaw, simply transfer to the refrigerator to thaw for a few hours before use. Aside from inspiring a mini holiday meal, Crock Pot Turkey Breast tastes delicious in pot pies, salads, and soups.

In fact, with a bit of mayo and a spoonful of zesty Cranberry Sauce, this turkey makes an amazing sandwich.

Big slice of turkey breast being held with a fork.

More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes

Candied Yams – Loaded with sugar, honey, butter, and spices!
Pecan Pie – A classic holiday that you can make a day or two ahead of time!
Corn Mac and Cheese – A dish you can count on the whole family loving!
Yeast Rolls – Fully, pull-apart dinner rolls!
Cranberry Sauce – Better than store-bought!

Ingredients

5 people

1 Turkey Brine Recipe
1 Herb Butter Recipe
1 large white onion
8 garlic cloves
5 lbs boneless turkey breast

Steps

Brine the turkey for 8 to 12 hours using my Turkey Brine recipe. I recommend doing this the night before and letting it sit in the fridge overnight. You can also prepare the Herb Butter in advance so it's ready to go when the bird is.
Slice the onion and arrange the slices on the bottom of the slow cooker. Crush the garlic and add it to the slow cooker as well.
Remove the turkey from the brine and pat it dry with paper towels. Use your hands to rub the herb butter under the skin and all over the turkey. Place the turkey in the slow cooker over the top of the onions and garlic.
Cook for 4 to 5 hours on low heat or until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Baste the turkey with the melted butter from time to time.
Optional Step: If you want a golden and crisp skin, once the turkey breast is done cooking in the slow cooker, transfer it to a baking dish and broil on low for a few minutes until desired coloring and crispiness is reached.

Notes

This recipe actually only uses a half turkey breast, if using a full turkey breast, you will want to cut it in half and add additional butter. The turkey breast halves will need to be slightly layered to fit in the crockpot and will take additional cook time. Just monitor your temperatures to know when it's done.
A 5lbs boneless turkey breast should take between 4 and 5 hours to cook on low heat. Slow cooking a smaller turkey breast will take less time and a larger one will take more. A bone-in turkey breast will take more time. The turkey breast is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Use bone-in turkey breast if possible, this will yeild a juicier turkey after cooking.
Broil for a few minutes after the turkey is done in the crockpot for a crispy skin.
Use a large oval shaped crockpot for best results.

Nutrition

Calories799
Carbs3g
Protein98g
Fat44g
Saturated fat24g
Sugar1g
Sodium1260mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.

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