Smaller holiday menus are totally doable with this easy crockpot turkey breast recipe!
Lightly seasoned with savory herbs and slow-cooked with celery, carrots, and onions, turkey breasts come out tender and juicy every time!
Best Turkey Breast!
- Turkey breast in a crock pot is a ‘set it and forget it’ recipe that can be made once and used all week long!
- Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time of year, crock pot turkey breast is perfect for smaller family gatherings and keeps the oven free for baking other holiday staples like stuffing and pumpkin pie!
- This recipe for slow cooker turkey breast can be doubled if your crockpot is big enough and they freeze perfectly for future meals!
Ingredients and Variations
Turkey Breast: Use a boneless, skin-on turkey breast that’s about 2 pounds. Larger cuts will need more time, refer to the cooking guide below. Butterball sells frozen turkey breasts that can be popped in the crock pot from frozen, simply add extra cook time.
Veggies: Place the seasoned turkey breast on a ‘raft’ of celery, carrots, and onion so their flavors can infuse into the turkey. Other veggies to toss in are mushrooms, zucchini, and small diced potatoes.
Seasonings: Make a simple rub with ingredients that are likely already in the pantry! You can also add fresh herbs like sage or a bay leaf if you like. Use leftover bacon drippings in place of butter for an extra smoky flavor.
How to Cook A Turkey Breast In A Crockpot
- Prepare the seasoning mix (as per the recipe below).
- Brush butter over the turkey and sprinkle seasoning over the top.
- Place vegetables in the crockpot and pour the broth on top.
- Add seasoned turkey breast, skin side up. Cover and cook ‘low and slow’ until the turkey reaches 165° F.
- Remove the turkey breast and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Cooking Chart
| Weight | Cook Times* |
|---|---|
| 2 pound turkey breast | 2 hours 45 minutes – 3 hours 15 minutes |
| 3 pound turkey breast | 3 hours 45 minutes – 4 hours 15 minutes. |
| 4 pound turkey breast | 4 hours 45 minutes – 5 hours 15 minutes. |
Tips For Juicy Turkey
- A meat thermometer will ensure your turkey breast isn’t under or overcooked. Turkey should be 165°F at the thickest point in the meat. Check the temperature early and often so the turkey doesn’t overcook.
- When the turkey is done cooking, remove it from the crockpot and let it rest about 10 minutes. This gets the juices to recirculate back into the meat so it stays extra juicy!
- Place cooked turkey breasts under the broiler to make the skin extra crispy!
- Save those cooked veggies and puree them into a delicious and nutritious creamy soup. Or make a rich and flavorful gravy by mixing the broth with a packet of gravy mix.
- Smaller turkey breasts may cook faster than the vegetables but that’s okay! Continue to cook them in the crock pot, roast them in the oven, or pop them in the microwave while the turkey is resting.
Serving And Storing Turkey
Crockpot turkey breast has limitless applications! Serve it fresh from the crock pot with a side of green beans and a spinach salad, with a side of dinner rolls to soak up that amazing gravy! Leftover turkey breast can be stuffed into a hearty casserole with mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans!
Leftover Turkey Recipes
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Crockpot Turkey Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 boneless turkey breast with skin about 2 to 2 ½ pounds
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 ribs celery
- 2 medium carrots
- ½ large yellow onion sliced ½ inch thick
- 1 cup chicken broth
Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed rosemary
Instructions
- Combine the seasoning mix (kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and crushed rosemary) in a small bowl.
- Brush the turkey breast with melted butter and sprinkle the seasoning mix over top.
- Add the celery, carrots and onion to the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker and pour the broth overtop.
- Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker, skin side up.
- Cover and cook on low for the cooking times indicated below or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Do not overcook.
Notes
- The skin and be broiled if you’d like a crisp skin.
- Cooking times are an estimate and will vary based on the size of the turkey breast.
2 pounds – 2 ¾ to 3 ¼ hours
3 pounds – 3 ¾ to 4 ¼ hours
4 pounds – 4 ¾ to 5 ¼ hours
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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