This Crockpot Turkey Breast recipe is hands down, the most amazing turkey you will ever eat! Juicy, tender, succulent and bursting with flavor, this easy recipe is a necessary addition to your holiday feast! Complete your meal with this incredible Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Twice Baked Potato Casserole, Dinner Rolls and yummy Pecan Pie!!Â
Crockpot Turkey Breast
I’m just going to come right out and say this…this crockpot turkey breast recipe will produce THE BEST turkey you’ve ever eaten in your life. Like EVER. I wish I could hand each of you a slice of this turkey right now so you could experience how moist and delicious it is for yourself.
So here’s the deal with turkey, most families make it once a year. We’re not most families 🙂 I love turkey, like really really love it.
This recipe is one I adapted from my favorite roast turkey recipe. I love a good brine and the one I use every Thanksgiving is incredible: oranges and lemons, brown sugar, and fresh herbs – divine! I wanted the results of a brine without the fuss and this slow cooker turkey breast version was born.
If you don’t have a slow cooker and want to make a recipe that will have similar flavor, try my roast turkey breast recipe – it’s amazing!
Do I Need To Brine My Turkey?
There is no brine in this recipe – thank goodness! The slow cooker does all the work that the brine normally would, keeping this turkey breast incredibly moist and flavorful.
The oranges and herbs hold the turkey in place while providing incredible aromatics to the meat. It takes all of three minutes to get the turkey into the slow cooker, turn it on, and walk away. Now that is definitely cause for celebration.
What Do I Need to Make a Crockpot Turkey Breast?
A slow cooker to start 🙂 It really depends on the size of your turkey breast but I’ve found a 6 or 7 quart, oval shaped slow cooker really works best.
Ingredients Needed:
I’m guessing you have half of this in your pantry right this very second…
- turkey breast
- oranges
- fresh thyme
- fresh rosemary
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock
How Many People Will a Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Feed?
This easy slow cooker turkey breast is great for small gatherings or family dinners. It feeds about 8 to 10 people give or take. It also is the perfect way to add extra turkey to your big family gatherings on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ve never had luck roasting those giant turkeys – NEVER. I try to keep my whole turkeys below 15 pounds.
Tips for the BEST Crockpot Turkey Breast
- Make sure to safely thaw your frozen turkey.
- thaw the turkey breast in the refrigerator – this is my preferred method. Make sure to allow at least 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. So about two days for a turkey breast.
- thaw the turkey in cold water – if you’re in a hurry, this is what you’re going to do. You’ll need to allow for 30 minutes for each pound of turkey. You have to make sure the turkey is completely submerged in very cold water, changing out the water every 30 minutes. The turkey breast will need to be cooked immediately after thawing.
- I like to use a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast because it’s much harder for the meat to dry out. (You can a boneless skinless turkey breast if that’s what you have on hand.) Also, I toss the turkey breast under the broiler for a few minutes after it’s done and crisp up the skin before serving. So good!
- Use a food thermometer to determine when the turkey is done. Check the thickest part of the turkey breast for best results. You’re looking for 160 – 165 degrees F. Remember that you will have carry-over cooking after you remove the turkey so definitely aim for 160F.
- Let the turkey breast rest for a good 10 minutes before carving. You can tent the turkey with foil to keep it warm.
- Don’t forget the gravy! This is the BEST turkey gravy recipe and I provide lots of great tips so you have the very best results. Crockpot turkey breast and gravy is where it’s AT this holiday season!
More Holiday Favorites
- Turkey Gravy
- The BEST Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Best Ever Broccoli Salad
- Cranberry Sauce – just 15 minutes to make!
- Stuffing Recipe with Sausage
- Crescent Rolls
- Dinner Rolls
- Pecan Pie
- Slow Cooker Green Beans
How To Make a Crockpot Turkey Breast
Crockpot Turkey Breast with Herbs
Ingredients
- 6-7 pound bone-in turkey breast skin intact
- 2 oranges quartered
- 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 1 tbls olive oil
- 1 tbls chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tbls chopped fresh rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock
Instructions
- Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry.
- Place quartered oranges and sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary into the bottom of a large slow cooker.
- Drizzle olive oil over turkey breast and sprinkle with chopped thyme, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Rub into the skin.
- Place turkey breast into slow cooker and pour chicken broth around the turkey.
- Place lid on slow cooker and cook on low for 5-7 hours or until turkey reaches 165 degrees with an instant-read thermometer.
- Remove turkey from slow cooker and tent with foil for 20 minutes.
- To brown skin, place under broiler for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown and then tent with foil.
- Slice and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published November 13, 2014.
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Shannon says
I was wondering how much this would change if I used a whole turkey? I plan to make this for our Thanksgiving dinner!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Geez, I don’t really know. I can’t even fit a whole turkey in my slow cooker 🙂 The cooking time would be longer for sure but I’m not sure by how much. Let me know how it turns out if you do give it a try with the whole turkey!
kayla says
Hi, there! Just wondering if you have a guess on how many this serves? I’m hosting about 20 people next week and was wondering if I should double this.
Thanks! It looks DELISH!
Michelle says
I have a boneless turkey breast half with skin. Any recommendations on adapting the recipe would be appreciated!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You should be able to cook it the same Michelle – no adapting needed 🙂
Sarah says
hi! Could you use a roaster instead? Also, what does tenting a turkey mean?
Faye says
this looks amazing and I want to try it for Christmas, but I don’t have a whole turkey breast, I have 2 breast halves with the rib intact. Will this still work and should I alter the directions at all?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Should work perfectly Faye! Enjoy!
Faye says
Trish, I made this for Christmas Day and it was so moist & yummy! This will be my go-to recipe from now on. I just need to work on getting the skin nice and crispy. Thanks so much for sharing! Happy new year!!
Ella says
Thanks for the thawing instructions. One more question: If browning the cooked turkey breast under the broiler, do you first tent the cooked breast for 20 minutes before broiling? And if yes, do you tent the broiled/browned turkey breast a second time for 20 minutes after it has been under the broiler and before slicing and serving?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Either or Ella. You can brown and then tent or tent and then brown. And no, you don’t need to tent twice. Enjoy!
Ella says
Dumb question, but I must confess my ignorance and ask: Do you have to thaw the turkey breast before starting it in the slow cooker, and if so, what method of thawing do you recommend?
Thanks for any guidance you may give!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes the turkey breast needs to be thawed Ella. I recommend the refrigerator for thawing. Enjoy!
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
This looks so amazing! I’m adding this to our dinner menu very soon!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yay! You’ll love this turkey Glory!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Trish this looks amazing and is absolutely brilliant! My way to do a turkey!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Julie!
heather @french press says
woman is there anything you can’t do in your slow cooker 🙂 this looks delicious
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Haha! Thanks Heather!
marcie says
We eat turkey way more than once a year — we love it! You’re so smart to make a turkey breast in the slow cooker — I’ve never done that. And brilliant putting it under the broiler because we have to have that crispy skin! This recipe sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to try it! Pinned. 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Crispy skin is a must Marcie – that’s the only part the slow cooker can’t do 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
That sounded like such an awesome experience to get a behind the scenes! I love that you made this in the slow cooker too! It looks so juicy and flavorful and the citrus herb combination sounds so incredible!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It was really fun Kelly! Thank you!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
Yum! I bet your house smelled amazing with all that citrus in the slow cooker! Send me a slice of turkey? I’m sure it’ll keep.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Soo amazing! Thanks Sarah!
Tonia from TheGunnySack says
That is gorgeous! My MIL passes on the whole turkey and makes a few turkey breasts every Thanksgiving!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Smart lady! Thanks Tonia!
Mir says
I love making turkey breast year round, but I was running out of ideas for it. This is perfect. Pinning!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Ohmygosh Mir – this is seriously the BEST turkey you will ever have. It’s amazing!
Lorie says
I really hope this is true because I’m making it for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Based on your praises! I have had no luck cooking chicken in the crockpot. The texture is always weird. I hope turkey is wonderful!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m so excited for you to try it! Everyone says it is the BEST 🙂
Jasmine says
How was it?