Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe (Bone In)
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Free up your oven and cook your turkey low and slow! This Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is the perfect way to cook perfectly seasoned and juicy turkey.
Try my 5 ingredient Mississippi Pot Roast, or my Slow Cooker Turkey Breast, too!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Cooking a turkey breast in the slow cooker is perfect for small gatherings when you aren’t feeding a crowd, or if you don’t want a ton of leftovers. I don’t always need a whole turkey to feed my family (which is a smaller group), so using my slow cooker is the easiest way to achieve this!
This is not just for your Thanksgiving turkey, I make this year round when I have a hankering for turkey breast!
Make it your own. We prefer the breast meat to meat from the whole bird, and use a bone in turkey breast so we get the flavor, but also the lean meat. However, a boneless turkey breast can also be used easily. You can make this your own by mixing up the seasonings. Check out my notes for suggestions!
Why you’ll love this
- This is a great recipe for beginners or first time thanksgiving cooks. It’s a super easy recipe and hands off. Just mix up the butter and seasoning, chop up some veggies, and off you go!
- Slow cooking instead of roasting will free up oven space to make rolls, sides and pies.
- The best part is, you’ll get cooking juices to make the best gravy with!
How Much Turkey Do You Need Per Person?
I go with 1.25lb per person to allow for leftovers. So, if you have 6 people, you’ll need a 7.5lb turkey breast.
What size slow cooker will I need?
You will need a large, oval shaped slow cooker. At least 7 quarts. A round one will not be big enough.
What to serve with Turkey
Try these side dishes alongside your delicious, juicy turkey breast!
- Easy Stuffing Recipe
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Easy Green Bean Casserole
- 30 Minute Dinner Rolls
- Make Ahead Gravy
Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead
Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
- Bone in turkey breast. This should be thawed. Keep it under 9lb so it fits in your slow cooker. I use a bone in turkey breast, but boneless turkey breast can also be used easily. An entire turkey isn’t a good idea for the slow cooker.
- Onion. Roughly chopped
- Carrots. Peeled, whole.
- Celery. Whole.
- Herbs. I use a sprig or two of fresh sage. Fresh thyme and rosemary can also be used.
- Butter. I use salted butter. Olive oil can also be used.
- Poultry seasoning. Make your own poultry seasoning, or grab a pre blended mix at the grocery store.
- Garlic powder. Can use regular garlic powder, but add extra salt if you do that.
- Smoked paprika.
- Salt and black pepper.
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How to make this recipe
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
JumpGet prepped. Peel the onion, and chop roughly. Peel the carrots, keep them whole. Slice the celery into large chunks. Place the onions, carrots and celery and sage in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place your turkey breast on top of the vegetables.
Blot your turkey dry of any moisture with paper towels (this will help the butter/seasoning stick to your turkey).
Melt the butter, and add the poultry seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine
Pour the butter and seasoning mixture over the turkey breast.
Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours. Cook time will vary, so you will need to cook until a digital meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reads 165 F.
Remove the turkey from the slow cooker and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Slice and serve with gravy and cranberry sauce.
Kylee’s Notes
You can save the juices in the slow cooker to make a super flavorful gravy.
If you like crispy turkey skin, after you remove the turkey from the slow cooker you can place it on a baking sheet and briefly broil it until you get crispy skin. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
What to do with leftovers
Store leftover turkey in a covered or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat until the turkey is piping hot! Use them in my Turkey Rice Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, or in Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (One Pot)
Substitutions/Additions
You can add other vegetables to the slow cooker to add flavor to the turkey, garlic or lemon or different fresh herbs.
Rub the skin with your own spice rub. I like garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper and paprika mixed with a little poultry seasoning.
You can even mix a package of onion soup mix into the butter to make it super easy.
Turkey Temperature
Turkey should be cooked to 165°F internal temperature when tested with a instant read thermometer in the thickest part.
FAQs
A 6-8 lb turkey breast will cook in about 6-7 hours in the crock pot on low. Cooking time will vary (yours could be done in 5-6 hours) but don’t be tempted to cook on high to speed it up, low and slow is the way to go!
Absolutely. As long as you cook it to 165F, it’s good.
Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 lbs of frozen turkey. Thaw in the refrigerator.
More recipes to love
- Easy Scalloped Potatoes. There’s a video on this one, showing how EASY this is to make!
- Twice Baked Potatoes. A drool-worthy side dish, these Twice Baked Potatoes are SO good! Make a lot and freeze some for another day.
- Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Roasted Brussels sprouts, paired with delicate shallots, salty bacon and a bit of parmesan – YES PLEASE
- Glazed Carrots. A simple side dish, using the sweetness of brown sugar combined with fresh rosemary. These Rosemary Glazed Carrots are great for holidays or just a regular Tuesday!
- Sautéed Green Beans. Garlic and shallots gently flavor these sautéed green beans making them a wonderful weeknight or holiday side dish!
- All Thanksgiving Recipes
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Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (bone in)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 roughly chopped onion
- 4 roughly chopped carrots
- 4 roughly chopped celery stalks
- 2 sprigs fresh sage optional
- 6-8 pound bone in turkey breast thawed
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place 1 roughly chopped onion, 4 roughly chopped carrots and 4 roughly chopped celery stalks and 2 sprigs fresh sage in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Place your 6-8 pound bone in turkey breast on top of the vegetables.
- Blot your turkey dry of any moisture with paper towels (this will help the butter/seasoning stick to your turkey).
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter, and add the1 teaspoon poultry seasoning,1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Whisk to combine
- Pour the butter and seasoning mixture over the turkey breast.
- Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or until a digital thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 165℉.
- Remove the turkey from the slow cooker and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve!
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
