Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

By: Shannon Epstein

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Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 17 reviews

Slow cooker turkey breast is a great option when you’re feeding a smaller crowd. Free up your oven this holiday season and cook your turkey in the crockpot! Instructions to make this easy turkey breast recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

overhead shot of half turkey breast with skin and half sliced turkey breast. Garnished with 1 slice of lemon and fresh rosemary

Since turkey breast is just a portion of the whole bird, it’s great for cooking in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Both methods help you make the juiciest and most delicious turkey breast that will wow guest this holiday season or any time of the year.

Ingredients For Crock-Pot Turkey Breast

  • Turkey Breast
  • Butter or Ghee
  • Oil
  • Seasonings

collage of ingredients for slow cooker turkey breast

How To Cook A Turkey Breast In The Slow Cooker

Prep The Turkey Breast

  1. Rinse & pat turkey dry. Loosen the skin of the turkey breast. Place the butter under the skin of the turkey. Rub the oil all over turkey.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together salt, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and pepper. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the turkey.

Slow Cooker

  1. Add onion, lemon, and sprigs of fresh herbs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Add the prepared turkey on top.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Pour the water or broth into the Instant Pot. Add the trivet.
  2. Add the onion, sliced lemon, and fresh herbs on top of the trivet.
  3. Place prepared turkey breast on top of the trivet, breast side up.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 6 minutes per pound
    of turkey (make sure internal temperature for the turkey breast is 165° Fahrenheit).
  5. When done, let the pressure cooker naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

After It’s Done…

  1. Transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board. Loosely tent the turkey with foil and let it rest 15-20 minutes.

Crisp The Skin

  1. Preheat your broiler to high.
  2. Carefully remove the turkey from the appliance and place on a baking sheet.
  3. Place the baking sheet the oven & broil for 3-5 minutes or until the skin is crisp to your liking.

FAQs & Tips

What Size Turkey Breast To Use

To cook a turkey breast in the slow cooker, you will need a large 6-quart slow cooker. I usually use a turkey breast in the 6-pound range and that ends up being just the perfect size while also having enough leftovers to get an easy extra meal. I always suggest thinking about the shape of your  slow cooker or Instant Pot when picking out a turkey breast. This is because you may find turkey breast in 5-7 pound range but it still might not fit in your appliance based on its shape. Be sure to think about how your turkey will fit in the slow cooker (or Instant Pot) when you’re turkey shopping.

How Many People Will This Serve?

A good rule of thumb is to plan for a pound per person of turkey meat. Generally, adults will eat ¾ to a full pound and children will eat about half a pound, but this can also change based on how many sides you offer and what those sides are. If you are serving two or more heavy sides like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or bread rolls then you can probably count on people eating less of the turkey. If you have fewer or lighter sides such as salads or roasted vegetables, then more turkey will probably be eaten. For the four to six-pound turkey breast that I usually cook, I end up having about four to six servings as well, but I always like to over estimate just a bit when I have guest coming over.

Turkey Recipes 

 

How Long Does The Turkey Take To Thaw?

To cook this turkey breast in the slow cooker, you will need to thaw it first. Thawing time will vary based on the temperature of your refrigerator, but generally turkey thaws at a rate of four to five pounds every 24 hours. Since you are just thawing the breast and not the whole turkey for this recipe, I highly recommend taking the breast out of the freezer the night before you intend to use it and let it thaw in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. This ensures there won’t be frozen spots in the meat & that it will cook evenly in your slow cooker.

Instant Pot: Cooking A Turkey From Frozen

While you need to thaw your turkey breast before cooking it in a slow cooker, you can skip thawing when you use an Instant Pot! The pressure-cooking setting of the Instant Pot allows you to cook your turkey breast completely and evenly without thawing by forcing the heat and juices back into the meat. That is why it gets so tender when you make Instant Pot turkey breast! From frozen, a five to six-pound turkey breast should take about an hour and fifteen minutes on high pressure to make sure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Side Dishes

Storing Leftover Turkey Breast

To me, leftover turkey is one of those foods that tastes even better the next day. Leftover, cooked turkey keeps for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that time, you can freeze any remaining leftovers. To freeze, place leftover shredded turkey breast in freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer to freeze. Frozen turkey without gravy will keep for up to 4 months. If your leftover turkey is covered with gravy, it will keep for up to 6 months.

Using leftover turkey

Leftover turkey can be re-used in lots of recipes like soups, sandwiches, salads, and casseroles. Any casserole dish that calls for shredded chicken, you  can substitute leftover shredded turkey meat. My favorite way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey is to make soup.

close up shot of turkey breast with gravy on a white platter

Turkey Soups

I use a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot to make this recipe.

Print

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

overhead shot of half turkey breast with skin and half sliced turkey breast. Garnished with 1 slice of lemon and fresh rosemary
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 17 reviews

Slow cooker turkey breast is a great option when you’re feeding a smaller crowd. Free up your oven this holiday season and cook your turkey in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 hours
  • Total Time: 5 hours 20 mins
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 5-7 pound bone-in turkey breast
  • 4 tablespoons ghee or butter
  • 1 tablespoon oil of your choice
  • 3-4 sprigs fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 1 lemon or orange, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 cup water or broth (Instant Pot only)

Instructions

Prep The Turkey Breast

  1. Rinse & pat turkey dry. Loosen the skin of the turkey breast. Place the ghee/butter under the skin of the turkey. Rub the oil all over turkey.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together salt, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and pepper. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the turkey.

Slow Cooker

  1. Add onion, lemon, and sprigs of fresh herbs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Add the prepared turkey on top.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Pour the water or broth into the Instant Pot. Add the trivet.
  2. Add the onion, sliced lemon, and fresh herbs on top of the trivet.
  3. Place prepared turkey breast on top of the trivet, breast side up.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 6 minutes per pound
    of turkey (make sure internal temperature for the turkey breast is 165° Fahrenheit).
  5. When done, let the pressure cooker naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

After It’s Done…

  1. Transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board. Loosely tent the turkey with foil and let it rest 15-20 minutes.

Crisp The Skin

  1. Preheat your broiler to high.
  2. Carefully remove the turkey from the appliance and place on a baking sheet.
  3. Place the baking sheet the oven & broil for 3-5 minutes or until the skin is crisp to your liking.

Notes

When the turkey is done, let it stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

@fitslowcookerqueen

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Meet The Author

Hi, I’m a home cook from Los Angeles. I received a slow cooker as a wedding gift in 2011, but it wasn’t until six months later, facing my highest weight and hypertension, that I started using it. Follow me to learn more about my journey to healthier living and discover delicious recipes along the way.

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24 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Turkey Breast”

  1. Carolyn

    I have this in the slow cooker to enjoy for supper tonight! I don’t have lemons or oranges in the house right now, o instead I used onion, celery and carrots in the bottom of the pot for more flavorful juices. Otherwise your recipe is very easy to follow and I just know it is going to be delicious! I plan to crisp up the skin under the broiler as suggested. Thank you!!

    Reply
  2. Michelle

    Fantastic flavor, so yummy! My family thoroughly enjoyed this tonight! We are now going to use your recipe for our Thanksgiving dinner….thank you! ;-}”
    So easy and tender.

    Reply
  6. Nadia Fajardo

    I made this the first time for thanksgiving and it was sooooo tasty that I made it again for Christmas dinner. Love!
    Followed the slow cooker + broiler instructions

    Reply
  9. Katie Nye

    I made this last night for my family. I served it with steamed cauliflower, roasted asparagus and cold watermelon chunks. The presentation was beautiful, the turkey was perfect.

    Reply
  10. Lindsey Schatz

    I’ve never heard of cooking a turkey in a slow cooker but this was a win! This was so great and it’s healthy. Double bonus.

    Reply

  12. Pingback: Healthy Holiday Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

  13. Andrea

    I served this for Easter. I followed the recipe to a t. The turkey was moist and tasty. I removed the skin rather than place under the broiler.

    Reply
  15. nsaunderssays

    I tested this out before Christmas dinner with my in-laws. It was good. Next time I will add a little more salt.

    Reply
    1. Fit SlowCooker Queen

      It’s clarified butter. I’ts made by cooking out the milk solids, impurities, and water from unsalted butter which results in a lactose-free butter that is full of nutrients.

      Reply
  18. kimmieklewis

    I have never cooked a turkey in the slow cooker before but it was so amazing! Very easy for a novice like me.

    Reply
  19. amandahrosson

    I loved the idea of cooking my turkey in a slow cooker! It turned out so tender and juicy!

    Reply

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