Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe made with butter, a sliced apple and a basic mix of traditional seasonings. Crock pot turkey breast recipe perfect for any time of the year!
My family loves turkey anytime of the year and this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe is one of our favorites. Cooking the turkey in the crock pot helps the turkey be super moist and juicy. It’s also incredibly easy to prepare and I tend to have all the ingredients on hand. The apple lends a slightly sweet flavor that is wonderful.
Why cook a turkey breast in a crock pot?
It’s so incredibly simple to cook a turkey breast in a crock pot. This method of cooking locks in flavor and moisture so dry turkey is a thing of the past! My slow cooker turkey breast recipe uses common ingredients like an apple and butter as well as herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage to add amazing flavor. I like to use onion powder so that I get the onion flavor while saving time and not having to chop an onion.
How long does it take to slow cook a turkey breast?
I love how moist and flavorful turkey is when you cook it in the crock pot! How long it takes to cook depends on whether or not your turkey breast has a bone in it. I usually buy boneless because it takes less time to cook. Cooking my 3 pound boneless turkey breast took just under 4 hours. You can test the temperature using an electric meat thermometer. The reading needs to show the turkey is 165 degrees F in the thickest portion of the breast.
If you’re using a bone- in turkey breast, you’ll want to slow cook it for 5-6 hours, testing for doneness at 5 hours.
How do you cook moist turkey breast in a crock pot?
One of the main ways to cook a moist and juicy turkey breast is to simple not overcook it. Slow cooking turkey makes this a bit easier since, quite literally, the temperature increases more slowly. I like to check my turkey at 3.5 hours to see if it’s reached the 165 degree F temperature. If you don’t have a good meat thermometer, you should consider getting one! I use mine all the time- it’s so frustrating to spend time on a great recipe only to overcook the meat!
Also, by adding in butter and an apple, you’re adding both moisture and flavor. These simple techniques combined work to help you serve the best turkey breast ever!
Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast ingredients
- 1 turkey breast** {mine was boneless and weighed about 3 lbs}
- 1 small apple
- 4 TBSP butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 1/2 tsp coarse salt
- 1 tsp crushed rosemary
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp sage
- 2 tsp onion powder
How to cook a turkey breast in crock pot
- Place your turkey breast in the slow cooker.
- Combine the seasonings in a small bowl. Rub the seasonings on the turkey breast, making sure to get some underneath the skin. Dot turkey with butter (again, put some underneath the skin.)
- Slice apple. Place apple slices in the crockpot, on and around the turkey breast. There’s no need to add any additional liquid, the butter and apple are sufficient!
- Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. **If your turkey breast is bone-in, then you’ll need to cook it for 5-6 hours on low. After 4 hours, check every hour to make sure you don’t over cook it!
- Let turkey rest after cooking- I like to leave mine in the crockpot on warm for 10 minutes to even an hour, until just before we’re ready to eat. I also remove the skin prior to serving- it helps keep the turkey moist, but the texture isn’t the greatest after slow cooking. Slice and serve with gravy and cranberry sauce.
Like this easy crockpot recipe? Try these other crock pot recipes ~
Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Instructions
- Place your turkey breast in the slow cooker.
- Combine the seasonings in a small bowl. Rub the seasonings on the turkey breast, making sure to get some underneath the skin. Dot turkey with butter (again, put some underneath the skin.)
- Slice apple. Place apple slices in the crockpot, on and around the turkey breast. There's no need to add any additional liquid, the butter and apple are sufficient!
- Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. **If your turkey breast is bone-in, then you'll need to cook it for 5-6 hours on low. After 4 hours, check every hour to make sure you don't over cook it!
- Let turkey rest after cooking- I like to leave mine in the crockpot on warm for 10 minutes to even an hour, until just before we're ready to eat. I also remove the skin prior to serving- it helps keep the turkey moist, but the texture isn't the greatest after slow cooking. Slice and serve with gravy and cranberry sauce.
How much turkey breast per person?
Our 3-lb turkey breast generally serves 8-10 people. However you may want to adjust this serving if you’re feeding big eaters or if you don’t plan to have many side dishes.
What turkey breast to buy
I prefer to but boneless turkey breasts so that they cook faster. If you use a bone-in turkey breast, you’ll need to add about 2-3 hours additional cooking time, depending on how big the turkey breast is. You can find boneless turkey breasts year-round in the freezer section of your grocery store.
Adapted from 365 Days of Slow Cooking recipe here
Cranberry Morning says
Mmmm. Looks delicious – and so easy! 🙂
all things i love says
I have a question about the turkey–was it frozen?
Jessica Williams says
No, I thawed mine out prior to cooking it.
Cathy says
Shoot, so that’s that one supepsos.
Betsy Dyste says
I just made this tonight (with even a slight skeptical idea that it would turn out) … I am no longer making Turkey any other way – this will be great for cold sandwiches and salads or just by it's self with veggie sides… Thank you for this recipe — it's a MUST REPEAT!
April Christine says
Visiting via Pinterest! Just wanted to say hi and thank you for posting this! I've got a bone-in turkey breast in the freezer and I'll be using this recipe soon. 🙂 It looks delicious!
Party Planning says
Do you think that I could add potatoes? Also, could I use a frozen turkey?
Liz Long says
I don't think that is a 3 lb turkey breast.
Samantha Rowland says
This is so helpful! Thanks for sharing
Stephanie Delp says
I thawed out my 3lb boneless turkey breast & I rinsed it. Then I put it in the crockpot & covered it with half a packet of dry onion soup. I added apple slices around the turkey. Then I added the butter. I put the lid on & put it on low for 3 1/2 hrs. It came out perfect. I didn’t have to reopen the lid 1 time. Thank you for sharing your recipe. It made dinner turn put great. It is hard to find recipes for 3lb turkeys in the crockpot that are good.
Jessica says
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Mary O'Grady says
Can’t wait to try the boneless turkey breast in my slow cooker today
Id really like to receive more recipe ideas
Sugahbush says
Could you do two 3 lbs breasts? How long?
Jessica says
I’d cook it for 5 hours and take the internal temp to see where you’re at, then add another hour if needed.
MeowBoops says
OK seriously, this is so good. I couldn’t really taste any apple in mine but it was super moist. I have tried other slow cooker turkey breast recipes but I think they had me leave it in for way too long. This was perfect! Thanks for sharing. 😀
Jessica says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of our favorites too!
JB says
I’m using Butterball’s “Ready to Roast” boneless turkey breast (the one that comes in a bag). Your recipe says to thaw the turkey breast, but Butterball is adamant about NOT thawing it. So would this still work if I don’t thaw the breast?
Jessica says
I don’t have a lot of experience with the ready to roast turkeys, but I think it’s worth a shot! I mean, it’s still a turkey breast. But- I’d thaw it! If you don’t, the meat sits in the crockpot for too long at a warm temp (not hot!) so it can breed stuff you don’t want to eat. Just my thoughts- let me know if you try it!
Suzanne says
Does this make any drippings, to use for gravy?
Jessica says
It does actually! You’ll want to strain it and taste it. Because of the apple it tends to need some additional broth, just fyi!
Rose says
How long to cook 8 pound turkey breast with bones defrosted with salt, pepper, and butter rubbed on it. Do I add broth in the bottom or just some water? Thank you
Jessica says
I’d cook it 6-7 hours, then test the temp Rose. You need to cook to 165 degrees F. No broth needed if you follow my recipe. 😉
Patricia says
Could this method work with homemade stuffing AND a 3 lb turkey breast cooking together in the slow cooker, If so how much time should I add?
Jessica says
Hi Patricia! So I’m guessing you’ll be using some sort of divider for the stuffing, yeah? (You can simple make a bowl out of foil and use that!) The turkey gives off liquid as it cooks, so if you just put the stuffing in with it, it ends up being a soggy mess! But if you divide it, it should work just fine! I don’t think you’d need to add any time too!
Tangee Wilson says
Found you through Buzzfeed. We are actually getting a ham and turkey breast from Boston Market. So the breast is fully cooked. I’d like to try your idea with the apples and such for heating. Do you think an hour on slow would do it? That way I can free up the oven for the ham and sides. Thoughts? Boston market has holiday dinners you simply heat and serve and since there are just a few of us I went that rout. Thanks in advance!
Jessica says
Hi Tangee! So it really depends on how large the turkey breast is. What I’d do is try an hour, and then use a food thermometer and check the temp. You’re looking for an internal temp of 140 degrees- that’s when food will taste hot. Hope this helps!
Kim says
My breast has netting on it. Would u remove the netting for cooking?
Jessica says
Yes, you’ll remove the netting before cooking.
Joann says
Hi Jessica, This looks really good. I always add apples and onions to my turkey breasts (bone-in, in oven) it just gives it flavor and keeps it so moist. My Aunt does a turkey breast in the crock pot (bone-in) and she adds carrots, onions, and celery to the bottom of the crock pot and then puts butter and seasonings and it is so moist and good (she also adds a bay leaf). But I just want to say I can’t wait to try yours, I may add some veggies to it though. Will let you know how it turns out. 🙂 Have a wonderful week. P.S. Gotta go shovel snow 🙁 .
Dee says
If I have a 6.35 lb turkey w bone in, how long should I keep this in the crock pot for??
Jessica says
First make sure the turkey will fit in your crockpot… then you’ll cook it until the internal temp is 165 degrees F.
Dee says
I have a skinless turkey breast. Does that matter or are the ingredients and cooking
time the same. It’s a 4 lb. breast.
Jessica says
Nope, it’ll be fine! I find the skin nearly always falls off prior to cooking anyways.