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 ~
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- Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken recipe
- Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe
- Crock Pot Pork Roast
- Crock Pot Turkey Breast
- Crock Pot Sweet Pork
- How to make Shredded Chicken in a crockpot
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Crockpot Madras Lentils
- Slow Cooker Roast Beef with Dr.Pepper
- Crock pot Chili
- Crock pot Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
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Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 1 turkey breast (mine was boneless, about 3 pounds)
- 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
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
Charlotte says
Excellent recipe. I seasoned and browned my boneless, skinless turkey breast of both sides (about 5 minutes per side) before putting it in the slow cooker. This results in a boneless breast with nice, aesthetically pleasing brown exterior.
Robin says
I forgot to buy apples😩 now what?
Jessica says
apple juice? Pears? canned pineapple? Applesauce?
Jessica says
I followed this recipe with the exception of using table salt instead of coarse salt, as I didn’t have the latter. It was amazing!! Hubby wasn’t sure about the recipe, but I said let me try it. Hubby said “Oh my God!!” as he ate it. He said it was as good as you’d get in a restaurant. Tastes just as amazing reheated too. Thanks so much! He’s already asking me to save this recipe to make again….and not wait until Thanksgiving to do it.
Jessica says
We make it year round as well! So glad you enjoyed it!
Renata says
Made for a Thanksgiving dinner a day late… found 2x 1kg turkey breasts and cooked them at the same time – deliciously tender, moist and even fall apart turkey breats – THANK YOU!
Jessica says
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Vivian says
Would you know how long to cook if it’s just a 1.5 lb Turkey tenderloin?
Jessica says
I’d say more around 3 hours on low!
Toni says
I have a 5lb. bone in turkey breast. How long would that need to cook?
I made this recipe on Thanksgiving with a boneless turkey breast and it was amazing!!!
Jessica says
I’d let it cook for 6-7 hours and check the internal temp. So glad you liked it!