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Home > Turkey > EASY SLOW COOKER TURKEY BREAST

EASY SLOW COOKER TURKEY BREAST

November 5, 2018 By Jessica 30 Comments

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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.

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Why to 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.

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!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

  1. Place your turkey breast in the slow cooker.
  2. 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.)
  3. 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!
  4. 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!
  5. 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.

If you love our Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe, be sure to check out a few of our other favorite meat recipes!

  • Best Crockpot Beef Stew
  • Best Homemade Chicken Strips
  • Best Steak Marinade
  • BBQ Chicken Bacon Pineapple Kabobs
  • Slow Cooker Pork Roast 

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!

3.94 from 29 votes
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!
Print
Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
 

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!

Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: turkey breast in crock pot
Servings: 10
Instructions
  1. Place your turkey breast in the slow cooker.
  2. 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.)
  3. 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!
  4. 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!
  5. 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.

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!

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.

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! #slowcooker #crockpot #turkey #turkeybreast #protein #recipe #dinner #food from BUTTER WITH A SIDE OF BREADAdapted from 365 Days of Slow Cooking recipe here

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is the best way to prepare a turkey for the holidays - it's simple, delicious, and the perfect size!

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is the best way to prepare a turkey for the holidays - it's simple, delicious, and the perfect size!
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Filed Under: Best Fall Recipes, Christmas, Crockpot Meals, Easter Recipes, Side Dish, Thanksgiving, Turkey Tagged With: easy crockpot recipes, easy turkey recipes, slow cooker recipes, turkey crockpot, turkey recipes

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Comments

  1. Cranberry Morning says

    November 16, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Mmmm. Looks delicious – and so easy! 🙂

    Reply
  2. all things i love says

    January 6, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    I have a question about the turkey–was it frozen?

    Reply
    • Jessica Williams says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:24 pm

      No, I thawed mine out prior to cooking it.

      Reply
    • Cathy says

      February 9, 2016 at 1:40 am

      Shoot, so that’s that one supepsos.

      Reply
  3. Betsy Dyste says

    January 10, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    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!

    Reply
  4. April Christine says

    May 18, 2014 at 4:54 am

    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!

    Reply
  5. Party Planning says

    June 5, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    Do you think that I could add potatoes? Also, could I use a frozen turkey?

    Reply
  6. Liz Long says

    August 22, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    I don't think that is a 3 lb turkey breast.

    Reply
  7. Samantha Rowland says

    November 8, 2014 at 9:43 pm

    This is so helpful! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  8. Stephanie Delp says

    October 14, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      October 15, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  9. Mary O'Grady says

    December 24, 2016 at 6:57 am

    Can’t wait to try the boneless turkey breast in my slow cooker today
    Id really like to receive more recipe ideas

    Reply
  10. Sugahbush says

    December 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    Could you do two 3 lbs breasts? How long?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      December 30, 2016 at 7:17 pm

      I’d cook it for 5 hours and take the internal temp to see where you’re at, then add another hour if needed.

      Reply
  11. MeowBoops says

    February 2, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    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. 😀

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      February 2, 2018 at 1:31 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of our favorites too!

      Reply
  12. JB says

    February 6, 2018 at 9:30 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      February 8, 2018 at 9:40 am

      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!

      Reply
  13. Suzanne says

    November 4, 2018 at 2:12 am

    Does this make any drippings, to use for gravy?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      November 19, 2018 at 9:00 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Rose says

        November 21, 2018 at 6:30 pm

        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

        December 4, 2018 at 8:54 am

        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. 😉

  14. Patricia says

    November 15, 2018 at 5:34 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      November 19, 2018 at 8:44 am

      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!

      Reply
  15. Tangee Wilson says

    November 19, 2018 at 2:57 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      November 19, 2018 at 8:35 am

      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!

      Reply
  16. Kim says

    December 8, 2018 at 10:50 am

    My breast has netting on it. Would u remove the netting for cooking?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      December 18, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Yes, you’ll remove the netting before cooking.

      Reply
  17. Joann says

    December 10, 2018 at 9:29 am

    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 🙁 .

    Reply

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