Home > Dinner > Crockpot Turkey Breast Crockpot Turkey Breast November 12, 2016 | 131 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. The most tender and deliciously seasoned crockpot turkey breast. Perfect for smaller holiday get togethers or to have turkey ready for lunches and salads during the week. This is THE turkey recipe if you want something low maintenance (like seriously very little work), easy to do, one dish to clean up, and just about zero percent chance of a dried out turkey. Dried out turkey is always a huge concern for many people when cooking turkey in the oven. It’s easy to over-cook it! But in a slow cooker? Nope. It comes out super moist, delicious, and flavorful. Literally it falls off the bones it’s so super tender. This crockpot turkey breast is a recipe you’ll definitely want for Thanksgiving, but you’ll also want to use it year round! Think on sandwiches, salads, meal prepping… Now, you won’t get that super pretty crisp skin by cooking a turkey in the crockpot and you can’t fit super huge turkey breasts in the crockpot, but it is great for a smaller get togethers OR if you are serving other meats (ham) alongside your turkey. It also makes some of the best turkey for sandwiches and salads as it shreds super well. The past few years the husband and I have always cooked a turkey in the oven and been very traditional about the whole thing, but after one taste of this turkey we are never going back. Crockpot turkey breast OR bust! A few quick “crockpot turkey” notes. Be sure that your turkey is 100% thawed out before putting it in the crockpot. This does take some planning and preparation as a turkey will generally need to sit in the fridge for 1-2 days (a 5-7 pound turkey) to get fully thawed out. Here are some quick notes on making sure your crockpot turkey breast turns out perfectly: Safely thaw your frozen turkey. You can do this one of two ways (1) thaw it in the refrigerator (allow 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4-5 pounds of turkey); or (2) thaw the turkey in cold water (allow 30 minutes for each pound of turkey). The second option is faster but requires a lot more attention so it’s thawed safely. To keep the turkey thawing safely, keep the turkey in its original wrapping and then put it in a larger plastic bag. Squeeze out any air and seal the bag. Place the sealed bag breast-down into a bucket or sink. Fill the sink or bucket with cold water and place some cans on top of the turkey to keep it submerged. Make sure that the turkey is completely submerged. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep the water very cold. Cook the turkey IMMEDIATELY after thawing. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature. Once the turkey is in the crockpot, have a food thermometer ready to check. A turkey is done when the thickest part of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees F. I pull my turkey out at 160 degrees as it will cook those extra 5 degrees as it’s sitting. Prepare the gravy. Follow the directions on the included gravy package, if your turkey came with one, or make some from scratch using the notes in the recipe. You can also make a gravy ahead of time by following this recipe. Let the turkey rest for about 10 minutes before carving into it. Tent it with foil to keep it nice and warm! I highly recommend a bone-in turkey breast just because of the flavor you’ll get from it. And speaking of flavor, why do I remove the skin? Well, it’s totally personal preference. You can leave the skin on (and many people swear by the flavor the skin on a turkey brings to the meat). However, it doesn’t crisp up in the slow cooker so I find it a bit unappetizing. But if you’re someone that loves the skin on, you can always leave it on and then BROIL the turkey after its cooked. To do that: preheat your broiler to high. Place the turkey breast in an oven safe dish and broil for 2-6 minutes or until the skin is crispy. Watch CAREFULLY as it can go from perfect to burned in a hurry. FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Crockpot Turkey Breast 4.39 from 59 votes - Review this recipe The most tender and deliciously seasoned crockpot turkey breast. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Crockpot Turkey Breast 4.39 from 59 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe The most tender and deliciously seasoned crockpot turkey breast. Course Dinner Cuisine American Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 8 hours Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes Servings 4 -6 as a main dish Author Chelsea Ingredients▢ 1 (5-6 pounds) bone-in turkey breast completely thawed▢ 5 stalks celery▢ 2 yellow onions▢ ~12-15 baby carrots▢ 1 cup chicken broth▢ 6 tablespoons butter separatedSeasonings▢ 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic▢ 1 teaspoon seasoned salt▢ 1 teaspoon paprika▢ 1/2 teaspoon pepper▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning▢ 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley▢ 1/4 teaspoon dried sage▢ Optional: 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme InstructionsMake sure the turkey breast is completely thawed -- this can take 1-2 days in the fridge so be prepared. It isn't food safe to thaw a turkey in the crockpot. See notes in the post for more details about thawing your turkey breast. Pat the turkey down with paper towels.Spray a large crockpot (I use a 6 quart crockpot) with nonstick spray.Place the celery at the bottom. Cut one yellow onion into large chunks and add it to the bottom. Add the baby carrots. Pour the chicken broth on top.Cut off the skin of the turkey breast (OR leave it on, whatever you prefer -- see last paragraph of blog post for more notes on this)Place the turkey breast, BREAST DOWN on top of the vegetables. Make sure the turkey is ELEVATED on top of the onion/vegetables.Cut the other onion in half and place inside the turkey with 4 tablespoons butter.Stir together all of the seasonings together. Add in the melted butter and stir. Rub all over the turkey. If leaving the skin on, make sure to rub the seasonings under the skin too.Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 1 hour and then low for 5-7 hours or until the turkey's internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.Remove the turkey from the crockpot and turn so it is breast up.Start by removing the wishbone and then remove all the other bones. Take the large pieces of meat and slice them.TO MAKE GRAVY: Strain everything from the crockpot out into a large bowl (press down the veggies to extract all the flavor/liquid). Measure that liquid (you should have right around 2 cups) and then set aside. In a large saucepan, add 4 tablespoons butter and melt. Whisking constantly, add in 4 tablespoons white flour. Gradually add in the strained liquid from the crockpot, whisking constantly. Add salt, pepper, and any other seasonings needed. Serve warm with the turkey. We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below. Here are some more delicious recipes to add to your Thanksgiving menu: The best crockpot sweet potato casserole Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing Autumn Crunch Pasta Salad No Bake Frozen Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Crockpot Double Mashed Potatoes (2 side dishes made in one crockpot!) Easy Slow Cooker Potatoes Au Gratin
wow, you butchered that turkey like a badass, I’m impressed. ALso, what a great idea to do it in the crockpot! No dry turkey with the Crockpot! Reply
This is great, Chelsea! An easy recipe to make for Thanksgiving. I’ve never made Turkey in my slow cooker. So clever. Thanks for the video! Reply
This looks great! I will be trying it on Christmas as long as the turkey breast fits in my crockpot. The breast meat dries out so easily that I think this method will be perfect! I am also thinking of putting a chaffing fish on the table and putting the sliced turkey in it with some gravy so it stays nice and hot. Turkey seems to loose its heat too quickly. I am the type of person that likes food either very hot or very cold—nothing room temperature unless it is supposed to be, of course. Thanks for the info! Reply
The turkey breast has been in the crock pot for two hours… already the house smells heavenly. Will report back after we eat it tonight! Reply
Oh I am SO glad to hear that! It’s the best when it makes the whole home smell good 🙂 Hope you loved it! Reply
Tried it out this morning! My crockpot must be too small or turkey too large, I couldn’t fit the turkey in with the veggies on the bottom. I’ll just make some carrots for a side. Reply
You have gravy on your picture. Did you make gravy with the drippings in the crockpot or just from a mix?? Reply
I added in the notes how you can make the gravy from the drippings left in the crockpot 🙂 Hope that helps! Reply
I’ve never tried olive oil with this turkey recipe, so I really can’t say how it would end up. Wish I could be of more help! Reply
I made this recipe using Smart Balance light; we ave to watch our cholesterol intake carefully. The turkey breast was fantastic. It was moist and juicy and the gravy was very good. I have a large slow cooker and will try a small whole turkey (10#) next time. Reply
So happy to hear you enjoyed the turkey and the gravy! I love hearing that 🙂 Thanks for the comment Karen! Reply
I’m preparing to make this tomorrow. I could not find a single turkey breast that was 5 – 6 pounds, so I got two that were 2.75 pounds. Will two cook thoroughly in my crockpot? I could also split all the remaining ingredients in half and just cook one breast. What would you recommend? Reply
Hey Amanda! I really am not 100% sure, but I don’t see why 2 breasts won’t work out in the crockpot. Just split the seasonings and butter evenly between the 2. Good luck! Would love to hear the results 🙂 Reply
Hi Chelsea, I ended up cooking only one 2.75 lb turkey breast. I chopped the rest of the ingredients in half and it worked out fine. The meat was a tad bit dry, but it was in the crockpot around 10 hours on low. Probably a little too long. Next time I will cook it less hours. All in all, the flavor was really good despite the dryness. Thanks for this recipe, I will be trying this again real soon! Reply
Thanks so much for coming back and letting me (and others) know! Yeah I’m sure if you cut down that time it would be a lot more moist; I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor though! Hope you completely love it the next time you try it for less time! Reply
One other question, can I cook on low for 8-9 hours instead? I will be at work all day. I skimmed the recipe rather quickly before getting the ingredients and prepping. I just now realized that the recipe states to cook on high for one hour before turning to low. Reply
Great tip to get crispy skin if leaving it on: put it under the broiler in the oven for a couple minutes!!! Works great when roasting a chicken in the crockpot also!!! Reply
I was planning on cooking a boneless turkey breast this year (just 4 of us). Would the cooking time need to be adjusted? Reply
Yes it likely will need to be adjusted. I wish I could be of more help, but I’ve never tried a boneless turkey breast in the crockpot so I don’t want to give you an incorrect recommendation. The size is the biggest determining factor of the time in the crockpot. Reply
I have 2 boneless in the crockpot as well. I didn’t realize recipe called for bone in until I got home haha. I will update this evening :)) Reply
Hi there! I am so GLAD I came across this blog post!! I finally know how I’m going to cook our turkey breast this year! I do have a question, though: I see that you checked the temp after taking the turkey out of the slow cooker. Do you do this with the assumption that the temperature has been reached and you’re measuring just to be on the safe side? What if the temperature is not high enough upon measuring? Do you put the turkey back into the slow cooker? 5-7 hours is a large window and, other than monitoring the temp as it cooks (which I don’t know is an option with slow cookers), I’m unsure of how to know when to stop cooking and take the turkey out! Thanks so much!!! Reply
Yes that is exactly what I do 🙂 Just making sure that temperature has been reached! I definitely would recommend monitoring it throughout the cooking time once it’s been in the crockpot for 5 hours. If it’s not done just keep cooking and check it every 30 minutes 🙂 Reply
Bought everything BUT it doesn’t fit in my crock pot! ? What temp/time would you recommend for oven baking? Reply
Oh no! Would it fit without the veggies at the bottom? If so, you can try and cram the veggies in the side or on top — they don’t have to be at the bottom. Reply
Did this last year and doing it again this year! Cooking it in the crockpot breast side down is genius. SO GOOD! Reply
So, so happy to hear it! 🙂 I’m thrilled to hear you’re serving this recipe two years in a row for Thanksgiving 🙂 Reply
I would like to cook my turkey breast in crockpot but I don’t have anything but celery to put under it. Do you think that will work? Thanks Reply
Worked like a charm! My boyfriend had doubts, but definitely not anymore. Thanks for the recipe and all of the helpful hints. Reply
I am going to try this turkey recipe next week for my family who will be coming in before Christmas. My concern is that my crockpot is a 4 quart. Do you think this will still work? I may use less vegetables so that the turkey will fit. Reply
Used this recipe for Christmas dinner. My crock pot was a tad too small for a 5# breast. Made it work. It was incredible! Thanks! Reply
Inevitably – when one skims through recipe reviews/comments – very few reviewers have actually made the recipe – but just want to say how delicious it sounds… So if you’re looking for an actual “I made it and it was awesome” review – this is it. I’ve always made Turkey breast in the crockpot — spares the oven for the other things that have to be baked, and you don’t have to tend to the turkey (no basting, no messing with it). But I needed a reminder on how much broth to add (couldn’t find my usual recipe). I decided just to follow this recipe since it was so simple. Just remember spices can be tweaked so easily. Plus – I had no carrots, and it still came out perfectly. Tip – leave about 1/2″ broth in the bottom of the crockpot after removing the turkey to carve, and to round up the broth for gravy. After slicing – return to crockpot – and drizzle a little broth on top so that it doesn’t dry out while you prepare the rest of the meal. Be sure crockpot is off, though. I leave the skin ON so that I can put butter/spices/garlic cloves in there – but remove it before carving (it’s not edible in my book – there’s no crispy brown skin on crockpot turkey). Cooked for 8 hrs on high… 9th hour on “warm” – and was perfectly cooked. Turkey breast is so easily dried out in the oven – this is truly no-fail. Moist, tasty – and the house smells amazing! Reply
Just took it out of the crockpot snuck a piece and so far amazing. Making gravy now I will update once we have our dinner. Reply
That was the most amazing, moist turkey breast I have ever eaten. The crockpot makes all the difference it was sooooo good. Just added some salt while it was cooking and all I can say is outstanding will definitely make it again for sure. Thanks for sharing. Reply
Loved it – an FYI. I love the crispy skin. You can take the skin when removed prior to putting breast in crock pot & lay it out on a cookie sheet. Brush with oil or rub with butter, lightly season & put under broiler til as crispy as you like. Reply
Deliciously moist-my husband said so ! He can be picky-but he pronounced it very good ! Good thing – turkey breasts were on a good sale this weekend and I have 3 more in the freezer. 🙂 Reply
Thank you for sharing the recipe. This could be the first Thanksgiving where the turkey never dries out! Reply
I need clarification. The directions say to put the breast in the slow cooker & then rub the spices on but if you are leaving the skin on to rub them on under it. Do you rub the spices on the breast & then turn it upside down in the cooker? probably obvious but just checking. Thanks! Reply
Yes rub the spices on the breast first and then place in the slow cooker and rub it over the rest of the turkey 🙂 Enjoy! Reply
Sorry to see you go Kathy! The ads on the website is how I make an income to provide for my family and to provide all of these free recipes for you. Best of luck! Reply
Oh, good grief! I was able to view all the photographs, watch the video, read through the recipe and comments, and write a review without any interruptions (read: ads. If you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all. And, no, I have not tried the recipe, but I am going too; it looks and sounds so incredibly delicious. Thanks for the inspiration, Chelsea! Reply
How much would you adjust the cooking time for a 3lb breast? Could I skip the 1hr on high and just do the 5-7hrs on low, or would I need to pare that part down too? Looking forward to trying this since my tiny family of 3 is staying home this thanksgiving holiday! Reply
Looking so forward to using this recipe but I’m going to have to cook it early. Does anybody have reheating tips ?? Reply
How long would I do a 3lb boneless breast? Would skipping the 1hr on high and jyst cooking 5hrs on low be ok, or would that still be too long? Looking forward to making thks tomorrow! Reply
This recipe worked out great. I found it the night before Thanksgiving when an issue with my oven had me looking for alternatives. I didn’t have chicken broth so I just used water, but even with that substitution, it was the best turkey I ever had. One note: It got to temperature after just 4 hours, so I put the crockpot on warm for three hours, and it was still juicy and delicious. The turkey was brined, so that may have helped. Thanks for the great recipe. I don’t think I’ll ever roast turkey breast again. Reply
So happy to hear this recipe worked out great and you were able to still have turkey even though your oven was having issues! Thanks so much for the comment Bob 🙂 Reply
our stove went out so was scrambling to find a place to buy a already done turkey. Friend of mine suggested the crock pot so I went to Pinterest and found this one and never using the stove again Reply
You can buy huge roaster type of crock pots that fit an entire turkey. My family cooks an entire turkey in one each Thanksgiving. Reply
Just tried it. It was delicious! Made sweet potatoes with walnuts and tossed salad as a side. It was delicious and super moist. My fiancé said it was one of the best meals he’s had in a while and I agree! Reply
could you cook the turkey in the crockpot one day & reheat it the next day and what would be the best way to reheat it? I am running out of crockpots. Thanks Julie D. Reply
This recipie is amazing! I have made this turkey several times and my family always loves it! I’m trying it today with a boneless turkey as that was all I could find at the store, it is January after all! Cooking it on low for 8 hours. I will let you know how it turns out. Thank You Chelsea for sharing all your amazing recipes! I appreciate you taking the time to create wonderful foods for us all to enjoy! Have a Great Day! Reply
why all the drama with placing the skin side of the breast “down” while cooking and then turning it up to slice? And have you ever “broiled” it skin side up for 3-5 min to crisp up the skin prior to serving? Reply
Hi Chelsea, Could I use a 7 LB Breast? Saw your recipe after I bought Turkey for Thanksgiving. How much time would I add to cooking? Looks wonderful Thanks, Em Reply
Do you have a crockpot that would fit that? I would test the temperature every hour after 7 hours until internal temperature is 160-165 Reply
Chelsea, Thanks so much for a great recipe. My holiday was enjoyable for a change. I put this in the crockpot at 9:15 am and dinner was ready at 3:00 pm. I will use this recipe always–it’s a keeper. I would say to have 2 or 3 crockpots going for a larger gathering. So easy, then you have ample time to prepare side dishes. Thanks again! Reply
I did a 3# boneless Butterball roast with your recipe because the directions and seasonings made more sense than the others I saw. The veggie raft, and the seasonings…little roast came out perfect! The stove in this house wasn’t working, so crockpot and microwave Thanksgiving for small family saved it. Thanks for this great recipe! Reply
How long did you cook it and on low or high? Different recipes are saying different times. Some say low for 4 hours while others say high for six hours. I usually rotisserie mine but this year, I’m cooking it at home and taking to my family so I need to cook in something that will keep it moist and warm for an hour or more before serving so I thought of using the crockpot. Reply
I think I will do the crockpot method this thanksgiving. Being a grandmother that does all the holiday cooking by herself ( not complaining, I like it that way) This seems to be a stress free method. Not to mention free’s up the oven for side dishes and desserts, Reply
I have been doing turkey Breasts in the crock pot for a long, long time. I put mine in with the breast up and brush with melted butter with Nature Seasoning mixed in. then I sprinkle a package of the Onion Soup Mix over all of it. I also, put onions, celery & carrots in the bottom of the crock pot. The top of the breast will brown but not get crispy. Reply
I’m sorry Rhonda, I’m not sure I’ve never tried this. I’m sure it would be similar cooking time, but maybe check an hour or two earlier? Wish I could be of more help Reply
Hi! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Have you cooked stuffing in the same crockpot at the same time as the turkey? Thank you for time! Reply
Hi, Happy Thanksgiving! I am cooking a 4.5lb turkey breast (w/ ribs) in a 5qt crock pot. How long would this cook on high temp? Also its a little snug in the crock pot with the onions and carrots, so the turkey is on its side, is that a problem? Thanks! Reply
Just put the turkey in the crockpot! is there anyway to speed up the cooking? Cooking on high for two hours perhaps and low for 3? I know this might not be possible just wondering if anyones tried it Reply
Chelsea I’m so Thankful that you share these wonderful recipes! This Turkey is amazing! I had to lay my turkey on its side because I couldn’t find a smaller turkey! You are the best. Reply
My wife and I made this today. Awesome! The turkey turned out perfect. Thanks for posting this recipe. Reply
I made this thanksgiving day and it turned out do tender, juicy. The gravy was fantastic. The whole family loved it, but the gravy was the bigger hit. I will be making again. Reply
Super juicy. Served it to company. They loved it. Turkey fell of the bone so I had to be careful when serving. May use boneless breast next time. Reply
My turkey breast would not fit In slow cooker breast side down. I had to put it on it’s side. Should I flip it over 1/2 way? Reply
Made this today. Got rave reviews from the 6 adults present. Very good and moist. I did not add thyme. Reply
Trying this for the first time today. I do not have a meat thermometer so how do I check my turkey? Heard so many wonderful replies on here I just had to try this. Reply
I made this for Thanksgiving as a last resort because my oven isnt functioning properly. This was SO good. Literally fall off the bone, tender, juicy. I was skeptical but it was wonderful. Would definitely make this again. Reply
I made this and even though my crockpot malfunctioned and stayed on high the whole time and it was at 200 degrees when I checked it, it was a hit. It was perfect flavor and juicy, a little over cooked and fall apart. The gravy was excellent. When I get a new crockpot, I will make this again! Reply
I’ve been making this recipe for Thanksgiving for 4 years now after being divorced, and without fail, this recipe smells and tastes absolutely awesome and gives all the holiday deliciousness anyone could want! Thank you for sharing the recipe and Happy Holidays Reply
This is so touching! I’m so happy you love this recipe so much! Thanks Justin and Happy Holidays! 🙂 Reply
