One of the most common questions we get asked every festive season is, ‘Can I cook a turkey in a slow cooker?’
The last thing you want to be doing on Christmas day is spending hours in the kitchen cooking, not to mention the fact that there never seems to be enough space in the oven!
We’ve put together some top tips to help you get the perfect slow cooked turkey that will be the centrepiece of your Christmas table and means that you can actually enjoy your day instead of standing over the stove.
Cooking turkey can be intimidating, especially if you’re tasked with preparing the centerpiece of a big holiday meal. Many home cooks rely on the traditional oven method, but it does take up valuable oven space and requires frequent basting. If you’re looking for an easier, hands-off way to cook turkey, using a slow cooker may be the solution for you. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore how to cook turkey in a slow cooker, including preparation tips, timing, recipe ideas, and troubleshooting.
Benefits of Cooking Turkey in a Slow Cooker
Cooking turkey in a slow cooker offers several advantages over roasting it in the oven
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Frees up oven space With the turkey in the slow cooker, your oven is free to cook side dishes and desserts.
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Less basting required The moist heat environment means you don’t have to baste the turkey as often to prevent drying out,
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More tender meat: The low, slow cooking helps break down the turkey’s collagen into gelatin, resulting in super tender and juicy meat.
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Adds flavor: Cooking with aromatic veggies infuses the turkey with savory flavor.
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Easier to carve: The turkey shreds easily right in the crockpot, no need to transfer to a cutting board.
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Safer: With no hot pans to maneuver, it’s easier and safer to get the turkey in and out of a slow cooker.
Choosing the Right Turkey and Slow Cooker
To ensure success, start with the right main ingredients:
Turkey Size and Type
Opt for a small to medium turkey, no more than 6-8 pounds. Whole turkeys and turkey breasts work equally well. Thaw frozen turkeys completely before cooking.
Slow Cooker Size
Choose a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker. This allows enough room for the turkey to cook evenly.
Preparation Tips Before Cooking
Proper preparation is key when slow cooking turkey:
- Thoroughly thaw if using a frozen turkey
- Remove the neck and giblets
- Rinse turkey and pat dry
- Season all over with salt, pepper, herbs
- Truss legs with twine to hold shape
Trussing brings the legs close to the body so they don’t overcook.
Timing Guidelines for Cooking Turkey in a Slow Cooker
Cooking time depends on the size of your turkey:
- Small turkey (4-6 lbs): Low 6-8 hrs, High 3-4 hrs
- Medium turkey (6-8 lbs): Low 8-10 hrs, High 4-6 hrs
Use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches 165°F internally before serving. If undercooked, return to slow cooker for additional time.
Adding Liquid for Moisture and Flavor
For a moist turkey, add 1-2 cups of liquid to the slow cooker. Options include:
- Chicken or turkey broth
- White wine or apple cider
- Water
Aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery add even more moisture and flavor.
Recipe Ideas for Delicious Slow Cooker Turkey
There are endless ways to flavor slow cooker turkey. Try these tasty combinations:
- Herb Roasted: Rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, lemon
- Mediterranean: Olives, sun dried tomatoes, oregano, feta
- Savory Apple Cider: Apple cider, brown sugar, garlic, mustard
- Southwestern: Chili powder, cumin, salsa, corn, black beans
Tips and Tricks for Slow Cooker Turkey Success
Follow these tips to ensure your turkey turns out perfectly cooked and flavored:
- Brown the turkey before slow cooking for crispy skin
- Use a foil sling to easily remove turkey from cooker
- Let turkey rest 20 minutes before carving
- Save broth for gravy or soup bases
Frequently Asked Questions
What size slow cooker do I need?
Aim for a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker, which can fit a 4-8 pound turkey.
Can I stuff the turkey?
Stuffing is not recommended, as it may not cook through fully. Cook stuffing separately.
How do I adapt timing for a larger turkey?
For turkeys larger than 8 pounds, allow 10-12 hours on low or 6-8 hours on high.
Is it safe to cook a frozen turkey?
No, always thaw turkeys fully before placing in a slow cooker to ensure food safety.
How do I get crispy skin?
Brown the skin under the broiler for 5 minutes after slow cooking. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
Conclusion
Cooking turkey in a slow cooker frees up your oven for sides, ensures a tender and juicy bird, and requires little hands-on time. With the right preparation, timing, and flavor combinations, you can enjoy stress-free, delicious turkey using this simple method. Refer to this guide for tips and techniques for slow cooker turkey success at your next holiday meal or Sunday dinner.
What turkey joint should I use?
There’s not really a right or wrong answer to this one, as long as you use a turkey joint that actually fits in your slow cooker!
Generally, unless you have a really big slow cooker like this one, you’re probably not going to be able to fit a whole turkey in, so you might find that a boneless, rolled turkey breast joint is your best option (this is what we’ve used in our Slow Cooker Christmas Turkey Joint recipe).
We prefer to use a boneless joint as this means that you can just take it out of the slow cooker and carve it straight away without worrying about any bones, but if you wanted to use something like a turkey crown with the bone in instead then you definitely could!
You shouldn’t use a turkey joint that’s stuffed with anything as this won’t really work, so a rolled, boneless joint or a bone in crown are the way to go. We have a super tasty Chestnut Stuffing that would work perfectly with turkey and takes no time at all in the oven.
It’s really, really important that you only use a fresh turkey. It’s not recommended to use a turkey that’s been previously frozen and then defrosted, and you should absolutely not try to cook it from frozen.
This is because your turkey will spend too much time in the ‘danger zone’ if you try to slow cook it from frozen – you can find more info around this in our Top Tips for Food Safety and Hygiene article.
So, can I slow cook a turkey?
Yes, you absolutely can! In fact, we’ve got a recipe for a Slow Cooker Christmas Turkey Joint which is the perfect place to start if you’re not sure how to go about it.
It’s important to note that we’ve used a 1.38kg boneless turkey joint in our recipe, so although it’s a good starting point, you will need to remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly depending on the weight of your turkey joint.
You’ll know that your turkey is done when the juices run clear, and the thickest part of the meat reaches 70ºC and has stayed at that temperature for at least 2 minutes.
We’d recommend using a meat thermometer to check this as it’s the most accurate way to make sure that your joint is fully cooked.
Remember, you don’t want to lift the lid too much during cooking as every time you do you’ll add an additional 30 minutes to your cook time.
If you’re unsure about how long to cook your turkey joint for then we’d recommend going for a shorter cooking time and then cooking it for a bit longer if it’s not ready after this time has elapsed.
If you’re not sure how long your joint will need, then we have a really handy article about How to Convert Recipes to a Slow Cooker that’s full of really helpful advice, or you could also visit our Facebook Group for some extra help!