This slow cooker turkey roast is the best quick and easy herbed turkey recipe for a festive dinner or filling weeknight meal! Featuring a tender and juicy boneless turkey breast roast, lots of herbs, and plenty of veggies, it’s the perfect main course to serve with all your favourite sides this holiday season! {Gluten-free & Dairy-free}
Cooking a turkey breast in a crock pot is a simple and foolproof way to get tender juicy meat infused with delicious flavor. With minimal prep required the slow cooker does all the work for you, making it an effortless holiday centerpiece. Whether you opt for bone-in or boneless, this method leaves you with moist, fall-apart turkey and frees up your oven for sides. Follow these tips for sensational crock pot turkey breast every time.
Benefits of Slow Cooking Turkey Breast
There are several advantages to using a crock pot versus roasting in the oven when cooking turkey breast
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Guaranteed moistness: The slow, low heat gently cooks the turkey to perfect doneness without drying it out. The sealed environment traps steam to keep meat succulent.
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Infuses flavor: Seasonings and broth penetrate deeply into the meat over hours of simmering.
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Frees up oven space: With the crock pot handling the turkey, your oven is available for sides and desserts.
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No monitoring required: Set it and forget it. No basting or checking temps needed.
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Even easier prep: A simple herb rub is all you need before popping it in the pot.
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SMALLER PORTIONS: A turkey breast is the perfect size for a smaller gathering of 4-8 people.
Tips for Crock Pot Turkey Breast Success
Follow these tips and tricks to ensure your crock pot turkey breast turns out juicy, flavorful and picture perfect:
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Select the right size breast – For a 6-8 quart crock pot, target a 5-7 pound bone-in breast or 3-5 pound boneless breast. Size down for smaller cookers.
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Thaw completely if frozen – Don’t slow cook a frozen breast. Thaw in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.
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Pat turkey dry – Remove all moisture from the skin so the herb rub adheres.
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Apply herb butter under and over skin – Slip compound butter under skin to infuse flavor throughout.
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Elevate turkey in pot – Place chopped vegetables or onion rounds in pot first to lift breast up.
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Add liquid to pot – Chicken or turkey broth creates steam and absorbs into the meat.
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Cook to 155-160°F – Monitor temperature to prevent overcooking. Juices should run clear.
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Broil skin at end – Crisp up the skin by placing under broiler for 5 minutes.
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Let rest 10 minutes – Allows juices to reabsorb for maximum juiciness.
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Save drippings for gravy – Turkey juices left in pot are liquid gold for gravy.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for foolproof crock pot turkey breast:
Prep Ingredients
You’ll need:
- Bone-in or boneless turkey breast (thawed if frozen)
- Herbs – rosemary, thyme, sage work well
- Garlic
- Butter or oil
- Onion, carrots and celery (optional)
- Chicken or turkey broth
Make Compound Butter
Blend softened butter with minced garlic, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
Prepare Turkey
Pat turkey dry and loosen skin. Spread compound butter under and on top of skin.
Add Veggies and Liquid
Place chopped veggie “rack” in crock pot. Add 1/2 cup broth.
Cook Turkey
Place seasoned turkey breast on top of vegetables in crock pot. Cover and cook.
Cook times:
Bone-in: 6-7 hours on LOW or 3.5-4 hours on HIGH
Boneless: 5-6 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
Brown Skin
Broil skin side up 5 mins once cooked through to desired temp.
Rest and Carve
Let turkey rest 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to absorb.
Choosing the Right Crock Pot Size
Picking the properly sized slow cooker ensures your turkey breast will fit and cook evenly. For reference:
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3-5 pounds – 4 quart crock pot
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5-7 pounds – 6 quart crock pot
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7-9 pounds – 7 quart crock pot
If your pot runs small, opt for a smaller breast. You want ample room for broth and steam circulation.
Helpful Tips and Variations
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For the most evenly cooked meat, rotate the crock midway through cooking.
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Swap broth for wine, apple cider, or citrus juice for fun flavor twists.
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Skip the compound butter and use an olive oil herb marinade instead.
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Stuff aromatics inside the breast cavity – lemons, garlic, herbs, etc.
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Turn leftover turkey into soup, salad, casserole or sandwiches for easy meals.
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Slice and freeze leftovers in portions for quick defrosting later on.
Common FAQs
Is it safe to cook frozen turkey in the slow cooker?
No, only cook fully thawed turkey breasts. Frozen meat prevents the interior from cooking through properly.
Can I stuff a crock pot turkey breast?
Yes, you can stuff it just as you would when roasting. Just ensure stuffing reaches safe temperature.
What temperature should crock pot turkey cook to?
Cook to an internal temperature of 155-160°F. Carryover cooking during resting will bring it up to 165°F.
How long does it take to cook turkey in a crock pot?
Bone-in breasts take 6-7 hours on LOW or 3.5-4 hours on HIGH. Boneless cooks in 5-6 hours on LOW or 3-4 on HIGH.
The Final Takeaway
Cooking turkey breast in the crock pot makes an easy, foolproof holiday centerpiece. The slow, moist heat delivers ultra tender and juicy meat with very little hands-on effort required. Follow the tips above for guaranteed sensational results and you may never oven roast turkey again!
Slow Cooker Turkey Roast – So Juicy!
One common complaint I hear about turkey breast is that it’s bland and dry. Well, not anymore! This slow cooker turkey roast recipe features an herbed rub and a long, slow cooking process to lock in both flavour and moisture for the most delicious turkey ever!
Better yet, it’s paired it with hearty vegetables for an easy thanksgiving dinner or holiday meal you can prepare in no time at all. No more fussing around in the kitchen all day!
This recipe for boneless turkey roast is great served on its own for a healthy low-carb dinner, but also tastes great along with quick sides like mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt and roasted beets and carrots salad.
It requires just 15 minutes of prep work and is a breeze to clean up. No messy oven or carving a whole bird required! Just toss all the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, set it and forget it.
You can even make your own homemade gravy from the drippings! It’s the perfect smaller turkey recipe for a smaller crowd or holiday gathering.
For more delicious turkey recipes, be sure to check out this Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast and Stuffed Turkey Breast with Orange Honey Glaze!
How to Make Gravy From Drippings
- To prepare the gravy recipe, place a fine wire mesh strainer over a blender, and strain the mixture from the bottom of the slow cooker, so that the broth goes into the blender. Add half of the cooked onion and roasted garlic cloves from the bottom of the slow cooker to the blender.
- Blend until pureed. The mixture will have a foam on the surface, but this will disappear when you boil it on the stove.
- Transfer the gravy mixture to a small pot over medium heat.
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Transfer it to the saucepan, increase the heat, and bring the ingredients to a boil, stirring frequently, until thickened.
- Season the gravy with salt and pepper, to taste.
Pro tip: Don’t skip the step where you let the turkey breast rest under a tent of foil. This allows the juices to infuse back into the turkey. If you slice into it too quickly, it will lose some of its juiciness.