How To Cook A Turkey Breast In A Crock

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This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few simple steps.  We are keeping it simple with only 4 ingredients –  boneless turkey breast, oil, onion and garlic. This might be your new Thanksgiving turkey.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe

You do know that turkey is not just for Thanksgiving anymore, don’t you? Yes, that’s right. You can make a juicy turkey breast in the crock pot any night of the week.

This slow cooked turkey breast is a great weeknight meal option because you can take it from the freezer in the morning before work, put it into your slow cooker, and come home to a home-cooked meal without turning on the oven.

If you like a crispy skin, try broiling the cooked turkey breast for a few minutes to brown up the skin.  It’s worth the extra effort.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

Mom’s Easy Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot

Our mom shared this simple turkey breast recipe with us, and it is one she uses often. Not only does it make a flavorful, moist, juicy, tender turkey breast EVERY TIME, but she can also get more than one meal from it.  Cooking a boneless turkey breast in slow cooker is easy peasy, and this juicy turkey breast recipe has only 4 ingredients plus salt and black pepper.

What can I add to turkey breast for flavor?

If you are wanting to jazz up your turkey breast for even more flavor, try one of the suggestions below.

  • Butter
  • Poultry seasoning
  • Thyme, rosemary or sage
  • Sage browned in butter
  • Garlic salt, garlic powder or onion powder
  • Italian seasoning blend
  • Dry white wine
  • Lemon juice or lemon zest
  • Paprika (Hungarian or smoked)
  • Lemon pepper
  • Apple juice
  • Fresh herbs

Serve crockpot turkey breast with your favorite vegetable and mashed potatoes and gravy straight from the crock pot. Then use the leftovers to make Mom’s Wild Rice and Broccoli Soup. Or check out our friend’s 17 Recipes for Turkey Leftovers post over at My Fearless Kitchen.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

Recipe FAQs

  • If you are cooking a 6 lb turkey breast, the cooking time will be 6 to 8 hours. For a smaller 3 lb turkey breast, cooking time will be between 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Be sure to always use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This depends on your slow cooker and how it heats so it may take a bit longer or be done a bit sooner.
  • This is also a keto turkey breast crock pot recipe. You can modify the amounts of onions and garlic to keep it in keto range.  Low carb turkey breast for the win!  You could also pair this keto turkey breast recipe for the crock pot with Mashed Cauliflower. Double low carb for the win.
  • Can we just say 4 ingredients!  This simple turkey breast recipe in the slow cooker only has 4 ingredients.  Boneless turkey breast, oil, onion and garlic. How easy is that?
  • Be sure to season the boneless turkey breast with plenty of salt and black pepper.
  • If you like a crispy skin, broil the cooked turkey breast for a few minutes before serving until the skin gets golden brown.
  • This recipe starts with a frozen turkey breast; here’s a recipe starting with the turkey being thawed. We also have a crock pot turkey breast with cranberry sauce recipe!

What is your favorite leftover turkey recipe?  We use our leftover turkey breast from the crock pot many different recipes. Check them out in our post about leftover turkey recipes! We love making this leftover Thanksgiving crescent roll casserole.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

How to remove gravy packet from frozen turkey?

Be sure to follow these instructions very carefully so not to cut yourself.  Use a clean dish towel to hold the frozen turkey breast without freezing your fingers. Use a knife to loosen around the gravy packet; then wedge the knife under the gravy and push up until the packet pops off.

If this method doesn’t work, you may have to defrost the frozen turkey breast for a few minutes in the microwave. After a few minutes, the gravy packet should thaw enough to make the process easier.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

How to Make a Crock Pot Turkey Breast

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Remove gravy packet (very carefully) from the turkey breast; discard or save for later.
  2. Rub turkey breast with vegetable oil; season generously with salt and pepper.
  3. Add boneless turkey breast to the slow cooker insert.
  4. Add vegetables (onions and garlic or celery), and cover with the lid.
  5. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  6. Optional step: broil the turkey breast, skin side up, for a few minutes or until the skin gets golden brown.

For the full recipe for a boneless turkey breast in the slow cooker, see below. 

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

What do you serve with turkey breast?

Think outside the box of the traditional mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffing when serving turkey breast. Here’s some of our new spins on old favorite turkey dinner sides when it comes to side dishes.

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans are a German-inspired side dish. Canned green beans are enhanced with water chestnuts, onions and bacon and baked in a slightly sweet and tangy sauce.  These can be eaten right away or prepped the night before for the perfect holiday green bean recipe. 

Old-Fashioned Cheesy Cabbage Casserole

Old-Fashioned Cheesy Cabbage Casserole is a great side dish for any family gathering.

Cheesy Potatoes with Bacon

Cheesy Potatoes with Bacon will be your new favorite side dish. It features an easy cheese sauce made with Velveeta, Miracle Whip, salt and black pepper and a bacon topping that sends the humble potato out of this world. 

Baked Lima Bean Casserole

Baked Lima Bean Casserole is an old fashioned southern dish.  The best part is a sweet sour cream and brown sugar sauce that coats each and every Lima bean.

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese 

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese is the best ever, oven-baked macaroni and cheese.  The addition of eggs to this old-fashioned macaroni and cheese lends to a fluffy version that will have your family and friends asking for more. 

What is the best way to cook Boneless Turkey breast in the Crock Pot?

The best way is simple. Coat the frozen breast with oil, season with salt and pepper. Add the prepared turkey plus garlic and onions to the crock pot. Cook on low until the breast reaches 165 degrees F.

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Crock Pot Turkey Breast

This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few simple steps.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crock pot turkey breast, juicy turkey breast, simple turkey breast, slow cooker turkey breast
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 360kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 6 lb. boneless turkey breast frozen
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 medium onion
  • 4 garlic cloves

Instructions

  • Remove gravy packet from the turkey breast; discard or save for later.
    This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.
  • Rub the turkey breast with vegetable oil; season liberally with salt and pepper.
    This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.
  • Place the breast in the crock pot.
  • Peel the onion and quarter, and place around the breast.
    This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.
  • Peel the garlic and scatter around the breast.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Check internal temperature. Poultry should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
    This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.
  • Discard the onions and garlic before eating.
  • Optional step: broil the turkey breast, skin side up, for a few minutes or until the skin gets golden brown. 
    This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

Notes

  • Mom’s crock pot turkey breast recipe calls for a 6 to 6 and a 1/2 pound boneless turkey breast.
  • Cooking a 3 lb boneless turkey breast in crock pot can also be done with this recipe. Barbara used a 3 and a half pound breast and it turned out perfect. 
  • If you are cooking a 6 lb turkey breast, the cooking time will be 6 to 8 hours. For a smaller 3 lb turkey breast, cooking time will be about 4 hours. Be sure to always use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  • This is also a keto turkey breast crock pot recipe. You can modify the amounts of onions and garlic to keep it in keto range.  Low carb turkey breast for the win!  You could also pair this keto turkey breast recipe for the crock pot with Mashed Cauliflower. Double low carb for the win.
  • Can we just say—4 ingredients!  This simple turkey breast recipe in the slow cooker only has 4 ingredients.  Boneless turkey breast, oil, onion and garlic. How easy is that?
  • Be sure to season the boneless turkey breast with plenty of salt and black pepper.
  • If you’d rather start from a thawed turkey breast, use this recipe instead. 

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 702mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 68IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
This Crock Pot Turkey Breast is a quick and simple way to take a frozen boneless turkey breast and turn it into a tender, juicy main dish in just a few steps.

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22 Comments

    1. We start ours from frozen but know that some worry about putting frozen meat directly into the crock pot. If you want to use a thawed turkey breast, you’ll just need to adjust the cooking time (probably around 6 hours or a bit less, but be sure to check that the internal temperature gets to 165 degrees F).

    1. Yes, a 3 1/2 pound on low heat should take between 3 to 4 hours. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure proper cooking. Slow cookers can have quite a bit of variance in how they heat.

  1. My boneless frozen 3lb turkey breast has the giblet gravy bag frozen in the middle. What to do? Cook for awhile and remove when able?

    1. We knew what you meant (we agree about autocorrect). You can use a bone-in turkey breast, the cooking time will vary. We suggest using a meat thermometer with a probe you can leave in and monitor. You don’t want a dry turkey breast.

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