Slow Cooker Turkey Breast – A Moist and Tender Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is a simple and easy way to serve up a juicy turkey breast every time. With only six ingredients (turkey breast, butter, salt, pepper, onions and garlic), it’s an easy recipe to make any day of the week, not just for Thanksgiving.

This recipe uses a thawed turkey breast; however, if you want to use a frozen turkey breast, use this recipe!

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe

Turkey breast is one of those entrees that doesn’t get enough love in the other 11 months other than November. I love cooking up a juicy turkey breast in the slow cooker. It’s nice to not turn on the oven for once.

It can be sliced and eaten with gravy and mashed potatoes or sliced and served on a sandwich. Then, the leftovers can be taken and made into endless recipes (like these). Also remember any recipe that calls for chicken can be made with turkey instead.

I tend to stock up on turkey breast in the freezer section at Aldi. My Mom gave me an awesome recipe for cooking up the frozen turkey breast in the slow cooker. Be sure to check it out.

If you aren’t adventurous enough to cook a turkey breast from the frozen state, then this boneless turkey breast recipe in the slow cooker is for you. Also check out our crockpot turkey breast with cranberry sauce!

Ingredient List for Moist and Tender Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

• Turkey Breast (bone-in turkey breast or boneless turkey breast)
• Butter, softened
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Onions, quartered
• Garlic Cloves, left whole or minced

How to Make a Crock Pot Turkey Breast (Bone-in or Boneless)

Step by Step Instructions

1. Spread softened butter all over thawed turkey breast; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Arrange prepared turkey breast in crock pot insert and surround with onion quarters and peeled garlic cloves.
3. Cook on the low setting for approximately 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Cook times may vary depending on the side of your breast.
4. If a crispy skin is desired, broil for a few minutes or until the skin gets golden brown.
5. Cut into slices, and serve with your favorite side dishes such as sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

For the full recipe for a moist and tender slow cooker turkey breast in the crock pot, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

• For this crock pot turkey breast recipe, I used a thawed turkey breast that weighed 3 pounds; however, I have used up to an 8 pound turkey breast.
  • For an 8 pound turkey breast, use 1 stick butter, 2 onions, 6 – 8 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper.  In my crock pot, it takes about 3 1/2 hours on high for an 8 pound turkey breast.
• To find out how to cook one from frozen, check out our recipe here.
• This particular turkey breast had netting over it, so I spread the softened butter over the netting and then sprinkled with salt and pepper. Not all turkey breasts have netting.
• If your butter doesn’t spread perfectly, don’t fret. See the photo above where I spread a large bit of the butter over the top.
• To get a juicy turkey breast, use a electric thermometer like this one. You can set the target temperature to 165 degrees F, and it will beep when it’s ready. This is the easiest way to get a moist and tender turkey breast in the crock pot.
• The best part of making a crock pot turkey breast is that the leftovers can be used in any recipe that calls for chicken such as Grandma’s Chicken and Rice Casserole, 3 Ingredient Chicken Salad, Chicken Crescents, Crock Pot Tortilla Soup, and Chicken Enchilada Bake.

Recipe Variations

• Sprinkle the breast with your favorite seasonings or herbs before cooking for more flavor. Some tasty options would be paprika, garlic powder, fresh herbs, rosemary, onion powder, sage, dry onion soup mix and/or thyme.
• Add carrots or celery with the onions and garlic for more flavor. I would toss these after cooking instead of eating.
• Use the turkey to make tasty turkey sandwiches with a smear of cranberry sauce on top.

Leftover Turkey Recipes

The best part of making a crock pot turkey breast is that the leftovers can be used in any recipe that calls for chicken such as Grandma’s Chicken and Rice Casserole, 3 Ingredient Chicken Salad, Chicken Crescents, Crock Pot Tortilla Soup, and Chicken Enchilada Bake. For more recipes using leftover turkey, check out our blog post with recipes using turkey.