Crock Pot Turkey Breast

Another one of my Family Friendly Crock Pot Recipes is that we enjoy all year long is my Crock Pot Turkey Breast recipe.

It's perfect for those times when you don't need a whole bird! It's a great choice for Thanksgiving when everyone wants white meat, or for smaller gatherings where a whole turkey is just too much.

In this post, I'll share tips and tricks for cooking a juicy, flavorful turkey breast, ensuring your holiday meal is a success no matter the size of your gathering.

Forget the elaborate roasting! A tender and flavorful turkey dinner is within reach with just three things: a turkey breast, your crock pot, and a few basic seasonings.

My family loves white meat so much that I always cook an extra turkey breast for Thanksgiving, to serve alongside our massive 25-pound roast turkey just to ensure everyone gets their fill!

Looking for more Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving? Check out my Crock Pot Stuffing recipe or my favorite Thanksgiving Pie Recipes.

How to Cook a Turkey Breast

• If your family loves crispy, golden browned skin, place the cooked turkey breast under the boiler for about 10 to 20 minutes or until the skin gets golden browned.
• I highly recommend using a bone-in turkey breast. The bone will give more flavor to the meat as it cooks. 
• Make sure the turkey breast is completely thawed before putting it in the crock pot. Because of the size and thickness, you really shouldn't put a frozen breast in the crock pot. It may cook unevenly and not be safe. You can refer to my post, Tips on Thawing a Turkey Safely, for more information.
• A turkey is done when the thickest part of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees F. Use a Digital Meat Thermometer to get an accurate reading. 
• After the turkey has cooked, allow it to rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before carving so the juices will not run out of the breast. 
• Save the liquid that collects in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour it through a fine sieve and use to make homemade gravy. 

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Ingredients

• 1 double breasted bone-in turkey breast; a 6 pound breast was used in this recipe. 
• Poultry seasoning
• Broth
• Butter
• Flour

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Unwrap the turkey breast and rinse it under cold water. Pat dry and add to the base of the Crock Pot that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 

Step 2: Sprinkle generously with the poultry seasoning. 

Set the Crock Pot

Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the internal temperature reads 165°F. 

How do I know my Turkey Breast is done?

Step 4: Once the turkey breast has reached an internal temperature of 165°F, remove it from the crock pot and cover loosely with aluminum foil while you prepare the gravy.  

How to Make Homemade Gravy

Step 5: Strain the liquid from the crock pot. Measure it, and add enough broth to make 2 cups total.

Step 6: In a saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for a few minutes, until the raw flour taste is gone but the roux is still light in color. Gradually whisk in the broth until smooth, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Step 7: Don't forget to taste the gravy and season with salt and pepper if needed. Once the gravy has thickened, reduce heat to a simmer and keep warm until ready to serve. 

How to Slice Turkey Breast

While some prefer slicing turkey breast on the bone, I find it easier to remove the whole breast first, then slice it on a cutting board:

• Take a sharp knife and run down the center of the turkey breast as close as you can to the bone.
• Then slice under the turkey breast going towards the center bone. You're making an L shape in hopes of getting the meat off the bone all in one piece.
• Place the turkey breast on a cutting board to and slice across to get the beautiful perfect slices.

Serving Tips

• Place the sliced turkey on a serving tray and then spoon a little of the delicious homemade gravy on top. 
• I served this recipe with roasted potatoes and steamed green beans. Stuffing prepared as a casserole would be really good too! 

Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips

Refrigerator: Leftover cooked turkey breast should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place it in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

Freezer: For longer storage, you can freeze the turkey breast for up to 4-6 months. To freeze, wrap it well in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe container or bag.

Thawing and Reheating: Allow the frozen turkey breast leftovers to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat turkey breast slowly in a 300°F oven with a bit of broth for moisture, or quickly in the microwave with liquid and a damp paper towel cover, using 30-second bursts. Avoid overcooking and ensure it reaches 165°F.

More Recipes to Love

• Tips on Roasting the PERFECT Turkey for Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Pumpkin Centerpiece
• Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce made in the Instant Pot
• Last Minute Ideas for Setting the Table for Thanksgiving
• Easy Printable LEFTOVERS Container Labels - you really need to see these! 

Thanksgiving Printables Your Family Will Love

Quick to print and beautiful to display—these cards help you decorate in minutes!

Leftover Labels $2.99Vintage Gratitude Cards $3.99Scripture Gratitude Cards $3.99

 

📖 Recipe Card

Lois

Crock Pot Turkey Breast

4.37 from 22 votes

Crock Pot Turkey Breast will give you a tender and moist turkey every time.  Whether you need extra white meat for a big Thanksgiving gathering or you’re cooking for a small holiday get-together, let me show you how easy it is to cook a turkey breast in the crock pot. 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Calories: 555

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

Ingredients for the Turkey Breast

• 1 double breasted 6 pound bone-in turkey breast
• Poultry seasoning about 2 to 4 tablespoons

Ingredients for the Homemade Gravy

• Broth - 2 cups
• Butter - 2 tablespoons
• Flour - 2 tablespoons

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Equipment

• 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
• Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer 

Method

 

How to Make the Turkey Breast

1. Unwrap the turkey breast and rinse it under cold water. Pat dry and add to the base of the crock pot that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Sprinkle generously with the poultry seasoning.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F on a digital thermometer.
   

How to Make Homemade Gravy

1. Once the turkey breast has finished cooking, pour the liquid from the crock pot through a fine sieve. Then pour the liquid into a measuring cup. If you don't have 2 cups, don't worry. Open a can of broth and add that to the liquid from the crock pot to get to 2 cups. You need to make sure the ratios are exactly 2 cups liquid, 2 tablespoons fat and 2 tablespoons flour.
2. In a sauce pan melt the butter.
3. Add the flour and allow it to cook in the butter for a few minutes. You want to cook the flour taste out of the roux. The longer you let the butter and flour cook together, the darker your roux will become. Since we're making a turkey gravy, you don't want the roux too dark.
4. Finally add the broth to the butter/flour mixture and allow to come to a boil stirring constantly.
5. Once the gravy has thickened, reduce heat to a simmer and keep warm until ready to serve.
6. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 555kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 104gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 282mgSodium: 446mgSugar: 1g

Notes

While some prefer slicing turkey breast on the bone, I find it easier to remove the whole breast first, then slice it on a cutting board:

• Take a sharp knife and run down the center of the turkey breast as close as you can to the bone.
• Then slice under the turkey breast going towards the center bone. You're making an L shape in hopes of getting the meat off the bone all in one piece.
• Place the turkey breast on a cutting board to and slice across to get the beautiful perfect slices.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. Also included in this update are instructions for how to make homemade gravy to serve with the turkey breast. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!