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Trying to figure out how to cook a turkey breast for Thanksgiving (or any day)? Look no further. This Crock Pot turkey breast recipe is the best and easiest way to cook bone-in turkey breast, but there’s an option for boneless as well. The end result? Juicy, flavorful turkey — with the added bonus that slow cooker turkey breast is much less work than cooking a whole bird.
Cooking turkey breast in the Crock Pot has so many advantages. It’s easy, it’s juicy, the prep is quick and then the slow cooker does all the work. But if you need it done in less time, try air fryer turkey breast instead.
Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
- Tender, flavorful, juicy turkey breast
- Herby, garlicky flavor
- Easy to make
- Works with bone-in or boneless turkey breast
- Just 10 minutes prep time
- Perfect holiday main dish for a smaller crowd
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for slow cooker turkey breast, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Turkey Breast – I used a whole bone-in turkey breast (two halves joined at the breast bone) and it was about 7 pounds. The cook time can vary a little bit if yours is larger or smaller, but the nice thing about Crock Pot turkey breast recipes is that weight variations don’t have a huge impact on the time. Boneless turkey breast will work as well, but the cook time will be faster (see below).
- Butter – For the herb butter rub. I prefer to use unsalted butter so that I can customize the amount of salt separately. If all you have is salted, you can use that and reduce the salt in the recipe by 1/8 teaspoon.
- Garlic – Mince it fresh, or get jarred minced garlic to save time.
- Fresh Herbs – Rosemary, thyme, and parsley. Feel free to substitute other fresh herbs to your liking — you’ll need 2 tablespoons total. If you want to substitute dried herbs, you’ll need 2 teaspoons total, which comes out to a scant 3/4 teaspoon measurement of each of the three, or just use 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to keep it simple.
- Spices – Sea salt, black pepper, and paprika (I used sweet paprika, but smoked paprika is also delicious). You could also make it simpler by swapping in poultry seasoning instead of the other spices. A good amount of salt is 2 teaspoons for a 7-pound slow cooker turkey breast. Adjust accordingly if yours is larger or smaller.
- Onion – Chop it into large, thick pieces. This creates a “rack” for the turkey breast to sit on, which promotes more even cooking because the turkey isn’t touching the bottom of the slow cooker. Plus, it infuses more flavor into the meat. I used a yellow onion, but white also works.
- Chicken Broth – I use reduced-sodium chicken broth in all my recipes, but you could also use regular (and might need to reduce the salt a bit) or bone broth. The extra liquid will ensure that the Crock Pot turkey breast turns out juicy.
How To Cook A Turkey Breast In A Crock Pot
This section shows how to cook a turkey breast in a slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Make garlic herb butter. Mash together butter, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sea salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Dry the turkey breast. Use a paper towel to pat the turkey until very dry. This helps the herb butter stick… and that’s a good thing.
- Prep the slow cooker. Grease the bottom, place onions inside and pour chicken broth over it.
- Rub the turkey breast with herb butter. Place it in the Crock Pot and cover.
- Cook the turkey breast in the Crock Pot. You’ll want it to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. We’re NOT cooking to 165 degrees F, which is the typical safe temperature for poultry, because the temperature will rise more while broiling and resting. (More details below!)
TIP: Use a pastry brush to spread the butter more evenly over the turkey after it’s melted, about an hour in.
If you’re wondering why not just melt it before cooking, it’s because the butter is more prone to run off the cold turkey in the beginning, so it’s best to rub the cold butter first and spread with a brush later in the cooking process.
- Broil. Transfer the turkey into a baking dish and place under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes, until golden.
- Rest. Let the slow cooker turkey breast rest for 10 minutes before you carve it, to let the juices settle.
TIP: Save the turkey drippings!
You’ll end up with a good amount of liquid underneath the onions, which you can use as turkey broth in any recipe that calls for chicken or turkey broth (or make gravy with it).
How Long To Cook Turkey Breast In A Crock Pot?
Cooking turkey breast in a slow cooker will take about 6-7 hours on Low or 3.5-4.5 hours on High, if using bone-in turkey breast. For boneless turkey breast, cook for 5-6 hours on Low or 3-3.5 hours on High. After this, you’ll place it under the broiler to brown and the internal temperature will rise while it rests.
For best results, use a meat thermometer to check on cooking time to ensure you end up with perfectly cooked slow cooker turkey breast. You want to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F in the slow cooker, as the temperature will rise another 5 degrees while broiling and resting.
How To Carve Turkey Breast?
After cooking Crock Pot turkey breast and allowing it to rest for at least 10 minutes, it’s easy to carve it. Cut the turkey meat along both sides of the breast bone, then cut each of those halves into slices. Pull or slice off any remaining pieces of meat.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: You can reheat turkey breast in the slow cooker again (use the Low setting), or warm in the oven at 300 degrees F (low temperature to prevent drying it out). Either way, add some broth to the bottom of the slow cooker or baking dish, to keep the turkey juicy.
- Freeze: Once your Crock Pot turkey breast has cooled completely, place the meat (you can leave the bone in or slice it first) in a zip lock freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
There are so many great side dishes for slow cooker turkey breast recipes! Here are a few good options, both holiday and any time of year:
- Sauces – Like turkey gravy or healthy cranberry sauce.
- Starches – Mashed potatoes are the classic choice, but you could also do roasted potatoes. For healthier options, make mashed cauliflower (pictured above), cauliflower risotto, or low carb “sweet potato” casserole.
- Vegetables – Try easy veggies like roasted asparagus, whole roasted cauliflower, pan fried brussels sprouts, or the classic choice, roasted green beans (pictured above).
More Easy Turkey Recipes
Looking for other ways to cook turkey? Try these flavorful ways:
Recommended Tools
- Slow Cooker – You can’t make the best Crock Pot turkey breast without a slow cooker! This one is basic and affordable.
- Instant Read Thermometer– This thermometer is a must for easy slow cooker turkey breast recipes. It’s the only way to know once it’s reached proper internal temperature, and it reads in just 2 seconds with super high accuracy – which is actually important because the food can start to cool while you wait for a terrible thermometer to work.
- Basting Brush – About an hour into cooking turkey breast in the Crock Pot, use this brush to brush up some of the herb butter back on the top of the turkey.
Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Crock Pot Turkey Breast (Juicy + Fast Prep!)
Learn how to cook turkey breast in the slow cooker with this Crock Pot turkey breast recipe. It's juicy, flavorful, and super easy!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a small bowl, mash together the butter, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and paprika.
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Use paper towels to pat the turkey VERY dry, so that the herb butter sticks better. Rub the butter all over the top and sides of the turkey breast. (It's ok if it doesn't fully spread, just pat it down as best you can.)
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Grease the bottom of the slow cooker with more butter. Place the onion inside and pour the chicken broth over it. (The onion will help keep the turkey raised.) Place the turkey breast on top of the onion.
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Cover and cook for 6-7 hours on Low or 3.5-4.5 hours on High, until internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) inside (it will rise another 5 degrees during broiling and resting). If you can, lift the lid about an hour into cooking and use a pastry brush to spread the herb butter more evenly over the top and sides of the turkey. (Don't use melted butter from the beginning because it will all drip off the cold turkey.)
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When the turkey is done, discard the onions but save the liquid below, which you can use as turkey broth (in any recipe that calls for chicken or turkey broth).
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Toward the end, preheat the broiler and place the rack close to it, with just enough room for the turkey to fit underneath. Transfer the turkey breast to a baking dish or roasting pan, and broil for 4-8 minutes, until browned. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: ~6-8 oz cooked turkey, or 1/6 of entire recipe
The onion is not included in nutrition info, because it’s there for flavoring and elevating the turkey meat, and is typically discarded. Serving size weight is edible portion, not including bones.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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119 Comments
Samara Smith
0Looks super good!
Miya
0Fantastic turkey breast!
Elaine LeVan
0It’s amazing how close this is to my traditional recipe but I slow cook it in the oven! I have to deal with many allergies as well as needing to do Keto. I will replace the butter with ghee, but I am going to have to replace the pepper, rosemary, and won’t be able to use sage either. Good to know that I can go to 160 degrees and it will continue to cook!
Candace
0Thank you so much for all of these recipes, Maya! Cannot wait to try all of them. You are making me believe I can stick to a keto diet.
Sandra
0This looks great! Perfect for a small gathering
Carolyn
0Can you use dry herbs in the place of fresh herbs?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Carolyn, Yes, that would work.
Carolyn
0Thank you so much. Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes.
Carolyn
0I cooked this recipe yesterday and it was delicious.
MonaLisa
0Love turkey and can’t wait for tomorrow!
Clara
0What if I cannot broil? Will be taking into hospital for staff potluck.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Clara, You could broil it at home, place back in the slow cooker for transport, and keep on the warm setting when you get there. But if that’s not an option either, you can skip that step and may need to slow cook for an extra 30-60 minutes to ensure that the inside is cooked through.
Dawn Kennedy
0How long do you cook two 3lb boneless turkey roast? Cooking at the same time in crock pot
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Dawn, I haven’t tested with a turkey breast that small, but I’d estimate about 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
Janet Gomez
0Sounds wonderful…
vicky czajka
0When do you start defrosting the 7lb turkey breast?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Vicky, In this post, you can find the information on thawing a turkey.
Andie
0Turkey breast is such an underrated food! This recipe was sooo good! Definitely one I will be adding to our rotation.
Sue Hennessey
0What temperature do you set your crockpot for. It wasn’t mentioned in the recipe.
325 maybe?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sue, My crockpot doesn’t go by temperature, just low or high. Those instructions are in the post.
Ali L
0So tender and juicy, this is the only way I will make turkey breast from now on!
Kara
0I don’t usually use fresh herbs, but they made a big difference for this recipe. The turkey was so flavorful!
jess
0This is exactly what I have been waiting for! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe.
Laurie M
0This had great flavor but I don’t think it needs to cook for six hours on low. Doing so, dried it out.
SK
0Hi! Your recipe sounds good, but you don’t give people an idea of the size of the slow cooker/crockpot to use. However, one big enough to hold an entire turkey would be way too big and heavy for many people to handle, including myself. My older crockpot is a round 5 qt model and is a bit too heavy for me, so I recently added a 3.5 qt oval one to my small appliance family. I do still use the 5 qt crockpot for bigger stuff tho. For a number of years now, I’ve occasionally cooked whole turkey breasts in it, but they must be under 6 & 1/2 pounds in size to both fit in the crock, and for the lid to be able to close on the bird. Actually, it would probably be even better if the bird were only up to about 6 & 1/4 pounds in weight. A relative who grocery shops for me bought me a whole turkey breast before Thanksgiving Day, but unfortunately, it was just a little too big to fit in my crockpot, so I had to roast it instead. Meat always comes out better in the crockpot tho. At least I do know how to roast things too. I never bother transferring the finished food from the crockpot to the oven, as I don’t mind that it’s not crispy, and don’t want to deal with more dirty dishes and more work. I’ll never be a gourmet cook, but I can bang around the kitchen okay. Everyone should know at least basic cooking methods. Fortunately, it’s not hard, so people who refuse to learn how to cook are just lazy, as there are cookbooks, and online cooking videos to help them learn how. I”m disabled and still manage to putter around in the kitchen.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi SK, I use a 6qt crock pot to cook my turkey breast.
Jenn
0What if the breast isn’t fully thawed? Do you just add time?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jenn, Yes just allow extra time for the turkey to cook fully.
Stephen Secaur
0We usually use a bag in the slow cooker for ease of cleaning. Should we skip the oven bag to make this recipe properly?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Stephen, You could still use the slow cooker bag.
Lillian
0So excited to make this. Don’t know why mine came out dry. Do I need a certain brand of Turkey?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lillian, Sorry this recipe didn’t turn out for you. No certain brand of turkey is required.
Shannon
0How about a turkey breast without bone? Can you follow the same directions?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Shannon, Yes the recipe will work the same as written with a boneless breast. It will cook faster though, so be sure to check the internal temperature earlier than noted in the recipe.
Rachelle Poly
0Question. My husband could not find a raw or frozen turkey breast, only a roasted one with no seasoning. Can the seasoning etc from this recipe be used with a very reduced cooking time?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Rachelle, Yes, but you will want to switch to dried ground seasonings instead of fresh. Enjoy!
Gina i Kleiman
0i just put the turkey in the crockpot and it doesn’t fit. it is 7 pounds i had to put all the onions on the side and tilt it and the top still is touching the turkey. it is a large oval crockpot. i hope it turns out ok
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Gina, I hope it turns out well! As long as you can get the crock pot lid on, it should still cook through the same.
Peggy
0Made this for Thanksgiving 2020. We live a a motor home and the ovens are small. I loved it so much I bought another a couple weeks later. I added the rest of the celery stalk with the onions first time. Second time I just used carrots. My grocery store had a fresh poultry mix of rosemary, thyme and safe so I used that both times. Thank you for posting. This will happening more than just Thanksgiving.
Michael Bauer
0This may be a noobish question, but I’m relatively new to cooking. Is this recipe based on the turkey breast being thawed first? Thanks.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Michael, Yes, it is.
Roxanne
0Great recipe!!! I forgot to take pictures but no turkey for leftovers
Danielle
0This recipe looks simple and tasty! I have a 4 lb turkey breast— how long would you recommend cooking it in the crockpot? TIA!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Danielle, That’s a small breast. Is it bone-in or boneless?
Danielle
0Thanks for the quick response.,. It’s bone-in.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Danielle, Because it’s bone-in, the time will still be accurate. I would test with a thermometer and pull when the thickest part of the breast hits 165 degrees.
Sarah
0Loved this recipe! Delicious and the leftovers were just as juicy the next day. I was worried the broiler would dry it out but it was perfect!
Courtney
0I have a 3 pound boneless turkey breast – do you recommend any modifications? It’s only myself and two children for Thanksgiving this year, so I didn’t get anything larger. Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Courtney, Your turkey breast will cook much quicker since it’s boneless. Use a thermometer and remember to pull it once the thickest part of the breast hits 165 degrees. Also, you may want to half the rest of the recipe, as you will have less surface area to cover on your turkey breast. Enjoy!
Susanne
0Hi. I want to try this for Thanksgiving. I’ve seen other recipes where you put the turkey breast in upside down. Do you recommend this?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Susanne, This technique of roasting upside down is most useful when roasting in an oven. If you are cooking your turkey in a crockpot, there is enough moisture in the crock pot to prevent the turkey breast from drying out.
Charles Lowry
0So we are cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time so I have what might be a silly question. What I have seen for Turkey breast is attached to the ribs rather than just the breast bone, is that correct or is there somewhere else I should be looking?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Charles, Yes, that is what you want. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Cheryl
0Thank you for this recipe. It sounds really easy to prepare. I’m looking forward to trying it
Chris
0Hi, would boneless skinless turkey breast work the same?
thank You
Chris
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Chris, Yes the recipe will work the same as written. It will cook through faster, so be sure to check the internal temperature earlier than noted in the recipe.
Jessi
0I made this yesterday, and it was so good! My house smelled like Thanksgiving! This was my first time cooking turkey in a crockpot, and I will definitely do it again. I did turn the juices into a gravy by adding some spices, chicken bouillon and cornstarch. Thank you for the recipe!
Jessi
0Can you used the juices in the crockpot to make a gravy? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jessi, Yes! Absolutely! I have a keto gravy recipe here as well.
Deborah
0First Turkey in a crockpot and it was great! Flavorful and juicy. The family loved it
jessica
0very tasty and moist!
Ellen Wiles
0I am makling this recipe for Easter,looks so good !! I added celery and carrots and used a cup of broth instead of 1/2 cup. zbut I just read you should discard the onions ? We were planning on eating the vegetables ! What do you think of that ? The veggies are around the sides and underneath the turkey,more on the side though.Will let you know how it comes out. BTW all the tips on this recipe were wonderful.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ellen, You can eat the onions (and other vegetables if you added them) if you like. They just don’t come out super flavorful, but are safe to eat. So glad you liked the tips! Come back and leave a rating to let me know what you think after you try it. 🙂
Margaret
0LOVE IT, made this today, my timing was a bit off since I never made turkey breast this way, but still very good. I could save my oven for stuffing and other items and kept the kitchen from getting too warm. Will make again and look for more clow cooker ideas from you!
Lisa
0That herb butter sounds like it packs a lot of flavor! Making the turkey breast in the slow cooker is genius — free up the oven for other dishes and it also ensures a moist, juicy breast meat! Perfection!
Jessica
0What a simple, no fuss kind of recipe! It’s the perfect solution to staying stress-free on Thanksgiving. Thanks for all the tips here, especially about carving!
Erika
0Making turkey in the slower cooker is a great way to cook! Love the slow cooker!
Genevieve
0This slow cooker turkey breast was super easy and delicious! Great for making turkey day leftovers with!
Michelle
0So flavorful and easy, and turned out gorgeous!
Sophie Goel
0Your turkey looks absolutely divine What a great way to free up your oven for more Thanksgiving yummies!
Laura
0Never thought to cook a turkey in the slow cooker before and it worked a treat! Thanks for the hot tips 🙂
Taylor
0This is a brilliant idea! Simplifies the whole process!
Andrea Metlika
0I really love how easy this is. Using the slow cooker is awesome. It looks delicious.
Jack
0This turkey looks delicious 🙂
Sophie Heath
0Perfect for thanksgiving! Super easy and my entire family loved!
Irina
0Love, love your recipe! This is something simple and delicious than to make a whole turkey for Thanksgiving. I think I am gonna make our holiday turkey, using your way! Thanks for sharing.
Wholesome Yum A
0Not was this recipe delicious, but all of the instructions and notes were so helpful. Thank you!