Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (Bone In!)

Make holiday cooking easier with this slow cooker turkey breast—no brining, no hassle, just juicy, flavorful turkey for a smaller table. It’s the perfect way to enjoy tender turkey while freeing up oven space for sides and desserts!

 

Why We Love Crock Pot Bone-In Turkey Breast

• Perfect For A Smaller Holiday Table – With a bone in turkey breast you have a smaller portion of turkey that won’t have you eating leftovers forever. A smaller turkey breast is perfect for a smaller holiday celebration for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, or just to pair with another protein like ham or this flavorful stuffed pork tenderloin.
• Hands Off Cooking – The slow cooker really takes a lot of the guesswork out of cooking a moist turkey breast. No brining is needed when you use the slow cooker, as the small closed container helps lock in the moisture and keep the turkey juicy every time.
• Free Up Oven Space – Juggling all the dishes on a holiday can be tricky. With this slow cooker turkey breast, you can free up some space to make cooking other side dishes easier. You can also cook the turkey on any heat safe surface, I’ve put the crockpot right on the kitchen table in the past to make room!

Ingredients For Crock Pot Bone-In Turkey Breast

• garlic cloves minced
• fresh rosemary chopped
• fresh thyme chopped
• fresh sage chopped
• salt
• black pepper
• 5 pound bone-in turkey breast skin on, see notes in the recipe card for more information about cooking times if your turkey is a different size.
• butter softened. see the notes in the recipe card for more info.
• onion diced, I used white onion but sweet onion, yellow onion or purple onion all can work
• chicken broth – I often stick to low sodium broth when cooking, but for this recipe I’ve used the full sodium chicken broth. If you use a low sodium chicken broth, add an extra teaspoon of salt to your rub to give more flavor to the finished turkey.

How To Make Crock Pot Bone-In Turkey Breast

To Prep The Turkey

1. In a small bowl, add minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined.

2. Open the turkey package and drain the liquid. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels Gently loosen the skin of the turkey breast, being careful not to tear it. Rub half of the garlic and herb mixture and half of the butter under the skin.

3. Pour the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker evenly, either a 6 quart or an 8 quart slow cooker. Place the turkey breast on top of the onions, breast-side up. Dot the top of the turkey breast with the rest of the softened butter. (don’t stress if some falls in the slow cooker, it’s ok.) Season the top of the turkey breast with the remaining seasoning.

4. Pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker around the edge of the bowl, being careful not to wash off the seasonings on the turkey.

Cooking The Turkey Breast

1. Cover the slow cooker with a lid. Cook the turkey breast on low for 6-8 hours, or until the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer. Final cooking time will depend on the size of your turkey. See notes in the recipe card.

2. You can then brown the skin (instructions below), or take the turkey out and let it rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

To Brown The Turkey Skin (optional)

1. Remove the turkey breast from the slow cooker to a sheet pan. Turn the oven on to broil.

2. Place the turkey breast under the broiler until the skin is browned, about 2-3 minutes but watch closely to get the desired color. Remove the turkey from the oven. Let the turkey rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice the juicy turkey and enjoy!

Variation Ideas For Bone In Turkey Breast In The Slow Cooker

Add Vegetables – Potatoes, carrots and celery can all be added straight into the slow cooker and cooked alongside the turkey. I like to add the turkey breast in first and then add the vegetables to make sure everything fits easily in the slow cooker.

Smaller potatoes can be washed and added in whole, while larger potatoes like russets or yukon gold will do best if cut into 2-3 inch chunks. Carrots should also be cut into 2-3 inch chunks.

I recommend using a larger 8 quart slow cooker if you plan on adding a lot of extra vegetables to the slow cooker.

Squeeze In Some Lemon Juice – I realized when I make this recipe for my family I often add the juice from one lemon and it can brighten up the final flavor of the turkey. Squeeze the juice from one lemon all over the turkey breast.

You can place slices of the squeezed lemon under the skin, in the turkey cavity or just in the slow cooker to further enhance the flavor.

If you don’t have lemon, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or the juice from a lime can also be a tasty addition, as the acid in these ingredients will tenderize the meat.

Do I Need To Brine The Tureky?

The slow cooker eliminates the need to bring the turkey ahead of time. Cooking in a slow cooker creates a small but moist cooking space that helps to keep the bird extra juicy in comparison to when roasted in the oven.

Some turkey breasts in the grocery store do come pre-brined for convenience. If your turkey breast is pre-brined you can continue to follow the directions in this recipe and it will turn out delicious, no adjustments needed.

Can I Cook The Turkey Breast From Frozen In The Slow Cooker?

Unfortunately no, you can’t cook the turkey breast from frozen in the slow cooker. When you start from frozen you risk having the meat at an unsafe temperature for too long that could cause food safety issues. The turkey must be defrosted to cook it safely in the slow cooker. Use these turkey thawing methods to defrost your turkey breast safely.

How Much Turkey Do I Need Per Person?

Estimate 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person when deciding how much turkey you need. Remember this turkey is on the bone, the weight of the bone is also included when we are estimating. Otherwise it may end up being less meat then you are expecting!

If you want a lot of leftovers or will keep side dishes limited, 2 pounds of turkey per person can be a better estimate.

How Do I Make Turkey Gravy?

You can use the same directions for my pork gravy to make turkey gravy! Use the pan drippings from the slow cooker, and if you need any more liquid simply add chicken broth to have enough liquid. They turkey drippings will give the gravy a turkey flavor instead of a pork flavor, and it will be delicious!

Does Leftover Turkey Breast Freeze Well?

Yes turkey breast freezes great, so there is no reason to miss out on any of the leftovers. I recommend removing the meat from the bone before placing in a freezer safe container or freezer zip-top bag. Leftover frozen turkey will taste best if reheated and enjoyed within 3-4 months once stored properly.

You can also freeze the carcass (bones) separately to make broth for turkey soup, or for cooking with. Learn how to make turkey broth from the carcass here.

How Long Will Turkey Breast Last?

Expect the meat of the turkey recipe can be enjoyed for about three days after cooking. On the third day is when I usually freeze any leftovers, much beyond that and it may no longer be safe to eat.