This Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is without a doubt, this is the easiest, safest and tastiest way to cook turkey breast without brining. It’s moist and juicy, takes 3 minutes to prepare, then just leave it to cook in your slow cooker (crock pot). Then use the juices to make a killer gravy!
Even if you’re a first timer, you can have confidence in this turkey breast recipe. It’s a 5 star reader favourite with over a thousand glowing reviews!
Slow cooker turkey breast
Turkey breast is notoriously lean so the only way to guarantee it comes out juicy if you roast it in the oven is to brine it. If you don’t brine it, then even if you use a meat thermometer, it is extremely difficult to roast the turkey breast perfectly.
I created this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast after trying a handful of recipes for turkey breast and being disappointed by the bland looking skin, dry meat and mediocre gravy. So I tossed out everything I’d read and decided to come up with my own version using a slow cooker. This is by far the juiciest turkey breast I’ve ever had – without brining. And my friends agreed!
It’s almost magical how a recipe this simple can yield such extraordinary results. Moist turkey with incredible flavour and a gravy that’s off the charts!
How long to cook turkey breast in the slow cooker
A 2 kg / 4 l2b turkey breast will take 5 to 6 hours on LOW in a slow cooker. Check the internal temperature at 5 hours. See recipe notes for cook times for other sizes.
How to make slow cooker turkey breast
I promised you easy – and easy it is! Here’s how it goes down:
Slather turkey with a simple magical rub;
Place in a slow cooker on a bed of onion and garlic (these flavour the juices that comes out of the turkey and forms the basis for the gravy + keeps turkey elevated out of liquid while slow cooking);
Slow cook for 5 to 6 hours;
Briefly broil/grill or bake to crisp the skin; then
Use slow cooker juices to make a killer gravy. It’s incredible because it’s essentially made with the best homemade stock – the turkey juices!
PS That’s a multi function cooker you see. I use the slow cooker function for this recipe.
⚖️ Automatic recipe scaler ⚖️
Click or tap on Servings on the recipe. Then slide until the turkey reaches the weight of your turkey. It will change all the ingredient quantities for you! Then refer to the recipe notes for the right cook time for your turkey.
Slow cooker turkey breast tips!
Type of turkey breast – bone in or boneless turkey breast is fine. Skin on is recommended because the fat under the skin melts while the turkey is cooking and it bastes the turkey (helps with flavour and moisture). Also skin is required to get that lovely browned seasoned crust you see in the photos.
Single or double breast? Either is fine. These photos show a single turkey breast. See here for what a double turkey breast looks like (on the bone, also called a turkey buffe or turkey crown)
What size? Turkey breast differ drastically in size – they can range from 1.5/3lb to over 5kg/10lb! The beauty of this recipe is that it will work for any turkey breast size – as long as it fits in your slow cooker! Note the different cook times in the recipe.
A great rub goes a long way with turkey breast! It not only adds flavour, it seasons the broth and it gives the turkey breast great colour!
How long to cook turkey breast in the slow cooker – A 2 kg / 4 lb turkey breast will take about 5 to 6 hours on LOW in a slow cooker. See recipe notes for cook times for other sizes.
How to tell when turkey breast is done – When the internal temperature is 165F / 75C. That’s optimum perfectly-cooked juiciness, allowing for a slight temperature increase while the turkey rests.
Elevate the turkey breast with a halved garlic and onion to ensure even cooking because otherwise the breast will be half submerged and poaching in liquid (you will be amazed how much liquid the breast leeches while cooking)
Crisp the skin under the broiler. The extra flavour you get is worth it – and it only takes a few minutes
Use slow cooker juices for GRAVY – the turkey juices are loaded with flavour and are the best broth ever to make an absolute killer gravy!
Slow Cooking is FORGIVING! Because of the low temperature, there’s far less risk of drying out the turkey from overcooking. So even if the turkey is in the slow cooker for 1 or 2 hours longer than necessary, it will still be lovely. Plus – speaking really frankly – that gravy can save anything. ANYTHING!
Prefer ROASTED turkey breast? Use this Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Turkey Breast.
What to serve with turkey
Turkey breast is more often than not a centrepiece for holiday feasting in many households around the world. So with this in mind, here are some side dish suggestions for Thanksgiving and Christmas menus!
And you might also find these helpful: Thanksgiving recipe index and Easy Thanksgiving Menu suggestions
Traditional Thanksgiving sides for turkey
Christmas side suggestions
A safe recipe – even for first timers
I know it can be nerve racking, trying a new recipe – especially you’re new to cooking, and it’s a centrepiece for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
But you can have Confidence in this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe. It’s been viewed over 8 million times since I first published, there’s over a thousand fantastic reviews, it’s a simple recipe and there’s a recipe video below to guide you through it step by step.
Slow cookers are an extremely forgiving way to cook lean proteins because they use such a low heat so there’s a much bigger window in which the turkey is perfectly cooked (as in, 2 hours or so) compared to the oven (less than 20 minutes from perfect to overcooked-dry).
And in all honesty – worst case? Your turkey goes a bit over and it’s not quite as juicy as you hoped. Of course, I’m doing everything in my power to help avoid this – including sending over virtual positive vibes.😂
But if it does – don’t fret! That Turkey Gravy is so insanely good, it will totally make up for it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
SLOW COOKER: Many people have said that my slow cooker looks like a pressure cooker. They are actually correct, it is a slow cooker and pressure cooker in one (but no, it is not an Instant Pot). It is called a Breville Fast-Slow Cooker (it’s an Australian product). I use the slow cooker function for this recipe.
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 2 kg / 4 lb turkey breast, skin on, bone in or boneless (if using frozen, thaw it) (Note 1)
- 1 head of garlic, cut in half horizontally
- 1 onion (brown, yellow or white), unpeeled, cut in half
- 5 sprigs of thyme (or 2 tsp dried thyme leaves)
Rub
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 5 grinds of black pepper
- 1 1/2 – 2 tbsp olive oil
Gravy
- Chicken stock/broth (or water), for topping up liquid (see Gravy step 1)
- 4 tbsp / 50g butter
- 1/4 cup / 35g flour
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place Rub ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine, it should be a wet paste.
- Pat the turkey dry all over with paper towels. Slather with the Rub, using most for the side and top.
- Place the garlic, onion and thyme face down in the slow cooker. Place the turkey breast on top so it is elevated.
- Slow Cook on LOW for 6 hours (do not use high) or until internal temperature reads 165F/75C when thermometer is inserted into the middle. Check internal temperature at 5 hours if you can. (To roast, follow this recipe).
- Remove turkey from the slow cooker (do not leave in slow cooker on Warm setting) and let it rest for 20 minutes before crisping the skin.
Crisp the Skin
- Preheat gril/broiler to high.
- Place an oven shelf 30cm / 1 foot from the heat source.
- Remove turkey breast from the slow cooker into a heatproof serving dish.
- Place on the oven shelf and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until the skin is crispy. Keep an eye on it – it browns very quickly!
- Serve immediately with gravy on the side.
Gravy
- Strain the liquid into a measuring jug, squishing the garlic etc to extract all the flavour. If you are short of 2 cups, top up with chicken broth (I usually get 2 cups of liquid from a 4 lb / 2 kg turkey breast).
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and mix to combine. Pour about 1/2 cup of liquid into the flour mixture and mix until it forms a paste. Slowly add remaining liquid, stirring as your go. Use a whisk if required to make the gravy smooth. Simmer until thickened – take it off before it is as thick as you want because it will continue to thicken.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with turkey.
Recipe Notes:
- 1 kg / 2 lb: 4 – 5 hours on low
- 2 – 3 kg / 4 – 6 lb: 5 – 6 hours on low
- 4 kg / 8 lb: 6 – 7 hours on low (see 8 June ’17 report from reader Tony)
- 5 kg / 10 lb: 8 – 9 hours on low
Nutrition Information:
Originally published November 2016. Updated for some housekeeping November 2019 – no change to recipe.
Life of Dozer
This is what a turkey coma looks like.
I had no idea what to do with the boneless turkey breast sitting in my fridge thru these Covid times. Great instructions, came out just perfect, including the gravy. Thank you!! Look forward to your Turkey Pot Pie for leftovers.
This is the best meat, I have ever cooked and I cant cook, it was so simple and tasted amazing. So happy generally with your recipes as I am terrible. Your site really helped me through the Covid times, thank goodness. Once again, a big thank you.
(Also thanks to my friend who told me about your site).
Im making this for tonight. Thank you for such an easy recipe to use. Cross fingers it’s as good as Thanksgiving! 😊
It came out so good! This is going to be used at Thanksgiving in place of a whole bird. We’re only three!
Made this for dinner tonight. Soooo juicy and the gravy came out really nice! I used a whole 4 pound double turkey breast on the bone for 6 hours on low and it was perfect!
You give me hope for dinner tonight!! I’ve got the same size. 🙃
We cooked this for Thanksgiving as we had to stay home by ourselves, what a marvelous feast it was for two!
No turkey breasts available now in March but I do have some sort of pork roast and a beef roast in the freezer and am wondering if either of those could be cooked the same way? Maybe just add a little liquid? But the onion/garlic base should work for either? Thanks in advance for any thoughts, and thank you for this recipe!
INCREDIBLE recipe!!! I made this on Saturday and my mum, who HATES Turkey really loved it. Thank you for sharing this recipe, it is absolutely excellent.
To Shannon, just tried this recipe and used sweet potatoes (chunks) to elevate the turkey off the bottom. Drippings were amazing, and had a slight sweetness.
Hi Nagi, I am new to the whole slow cooker method of cooking and I have just put my turkey breast (without skin-as we can’t find it easily here in Greece) into the slow cooker following your recipe, but my breast is 800 gr. Could you maybe give me an estimate of how long it would cook as I don’t have a meat thermometer. Thank you so much!
As easy as it seems and it freed up the oven. I found the garlic a bit overpowering in the drippings and leftovers but I am not a huge fan.I might try using two lemon halves in future .I will definitely make it again.
I will be making this Saturday and my mouth is watering just reading this. Thanks lots it sounds like a great recipe Kathleen
Made this yesterday and the turkey was moist and delicious. Really a great recipe. Thank you – great!
We are NOT peeling skin off onion or garlic?
I’m looking to cook a 6.5lb turkey breast in the slow cooker but am allergic to paprika… do you have a substitute for this in your rub?
Hi Shannon, you can just leave it out 🙂 N x
We can’t eat garlic or onion. What can you suggest as a substitute?
Hi Vickie, how about eschallots – are they an option or is all of the onion family out? – N x
No anything in the onion family is out. Thank you
Hi Vickie, are onion powder and garlic powder ok? N x
I love this recipe, the turkey comes out perfect every single time. I noticed it shows this as being published in 2019 but I know I’ve been using this exact recipe from this site for longer than that. Regardless, this recipe is a keeper and I share it with anyone and everyone who mention turkey breasts!
Hi Molly! So glad you’re a fan of this one too 🙂 Yes I published it many years ago, I like to give posts a refresh as I improve my writing skills, photography, videos etc then I republish them after sprucing them up. If I change a recipe, I include a note of what I changed or in some cases a link to the original recipe. This one hasn’t changed since I started making it! N x
Absolutely delicious. My 4 lb boneless breast only produced 1 cup of drippings and fluid, so I added 1 cup of zero sodium chicken broth and it was perfect. We didn’t have to add any seasoning. Fantastic gravy and moist crown. Another fabulous recipe Nagi.
Perfect Lana!! N x
Very good! Mine was done in 5 hrs.
Thank you Nagi!
You’re so welcome, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! N x
Hi Nagi, Thanks so much for this recipe. It’s only me and my gf and we made this with crunchy roast potatoes. The Gravy was absolutely amazing. the whole thing worked out so well. Thanks so much for all of your recipes and making them so accessible and affordable. I make the best food now because of you and actually spend less money as we never buy take away anymore.
I LOVE hearing this Emma, homemade is definitely more satisfying too! N x
Did this for Christmas dinner and it turned out just as you promised. Moist and tasty. Such a stress free way of doing a turkey crown. Thanks again Nagi.
I’m so glad it worked for you Sherry!! I hope you had a great Christmas! N x
I usually wind up on the worst cooks in America list but not this time. The slow cooker recipe was easy and fun. The gravy also was so full of flavor. My husband was my sous-chef and we had a blast. It was the best Xmas dinner ever!