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.
Thanks so much for great recipes for turkey breast in a slow cooker. This will be the first year that I am not doing a whole turkey for the family for Thanksgiving due to COVID19 travel restrictions. I still want the holiday to be special for my husband and I so decided to just buy a turkey breast. Looking forward to trying the slow cooker this year. Still making all the sides. We will be eating leftovers forever.
Wondering if I can use something else to elevate the turkey from the bottom. My family doesn’t want the onion/garlic in our gravy. Help please!
I’ve seen recipes that used A couple of balled up foil to raise the turkey breast.
You can ball up aluminum foil to lift any meat off the bottom of a slow cooker. I usually ball up 4 balls in mine the balls don’t have to be tight
I have 2, almost 3 pound turkey breast what cooking time would you suggest? I would be putting both in the same crockpot. (these were the largest they had so I went with it)
Would it be ok to brine before putting in slow cooker? Or would that defeat the purpose of cooking it in the slow cooker?
I want to make your slow cooker turkey breast for Thanksgiving and give it a try. There’s only two of us so I was thinking I prefer boneless. My question is when should I buy my fresh boneless turkey breast? I mean it doesn’t last forever in the fridge. How long will it last in stay fresh before Thanksgiving day.? I went to a few markets and saw them in the meat counter display but they’re not air sealed in bags so I don’t think they’ll last very long? What is your suggestion
Hi Bob, I would say they would be fine in the fridge up to 2/3 days. N x
Was wondering is there anyway to brown in the oven. My oven broiler isn’t big enough.
Hi Susan, yes there is! Just a super high heat will do the trick just like a broiler. N x
Looking forward to trying this on Thanksgiving. Can you put some Chicken broth on the bottom of crockpot?
Hi Kathy, there’s really no need here 🙂 N x
My 8lb turkey breast looks like it will be to big for the lid to close. Could I put foil on instead of the lid or will I have to cook in the oven. I really wanted to try this.
I just put mine one it’s side because it was too big to put the lid on. I’m gonna try turning it over half way through.
Hi Navi,
Do you prefer this recipe or your garlic herb butter slow cooker turkey. Trying to decide between the two! 🙂
They are both great Selina, you won’t be disappointed either way! N x
Nagi* sorry, autocorrect
Hi Nagi, I sent this note on 11/15 and I am thinking it was missed, since I see other responses at later dates..sending once more.
Hi Nagi, I am going to try this receipe in my all-clad slow cooker…..I see you mention that you have a Breville slow-fast cooker…so do I, and have never used it because I have never used a pressure cooker and am scared. It did not come with great instructions. Do you have an reference material I may check for recipes and instructions for Breville? Everything seems to be geered to INstant Pot. Thank you for all your superior recipes. Hugs to you and Dozer
Hi Patricia, sorry I have 100’s & 100’s of comments that I reply to daily – I try to get to all of them but it’s simply not viable and some slip through. This recipe is NOT suitable for pressure cooking so you’ll need to set your Breville to the slow cook function. I’m sure you will be able to locate the instructions online on the Breville website 🙂 N x
Here is a link to the reference material for the Breville.
https://www.breville.com/content/dam/breville/au/en/assets/miscellaneous/instruction-manual/cookers/BPR650-instruction-manual.pdf
I had no idea Australians celebrate Thanksgiving!! And, with turkey no less! I haven’t tried this particular rub yet, but I have made turkey breast in my slow cooker. Always juicy and tender
we don’t, but because american culture is absolutely everywhere here, it seems to be becoming a “thing”. we aussies usually only have roast turkey at xmas, and for the most part, late november/december is really the only time we can get whole turkeys at the supermarket or butcher shops.
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for your amazing recipes! I’d like to ask if it’s possible to make an entire turkey roast in a fast/slow cooker?
There’s just something so pretty about having the whole bird on the dinner table 🥰
Hi Eli, first I want to know if you have a slow cooker BIG enough to fit a whole turkey??!?! N x
I just ordered a 8 qt Instant pot! I was thinking of doing 2 smaller ca. 4 pound turkeys and then broil in the oven to get the skin crispy ☺️
Hi Nagi,
In your notes you mention the cook ahead method and then reheating etc!
What do you think about slicing it cold and serving with a cranberry jelly or similar to go with a buffet of cold meats and salads?
And by the way , many thanks for your amazing recipes , it’s given me a renewed love of cooking 🧑🍳
I’m just trying this recipe for the first time. But I will tell you that I have a huge family, so previous years when we all got together, my husband always carves the turkey in advance. We serve it at room temp, but I always put some warm turkey “au jus” (boiled turkey gravy juice before thickening) over the carved pieces before serving. No one ever complains!
You could definitely do that if you prefer Lorien!! N x
I have a 3 pound turkey breast I have a Crock Pot instead of a Slow Cooker will this still work
Yes definitely – it should take around 5 1/2 hours – N x
If I cook this in the oven how would the times change?
Hi Brittney, Try this recipe here: https://salesdock.info/garlic-herb-butter-roasted-turkey-breast/%3C/a%3E N x
I made the crock pot Turkey breast today and it came out fantastic!!!! Now, my question to you is: can I repurpose the onion at the bottom of crockpot for a Turkey soup that I will make from the carcass? Thanks for this recipe!👍🏼😁
Hi Nagi, I am going to try this receipe in my all-clad slow cooker…..I see you mention that you have a Breville slow-fast cooker…so do I, and have never used it because I have never used a pressure cooker and am scared. It did not come with great instructions. Do you have an reference material I may check for recipes and instructions for Breville? Everything seems to be geered to INstant Pot. Thank you for all your superior recipes. Hugs to you and Dozer
What kind of paprika did you use? I have regular paprika (not spanish or smoked).
Can’t wait to try your recipe for this Thanksgiving.
Thank you
Hi Rosy – that will be perfect for this recipe (although any would work fine here 🙂 ) N x
Have made this recipe the last two Thanksgivings and won’t make my Turkey any other way now. The gravy is the BEST – my granddaughter practically drinks it she loves it so much. So glad you posted this recipe!!
Oops…I forgot to ask…can I put some of the rub under the skin? Also…I have never made homemade turkey gravy, but am giving it a go. I will have a backup plan, tho, Thanks!
This sounds great! Making it for this Thanksgiving & maybe Christmas! I noticed you say to remove the breast from slow cooker & let rest 30 minutes before crisping skin. Then, below, after lowering rack & preheating broiler, you say to remove it from slow cooker. I’m a bit confused. No biggy, just want to be sure! Thanks!😊