Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Crockpot Turkey Breast is one of the easiest ways to make a Thanksgiving turkey! This slow cooker turkey recipe guarantees succulent and juicy turkey every time, as well as freeing up space in your oven. This year, cook your turkey in a crockpot with vegetables, chicken broth, and plenty of herbs for great flavor and a stress-free holiday!

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Table of Contents

What’s in this Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipe?

If you’re planning your Thanksgiving menu and wondering if your oven is big enough for a whole turkey, then I have the perfect solution for you! Grab your Crockpot and get ready for the best turkey breast you’ll ever make!

  • Apple Juice: Sweetens the brine while adding a subtle fruity flavor.
  • Cold Water: Forms the base of the brine.
  • Fresh Rosemary: Adds herbaceous flavor to the brine and the turkey.
  • Garlic: Adds an earthy flavor and a pungent aroma to the brine.
  • Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the turkey.
  • Brown Sugar: Sweetens the brine.
  • Black Pepper: Whole peppercorns add a peppery aroma to the brine, and ground black pepper adds a peppery flavor to the turkey itself.
  • Bay Leaves: Infuse the brine with an herbaceous flavor.
  • Orange Peel/Zest: Adds a subtle citrus flavor to the brine and the turkey itself.
  • Turkey Breast: You’ll need a 5-pound boneless turkey breast for this recipe. Make sure to thaw completely if frozen.
  • Dried Sage: Adds a classic Thanksgiving flavor to the turkey breast.
  • Veggies: Celery, yellow onions, and carrots infuse the turkey with a slightly sweet, earthy, and vegetal flavor as it cooks and make an easy side!
  • Chicken Broth: Helps keep the turkey moist as it cooks and adds a salty and umami flavor.

Pro Tip: Plan ahead! You’ll need to brine the turkey for at least 8 hours before adding it to the crockpot.

Variations on Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

You could season this turkey breast with turkey rub, chicken seasoning,Creole seasoning,Italian seasoning,blackened seasoning, orherbs de Provence for a different flavor.

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Is it safe to cook turkey in slow cooker?

Yes, it is just as safe to cook turkey in a crock pot as any typical cooking method. Just be sure to thaw the turkey breast before brining and cooking. Also, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Should I use fresh or frozen turkey for this recipe?

You can use either one! If you use frozen, just be sure to thaw it before cooking.

Why use boneless turkey breast?

Getting a boneless turkey breast is so convenient. These are the perfect size for small gatherings, and they’re so much easier to prepare, cook, and slice than bone-in or whole turkeys.

What size crockpot do I need?

With a 5-pound turkey and veggies to fill up the pot, I’d recommend a slow cooker that is at least 6 quarts.

How do you make a turkey juicy and not dry?

Turkey breast is a very lean cut of meat, which means it tends to dry out, leaving you with a bland Thanksgiving meal. But we can fight that! The brining process locks in moisture and it cooks in its own juices without the need to constantly baste it. This easy slow cooker turkey breast recipe is a great hands-off way of cooking your turkey while you get on with the rest of the feast. And you won’t be left with dry turkey!

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover crockpot turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the turkey in a baking pan with some turkey stock or pan drippings and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, or until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze crockpot turkey breast in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you’re cooking the turkey in a slow cooker, you’ll have time to focus on making some delicious side dishes. I love roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, or butternut squash stuffing!

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5-Star Review

“I made this last year at Thanksgiving. It was my first time cooking turkey and it was absolutely wonderful!!!” – Kim

Recipe

Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipe

4.53 from 183 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 4 hours hours

Total: 12 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

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This crockpot turkey breast recipe is an easy way to make tasty, juicy turkey for your Thanksgiving meal. Making turkey in a slow cooker is just genius!

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Ingredients

For the Brine

  • 1 quart (4 cups) apple juice or apple cider
  • 1 gallon cold water
  • 3 stems fresh rosemary
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • ¾ cup kosher salt
  • cups brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
  • 4 whole bay leaves
  • peel of 2 large oranges

For the Turkey

  • 5 pounds boneless fresh turkey breast thawed, if frozen
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 3 ribs celery each cut into thirds
  • 2 yellow onions peeled and halved
  • 3 carrots scrubbed, peeled, and halved lengthwise
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (⅔ stick)

Instructions

For Brining the Turkey

  • Combine all brine ingredients in a large nonreactive pot. Heat and stir, about 5-10 minutes, or until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat and cool completely. Add the turkey breast, cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours.

    1 quart (4 cups) apple juice, 1 gallon cold water, 3 stems fresh rosemary, 3 cloves garlic, ¾ cup kosher salt, 1½ cups brown sugar, 2 tablespoons whole peppercorns, 4 whole bay leaves, peel of 2 large oranges, 5 pounds boneless fresh turkey breast

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For Cooking the Turkey

  • Set slow-cooker to HIGH and spray the interior with nonstick spray.

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  • Remove the turkey from the pot and rinse it thoroughly with cold water, and pat it dry with paper towels.

    5 pounds boneless fresh turkey breast

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  • Place the celery, onions, and carrots in the bottom of the slow-cooker, and pour the broth over the vegetables.

    3 ribs celery, 2 yellow onions, 3 carrots, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

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  • Set the turkey breast on top of the vegetables and pour melted butter over the turkey.

    6 tablespoons unsalted butter

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  • Sprinkle the breast with salt, black pepper, sage, rosemary and orange zest.

    1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried sage, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves, Zest of 1 large orange

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  • Cover the slow-cooker and cook on HIGH 2 hours, reduce the temperature to LOW and cook an additional 1-2 hours or until the internal temperature of the middle of the turkey breast registers 165°F-168°F.

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  • Remove the breast from the slow-cooker, cover with foil and let it rest 15 minutes.

  • Cut into ½-inch slices and serve.

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  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Use boneless turkey breast for this recipe. Fresh or frozen is fine.
  • If using a frozen turkey, be sure to fully thaw it first!
  • Brine the turkey for at least 8 hours before adding it to the crockpot.
  • Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray before adding the turkey breast.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check when your turkey is done (it should read 165°F).
  • Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing it.

Storage:Store crockpot turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 613kcal (31%) Carbohydrates: 63g (21%) Protein: 63g (126%) Fat: 14g (22%) Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0.4g Cholesterol: 176mg (59%) Sodium: 954mg (41%) Potassium: 1090mg (31%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 54g (60%) Vitamin A: 4248IU (85%) Vitamin C: 11mg (13%) Calcium: 143mg (14%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How to cook a 3 pound Butterball turkey breast? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. ...
  2. In a small bowl, stir together butter, thyme, lemon peel, and salt until well combined.
  3. Pat roast dry. ...
  4. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 170°F about 1 hour and 20 minutes. ...
  5. Tip: The butter mixture can be combined the night before.

Can you brine a turkey breast overnight? ›

In 6-quart container or stockpot, mix water, salt and sugar; stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add turkey. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

Can I cook turkey day before and reheat? ›

When serving your turkey the next day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline advises that cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. To reheat your turkey, USDA gives the following recommendations: In the Oven: Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.

How long to cook a 3 lb Butterball boneless turkey breast? ›

and put it into the oven for 2 hours *at 325°*. I started checking on it about an hour and a half but at 2 hours. it came out looking roasted and beautiful. Cut away that netting and discard, and then your turkey is ready to go.

Should you brine a turkey breast side down? ›

Add herb sprigs, if using. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side down. Add more water if the turkey isn't completely submerged in the liquid. Place the bucket in the refrigerator for at least 10 to 12 hours or overnight.

Do you need to brine a Butterball turkey breast? ›

"If you want to you can, but you don't have to," says Miller. "Most turkeys are already brined. Butterball turkeys have a solution in them that really helps to keep them moist and juicy and tender. If you're going to brine it, we do suggest that you cut down on the salt.”

Is it better to wet or dry brine turkey breast? ›

Both ways produce a flavorful and moist turkey but have other important considerations that may impact your choice. Wet brines infuse flavor and moisture more quickly than dry brines; however, a larger vessel for the brining process will be needed as well as enough refrigerator space.

Can I reheat turkey in crockpot? ›

Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving—at least 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Can I cook a turkey breast the day before Thanksgiving? ›

Roasting your turkey ahead will save you the time spent testing and carving, allowing you to spend more time with your guests. It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks.

Should I butter my turkey the night before? ›

Yes, I always buy a very large turkey that takes many hours to cook…so I stuff and slather it with butter and cover lightly with tin foil the night before and pop it in the oven early in the morning. Leave the foil on for the first 3/4 of roasting time…but BASTE c. every 1/2 hr… add more butter if you need to.

Should I rinse smoked turkey before cooking? ›

Well... you don't! Just like with other meat, the USDA recommends skipping washing your turkey before you cook it. It doesn't matter if you're roasting, frying, or smoking your turkey, there's no need to give it a rinse unless you've brined it (more on that below).

Is smoked turkey considered fully cooked? ›

Butterball Smoked Whole Turkeys are fully cooked and ready to eat. They can be used in recipes calling for cooked turkey without prior heating. The pink color of the meat comes from smoking and curing and is not a sign of undercooked meat.

Can you overcook a turkey in a smoker? ›

One of the benefits of smoking a turkey is that it's almost impossible to overcook anything in a smoker. The temperature remains low and the cooking is slow, resulting in perfectly moist and tender meat with a rich, complex flavor.

What temperature should a Butterball 3 lb turkey breast be? ›

At what temperature is a turkey breast done? Roast turkey breast uncovered according to package directions or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reaches 170°F. If your turkey breast has stuffing inside, the center of the stuffing should be 165°F.

Do you cover a Butterball turkey breast in the oven? ›

Place breast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush with oil to prevent drying. Do not cover.

How many people does a 3 lb Butterball turkey breast feed? ›

Butterball Turkey Breast Roast Boneless Savory Herb Frozen - 3 Lb
Servings Per Container10
Amount Per Serving
Calories150
Calories from Fat(-)
% Daily Value*
30 more rows

Do you wash a Butterball turkey breast before cooking? ›

Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.

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