Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy
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Simplify Thanksgiving with this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy recipe. Make a delicious and juicy turkey breast in your crockpot with simple ingredients and less work than a traditional full turkey.
No one wants a dry thanksgiving turkey, but don’t worry. You can use this slow cooker turkey breast with gravy recipe to make the juiciest and most delicious turkey without the extra work.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- Less Hands on Cooking – Prep the veggies and the compound butter, place this turkey breast in the slow cooker and wait for it to be done. No need to baste or babysit your oven all day.
- Juicy Turkey Every Time – It is easy to overcook a turkey in the oven because of inaccurate temperatures and hot spots. The slow cooker method cooks it slowly and evenly so that it is juicy all the way through the breast.
- Perfect for Small Groups – Smaller groups don’t need a whole turkey. The smallest one at my store was 11 pounds! This is the perfect size for 3-4 people.
- Easy to Customize – Change up this turkey breast recipe to fit your preferences. Add extra garlic, pepper or even smoked paprika for a little spice. Simmer extra herbs into the gravy. You can even use a plant based butter to make this recipe dairy free.
How Many People Will This Feed?
This recipe is for a 3lb turkey breast which will feed 4 people. Three pounds is the perfect size to fit inside of a standard slow cooker or crockpot.
You may want to make this slow cooker turkey breast recipe in addition to a full turkey especially if your group likes breast meat better than dark meat.
If you are having a small Thanksgiving or friendsgiving with three to four people, then this turkey recipe is the perfect size.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker or crockpot
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Sauce pan
Serving Suggestions
This crockpot turkey breast can be the center of your Thanksgiving meal or just one small part of it. Whether it is the main protein or just one of many, you will want to serve it with all of the traditional Thanksgiving sides.
I love the flavor of this Italian sausage stuffing with the traditional turkey. Creamed corn is another side dish that tastes fantastic alongside turkey breast.
You can also serve this turkey as a comforting weeknight dinner in the winter. For an easy and healthy meal I like to serve it with this green beans almondine recipe.
Is It Safe To Cook Turkey In A Slow Cooker?
Yes! It is completely safe to cook a turkey breast in a slow cooker. Make sure that it is fully thawed before you place it in the slow cooker.
Then, make sure the the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees fahrenheit. That way you know the turkey meat is fully cooked through.
Never lock the lid of the slow cooker unless it is turned off and you are transporting the food somewhere. Never leave the slow cooker on overnight.
Ingredients
- 3lb bone in, skin on split turkey breast – cook times may vary depending on the size of breast
- Yellow onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Turkey stock (or chicken stock)
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Dried sage, rosemary and thyme
- Flour
Where To Buy Bone-In Skin-On Turkey Breast
I found my split turkey breasts at Trader Joe’s. The ones I like to use are bone in, skin on split breasts. The brand Empire Kosher is available in my area.
If you are having a tough time finding this turkey breast, I recommend going to the butcher counter at your local grocery store.
If you can only find a full turkey breast, ask the butcher to split it into two so that you can fit it into your crockpot. You may need to thaw the turkey before it can be split into two separate breasts.
Expert Tip!
Make this slow cooker turkey even juicier by dry brining it overnight before cooking. Pat it dry and coat the turkey breast on all sides in kosher salt and place in your fridge overnight.
Then, remove from the fridge the next and pay dry again before continuing with this recipe. The salt will soak into the meat to preserve the juices as it cooks.
how To Make A Slow Cooker Turkey Breast With Gravy
Step 1: Prepare the veggies and turkey breast
To begin, grease a crockpot or slow cooker with oil to ease clean up. Then, add diced onion, diced carrots, and diced celery to the slow cooker with the turkey stock ands tir gently.
Then, in a small mixing bowl, combine softened butter with minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried thyme, sage, and rosemary.
Rub the butter mixture all over the top and bottom or the turkey breast and under the skin of the turkey.
If you’re having trouble, it helps to rub the bottom with the butter mixture, place it in the slow cooker, and then, rub the butter on the top with the breast in the slow cooker.
Step 2: Slow cook the turkey breast for 5 hours
Next, place the top on the slow cooker and set to high heat for 1 hour. Then, reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 4 hours.
You are looking for an internal temperature of 165F so you may need to cook it on low for longer or shorter than 4 hours, use a meat thermometer to check this.
Once the internal temp reaches 165F, turn the slow cooker off and remove the turkey breast.
To crisp the skin of the turkey breast, set your oven to broil and place the cooked turkey breast on a lined baking sheet. Broil for just 2-3 minutes to crisp the skin and set aside as you prepare the gravy.
Step 3: Prepare the turkey gravy and carve the turkey breast
Then, pour the rest of the ingredients from the slow cooker over a strainer to separate the veggies from the juices. You should have about 2 cups of drippings for the gravy.
Next, heat 4 tbsp of butter in a pan over medium heat. Once the butter is all melted add the flour to the pan and stir to combine.
Then, slowly pour in small amounts of the juices stirring constantly to form a smooth gravy. Once the juices are all added to the pan, cook for an additional 2 minutes stirring constantly then turn off the heat.
Finally, slice the turkey breast off the bone and serve with the gravy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! To make your crockpot turkey breast a little faster, you can set the slow cooker to high heat for the whole time. On high it will take between 2 and a half and 3 hours for the turkey breast to come to the proper internal temperature.
Yes, you can use a boneless turkey breast, but it will cook faster and you will have a less flavorful gravy. A boneless turkey breast will be done on low in 3-4 hours – no need to cook on high for the first hour.
This recipe is best made and served immediately. You can prep the veggies and compound butter the day before and just assemble the day you want to eat it.
storage and reheating
Once prepared, slice the turkey breast and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Store the gravy and turkey separately. Reheat in slices in a skillet over low heat until just warmed through. You can also use leftover turkey to make this turkey noodle soup.
Check out these other delicious Thanksgiving recipes!
- Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- One Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- Crispy Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts
- Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy
Easy to make crockpot turkey breast with gravy
Ingredients
Turkey Ingredients
- 3lb bone in, skin on split turkey breast (I like Empire Kosher brand)
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup turkey stock (or chicken stock)
- 4 tbsp softened butter
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
Gravy Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup flour (Use cassava flour if grain free)
Instructions
- Grease a crockpot or slow cooker with oil to ease clean up
- Add diced onion, diced carrots, and diced celery to the slow cooker with the turkey stock and stir gently
- In a small mixing bowl combine softened butter with minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried thyme, sage, and rosemary
- Rub the butter mixture all over the top and bottom or the turkey breast and under the skin of the turkey
- If you’re having trouble it helps to rub the bottom with the butter mixture, place it in the slow cooker and then rub butter on the top with the breast in the slow cooker
- Close the top of the slow cooker and set to high heat for 1 hour
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 4 hours – you are looking for an internal temperature of 160 – 165F so you may need to cook it on low for longer or shorter than 4 hours, use a meat thermometer to check this
- Once the internal temp reaches at least 165F turn the slow cooker off and remove the turkey breast
- To crisp the skin of the turkey breast, set your oven to broil and place the cooked turkey breast on a lined baking sheet. Broil for just 2-3 minutes to crisp the skin and set aside as you prepare the gravy.
- Pour the rest of the ingredients from the slow cooker over a strainer to separate the veggies from the juices – you should have about 2 cups of juices for the gravy
- Heat 4 tbsp of butter in a pan over medium heat
- Once the butter is all melted add the flour to the pan and stir to combine
- Slowly pour in small amounts of the juices stirring constantly to form a smooth gravy
- Once the juices are all added to the pan, cook for an additional 2 minutes stirring constantly then turn off the heat. Taste the gravy and season with salt and pepper as needed. If you would like a thinner gravy, pour in more turkey stock from the carton and continue cooking.
- Slice the turkey breast off the bone and serve with the gravy
Notes
*** To cook this recipe faster you can cook the whole thing on high for 2 and a half to 3 hours.
Becca says
Amazing! My husband and I found out short notice that Thanksgiving was going to be just us this year. We found the Split Turkey at Trader Joes and it was the PERFECT size for us! We still had leftovers and it was so easy to make as this was our first time doing a turkey on our own. Thank you so much for this!
Madeline says
perfect!! I am so happy I got to play a part in your thanksgiving!!
Sandra says
This recipe is so easy to follow AND make. And the taste?!?! Fantastic! The combination of flavors and no fuss cooking method means this will be on my menu rotation. Perfect holiday or Sunday dinner meal.
Madeline says
aw thank you so much! Thats exactly what I was going for!!
Molly says
I made this for Thanksgiving (my first turkey!), and it turned out amazing. Easy to follow directions made this so simple and delicious.
Madeline says
Thank you! I am so happy I got to be a part of your thanksgiving!!
Heather says
This was the perfect week night meal. I bought the split turkey breast at Trader Joe’s. This turkey was so flavorful and moist. I loved how easy this was to make during the week. I didn’t make the gravy, instead I used a box gravy from Trader Joe’s. But I am definitely making this again, and I am going to be brave and make the gravy next. This recipe is going into our dinner rotation. Thank you Madelin
Madeline says
oh amazing!! I am so glad!! Thank you
Sydney says
This recipe has changed Thanksgiving for me. Flavorful and delicious + way easier than any other turkey recipe I’ve ever used. Delicious gravy as well.
Madeline says
So glad to hear it! Thanks, Sydney!