How to cook a Crockpot Turkey {Video}

I hope you are ready for Thanksgiving-inspired CrockPot recipes. Today, we are sharing our favorite CrockPot Turkey Recipe. This recipe perfectly saves your oven for other Thanksgiving needs and serves a great turkey.

If you have been wondering how to cook a turkey breast in a Crock Pot, this article is for you! Trust me when I say this recipe is easy; you will love the results.

Crockpot Turkey Breast

We only have one oven, and some days, it gets a bit crowded, especially on Thanksgiving.

Cooking our turkey in the crockpot saves so much maneuvering and lets me sleep a bit longer in the morning. I don't have to cook the turkey at 4 a.m., so it is done and ready, plus I have time to cook other things in the oven. We use this recipe year-round and the turkey meat for John's lunches.

Over the next month or so, we will share Crock Pot Thanksgiving Recipes! Our goal is to make your Thanksgiving as calm and stress-free as possible! Let us know if there are any specific recipes you would like to see!

How do you usually prepare your turkey for Thanksgiving?

If you love cooking in the Crock Pot, try this Crock Pot Ham and Bean soup, perfect for holiday ham leftovers.

We love how packed with flavor this slow cooker turkey breast is! So tender and delicious!

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic CrockPot Turkey! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• 2-4 Pounds of Turkey: Base this on the size of your CrockPot.
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Garlic Cloves
• Ground Sage
• Salt
• Whole Cloves
• Cracked Black Peppercorns/Pepper
• All-Purpose Flour
• Chicken Stock/Chicken Broth

Optional Add-Ins: Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic Powder

Turkey - Measure your slow cooker to make sure the bone-in turkey breast will fit. We have purchased turkeys and then they didn't fit in our crockpot.

Equipment Needed

Crockpot: We suggest using a Crockpot with a digital timer that automatically switches the slow cooker to warm after a set time to help ensure your dinner cooks perfectly, and you don't have to stress about when it’ll finish cooking.

• Saucepan
• Meat Thermometer: Cooked turkey breast has an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Serving Platter/Dish

How to Make CrockPot Turkey Breast

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

1. Brown turkey in skillet on all sides; transfer to Crock Pot.
2. Reduce heat in the skillet and add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened
3. Add garlic, sage, cloves, salt, and peppercorns; cook
4. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir. Add chicken stock and stir until the roux has thickened.
5. Transfer to Crock-Pot and pour over the turkey breast.
6. Cook on low 

Preparation and Storage

Make-Ahead: This Crock Pot Turkey recipe is make-ahead-friendly! The total cooking time is 6 to 7 hours, so you have plenty of time to set it and forget it or work on other Thanksgiving dishes.

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: if you’ve had your fill of turkey for the season, you can freeze any cooked leftover turkey in an airtight, freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag for up to three months.

How to Reheat: Fully thaw the frozen turkey breast in the refrigerator. Pat it with paper towels before placing it in the skillet to cook.

We love using the leftover turkey for turkey sandwiches, and cranberry turkey sliders.

 

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: 

Chicken stock is poultry-based and a natural fit for turkey, but you can use vegetable stock if you don’t have this ingredient.

You can skip the instructions for the roux and use another turkey gravy if you prefer something else to go over your turkey.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Here’s a guide to the 7 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Turkey Alternatives for our meatless and plant-based friends.

Gluten-Free: Replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour to make the turkey gravy gluten-free.

Alcohol-Free Option: We don’t use any alcohol in this recipe, but this TastingTable article features boozy ways to upgrade your Thanksgiving gravy.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: Two to four pounds of turkey makes about eight servings. How many portions you end up with depends on the size of the turkey you can fit into your CrockPot, which we recommend confirming before heading to the grocery store.

Make It Spicy: Add your favorite Cajun seasoning to your gravy for a spiced-up Thanksgiving turkey!

Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 1 gram of sugar per serving.

 

Tips for the Best CrockPot Turkey

• You can use the liquid/juices at the bottom of the CrockPot to make a delicious gravy, which our recipe instructions include. This tip is fantastic if you want to use the entire bird or as much of it as possible.

What to Serve with Crock Pot Turkey

With the help of your slow cooker, the iconic star of any holiday feast is easier than ever to make and doesn’t even require an oven!

Here are some menu planning suggestions for your next Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday meal.

Side Dishes: Pineapple Stuffing, Carrot Soufflé, Creamed Corn Casserole, Crock Pot Mashed Cauliflower, Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, CrockPot Sweet Potato Casserole, Southern green beans 

Main Dishes: Crock Pot Bourbon Maple Pork Loin, Crock Pot Guinness Corned Beef & Cabbage, Crock Pot Chicken & Stuffing, Crock Pot Orange Glazed Ham, Crock Pot Coke Glazed Ham, Bourbon Baked Ham

Desserts: Eggnog Cookies, 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Easy Holiday Reindeer Chow, Church Window Cookies, No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Easy Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze, Ambrosia Salad, Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball, Cranberry Fluff Salad

Drinks: Eggnog White Russian, Spiced Cranberry Cocktail, Cranberry Moscow Mule, RumChata Pudding Shots, Pomegranate Breeze Martini, Mulled Cherry Cider Cocktail

When to Serve

• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Thanksgiving Dinner
• Christmas
• Any Holiday Dinner!

Great Thanksgiving Recipes

Carrot Soufflé

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Turkey Pretzel Rods

Apple Cinnamon Beer Bread

Pecan Pie Puffs

Cranberry and Turkey Sliders

CrockPot Turkey Chili

Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole

Cracker Barrel Carrots

Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

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Recipe originally shared on September 7, 2015. Updated October 2020