How Long to Cook a Frozen Turkey Breast in a Crockpot for Tender, Juicy Meat

Are you tired of serving dry turkey breasts? Fortunately, it can be avoided and we are here to show you how.

Turkey breast meat is thick yet super lean (minimal fat). Due to the thickness, turkey breasts typically need about two hours to cook all the way through. If you cooked fatty meat for that long, the fat would melt during the cooking process, lubricate the muscle fibers, and keep the meat juicy. Since the typical turkey breast contains little fat, it can dry out during long cooks.

You can avoid serving dry turkey breasts by wet or dry brining before cooking, but that won’t be feasible if you don’t have the time or fridge space to brine a turkey breast. If brining is not an option, consider cooking your turkey breasts in a slow cooker.

NOTE: We highly recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure doneness as every slow cooker cooks differently. Internal temperature needs to be 165°F in both the thickest part of the breast (without touching the bone) and in the thighs to ensure doneness and food safety.

Cooking a frozen turkey breast in a crockpot is a handy shortcut that saves time and delivers delicious results. With the right timing, some simple prep, and a few pro tips, you can make a moist and tender turkey breast that tastes like it roasted for hours – all with minimal hands-on effort. Here’s everything you need to know about how long to cook a frozen turkey breast in a crockpot.

Why Cook a Turkey Breast in a Crockpot?

There are several advantages to using a crockpot for turkey breast

No thawing required – You can pop a frozen breast right into the slow cooker. No needing to remember to thaw it in the fridge.
Tender and juicy meat – The gentle heat perfectly cooks the turkey to ideal doneness without drying it out.
Infuses flavor – Seasonings and broth permeate the meat as it cooks for enhanced taste
Hands-off convenience – Just a bit of prep in the morning and dinner is ready at night.
Frees up your oven – Make turkey and sides simultaneously with the crockpot freeing up oven space.

How Long Does It Take?

The cooking time can vary slightly depending on size of the breast and your specific crockpot. But in most cases, you can expect:

6-8 hours on low for a medium 3-4 pound frozen turkey breast.
8-10 hours on low for a larger 4-5 pound frozen breast.

I recommend cooking for a full 8 hours minimum, even for smaller breasts, to allow ample time for thorough thawing and tenderizing. The crockpot gives you flexibility if your timing is off.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps for foolproof crockpot turkey breast:

Place frozen breast directly into crockpot insert. No thawing needed.
Mix broth, butter, and seasonings in a bowl. Pour over turkey.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours, until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Transfer to a cutting board to rest 15 minutes before slicing.
Make gravy with juices, if desired.

Tips for Best Results

Here are some tips from my experience for great texture and flavor:

Use chicken or turkey broth for flavor and moisture.
Lift the breast off direct contact with the insert using veggies underneath.
Brown the breast before crockpot for crispy skin and richer taste.
Rest the cooked breast before carving so juices redistribute.
Add aromatics like garlic, herbs, or wine to the crockpot for flavor.

Answers to Common Questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about cooking frozen turkey breast in a crockpot:

Can you put fully frozen breast in a crockpot?

Yes! The crockpot safely thaws and cooks the turkey in one step.

Should you cook on high or low?

Use the low setting. The gentle heat prevents drying out.

Do you need to add extra liquid?

Adding some broth prevents drying. Cover breast with 1⁄4 inch of liquid.

What temperature should it reach?

Cook to an internal temp of 165°F for food safety.

Can you freeze the leftovers?

Yes, cool completely then freeze up to 2-3 months.

Enjoy Foolproof, Delicious Turkey

With minimal hands-on time, the crockpot does all the work of thawing and cooking a frozen turkey breast to tender perfection. Follow this simple guide for timing and tips. In 8-10 hours, you’ll have juicy, flavorful meat ready for amazing meals all week long.

how long to cook frozen turkey breast in crockpot

Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker

Cooking turkey breasts in an oven or grill may be popular, but it can be tedious and unforgiving. You have to keep checking the turkey’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. If you accidentally cook it for a few extra minutes, the turkey could burn or get dry.

On the other hand, cooking a turkey breast in a slow cooker is very forgiving. Even if the turkey spends an extra hour in the crockpot, the low cooking temperature will help ensure that it doesn’t burn or get dry. Here are more benefits of opting for slow cooker turkey breast:

Flavorful, tender, and juicy turkey breasts every time
Minimal prep time – no need to brine
Hassle-free cooking process – no need to check on it for hours
Easy to clean up afterward

Lastly, using a slow cooker gives you highly concentrated turkey broth, which you can use to create an excellent gravy.

Before delving into how to cook bone-in turkey breasts in a crockpot, let’s settle the argument of crockpots vs. slow cookers.

Slow Cooker or Crock Pot

Crockpot and slow cooker can mean the same thing. Crock-Pot® is the brand name of the first-ever slow cooker. Other brands now make slow cookers, and like Crock-Pot® slow cookers, these cookers have three primary components – a pot, a transparent lid, and a heating element.

Follow these tips to cook perfect turkey bone-in breasts in a Crock-Pot® or another slow cooker.

Place a turkey breast skin side up inside the cooker. If the skin is facing upwards, it’s less likely to tear when removing the turkey breast from the slow cooker. Also, keeping the skin out of the broth will allow it to develop a delectable color.
Before placing the turkey breast in the slow cooker, brush the skin with cooking oil before rubbing your seasonings. The oil will help the seasonings adhere to the body and enhance the flavor. It will also help the skin brown beautifully during the cook.
Add half a cup of liquid (water, broth, or wine) to the base of the slow cooker. The turkey breast will absorb the flavor and moisture of the liquid while cooking. It will also help prevent the meat from sticking to the base of the pot. For more flavor, place halved garlic, onions, and your other favorite ingredients at the bottom of the pot.