How to Cook Boneless Turkey Breast in a Crockpot for a Juicy and Tender Meal

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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 boneless turkey breast in a crockpot is a great hands-off way to prepare delicious and moist turkey for your family. With just a few simple steps, you can have tender fall-apart turkey breast ready for amazing meals all week long.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey Breast in a Crockpot

There are several advantages to using a crockpot to cook boneless turkey breast

  • Requires minimal preparation and cook time Season and add to the crockpot in the morning for an easy dinner ready when you get home

  • Turkey comes out exceptionally moist and tender from the slow, low cooking.

  • You can infuse tons of flavor into the meat with spices, broths, and sauces.

  • The crockpot does the work for you with no basting or checking required.

  • Frees up your oven for sides and other dishes.

  • Leftovers can easily be repurposed into soups, salads, sandwiches, and more.

Picking the Right Turkey Breast

For best results, look for:

  • Boneless, skinless turkey breast between 2-5 pounds. Larger cuts may not fit or cook evenly.

  • Natural, unfrozen breast with no seasonings or added liquid. This gives you maximum flavor control.

  • Breast with a thick layer of white meat and minimal fat or connective tissue. Trimming any excess fat helps the end result.

  • Turkey breast with the freshest date available. The crockpot can revitalize slightly older meat but freshest is ideal.

Prepping and Seasoning the Turkey Breast

Proper prep and seasoning is key for maximizing flavor:

  • Thaw frozen breast completely in the fridge before cooking.

  • Pat turkey dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

  • Generously rub salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings all over breast. Get seasoning under the skin as well.

  • Consider basting breast with oil or melted butter for added moisture and browning.

  • For more flavor, marinate breast overnight in a combo of oil, acid like lemon juice or vinegar, and robust herbs and spices.

How to Cook Turkey Breast in a Crockpot

Follow these simple steps for foolproof crockpot turkey breast:

  • Grease the inside of your crockpot lightly to prevent sticking.

  • Add 1 cup of chicken or turkey broth and aromatics like onion, garlic, and herbs to the crockpot. This provides extra moisture and flavor.

  • Place seasoned breast in crockpot atop aromatics. Ensure it lays flat.

  • Cook on low heat for 7-8 hours for a 3 pound breast, decreasing time slightly for smaller cuts. High heat for 4-5 hours also works for quicker cooking.

  • Use a meat thermometer to check temperature. Cook until it reaches 165 F internally.

  • Let breast rest 10-15 minutes before slicing for easier cutting and juicier meat.

  • Serve turkey breast by itself, sliced in sandwiches, diced in salads and soups, and more!

Crockpot Turkey Breast Recipes

The basic crockpot turkey breast is delicious, but you can also jazz it up with sauces, rubs, and ingredients cooked right in the crockpot:

BBQ Pulled Turkey: Coat breast in a smoky BBQ rub. Shred cooked breast with BBQ sauce. Pile onto buns for amazing sandwiches.

Citrus Herb Turkey: Season breast with rosemary, thyme, orange zest, garlic, and olive oil. Add orange slices, onion, and chicken broth to crockpot.

Cranberry Turkey: Brush breast with cranberry sauce periodically while cooking. Slice and serve with more cranberry sauce.

Turkey Chili: Cook diced breast with beans, tomato sauce, onions, chili powder, cumin, and garlic in crockpot. Top with avocado, cheese, and cilantro.

Maple Dijon Turkey: Whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Baste over breast while cooking for a sweet and tangy flavor.

Turkey Crockpot Tips and Tricks

  • Use broth, sauce, or even fruit juice in the crockpot to add flavor and moisture as the turkey cooks.

  • For browning on the turkey breast, give it a quick sear in a hot skillet before adding to the crockpot.

  • Make turkey tacos, pot pie, casseroles, and more with leftover crockpot turkey breast during the week.

  • Shredding or chopping the cooked turkey breast makes it even more versatile for meals and as a topping.

  • If breast isn’t submerged in liquid, baste with pan drippings every couple of hours for extra moisture and flavor.

  • Use a large enough crockpot that turkey breast lays flat. This prevents drying out.

  • Letting breast rest before carving allows juices to be reabsorbed for a juicier sliced or shredded texture.

Get Perfectly Cooked Crockpot Turkey Breast Every Time

Cooking boneless turkey breast in the crockpot makes an exceptionally juicy, tender meal with minimal fuss. With the right preparation, seasonings, cook times, and some creative flavor additions, you can enjoy amazing turkey breast any night of the week using this simple hands-off cooking method.

how to cook boneless turkey breast in a crockpot

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.

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.

Moist and Tender Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot

FAQ

Should turkey breast be up or down in the crockpot?

For an even more moist and tender turkey, cook with the breast side down. Just be prepared that you won’t really be able to slice the turkey this way; it will just fall off the bone. The presentation isn’t great with this method, but the meat is super moist.

How long to cook a 3 lb boneless turkey breast in a cooking bag?

OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES
OVEN BAG TURKEY COOKING TIMES The cooking times are consistent with food safety guidelines for cooking poultry.
Turkey Weight Cooking Time @ 350°F
Turkey Breast, boneless No water needed.
2 1/2 to 3 pounds 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours
3 to 5 pounds 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours

Can I use a slow cooker instead of an oven?

So, despite it’s much lower power rating, a slow cooker is not a viable means to reduce energy bills, and might even use double the energy required by your oven.

How do you cook the turkey so that the breast doesn’t dry out?

Links
  • Brining:
    This is the most crucial step to keep a turkey moist, as the salt solution helps the meat absorb more liquid. 

  • Temperature monitoring:
    Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the breast to avoid overcooking. 

  • Roast breast down:
    Cooking the turkey breast-side down initially can help baste the meat with its own juices. 

  • Cover with foil:
    If necessary, cover the turkey with foil during cooking to prevent the breast from drying out. 

  • Resting the turkey:
    Allow the cooked turkey to rest for a period of time before carving to redistribute juices. 

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