Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (with Gravy!)

Cooking turkey breast in the slow cooker is hands-down the best way to get juicy, tender turkey meat! For a cozy family dinner or an easy holiday meal, a simple slow cooker recipe is the perfect choice.

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

Turkey doesn't get the appreciation it deserves, mainly because it's a lean meat that can dry out. But thanks to this slow cooker turkey breast, dry turkey is a thing of the past. This method yields a juicy turkey right in the slow cooker, and you can even make gravy from the turkey's drippings.

For this recipe, I used a boneless turkey breast. I buy them frozen and defrost them in the fridge before adding them to the slow cooker. If you prefer, you can use a bone-in turkey breast that can fit inside your slow cooker.

If you need more ways to cook a turkey breast, check out my turkey breast in the pressure cooker recipe or my air fryer turkey breast recipe.

♡ Tanya

Ingredients Needed

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For the Turkey

• Boneless Turkey: Make sure to keep the netting on when using this kind of turkey. You could also use bone-in turkey breast.
• Chicken Broth: This is the key to preventing the turkey from drying while cooking, and it helps make a delicious gravy. As it cooks, the broth will add the much-needed moisture to the lean cut of meat.
• Seasonings and spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, kosher salt, rubbed sage, and black pepper add rich, savory flavors. Olive oil helps bind these spices to the turkey.
• Vegetables: Yellow onion, carrot, and celery stalk are great for adding an aromatic base to the turkey as it cooks. They also release their own juices to help keep the turkey moist.

For the Drippings Gravy

• Base: Unsalted butter and all-purpose flour provide the base for the roux, which thickens the gravy.
• Chicken broth: Provides the liquid base.
• Drippings from the turkey: these carry over the spices to provide the perfect flavor.
• Seasonings: Salt and pepper are essential for seasoning and balancing flavors.

Tools Needed

• Slow Cooker
• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Tongs
• Measuring Spoons and Cups
• Whisk
• Medium Saucepan
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula
• Gravy Boat or Small Serving Dish

How To Make Slow Cooker Turkey Breast w/ Gravy

Making the Turkey

Step 1: Pat the turkey breast (with the net on) dry with paper towels and rub it with olive oil. In a separate bowl, mix the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, salt, sage, and black pepper. Rub the spice mixture all over the turkey breast.

Step 2: Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker and pour the chicken broth around it to keep the turkey moist while cooking. Add the onion, carrot, and celery around the turkey breast in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Step 4: After cooking, remove the turkey from the slow cooker and discard the netting. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Step 5: You can serve the turkey as is or create a gravy using the drippings.

Making the gravy

Step 6: Pour the drippings from the slow cooker through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to remove any solids, then set the liquid aside. You should have about 2 cups of drippings.

Step 7: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to form a roux once the butter melts. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until the mixture turns a golden brown color.

Step 8: Gradually whisk in the strained drippings from the slow cooker, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.

Taste the gravy and add salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for 3-5 minutes. Whisk occasionally until it thickens to your desired consistency.

How To Store

Refrigeration

Allow the turkey and gravy to cool to room temperature. Place the turkey in an airtight container and pour the gravy into a separate airtight container to prevent it from becoming soggy. Store both containers in the refrigerator. Use within 3 days.

For reheating, preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Place the turkey slices in a baking dish, cover with foil to retain moisture, and heat for about 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.

Frozen

For longer storage, you can freeze the turkey and gravy. Use freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags, removing as much air as possible before sealing.

You can store turkey and gravy in the freezer for up to 3 months.

For reheating, thaw frozen turkey in the refrigerator before reheating. This can take several hours or overnight, depending on the size of the turkey slices.

FAQ

I hope you like this slow cooker turkey breast recipe as much as we do! Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Try these out:

• Slow Cooker Collard Greens - This green, leafy vegetable is delicious when cooked low and slow.
• Slow Cooker Chicken Broth - My Favorite Way to Make Homemade Chicken Broth. Use it immediately or freeze some for later.
• Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese - This mac and cheese is a mostly hands-off recipe that yields creamy, cheesy pasta.

If you have tried this or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

Tanya

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast w/ Gravy

5 from 1 vote

Cooking turkey breast in the slow cooker is hands-down the best way to get juicy, tender turkey meat! For a cozy family dinner or an easy holiday meal, a simple slow cooker recipe is the best the way to go.

This simple and tasty homemade turkey gravy will make this dish even better. Drizzle it on top for a mouthwatering finish. Just season the turkey and let the slow cooker do its thing!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 10

Course: entree, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 599

Ingredients

  

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For the Turkey

• 3 lb boneless skinless turkey breast (with net) (like the Butterball kind)
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 large yellow onion chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium carrot chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium celery stalk chopped into 1-inch pieces

For the Drippings Gravy

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Instructions

 

Making the Turkey

1. Pat the turkey breast (with the net on) dry with paper towels. Rub it with olive oil.
2. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, salt, sage, and black pepper. Rub the spice mix all over the turkey breast.
3. Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker to keep the turkey moist while cooking. Add the onion, carrot, and celery into the slow cooker around the turkey breast.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Remove the turkey from the slow cooker and let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Be sure to remove the net before serving. Serve as is or create a gravy with drippings.

Making the gravy

1. Pour the drippings from the slow cooker through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to remove any solids. Set the liquid aside. It should be about 2 cups of gravy.
2. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until the mixture turns golden brown.
3. Gradually whisk in the strained drippings from the slow cooker. Whisk constantly to avoid lumps.
4. Taste the gravy and season with salt and pepper.
5. Let the gravy simmer for 3-5 minutes, whisking occasionally, until it thickens to your liking.

Nutrition

Calories: 599kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 38gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 233mgSodium: 722mgPotassium: 556mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2165IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg

Video

Notes

• For crispier skin, remove the turkey breast and place it under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until golden.
• Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C). Depending on your slow cooker, the turkey may need more than 4 hours to reach 165°F
• If you prefer a thicker gravy, you can adjust the amount of flour.
• This turkey pairs well with classic sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, or cranberry sauce for a complete meal.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

This post was originally published on October 9, 2024.