This slow cooker turkey breast is flavorful and moist and is a perfect easy-but-fancy dinner all year round. Bonus: the gravy makes itself!
This turkey recipe is so incredible, it will make you rethink how to make turkey for Thanksgiving (and any other dinner!).
Steps for Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
The reasons this slow cooker turkey recipe is so amazing are twofold. First: undeniably tasty turkey. Second: a gravy that basically makes itself in the slow cooker while the turkey cooks.
To prep the gravy and give it a bit of a head start:
- Sauté coarsely chopped carrots, onions and celery in butter until slightly tender.
- Stir in flour and then broth.
- Add seasonings.
- Simmer for a minute or two until slightly thickened.
- Add this mixture to the slow cooker before the turkey.
Following this method means the gravy will pretty much be ready to go at the end of cooking time AND it allows the turkey to bask in the flavors while it slow cooks.
Boneless vs Bone-In Turkey Breast
This recipe works great with bone-in or boneless turkey breast.
- If using bone-in turkey breast, place it breast-side down in the slow cooker.
- If using boneless turkey breast: keep the twine/netting on the turkey breast while it cooks. Also, depending on the size, a boneless turkey breast will likely need a bit less cooking time than a bone-in turkey breast.
In both cases (boneless or bone-in), I’ve used turkey breasts weighing less than 5 pounds. It works fine, but again, just take care not to over cook or the turkey may be dry.
The turkey needs to cook until it registers at least 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. I often cook the turkey a bit longer – upwards of 175 to 180 degrees F – and it is still tender and delicious.
Finishing the Gravy
After the turkey is done cooking, remove it from the slow cooker and tent with foil.
Strain everything left in the slow cooker through a fine mesh strainer into a saucepan. Discard the veggies and simmer the gravy in the pan for 10 to 12 minutes until slightly thickened a bit more.
The gravy may not be as thick as traditional gravy but will be silky and slightly thick.
For a thicker gravy, whisk together cornstarch and cold water (a tablespoon or so of cornstarch in a couple tablespoons of water) and stir the slurry into the gravy, simmering for 2-3 minutes.
A Versatile Dinner Recipe
While turkey is often pigeon-holed into belonging only to Thanksgiving, this slow cooker turkey breast recipe is perfect all year round. It is easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for a more formal weekend/Sunday dinner.
In fact, I often make this recipe simply to have turkey meat to use in recipes like this pot pie or this leftover turkey soup (that is so crazy delicious, we definitely eat it more than just the week after Thanksgiving).
Will this recipe work in the Instant Pot? Many people in the comment thread below have used the Instant Pot (slow cooker function or pressure cooker function) with good results. I’ll share this comment as a starting place if you’d like to try it!
**Instant Pot Success** I’ve been making this for a few years in my slow cooker, and I finally tried it in my IP on Sunday. I used directions from Marci’s (Tidbits–IP Guru) IP Turkey Breast recipe. I put the veggies in the bottom of the pot and the metal trivet on top and then the turkey in breast side down. I was able to seal the lid just fine. I cooked my 6 lb. turkey breast at high pressure for 30 min. (She recommends 35-40, now, but I had an old print out of her recipe and 30 min. worked fine as mine was only 6 lbs..) I let it natural release for 30 min and then put it on a platter and tented it with foil for another 30 min. We took the breast off the bone and cut with an electric knife and it was complete PERFECTION! The gravy, as always, was AMAZING! In total, my turkey was ready to eat, start to finish in about 2 hours. -Kim H
Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews
This recipe has been garnering high praise for over ten years! Here are a few of the reviews that highlight just how amazing it really is.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved, loved, loved this recipe! So easy to make. The turkey fell off the bone and was oh-so flavorful. I kept picking at it from the the time I took it out of the slow cooker to the time I put it away in the frig. Yum, yum, yummy! -Sofaia
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Seriously Mel, this was so fantastic. I used the boneless Butterball turkey from Costco, and it turned out so dang good. I will never make a real turkey again. I will actually make this throughout the year too! Thank you for making my thanksgiving a lot less stressful! -Bri H.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I made this today while hosting thanksgiving for lots of friends and family. It was SO easy and delicious. I doubled the recipe so that I could have a second crock pot for turkey legs (I prefer the dark meat), and it all turned out so delicious. I especially loved that it freed up the oven space for ham or other food prep. I will be repeating this recipe in the future! -Shelly
One Year Ago: Tortellini Sausage Soup
Two Years Ago: Black Bean & Pumpkin Chili
Three Years Ago: BBQ Turkey Quesadillas
Slow Cooker Turkey with No-Fuss Gravy
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups no-salt added or low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup water
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 5 to 8 pound bone-in or boneless turkey breast (see note)
- Salt and pepper
Prevent your screen from going dark
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In a large, nonstick skillet melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic and cook for 8-10 minutes, until the onion is translucent and the vegetables are lightly browned.
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Stir in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes until the flour coating the veggies turns golden. Whisk in 1 cup of the broth, working to smooth out any lumps as it cooks and thickens. Stir in the remaining broth and water. Add the thyme and bay leaves.
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Scrape the mixture into a 6- or 8-quart slow cooker (smaller turkey breasts will fit in a 6-quart/larger will need the space in an 8-quart slow cooker).
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Season the turkey breast on all sides lightly with salt and pepper (see note below). Place the turkey in the slow cooker (breast side down if using bone-in).
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Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 5-7 hours until the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches at least 165 degrees.
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Carefully transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board (or 9X13-inch pan to catch any juices), tent with foil and let rest while preparing the gravy.
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Strain the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Discard the vegetables.
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Skim fat from the gravy, if needed. Bring the gravy to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until it is slightly thickened. It won’t be as thick as traditional gravy but will be silky and slightly thick. For a thicker gravy, whisk together cornstarch and cold water (a tablespoon or so of cornstarch in a couple tablespoons of water) and stir the slurry into the gravy, simmering for 2-3 minutes.
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Season the gravy with additional salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
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Slice the turkey and serve with the warm gravy.
Turkey Breast: this recipe works great with bone-in or boneless turkey breast. A few notes: if using bone-in turkey breast, place it breast-side down in the slow cooker. If using boneless turkey breast: keep the twine/netting on the turkey breast while it cooks. In both cases (boneless or bone-in), I’ve used turkey breasts weighing less than 5 pounds. It works fine, but again, just take care not to over cook or the turkey may be dry.
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 500kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 69g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 193mg, Sodium: 686mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g
Recipe Source: adapted from a recipe referred to me by a long-time reader, Rebecca L., from America’s Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Revolution (thanks, Rebecca!)
Recipe originally posted November 2013; updated November 2024 with new photos, recipe notes, etc.
Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
