Tender slow cooker turkey crown recipe that take little time to prep and come out perfect when you’re ready to eat. Use simple seasonings like with our Instant Pot turkey, or our dry rub.
Looking for slow cooker turkey breast recipes for Thanksgiving or Christmas time? It’s really easy to do. With just a few ingredients you too can make this turkey in a Crockpot recipe for your family. (affiliate links present)
What is a turkey crown?
This is a large piece that has had its legs and wings removed, leaving just the breast meat attached to the bone. It is a popular choice for 2 people or smaller gatherings or when you want the simplicity of cooking only the white meat.
Do you want an easy turkey crown recipe for the holidays? I did too because there were only a few of us at home that year. I think I like leftover turkey recipes even more but sometimes you don’t want to cook the whole thing because that would just be too much. Now you can cook just the white meat, breasts, low and slow all day and it turns out great!!
Ingredient Notes
A 4.5 lb turkey crown was used. You could go so high as 5 pounds depending on how large your slow cooker is. You do need room on both sides and the top to allow the steam to rotate appropriately.
Butter or dairy free alternative works too. I love Kerrygold salted because of the creaminess and flavor.
Lemon slices are added to the top for a fresh taste, orange would do the same thing but just with a slightly different tang.
Water or chicken broth are used to steam, you need a bit of liquid to get this done so I say use something with flavors you love.
Add Seasonings you love on top of your meat, what we used in printable recipe card below
with a Boneless Turkey Crown
Yes you could, it would take about 1 hour less cook time but you would use the same directions below in the recipe card. This was a bone in, I have only made an air fryer boneless turkey breast before this way and honestly I like the texture, you will too if you like a bit of a crisp to the skin.
Frozen Turkey Crown Recipe
What’s another plus to making it this way? Eliminating a dish from your oven gives you more room for holiday side dishes! If you forgot to defrost yours don’t worry. In the Crock the timing doesn’t really change much, maybe 30 minutes depending on the size but it is negligible.
This works great if you have a small family. We had just 4 of us this year and still had leftovers to make 2 dinners on the days after. Here are quick step by step directions to make Crockpot turkey breast. There is a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post as well.
Slow Cooker Turkey Crown Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 turkey crown, bone in, 2 breasts still connected
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 upc chicken broth, or water
Instructions
- Spray inside of pot with non stick spray. Pour liquid into bottom of pot.
- Combine seasonings into a bowl and mix.
- Use half of the softened butter and rub this under the skin of the breasts. Rub half of the seasoning rub underneath too.
- Sprinkle and rub remaining seasonings on the top of the breast.
- Put into middle of pot. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or until middle of thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F and juices run clear.
- If you want crispy skin preheat broiler, put on sheet pan and crisp for 5-10 minutes. If you have a larger air fryer you could spray top with olive oil spray and crisp in that at 400 for a few minutes.
- To make gravy, melt remaining butter in a saucepan. Add drippings from slow cooker into pan. You can add more broth at this time depending on how much you want.
- In a small bowl whisk together 3 tbsp cornstarch with some of your hot liquid until smooth. Pour this into pan and stir as it thickens. Add more this way until it is the consistency you want.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Seasoning Options
When seasoning a turkey breasts, you have a variety of options to enhance its flavor. Here are some common seasonings and herbs you can use:
- Start with a foundation of salt and black pepper to enhance the natural flavors of the turkey breast.
- Add depth of flavor with garlic powder and onion powder. These can be sprinkled directly on the turkey breast or mixed into a seasoning blend.
- Use a combination of dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, and oregano to infuse the turkey breast with aromatic flavors. You can use them individually or in combination.
- Add a touch of smokiness and color with sweet or smoked paprika. It complements the flavors of turkey well.
- This pre-made blend typically includes a mix of herbs and spices specifically designed for poultry. It often contains sage, thyme, marjoram, and other seasonings that pair well with turkey.
- Grate the zest of a lemon and sprinkle it over the turkey breast to add a bright, citrusy flavor.
- If available, use fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, and parsley. Finely chop the herbs and rub them onto the turkey breast or tuck whole sprigs under the skin.
- Before seasoning, brush the turkey breast with olive oil or melted butter. This helps to keep the meat moist and adds richness.
Remember to adjust the seasoning amounts based on the size of the turkey breast and your personal taste preferences. Additionally, if you have a specific recipe or flavor profile in mind, you can tailor the seasonings accordingly.
How to make turkey breast skin crispy
If you want crispy skin after you slow cook, preheat broiler. Put on sheet pan and crisp for 5-10 minutes. If you have a larger air fryer or Ninja Foodi you could spray top with olive oil spray and crisp in that at 400 for a few minutes.
Can you slow cook a whole turkey?
You could if you cut up a raw turkey yourself and cook it broken up into pieces. That way it fits and cooks faster too. We are here to help here. If you’re ready to let your pot do the cooking, this one is for you.
If you have a Foodi and want to get really crispy skin, follow the last steps in our pressure cooker turkey breast.
Variations
You can vary this in many ways. Adding a variety of seasonings to the outside will change it up a bit, and a marinade can be used beforehand. Use the same amount of liquid inside the pot so it stays moist and “steams” during the cook time. That can be altered too by using any sort of broth you want. Here are a few ways to add flavor:
Overnight turkey brine with a citrus touch is nice to use the night before so it can soak in. We go simple or use a dry rub with our Butterball turkey breast recipe. I would only use one though.
Once it’s crisped you’re ready to serve! Timing below is for a bone in skin on breast. If yours is boneless it will likely take less time so check at least an hour beforehand by taking the internal temperature. Nutritional information is also included but will vary according to weight and saturated fat content.
How to Make Turkey Gravy from Drippings
Remember, the flavors of the gravy will depend on the drippings and seasonings from your particular turkey, so adjust the seasonings and consistency to suit your taste. All you do to make it thicker though is pour into a pan on the stove over medium high heat. Whisk together a cornstarch roux with water and whisk that in until thicker.
You would do the same thing with other birds like our turkey neck gravy that has bits of meat in there too.
What to Make with Leftovers
You really can make anything with it that you would normally use chicken for. It works the same way inside leftover turkey soup, tossed in gravy and served as sliders, or instead of tuna inside a creamy casserole with noodles and veggies.
Remember to always use safe food handling practices when storing, thawing, and reheating leftover turkey. If the turkey shows signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, strange texture, or discoloration, it’s best to discard it to avoid any health risks. And then we will talk about the best leftover turkey recipe here.
FAQ
Ideally, yes. Try to remember to take it out of your fridge 1 hour before cooking. It will cook more evenly and a bit faster if you take the time to do this step.
That’s the great part about cooking a turkey in a slow cooker! Since it has a lid on the steam will keep it nice and tender without the need to baste it. When done you can switch to the warm setting too.
As long as your Crockpot is 6 quarts or larger you shouldn’t need to measure it. Most are fairly similar in size (4-5 lbs.) and fit nicely with the lid on tight.
Does the cook time differ depending on weight? I always do a boneless turkey breast in the Instant Pot but couldn’t get one this year. There’s a shortage because of COVID. I got a bone-in, skin-on breast but it weighs over 7 pounds and won’t fit in the IP so I’m searching for a new recipe and I can always count on yours.
Well yes I mean if you have a really large breast it will vary a bit timing wise. Just use a digital thermometer. Put into thickest part and ensure it is at at least 165 before removing, cover, rest, and then slice.