If you're all about easy and delicious this holiday season, Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast will hit the spot. You only need three simple ingredients and five minutes of prep for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat. Plus, we use boneless turkey, so there's no fussy carving needed.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Making a flavorful boneless turkey breast is just about as easy as it gets, thanks to the
slow cooker doing all the work! - This is a great recipe if you have a smaller family or are in the mood for festive holiday food during the week.
- Keep the netting on the turkey while cooking to hold it together.
Why complicate life any more than it already is—this easy turkey recipe is so effortless you could probably do it with your eyes closed!
With herby poultry seasoning and lots of butter, you'll be able to enjoy the savory flavor of the holidays in no time at all.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- If you use a bone-in turkey breast (instead of boneless), you'll need to cook it on low for about six hours (instead of four).
- I use Wild Fork Foods' poultry seasoning, which has salt, parsley, chives, garlic, onion, chili flakes, and thyme—it's a coarser grind. If you use a smaller grind/powdered seasoning, use 1 ½ teaspoons and add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and any other herbs you like.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Combine the softened butter and poultry seasoning.
Rub the turkey all over with the seasoned butter.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until internal temp is 165F.
Cut off the netting and discard. Serve the turkey.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
Like most meat, slice turkey breast against the grain on a cutting board. Then, transfer it to a serving platter for a prettier presentation.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
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🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat
One of the perks of cooking a boneless turkey breast is that it's smaller than a whole bird, so there's usually not too much left after dinner.
However, you can store leftover turkey in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. For longer storage, seal it tightly and keep it in the freezer for up to three months.
Let frozen meat thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Enjoy cold on a sandwich, or reheat in the microwave under a damp paper towel in thirty-second bursts until warm.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Don't overcook turkey—it dries out quickly. Start checking the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer at the three-hour mark. Poultry's done when it reaches 165 degrees F.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- After removing the turkey from the packaging, dab off extra moisture with a paper towel, but don't rinse it. Rinsing meat can actually do more harm than good.
- Leave the netting on the turkey to hold it together while it cooks. This helps keep it nice and juicy inside.
- If you're using a Butterball turkey or one with a solution injected in it, don't add any extra salt until after it's cooked and tasted.
- Always, always, always let meat rest before slicing into it. This will give the juices time to redistribute so each bite is moist and delicious.
- Feel free to use a
slow cooker liner for easier clean-up. - Transfer the drippings from the
slow cooker to a saucepan for the base of homemade gravy—yum!
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
It's best to let frozen turkey thaw completely in the refrigerator before putting it in the
Poultry must reach 165 degrees F in the thickest part before it's considered safe to eat. I like to use an instant-read thermometer for accurate, quick results.
The turkey will cook fine if you use ghee or oil, but it'll lack some flavor that the butter gives it. Since this recipe is quite simple, I do recommend butter for best results.
Yep, slow-cooking the turkey keeps it nice and juicy! However, keep in mind that most Thanksgiving turkeys include dark meat pieces (thighs/legs) and have skin that gets crisp. This recipe uses boneless, skinless turkey breast (light meat) to keep things simple.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Pop the turkey breast into your
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
Remember, you can often substitute turkey for chicken or pork in recipes!
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
Nothing beats turkey and a good mash. My Red-Skinned Mashed Potatoes are flavorful and super easy to prepare. Better yet, they're delicious with or without gravy—your choice!
Don't forget the cranberry sauce! This jalapeno cranberry sauce has just a touch of heat to liven it up. So good!
Rich and light Dinner Rolls are perfect for bulking up a meal and scooping every last drop of gravy. Plus, they're easy to freeze, so you can enjoy them anytime you want.
Whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or just a regular 'ol Thursday in the fall, my No-Bake Pumpkin Pie hits the spot. It only takes five minutes of prep but is so rich and creamy that no one will guess it's really that easy.
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
Leftover turkey is one of the most versatile ingredients, and you can usually swap it for cooked chicken in any recipe. Use it as the star in these meals:
- Cold sliders or Creamed Turkey Sandwiches
- Any noodle-based casserole
- Soup (like Tuscan Turkey Soup)
- Shepherd's pie or pot pie
- Green salads
- Baked pasta dishes (like Tetrazzini) or in meat sauce
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
This
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3.5 pound boneless turkey breast
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning*, See note below
Instructions
- Remove the turkey and the gravy packet (if one is included) from the plastic. Set the gravy packet aside -you can use it or not when the turkey is finished cooking.
- Leave the netting on the turkey - it holds it together during the cook time.
- Mix the softened butter with the poultry seasoning until it is well blended.
- Rub the butter mixture over the turkey on all sides. Don't worry about the netting.
- Place in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until and instant-read thermometer registers 165℉.
- Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
Gravy
- If you are using the gravy packet make according to instructions on the packet.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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