Slow Cooker Turkey

Slow cooker turkey helps your holiday be fuss-free. Whether you’re feeding a large family gathering or a paired down intimate dinner, sit back and let your appliance do the work. 

Free up your oven cook your turkey in the Crock-Pot! 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Turkey

There are only a few ingredients in this easy turkey recipe. This is the case whether you’re cooking the whole bird or just the breast portion. 

• Turkey: This may be a turkey breast or whole turkey depending on the size of your slow cooker. Here I used a turkey breast.
• Butter: Adding butter underneath the skin of the turkey helps keep it moist during the low & slow cooking process.
• Oil: Oil is rubbed all over the turkey before the seasonings.
• Seasonings: The seasonings are simple: salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. You may have to adjust the amount of seasonings used depending on the size of your turkey.
• Onion, Fresh Herbs, Citrus

How To Cook A Turkey In The Slow Cooker

Cooking turkey is easy when you use an appliance! Since most people have a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker, that is what I am using here. This means that I am not able to fit a whole turkey so I am cooking a large 7 pound turkey breast. 

Prep The Turkey Breast

• Rinse & pat turkey dry. Loosen the skin of the turkey breast. Place the butter under the skin of the turkey. Rub the oil all over turkey.
• In a small bowl, mix together salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the turkey.

Slow Cooker

• Add onion, lemon, and sprigs of fresh herbs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Add the prepared turkey on top.
• Cook HIGH 3-4 or LOW 6-8.
• After it’s done cooking: transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board. Loosely tent the turkey with foil and let it rest 15-20 minutes.
• Crisp The Skin (optional)
• Preheat your broiler to high.
• Carefully remove the turkey from the appliance and place on a baking sheet.
• Place the baking sheet the oven & broil for 3-5 minutes or until the skin is crisp to your liking.

Picking A Turkey

When it comes to picking the size of the turkey for your holiday dinner, the general rule of thumb is that you will need approximately one pound of turkey per adult. Having said that, if you’re using a slow cooker, the rules kind of go out the window. Find a turkey that fits in your appliance. For example, when I cook a 10-pound whole turkey, I need my extra-large 8-quart slow cooker. When I’m cooking a smaller, 6-8 pound turkey breast, I used my 6-quart.

Thawing The Turkey

I do not recommend cooking a turkey from frozen. You will need to completely thaw the turkey it before cooking. Thawing time will vary based on the temperature of your refrigerator, but generally turkey thaws at a rate of four to five pounds every 24 hours. To thaw your turkey, place it in a large roasting pan in the refrigerator (in its original packaging). 

Cooking A Turkey Breast 

Since turkey breast is just a portion of the whole bird, it’s great for cooking in a slow cooker. Slow cooking a turkey will produce the juiciest and most delicious turkey breast that will wow guest any time of the year.

To cook a turkey breast in the slow cooker, you will need a large 6-quart slow cooker. I usually use a turkey breast in the 6-pound range and that ends up being just the perfect size. I always suggest thinking about the shape of your slow cooker when picking out a turkey breast. This is because you may find turkey breast in 6-8 pound range but it still might not fit in your appliance based on its shape. Be sure to think about how your turkey will fit in the slow cooker when you’re turkey shopping.

Cooking A Whole Turkey

Making a whole turkey in the slow cooker produces tender, succulent turkey meat with minimal prep work. 

To slow cook a whole turkey, I use an extra-large 8-quart slow cooker. This allows me to cook a 10 pound bird but I still had to shift it around to get the lid to fit over properly. I could not fit a larger turkey. In general, a standard 6-quart slow cooker should fit an entire whole turkey up to 8 pounds. But keep in mind that all turkeys are shaped differently. What fits in an oval-shaped slow cooker might not fit in the same quart-size rectangular-shaped slow cooker or vice versa. If you find that your turkey doesn’t quite fit in your appliance, you can always cut it up into pieces. 

Crispy Skin

If you want your turkey to have crispy skin, then you will need remove it from the appliance and place it in your oven under the broiler for a few minutes. This is an optional step. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. If you’re not worried about the skin, skip it. But if you are, carefully remove the turkey from the appliance when it’s done cooking. Use tongs, it will be very hot and very tender. So tender that you shouldn’t be surprised if the turkey falls apart on you as you lift it up. Place the turkey on a large baking sheet and BROIL it in your oven for 3-5 minutes or until the skin is crisp to your liking.

Storing Leftover Turkey

To me, leftover turkey is one of those foods that tastes even better the next day. Leftover, cooked turkey keeps for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that time, you can freeze any remaining leftovers. To freeze, place leftover shredded turkey breast in freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer to freeze. Frozen turkey without gravy will keep for up to 4 months. If your leftover turkey is covered with gravy, it will keep for up to 6 months.

FAQs & Tips

• When the turkey is done, let it stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
• To make gravy, you will need to strain the drippings into a pan on the stovetop & use your preferred gravy recipe.
• There is no need to add any sort of liquid. The juice that the turkey will omit will be plenty.
• I used a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Use the amount of seasonings as a guide. You may have to the measurements depending on the size of your turkey.
• Use your preferred fresh herbs. I used fresh thyme.

Side Dishes For This Turkey

• African American Cornbread Dressing
• Southern Green Beans & Potatoes
• Patti Labelle’s Mac & Cheese
• Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits

You can find more turkey recipes here: Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes