Slow-roasted turkey is marvelously tender, with meat that literally falls off the bone and golden, rich, golden-brown skin. Its an easy, hands-off way to prepare turkey and yields consistently excellent results.
Slow cooking a turkey may seem unconventional, but it’s actually a great way to cook a moist and flavorful bird with minimal effort. As someone who loves cooking turkey for the holidays I was initially skeptical about using a slow cooker. However after trying it out a few times, I’m a total convert!
In this article, I’ll share why slow cooking is an excellent technique for turkey, along with tips and step-by-step instructions to ensure you end up with a tender, juicy turkey with amazing flavor.
Why Slow Cook a Turkey?
Here are some of the biggest benefits of slow cooking a turkey rather than roasting it traditionally in the oven:
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Moist and tender meat The low gentle heat of the slow cooker helps break down collagen and fat to keep the turkey incredibly moist and tender. No more dealing with dry turkey!
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Infused with flavor The turkey cooks in its own juices allowing it to absorb all the delicious flavors from the herbs and spices added.
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Forgiving method: It’s much harder to overcook and dry out the turkey in a slow cooker. The low heat gives you more leeway.
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frees up oven space: You can use your oven for sides rather than tying it up with the turkey.
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Convenient: Just throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning and your turkey will be ready by dinner.
Tips for Slow Cooking Turkey
Follow these tips to ensure slow cooker turkey success:
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Use a turkey breast rather than a whole turkey. Fitting a whole bird is tricky. A bone-in breast or boneless breast works perfectly.
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Cook at LOW heat. Cooking at high can cause the edges to overcook. Low and slow is key.
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Allow 1 hour cook time per pound. A 5 lb breast will take about 5 hours. Check temp after 4 hours.
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Use a rub: Coating the turkey with a spice and herb rub really boosts the flavor.
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Elevate turkey: Place chopped onions/garlic in bottom and set turkey on top to prevent cooking in juices.
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Make gravy: Use the flavorful turkey juices left in the slow cooker as an amazing gravy base.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for tender, juicy slow cooker turkey breast:
Prep Ingredients
- 1 bone-in turkey breast (4-6 lbs)
- Rub: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, chopped
- Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage
Add Rub Under Skin
- Pat turkey dry and loosen the skin over the breast.
- Rub the spice mix directly onto the meat under the skin.
Put Turkey in Slow Cooker
- Place chopped onion and garlic in bottom of slow cooker.
- Put turkey breast directly on top, skin-side up.
- Tuck fresh herb sprigs around turkey.
Cook on Low
- Cook for 1 hour per pound, until 165°F internal temp.
- For a 5 lb breast, cook about 5 hours on LOW.
Make Gravy
- Remove turkey and strain juices.
- Whisk in flour to make gravy.
Brown Skin (Optional)
- For crispy skin, broil turkey for 3-5 minutes.
And that’s it! By following these guidelines, your slow cooker turkey will turn out perfect. The low heat keeps the meat incredibly moist and tender.
I like to use the flavorful leftover turkey for dishes like soup, pot pie, sandwiches, and enchiladas over the next few days.
While it may seem unconventional at first, once you try juicy slow cooker turkey, you’ll discover it’s an easy, foolproof way to get a delicious turkey dinner with very little effort. No more dry, bland turkey – slow cooking is the way to go!
Give it a try this holiday season. I’m positive you’ll be converted into a slow turkey fan after you taste the incredible results.
Tips for a perfect bird
- Choose small to medium birds (12 – 16 pounds), as larger birds risk taking too long to come to safe temperatures.
- Stuff your turkey with herbs, lemons, and onions. Herbs, lemons, and onions give your turkey flavor and keep it moist.
- Bake your stuffing on the side instead of in the bird.
- Mind the internal temperature. The internal temperature of your bird should reach 165 F when taken from the thigh for safety.
- Its okay to cook the bird over temperature. The meat will seize and then yield and become even more tender as it cooks, so I typically cook my bird to 180 F.
- Tent the bird with foil if you notice it browning too quickly.
- If you find the turkey cooking too quickly, you can reduce the heat to 225 F.
- Allow it to rest before serving. Your turkey will need to rest for about 40 minutes to stay moist. Thats just enough time to warm up your sides in the oven.
- Serve the turkey with plenty of sides like sourdough stuffing, cranberry mandarin relish, maple-glazed root vegetables, and a nice autumn fruit salad.
- Use your leftovers for turkey bone broth and turkey and wild rice soup.
- If your wine and liquid ingredients evaporate in the pan, add more wine, stock, or water.
Why roast a turkey overnight?
To slow roast a turkey, youll bake it in a very slow oven over a period of several hours – typically 8 to 12, depending on the size of the bird. And this long, slow process results in impossibly tender meat that literally falls off the bone, a golden, deep flavor, and crisp brown skin.
Even better, its a fairly hands-off approach and that means you have more time to spend with friends and family. And youll have plenty of time to whip up sides, put the final touches on dessert, and set the table.
Slow-roasting is a simple, easy process that requires little active time in the kitchen. However, because it takes so long for the turkey to cook through, youll need to carefully plan when you first put it in the oven.
Allow about 6 hours total for a medium-sized bird. If you have a large bird, and plan to eat early in the day, you may need to wake in the wee hours of the morning to get your bird ready on time. Or, if you plan to serve it in the evening, youll start the bird by noon.
The recommended temperature for roasting turkey is 325 F; however, slow-roasting poultry was once common practice. And it was a popular way to cook turkey until recently. Many earlier generations grew up roasting their turkeys overnight in the oven.
Most bacteria on your bird will rest on its surface areas, not deep in the meat. Remember the “danger zone” for food-borne illness is 41 to 130 F. So make sure that your turkey comes to 135 F within about 4 hours and 165 F before you serve. In 2008, researchers found that slow-roasted birds were safe to eat (1).
To ensure your bird stays safely within those temperature windows, choosing small to medium birds works best. I recommend using a higher temperature and different techniques for very large birds. This maple-brined turkey recipe works well.
Slow Cooker Turkey EASY | Tender & Juicy Turkey! #cooking
FAQ
Is it safe to cook turkey in a slow cooker?
How long does it take to cook a turkey at 250 degrees?
Can I slow down cooking a turkey?
Is it safe to cook turkey on a low heat?
How do you slow cook a Turkey?
To slow cook a turkey, you will need: Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. 3. Season the turkey inside and out with salt and pepper. 4. Drizzle the turkey with vegetable oil. 5. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. 6.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
Is slow roasted turkey good?
Slow-roasted turkey is marvelously tender, with meat that literally falls off the bone and golden, rich, golden-brown skin. It’s an easy, hands-off way to prepare turkey and yields consistently excellent results. Jump to Recipe | Why Cook a Turkey Overnight? | Timing | Safety | Tips | Variations Why roast a turkey overnight?
Is a slow cooked turkey a good holiday meal?
Making a slow roast turkey does take a bit of prep, so it’s definitely not the meal to choose when you’re in a hurry! But on a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, or even on any lazy Sunday, a slow cooked turkey is the perfect way to slow down, reflect, connect with the family, and appreciate what we have.