Cooking a Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot: How Long Does It Take?

Are you tired of serving dry turkey breasts? Fortunately, it can be avoided and we are here to show you how.

Turkey breast meat is thick yet super lean (minimal fat). Due to the thickness, turkey breasts typically need about two hours to cook all the way through. If you cooked fatty meat for that long, the fat would melt during the cooking process, lubricate the muscle fibers, and keep the meat juicy. Since the typical turkey breast contains little fat, it can dry out during long cooks.

You can avoid serving dry turkey breasts by wet or dry brining before cooking, but that won’t be feasible if you don’t have the time or fridge space to brine a turkey breast. If brining is not an option, consider cooking your turkey breasts in a slow cooker.

NOTE: We highly recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure doneness as every slow cooker cooks differently. Internal temperature needs to be 165°F in both the thickest part of the breast (without touching the bone) and in the thighs to ensure doneness and food safety.

Cooking a moist, juicy turkey breast in a crock pot is one of the easiest ways to enjoy this delicious poultry. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can have a savory turkey breast ready for your next meal. But how long does it actually take to cook a turkey breast in a slow cooker? Read on for tips, timing, and my favorite crock pot turkey breast recipe.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot

There are several advantages to using a crock pot for cooking turkey breast:

Moist and tender meat – The slow, even heat of the crock pot keeps turkey breast incredibly moist and tender. No worrying about drying it out!
Infuses flavor – Seasonings and aromatic veggies permeate the turkey as it cooks low and slow.
Hands-off cooking – Just throw the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning or before you leave for work Dinner is ready when you get home!
Makes awesome leftovers – Shredded turkey breast from the crock pot is fantastic in soups, salads, sandwiches, and more.

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot?

The cook time can vary slightly depending on a few factors:

Bone-in vs boneless – Bone-in turkey breast takes longer since the bone slows down the cooking process. Go for 6-7 hours on Low or 3.5-4.5 hours on High. Boneless cooks faster at 5-6 hours on Low or 3-4 hours on High.
Size of breast – A smaller 3 to 4 pound turkey breast may cook faster than a larger 5 to 7 pound one. Check for doneness early if using a smaller cut.
High vs Low setting – Cooking on High heat reduces time. Low and slow always works but requires more patience!
Fill level of crock – A fuller slow cooker lengthens the cook time slightly. Don’t pack too tightly.
Model of crock pot – Some newer models heat slightly faster. Get to know your appliance.

No matter what, always rely on an instant read thermometer to determine doneness rather than just the time. For turkey breast, aim for 160°F out of the crock pot, then the temp will rise more during a quick broil or rest.

Step-by-Step Guide for Crock Pot Turkey Breast

Cooking turkey breast in the slow cooker really couldn’t be much easier. Here are the simple steps:

Prep the turkey breast – Rinse it, pat dry, and trim off any excess skin or fat.
Make a spice rub or herb butter – For incredible flavor, coat the turkey with spices, fresh herbs, mustard, or a garlic-herb butter before cooking.
Prep the crock pot – Grease it lightly and add veggies like onions or celery on the bottom. Pour in 1/2 cup broth.
Add turkey and cook – Place turkey breast directly on top of the veggies. Cook on Low for 6-7 hours or High for 3.5-4 hours.
Check temp and broil – Use an instant read thermometer to confirm 160°F. Transfer to a broiler pan and broil 2-5 minutes if you want browning.
Let rest and shred – Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing or shredding with two forks.

My Favorite Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

This garlic herb butter turkey breast is easy, tasty, and always turns out super moist. The ingredients infuse it with so much flavor!

Ingredients:

1 4-5 lb bone-in turkey breast
1⁄4 cup butter, softened
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 yellow onion, chopped
1⁄2 cup chicken broth

Instructions:

Rinse turkey breast and pat dry. In a bowl, combine butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme.
Rub herb butter all over turkey. Add onion and broth to crock pot. Place turkey on top.
Cook 6-7 hours on Low or 3.5-4 hours on High until 160°F.
Broil for 4-5 minutes to brown. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

This simple crock pot turkey breast is deliciously seasoned, tender and moist. The savory onion flavor infuses the meat as it cooks. Feel free to swap in any fresh herbs you love!

Helpful Tips for Crock Pot Turkey Success

Here are some of my best tips for ensuring your crock pot turkey breast comes out perfect:

Choose a bone-in breast between 4-7 pounds. The bone adds moisture and flavor.
Defrost fully if using frozen turkey breast to prevent unsafe cooking.
Rub savory seasonings like garlic, rosemary, thyme under the skin or on top.
Add broth and aromatic veggies like onions or celery to the crock pot before cooking.
Use an instant read thermometer. Don’t rely solely on cook time.
Let the turkey rest before slicing for the juiciest meat.
Save the flavorful broth for gravy, soup stock, or sauce.

Fun Ways to Use Leftover Crock Pot Turkey

Leftover shredded turkey breast from the slow cooker is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few delicious ways to use it:

Turkey chili or turkey tortilla soup
Warm turkey salad with greens and vinaigrette
Sandwiches or wraps with pesto, bacon, avocado
Turkey breakfast hash with peppers and sweet potato
Turkey tetrazzini or turkey pot pie
Tacos with shredded turkey, salsa and cheese
Turkey casserole with rice, cheese, and veggies

With just a few ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you can make the most delicious, fall-off-the-bone tender turkey breast easily in the crock pot. Follow my recipe and timing guidelines for perfect turkey every time. Enjoy juicy, flavorful crock pot turkey breast on its own or shred it for a variety of tasty meals all week long.

cooking a turkey breast in a crock pot how long

Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker

Cooking turkey breasts in an oven or grill may be popular, but it can be tedious and unforgiving. You have to keep checking the turkey’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. If you accidentally cook it for a few extra minutes, the turkey could burn or get dry.

On the other hand, cooking a turkey breast in a slow cooker is very forgiving. Even if the turkey spends an extra hour in the crockpot, the low cooking temperature will help ensure that it doesn’t burn or get dry. Here are more benefits of opting for slow cooker turkey breast:

Flavorful, tender, and juicy turkey breasts every time
Minimal prep time – no need to brine
Hassle-free cooking process – no need to check on it for hours
Easy to clean up afterward

Lastly, using a slow cooker gives you highly concentrated turkey broth, which you can use to create an excellent gravy.

Before delving into how to cook bone-in turkey breasts in a crockpot, let’s settle the argument of crockpots vs. slow cookers.

Slow Cooker or Crock Pot

Crockpot and slow cooker can mean the same thing. Crock-Pot® is the brand name of the first-ever slow cooker. Other brands now make slow cookers, and like Crock-Pot® slow cookers, these cookers have three primary components – a pot, a transparent lid, and a heating element.

Follow these tips to cook perfect turkey bone-in breasts in a Crock-Pot® or another slow cooker.

Place a turkey breast skin side up inside the cooker. If the skin is facing upwards, it’s less likely to tear when removing the turkey breast from the slow cooker. Also, keeping the skin out of the broth will allow it to develop a delectable color.
Before placing the turkey breast in the slow cooker, brush the skin with cooking oil before rubbing your seasonings. The oil will help the seasonings adhere to the body and enhance the flavor. It will also help the skin brown beautifully during the cook.
Add half a cup of liquid (water, broth, or wine) to the base of the slow cooker. The turkey breast will absorb the flavor and moisture of the liquid while cooking. It will also help prevent the meat from sticking to the base of the pot. For more flavor, place halved garlic, onions, and your other favorite ingredients at the bottom of the pot.

Moist and Tender Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot

FAQ

How long does a crock pot take to cook?

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

How many hours per pound to cook a turkey breast?

Turkey breast takes about 20 minutes per pound to cook. The turkey breast on its own will cook more quickly than a whole turkey, so start checking after an hour.

How long does it take to cook a fully cooked turkey breast?

TO REHEAT COOKED TURKEY BREAST AFTER REFRIGERATION Preheat oven to 325*. 2. Place the Turkey Breast in a shallow pan with a small amount of liquid (water or turkey drippings) 3. Cover in foil and heat approximately 15 minutes per pound, until the internal tem- perature reaches 160*.

How long does it take to cook Jennie O turkey breast in crock pot?

Place turkey breast in the slow cooker. Cut three 1/2-inch slits in the top of the cooking bag. Cook for approximately 4 hours with the slow cooker on HIGH setting. Turkey can also be cooked for approximately 8 hours with the slow cooker on LOW setting.