3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Gravy: This slow cooker turkey breast is so super easy to make (it only has 3 ingredients) and turns out moist and flavorful every time. My favorite part of making turkey is the leftovers! I love being able to make turkey sandwiches for kids’ lunches and turkey tetrazzini or creamy turkey wild rice soup for dinner in the following days.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Gravy
Hey! Back to school is upon us and that means back to schedules and back to family dinners. One of my favorite ways to get dinner on the table is to make a turkey breast (in the slow cooker, of course) and then use the turkey breast in other meals the same week or save the leftovers in the freezer for future meals. By cooking in this way I really can optimize my limited time and spend more time with my family.
I know some of you are nervous to make a turkey. You think it’s a big deal and that it’s something only done by grandma on Thanksgiving. Let me tell you folks, it’s not hard at all! It’s really easy and when you make it in the slow cooker it turns out so moist and tender. Â Let me walk you through the steps:
1. Buy a bone-in turkey breast (don’t be intimidated by the bone, it adds tons of flavor) at your local grocer.  You’ll also need 3 tablespoons of butter and a packet of onion soup mix.
2. The turkey breast should be thawed. Using kitchen shears, cut off any excess skin, but leave the skin on the breast.
3. Rub the onion soup mix all over the turkey breast. Place the turkey (breast side down) in the large slow cooker. Put the butter in the bottom of the slow cooker.
4. Â Cover the slow cooker and turn it to low. Let it cook for about 7 hours on low. Cooking the turkey low and slow is the best option for taste and tenderness.
5. To check for doneness, use a meat thermometer. Make sure the middle of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  Remove the turkey from the slow cooker and let it rest on a large cutting board or platter. I like to tent mine with foil and let it rest for about 10 minutes. While the turkey is resting I use the drippings in the bottom of the slow cooker to make gravy.  To make the turkey even healthier, I remove the skin. If you like the skin you can put the turkey under a broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp it up.
Other Slow Cooker Turkey Recipes:
I love using ground turkey and turkey sausage and whole turkeys in my cooking. It is such a healthy option and also it’s much cheaper in most cases. Check out all my turkey recipes here.
Chipotle Turkey Salad Sandwiches from Simply Recipes
Turkey Enchiladas from Gimme Some Oven
Turkey, Bacon Lattice and Havarti Panini from Panini Happy
Turkey and Corn Chowder from Cookin’ Canuck
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3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Gravy
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
This slow cooker turkey breast is so super easy to make (it only has 3 ingredients) and turns out moist and flavorful every time.
Ingredients
- 1 (6 pound) bone-in turkey breast
- 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
- (or you can make your own)
- 3 Tbsp Butter
For the gravy:
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp water
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels.
- Use kitchen shears to cut off any excess skin, but leave the skin covering the breast.
- Rub onion soup mix all over outside of the turkey and under the skin. Place butter in bottom of slow cooker. Then place turkey breast in slow cooker* with the breast side down.
- Cover, and cook on low for 7 hours or until turkey breast comes to a temperature of 165 degrees. When turkey is done take it out and set it on a platter. Use foil to loosely tent the turkey and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
- While it is sitting use the drippings in the slow-cooker to make gravy. Pour the juices in the bottom of the slow cooker through a mesh strainer and into a saucepan. In a small bowl mix together the cornstarch and the water until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan with the drippings. Whisk over medium high heat. Gravy will thicken in about 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Slice the turkey breast and serve with gravy.
Notes
*I used my 6 quart oval slow cooker for this recipe.
Michele Acklin says
yeah, I follow all the instruction and you know what I can’t believe that I made this turkey dish especially gravy looks tastier than the breast :p
Karen says
Glad to hear!
Rita McCullough says
OMG! I cannot believe how great this tasted! I followed the recipe but used two envelopes of onion soup. I was so leery that it would have enough juice. It was perfect.
I made the gravy using everything from crock pot and added the gravy packet! I strained the gravy!
Thanks !
Woohoo Hoooođź’š
Rita McCullough says
I had whole turkey breast with bones and skin. I placed it with rib bones up. Opposite of what my brain said. Skin came off EASY! Just slid off! The meat was falling off the bones so I deboned & removed skin before the serving platter. I had mashed potatoes and green beansđź’š
Karen says
Yay!!
Paman says
I used the same recipe for my 5 lb plus bone in turkey breast, but I cooked it in my Insta-pot using one can of chicken broth for pressure, turkey (breast side up on the trivet) and set timer on high pressure for 30 minutes and slow release. This was my first time cooking a turkey and it was perfect with the gravy.
Kaysy says
What breast side down?
Jeanette hewitt says
I just purchased packages of boneless turkey breasts. I don’t believe skin is on. Will it dry out?
Karen says
I bet it will be fine. You might want to cook for less time. Check your turkey with a thermometer.
Judy says
Is there a lot of dripping from cooking the turkey breast. I was wondering how many cups of gravy this recipe will make.
Karen says
Honestly I don’t really remember. You can always add in a cup or two of broth to the slow cooker so you have enough gravy.
Gwen says
How much turkey drippings
Karen says
Everything that’s left in the slow cooker.
Lisa Unruh says
Dry onion soup mix often has MSG in it, which is annoying because I LOVE the flavor, but my body does not react well to it. Do you have any suggestions for what spices I use instead of that packet? Thanks!
Karen says
What about using this homemade recipe? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/217155/dry-onion-soup-mix/
Jay says
Thanks, Karen! This ^^^ is a game-changer!
Rachel says
Turkey is so underrated. People only seem to want to eat it at Christmas.
Karen says
I agree!
Ramona says
What other brand turkey can you use?
Karen says
whatever turkey breast you can find at the store will work!
Karen says
If I were to make half of a turkey breast (roughly 3 lbs), should I half the rest of the ingredients! And how about the time? Would that be the same?
Karen says
Yes, you could half the ingredients and the cooking time would be about 1-2 hours less.
Karen says
Thank you! We enjoy turkey breasts and love to do them on the grill. I have never done one in the slow cooker, so looking forward to giving that a try — especially in the middle of winter!
Karen says
Oh wow! I’ve never tried the grill before! That sounds great.
kathy says
Does the turkey come out browned or the same color you put it in? Seems like you are poaching it.
Karen says
I put it under the broiler for a couple minutes after it’s done cooking in the crockpot.
Edna says
Can you use a whole chicken?
Karen says
Yes, I’m sure that would work out very well! Let me know!
FStipe says
Was it really 2 tbls of water ? Or two cups?
Karen says
yep just 2 Tbsp!
Diane says
FStipe, The water is just to blend with the cornstarch to be added to the turkey drippings from the slowcooker after the turkey is done. This is to thicken the juices to make gravy. No liquid is added to the slowcooker, just thawed turkey bone-in breast, dry onion soup mix, and butter. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. Read the recipe directions carefully. So simple, so good.
[email protected] says
Mark, cook it breast side down and no water is needed! ?
Mark says
Do you cook it breast-side up or down?
Do you need to cover the bottom with water?
Ujiva Nelson says
It is an obvious but still very important fact that induction cookers are powered by electricity.Induction Select
Rachel // Maybe Matilda says
This looks so delicious! I'm often nervous to cook whole birds, but putting them in the slow cooker is way less intimidating. Can't wait to try this recipe!
[email protected] says
Kimberly, yes! easily. You won't have to cook a boneless turkey breast as long as a bone in turkey breast though.
Kimberly says
Could you use a boneless turkey breast?
erin says
karen — was this a frozen turkey breast??? thanks!