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.
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. 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. 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.
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
Scale
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.
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 Hoooo💚
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 beans💚
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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
★★★★★
Glad to hear!
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 Hoooo💚
★★★★★
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 beans💚
Yay!!
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.
What breast side down?
I just purchased packages of boneless turkey breasts. I don’t believe skin is on. Will it dry out?
I bet it will be fine. You might want to cook for less time. Check your turkey with a thermometer.
Is there a lot of dripping from cooking the turkey breast. I was wondering how many cups of gravy this recipe will make.
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.
How much turkey drippings
Everything that’s left in the slow cooker.
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!
What about using this homemade recipe? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/217155/dry-onion-soup-mix/
Thanks, Karen! This ^^^ is a game-changer!
Turkey is so underrated. People only seem to want to eat it at Christmas.
★★★★★
I agree!
What other brand turkey can you use?
whatever turkey breast you can find at the store will work!
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?
Yes, you could half the ingredients and the cooking time would be about 1-2 hours less.
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!
Oh wow! I’ve never tried the grill before! That sounds great.
Does the turkey come out browned or the same color you put it in? Seems like you are poaching it.
I put it under the broiler for a couple minutes after it’s done cooking in the crockpot.
Can you use a whole chicken?
Yes, I’m sure that would work out very well! Let me know!
Was it really 2 tbls of water ? Or two cups?
yep just 2 Tbsp!
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.
Mark, cook it breast side down and no water is needed! ?
Do you cook it breast-side up or down?
Do you need to cover the bottom with water?
It is an obvious but still very important fact that induction cookers are powered by electricity.Induction Select
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!
Kimberly, yes! easily. You won't have to cook a boneless turkey breast as long as a bone in turkey breast though.
Could you use a boneless turkey breast?
karen — was this a frozen turkey breast??? thanks!