If you crave turkey, there's no reason to cook an entire turkey. Instead, you can cook just the breast. Preparing turkey breasts in the slow cooker is a great way to create a low-fat meal that doesn't require much work.
Terrific Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Dishes
Turkey breast has a mild, earthy flavor, so it works well with a number of different flavor profiles. Because of the leanness of the turkey breast, you will need to add a little bit of liquid, such as water or broth, to the slow cooker to keep the breast moist while it cooks.
Turkey With Fennel and Apples
This delicious turkey dish offers both sweet and savory fall flavors. It serves four to six.
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 2 sweet tart apples (such as Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 boneless skinless turkey breast half, about 2 pounds
- Sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons chicken broth
Instructions
- Place the onion, fennel, red pepper, and apple slices on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Season the turkey breast liberally with sea salt and black pepper and place on top of the apples, onion, peppers, and fennel.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, chicken stock, and dried thyme. Pour the mixture over the turkey.
- Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for five to six hours or low for eight to 10 hours.
- Remove the turkey and the apples/fennel/onions/peppers from the slow cooker and set aside. Pour the liquid into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Whisk together the cornstarch and chicken broth to create a slurry. Pour the slurry a little at a time into the simmering liquid, stirring constantly, until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Serve the turkey on a bed of the apples/fennel/onions/peppers with the sauce spooned over the top.
Cranberry Glazed Turkey and Sweet Potatoes
Make a meal with holiday flavors all year round using your slow cooker. This recipe serves four to six.
Ingredients
- 1 (2 to 3 pound) boneless skinless turkey breast, half or whole
- Sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup turkey or chicken stock
Instructions
- Season the turkey breast with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper, and place it in a slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, toss together the sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, sage, rosemary, and butter.
- Add the potato mixture over the turkey in the slow cooker.
- Add the stock to the slow cooker.
- Cover the cooker and set it on low. Cook for five to six hours on high or eight to 10 hours on low.
- Serve the turkey sliced with the potato mixture on the side.
Herbed Turkey Breast
Serve this simple herbed turkey breast with some steamed veggies or a salad. The recipe serves 10.
Ingredients
- 1 bone-in, skin-on whole turkey breast, about 5 pounds
- Sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 onion, halved
- 1 bulb garlic, top cut off
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 1 lemon, cut in half
- 1 cup chicken or turkey broth
Instructions
- Season the turkey breast with salt and pepper, both on the skin and inside the cavity.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sage, white pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Rub it all over the surface of the turkey breast.
- Stuff the onion, garlic bulb, rosemary sprigs, and lemon in the turkey cavity.
- Put the turkey in the slow cooker.
- Pour the broth around the sides of the turkey breast.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it on low. Cook until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees, about six or seven hours.
Easy Turkey Dinners
Using a slow cooker allows you to make easy turkey dinners that are ready when you get home from work. Try these delicious recipes as part of your regular slow cooker rotation.
