This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This juicy slow cooker turkey breast is packed with flavor! I season this turkey breast with a smoky spice rub before leaving it to cook for hours until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender.
Looking for another easy alternative to roasting turkey in the oven? Try my air fryer turkey breast, too!

Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Slow Cooker
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Why I Love This Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Rubbed with smoky seasonings and cooked for hours, this slow cooker turkey breast recipe is the most tender, irresistibly savory turkey meat I’ve ever tasted. Cooking this turkey in the crock pot locks in the flavor and juices. This recipe even rivals my whole roasted turkey in tenderness and flavor. I don’t even miss the crispy skin!
- Full of flavor. My slow cooker turkey breast is super simple to make, but it packs in LOADS of bold and smoky flavor thanks to a savory BBQ spice rub. It’s easy to mix the seasoning from scratch, or you can use your favorite store-bought dry rub.
- Super juicy. While I love the golden, crisped-up skin that comes with oven-roasting turkey breast, nothing beats the tenderness and flavor in this slow cooker turkey. It cooks until the meat falls off the bone, infused with all the flavors of the spice rub. Plus, a quick broil afterward is all this turkey breast needs to get the outside seared!
- Convenient. Leave the work to your crock pot on weeknights, or make this turkey breast on the weekend and enjoy leftovers for quick and easy dinners throughout the week. Cooking turkey breast in the slow cooker is also a great way to save on oven space during the holidays!
What You’ll Need
With only 3 ingredients, this recipe is ridiculously simple. You’ll find the full recipe with the exact amounts in the printable recipe card below the post.
- Turkey Breast – I use bone-in turkey breast as it’s best for slow cooking. Remove the giblets and trim off any excess fat before you start.
- All-Purpose Red Rub – Most red rub recipes combine savory spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin with brown sugar for a bit of sweetness. You can also use your favorite store-bought or homemade barbecue rub (I include my easy recipe later in the post).
- Onion – Cut into chunks.
Can I Use Frozen Turkey?
Unfortunately, no. You should never cook a frozen turkey in a slow cooker. Since the slow cooker cooks things slowly (living up to its name), frozen turkey breast will stay at an unsafe temperature for too long, risking foodborne illness. If you have frozen turkey breast, make sure to thaw it completely in the fridge before adding it to your crockpot or slow cooker.
Easy Homemade Red Rub
I love making a big batch of all-purpose red rub. It’s a great way to save time with this and other future recipes! This homemade seasoning blend can be stored in a cool, dark place for months. Sprinkle it over everything from chicken legs to ribs and veggies before grilling, roasting, or slow cooking. Here’s how to make it:
- Combine the spices. Add paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and kosher salt to a bowl. Whisk that together until it’s well combined.
- Use or store. Use what you need right away, and store the rest of the red rub in an airtight jar or container. Keep it in a cool, dry place, like a pantry for up to 6 months.
How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
This slow cooker turkey recipe really couldn’t be easier. After just 10 minutes of active prep, you can kick back and let the Crock Pot do the rest. Check out the steps here, and scroll to the recipe card for printable instructions.
- Prep the turkey breast. First, coat the turkey breast thoroughly with the barbecue rub. I like to use my hands to press it into the skin, getting all the nooks and crannies.
- Stuff with onions. Afterward, tuck the onions inside the cavity behind the breast. Place the turkey skin-side up in the slow cooker.
- Cook. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
- Serve. Transfer the turkey breast to a platter, and serve with gravy or any sauce you’d like! See below for ideas.
Recipe Tips
- Choose the right turkey breast. I recommend bone-in, skin-on turkey breast for this slow cooker recipe. The bone keeps the turkey breast moist and tender, while the skin traps the juices, allowing the turkey to baste itself. Boneless turkey breast will work, but keep in mind that the cooking time will be shorter.
- Really rub the spices in. The best way to season this turkey is to get in there with your hands and work the dry rub all over and into the skin. Thoroughly coating the meat is key!
- Finish under the broiler. If you like a crispy skin on the outside of your turkey breast, after slow cooking, pop the whole breast under the broiler for a few minutes. Crisping up the skin brings out the flavor of the spice rub.
What Size Crock Pot Do I Need?
In order to fit a bone-in turkey breast, you are going to need one of the larger models. I use a 6-quart slow cooker, and I have the Hamilton Beach Set and Forget Slow Cooker. Using the thermometer and programming it to cook to 165°F is an easy way to ensure it cooks fully to a safe temperature but stays moist.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Turkey
- Refrigerate. Keep any leftovers in the fridge covered tightly with plastic or sealed in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Turkey is a lean meat that tends to lose moisture very quickly, so it won’t be as juicy reheated. I love using leftover turkey in soup, paninis, turkey Swiss quiche, or any of my leftover turkey recipes.
- Reheat. If you do reheat your turkey breast, wrap it in foil and warm it in the oven at 350ºF until the meat is hot throughout.
- Freeze. Slow cooker turkey breast actually freezes really well! Just make sure to remove it from the bone and seal it tightly in a double-lock freezer bag. It should stay good for up to 3 months.
Make It a Meal
Whether I’m making this slow cooker turkey breast for the holidays or Sunday dinner, I like turning the drippings left over in the crock pot into a flavorful turkey gravy and serving it with my favorite gluten free Thanksgiving side dishes. Here are some of my favorites…
- Add a sauce. Besides gravy, my family also loves turkey served with honey BBQ sauce or drizzled with maple Dijon dressing.
- Add some sides. I often serve my turkey breast with creamy mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. And if it’s Thanksgiving, gluten-free stuffing and a side of cranberry sauce are in order.
- Serve with veggies. You can go with air fryer green beans or roasted butternut squash.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
For the turkey breast:
- 1 4-7 pound turkey breast, thawed and giblets (if any) and excess fat removed
- 1/2 cup (approx.) All-Purpose Red Rub, or your favorite store-bought or homemade barbecue rub
- 1 large onion, cut into chunks
- Gravy, Creamy Maple Dijon Dressing, or Barbecue Sauce for serving
For the All-Purpose Red Rub:
- 2 Tablespoons paprika
- 2 Tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- a pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Coat the turkey breast thoroughly with the barbecue rub, inside and out, pressing it to stick it to the meat and pushing some under the skin.
- Place the onion chunks inside the cavity and place the turkey skin side up in your slow cooker.
- Cook on Low for 5-7 hours, or until it reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Serve with gravy, maple Dijon or honey mustard sauce, or barbecue sauce.
Notes
- To Store: Keep in the fridge covered tightly with plastic or sealed in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Remove from the bone and seal tightly in a double-lock freezer bag for up to 3 months.
SIX dinners? That’s awesome!
I love that this was made in the slow cooker. I usually make pork or chicken, but turkey would be great! Yours sounds so good!
It worked so well!!
Turkey breast in the slow cooker is a great idea and I love the rub you added to it!
I used the same rub on big chicken breasts i the crockpot tonight and it was so good too!!
I love a good turkey dinner. Time to break out the cranberries and try this recipe! 🙂
The bbq turkey breast, broccoli and sweet potato you have going on here are one of my ultimate favorite meals! I need to invest in a slow cooker to try this, because this would be so easy to whip together and enjoy leftovers throughout the week.
Love the idea of using the crockpot to do the stock overnight. I usually save the bones for making stock later, but then I often forget about them in the freezer and end up throwing them out anyway. Doing it right away would be so much better!
I know this post is all about the turkey, but I can’t get past that decadent looking baked sweet potato! I’d be making lots of those to have leftovers! LOL
Haha, I only make baked sweet potatoes when I have time to have them i the oven for a full hour, at least!
Oh I love making broth from the “leftovers.” I mean there is so much flavor – why let it go to waste?
Exactly!!
I love the ease of this dish – and cannot wait to try it 🙂
Thanks Bea! I hope you do try it!
I absolutely loooove that this is made in the crockpot! Never would have thought of using it that way, and now I can’t wait to!
It makes it so easy to have roast turkey or chicken without having to be at home!
Making stock over night in the crock pot is brilliant! Why have I never thought of this before?! Thanks!
I don’t do it every time, but once you already have a crockpot full of flavor, you might as well use it!
This sounds delicious, Brianne, and I am right there with you, I would never pass up the opportunity for a free bird (or ham) during the holiday season. This looks so moist and delicious…the possibilities are swirling in my head!
The free bird never goes to waste, even if it doesn’t come out of the freezer till months later.
I don’t know why I don’t roast a turkey breast more often…the family loves turkey and all your leftover ideas sound amazing!!!
Turkey breasts are great because you get that roasted turkey flavor without all the size and work and bones of a whole bird.
I can’t wait to try this!!! I love, love, love turkey and the leftovers too.
Leftovers may be the best part!
I’ve never made turkey breast in my slow cooker but now I need too! What a great way of cooking it. Plus the BBQ rub sounds incredible!
It makes it so easy! And the rubis great to have in your pantry. I’ve used it on lots of things.
I never tried turkey in a slow cooker, Brianne great idea!
I’ve done lots of chickens this way, so it was a natural progression to try this.
Ah, the miracles of the slow cooker. Your family is very lucky to have such scrumptious meals served to them.
Also, your husband must be grateful you are his wife, Brianne. You’ve inspired me to save more money and take advantage of those free Thanksgiving turkey offers =)
The slow cooker was a lifesaver just before the baby was born – lots of leftovers to freeze! I wish I were always this good at saving money though 🙂