How to Cook a Turkey Breast in a Crock Pot

A dish of slow-cooked turkey breast is a sure way to add excitement to a table when needed. Turkey breasts offer you the same delicious experience you expect from the poultry without the hassle of preparing the entire bird. And when you use a crockpot, you enjoy convenience in cooking, as you don’t need to marinate the meat. The slow cooker doesn’t cause the meat to dry up at a low setting, so you’ll end up with a moist and juicy turkey breast you can easily carve and chew.

Selecting the Turkey Breast

You can choose between the bone-in and the boneless turkey breast options. The bone-in turkey breasts may take a slightly longer time to cook, so most times, the boneless is most convenient. You can also leave the skin on the turkey breast if you consider taking it off to be a hassle. And if you feel cutting the turkey breast off a whole bird may be too much work, simply by pre-cut options at the market or grocery store.

Also, consider the size of the turkey breast when you’re selecting because it determines how many people you can serve. As a rule, you should plan about a pound per person to be safe.

Seasoning the Turkey Breast

Mix a blend of spices and herbs into a paste and coat it all over the turkey breasts. The combination of savory and sweet fuses with the meat and enhances the flavor. You can mix paprika, thyme, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and olive oil to make this paste. Then, you slather it all over the turkey breast before placing it into the crockpot.

If you want the turkey breast to absorb the flavors from the spices and seasonings quickly, you can brine it beforehand. You’ll not only get more enhancements in the taste of the meat but also an extra dose of juiciness is guaranteed.

Preparing the Crock Pot

Check to make sure your crockpot can comfortably house the size of your turkey breast. It would be best if you used a slow cooker that’s at least three times the size of your turkey breast to spread the cooking pressure evenly.

You should add a layer of vegetables and herbs at the bottom of the crockpot before adding the turkey. Do this according to your preference, or you can consider using onions, garlic cloves, carrots, and rosemary.

Once you’ve added all you need, cover the crockpot and set it to LOW. This setting will cause the turkey breast to cook for a longer time, but that’s what you need if you want the meat to be juicy and tender.

Cooking Time

For an average 2-pound breast, you’ll need to leave it for about 3 hours. If the breast is bigger or smaller, adjust the cooking time accordingly to accommodate the size. Regardless of how much time it takes you to cook the turkey breast, you’ll need to target an internal doneness temperature of 160°F.

Do I Need to Broil the Turkey Breast?

Even though your turkey breast is ready, you may still need to broil it in an oven before you serve. Through this process, your turkey breast will come out with a rich deep golden brown color, plus extra crisp. And since broiling doesn’t take so much time or effort, it’s not such a bad idea to consider.

What about Turkey Gravy?

After taking out your turkey breast from the crockpot, you’re left with a liquid mixture of the turkey juices and the essence of the layered vegetables. This fluid is what you’ll need to make a lip-smacking bowl of gravy, so it’s gold! Just strain it out and keep it aside for this purpose.

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