I have to confess: I almost like this slow cooker turkey breast better than the whole bird roasted. I don’t know if it’s the bone-less-ness, or the delicious cranberry sauce that forms at the bottom of the crock… But it’s just so, so good.
We don’t always have Turkey for Christmas, but it’s most definitely a Thanksgiving classic! The kids will eat it cooked this way, too. They just don’t like the cranberry sauce but that’s OK – more for me! I could drink this stuff.
The main reason why I prefer cooking just a turkey breast in the crock pot? It’s just so much easier than doing a full turkey: Quicker defrosting, no brining and way easier to make sure it’s cooked safely. Plus, prep is almost nothing!
How to Make my Cranberry Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot:
- Place all ingredients for the sauce in the crock pot – I layer them in this order: Cranberries, cranberry sauce, onion soup mix and orange juice for best results
- Place the turkey breast on top and season generously
- Cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 4-5 or until done
Oven instructions:
If you would rather make it in the oven, follow the instructions but place everything in a Dutch oven instead.
Cover with the lid and roast in the preheated oven at 325°F for 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
And for leftovers? Try these recipes:
Printable recipe
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Crock Pot Cranberry Turkey Breast
The smells wafting through your home while this turkey breast is cooking in the slow cooker with a delicious cranberry sauce will make you so excited for your comforting meal!
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Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 – 2 cups fresh cranberries enough to cover the bottom of the crock in a single layer
- 1 15-oz can jellied cranberry sauce, sliced into rounds
- 1 1-oz package onion soup mix (see below for homemade)
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup sugar optional for a less cranberry-tart sauce
- 3 to 4 pound boneless turkey breast
- 2 tablespoons butter sliced
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary optional
Homemade Onion Soup Mix:
- ¼ cup dried onion flakes
- 2 tablespoons bouillon granules beef or chicken both work
- ¼ teaspoon dried onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon dried garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Spray a 5-6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the whole cranberries inside and set the sliced cranberry sauce on top. Sprinkle with HALF of the onion soup mix. Combine orange juice and sugar (if using) and pour in the crockpot.
- Season turkey: Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker and rub all over with the remaining onion soup mix, then dot with sliced butter. Nestle the rosemary sprigs next to the turkey breast.
- Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour, then finish cooking on LOW for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F. Remove the rosemary sprigs before serving, and slice the turkey breast. Stir the cranberry sauce together with the juices and serve over the turkey.
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Notes
Step by Step explanations:
To slice the cranberry sauce, I just open the can, pop it out on a plate and slice it into thin rounds.
I place the whole cranberries underneath the jellied sauce, so that the jelly can melt over the cranberries as it cooks.
Once the cranberries and cranberry sauce are in the crock, I just prinkle ½ of the onion soup mix over it and pour the orange juice (plus sugar) over it.
I season the turkey breast right in the crockpot with my homemade onion soup mix. Dotting the top with butter is not optional 😉
I never need to thicken the sauce in the end – it’s always nice and bubbly. My husband (the trained chef) says it’s not necessary to rest slow cooked meat. If like me it makes you feel better, just do a 5 minute rest before slicing and serving with the cranberry sauce.
Side dish suggestions:
As you can see in the photo above, this is a great reacipe for a holiday meal! Some of our favorite holiday sides:Cooking Tips:
Frozen meat: Sorry, but you’re going to have to thaw the turkey breast completely in the fridge before cooking it in the slow cooker. It’s important for food safety! Read more about it on the USDA’s website here. Internal temperature: The turkey breast needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat. Read more on the USDA’s website here. Slow cooker setting: I cook the turkey breast on HIGH for 1 hour first, then on LOW for the remaining time. This is to give the crockpot a head start to heat up, so the food gets out of the unsafe temperature zone faster. Serving: If you’re serving the sliced turkey breast on a platter, it looks so pretty to garnish with a few fresh rosemary twigs!Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 423kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 61gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 166mgSodium: 506mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20g
Nutrition is an estimate.
T. Doolittle says
All I can find at the gorcery store is a Butterball Boneless Turkey Breast (about 3 pounds)….it says do not thaw, frozen to oven. So, if I am baking it in an oven (which is what I want to do) and not the crock pot, I am guessing I do not thaw it. Does oven temperature and cooking time change to accomodate it being frozen? Thank you.
Nora says
No worries – those Butterball boneless turkey breasts are super convenient! You’re right: if the packaging says “frozen to oven,” you don’t need to thaw it first. It’s designed to cook straight from frozen.
For baking it in the oven, the main thing is adjusting the temperature and time to ensure it cooks through evenly. The package will have the instructions for cooking temperature and cooking time, so just follow the instructions. They will usually recommend cooking the turkey uncovered and in the netting, which is what you should adhere to. It will take around 3 hours to cook, but check the package for exact instructions regarding the timing.
You can melt the butter with 1/2 the onion soup package over medium heat in a small saucepan on the stove, around 30 minutes before the turkey is done. Carefully brush over the hot turkey, then finish roasting until it reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
If you want to add the cranberry sauce from the crockpot recipe, I recommend baking it alongside the turkey breast in a separate, covered dish for the last hour of the baking time. Stir it once halfway through (careful, it will be hot). Serve with the turkey and juices from the turkey.
I hope this helps! 🦃💛 Let me know how it turns out!
Gramma M says
This looks and sounds so delicious! Wondering if I could roast it in the oven – using the exact recipe – instead of the crockpot and, if so, can you give me an estimate as to the temperature and time? Will use the 165 degree internal temperature as a guide, and will tent it like a conventional turkey being roasted.
Nora says
Absolutely, you can roast the cranberry turkey breast in the oven using the same recipe. Here’s how:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
Assemble the ingredients as described in the recipe: place the cranberries, sliced cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and orange juice in a Dutch oven or roasting pan.
Season the turkey breast and place it on top of the cranberry mixture.
Cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil to keep the moisture in.
Roast in the oven for about 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute.
This method should give you a delicious, juicy turkey breast with that wonderful cranberry flavor. Enjoy your meal!
Beth Whiting says
Is this a skinless recipe? If not skinless, do you recommend broiling to brown the skin. Have you made it skinless before?
Nora says
I use a boneless, skinless turkey breast for this recipe. If you use a skin-on turkey breast, you can try broiling it for 2-3 minutes once the cooking time is up. Just remove it from the crock, brush with a little more butter and broil until the skin crisps up. You won’t achieve the same crispness as in an oven-roasted turkey though, because the slow cooker retains so much juice. Hope this helps!
Brenda McTigue says
Lovely recipe easy to follow and delicious served hot or cold
Becca says
OMG!! Amazing, easy, And so simple!!