Whether you’re planning a small holiday gathering, a casual weeknight dinner, this slow cooker boneless turkey breast is the perfect solution for a stress-free, flavorful meal.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast slice and on a platter with orange slices, herbs, and gravy.

Intimidated to make a full-size turkey this year or have a smaller gathering coming to your nest for Thanksgiving? (I get it! We’re a party of three this year!)

No worries! I’ve got the perfect solution! This slow cooker boneless turkey breast recipe proves that you don’t need hours in the kitchen to achieve a flavorful, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. With its tender texture and savory seasoning, it’s a perfect substitution for good ol’Tom!

By letting the slow cooker do all the work, you can focus on other tasks while your kitchen fills with the comforting aroma of herbs and spices. It’s so easy to make, you will wonder why you haven’t tried this recipe sooner.

This versatile dish pairs beautifully with classic sides like my Instant Pot herbed mashed potatoes, fresh green bean casserole, or even my favorite Cranberry Orange layered jell-o salad!

I’m sharing a few tips and tricks to make this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Roast turn out perfectly… Every. Single. Time! Let’s get cooking!

Gather your ingredients

1–3 to 4 lb boneless turkey breast – I prefer butterball, but you can use any brand you prefer.
1 packet of gravy mix – found with turkey breast
½ teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, and poultry seasoning (optional).
1 teaspoon salt
Fresh Ground pepper to taste
¼ teaspoon rubbed sage
1 large onion, peeled and cut in half
1 cup chicken stock
¼ cup white cooking wine (optional). You can substitute apple juice or water for the cooking wine.
2-3 orange slices
One sprig of fresh rosemary and sage
2–3 sprigs of fresh thyme

Slow Cooker Turkey ingredients on a white kitchen counter.

Preparing Turkey Breast for Slow Cooker

Begin by removing turkey breast from plastic packaging. The turkey breast should have cotton netting surrounding it.

TIP: You want to leave the netting on the turkey roast. It is what holds the shape of the turkey roast. Remember this is a turkey breast that has had the bone removed and has been rolled into a small roast. That netting is the only thing holding it together! (I may need some netting to hold me together through this holiday season! Lol)

Line your slow cooker with a 3-8 quart slow cooker liner. This will not only help to keep your slow cooker clean…but it serves a bigger purpose for this recipe. It becomes a cooking bag that allows the turkey breast to retain its moisture. So be sure to use a cooling liner!

Place the sliced onion halves on the bottom of the slow cooker liner bag, inside the slow cooker, to act as a “roasting rack”. This helps prevent the bottom of the turkey roast from burning and adds incredible flavor to the turkey and the drippings to the gravy!

Add the enclosed turkey gravy packet, if there is one, with your turkey roast. Do not dilute it. Just add as is. Place the turkey roast fat side up!

TIP: Always place the fat cap of any roast on top so that the juices run down into the meat, causing it to “self-baste” during cooking.

Turkey Roast on top of the onion halves in the bottom of the slow cooker liner in the slow cooker.

Season the top of the turkey roast with freshly ground black pepper.

Turkey Roast seasoned with black pepper in the slow cooker.

Seasoning Mixture

In a small bowl, add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, poultry seasoning, rubbed sage, and salt.

Mix with a small wire whisk. Mix until well combined.

Season the top of the turkey roast with the seasoning mixture. Lightly rub the mixture onto the top of the turkey breast.

Turkey roast seasoned with the seasoning mixture.

Top with 2 orange slices and fresh sprigs of herbs. Add one cup of chicken broth and ¼ cup of white cooking wine.

TIP: You can substitute apple juice, or water, for white wine or omit it all together if you prefer.

Turkey roast topped with orange slices, and fresh sprigs of herbs.

Now for my secret tip for making the most moist and juicy slow cooker turkey roast! Gather the edges of the slow cooker liner and bring them together and clip them with a metal paper clip to hold it together, and seal the bag shut during baking. DO NOT USE A PLASTIC CLIP AS IT MAY MELT DURING BAKING!

The slow cooker bag acts as a cooking bag, creating a “steam bath” for that turkey breast! I am in LOVE with this method of making roasts in a slow cooker! You’re going to love it too.

Enclosing turkey roast inside a slow cooker liner bag and clipping with metal clip.

Slow Cooking Turkey Breast

Place the lid on the slow cooker. Set it on “low” and bake for 4 hours! That’s it! Easy Peasy right? Now you can trot off for a few hours and put your feet up and watch a Hallmark movie! (A girl can dream!) Okay fine! Go peel the potatoes and make the stuffing!

Roast Baking in a slow cooker on low for 4 hours.

After 4 hours, remove the lid and carefully open the bag, making sure not to burn yourself when the steam releases during opening! Peel the bag back and drape it over the sides of the slow cooker.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey breast. It should be at least 165°.

Meat thermometer checks the internal temperature of the turkey roast.

Using large tongs or a set of meat forks, remove the turkey breast from the cooking liner and place it on a cutting board. Remove the orange slices and herbs. Throw them away…we’re done with them! They have served their purpose for this dish!

TIP: DO NOT dispose of the drippings at the bottom of the pan! That’s your gravy for good gravy’s sake!

Back to the bird…

Using kitchen shears, carefully cut the netting off the roast along the side to preserve the appearance of the top of the turkey roast.

Remove the netting. Using a sharp carving knife, slice the turkey roast into your personalized serving-size slices.

Turkey roast sliced into serving sizes on a beautiful platter with garnishes.

Garnish with orange slices, fresh cranberries, and a few more sprigs of herbs if desired. It makes for a beautiful presentation. There is no reason a small turkey roast doesn’t deserve the same amount of fan fare that his bigger brother “Tom Turkey” receives on the BIG day!

I like to drizzle my sliced Turkey roast with homemade gravy made from the drippings at the bottom of that slow cooker bag! You can certainly serve it as is after slicing and allow everyone to drench their slices in their preferred amount of gravy! It’s stretchy pants day…anyone can do whatever they want to do with the gravy!

How to make Turkey Roast Gravy

This is a bonus portion to this recipe and, therefore, there are no step-by-step photos.

Place a strainer over a large sauce pan. Carefully gather the slow cooker liner and pour the contents into the strainer to strain out any herbs or fat pieces that may be in the broth. Remove the strainer and it’s contents.

Place the sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, add 1½ cups of water and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Mix until well combined. Gradually, add the cornstarch mixture to the boiling turkey stock. Mix with a wire whisk continually until the mixture thickens and becomes semi-translucent. Don’t you dare walk away from that gravy Sister or Mister! You stand there and stir like your life and reputation depend on it…because it does! No ONE likes lumpy gravy!!! Add more salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat and serve with turkey breast.

You’ve just made gravy! Hooray for you!!!

Slow Cooker Turkey Roast with gravy on serving platter.

Additional Turkey Recipes

This slow cooker boneless turkey breast is the perfect solution for a stress-free, flavorful meal. And do we all want, and need, a “stress-free” Thanksgiving?!! I know I do!

Thanks for stopping by my Nest today! I truly hope you enjoy the ease and convenience of this delicious recipe for your holiday meals this year!

Happy Holidays from our Nest to Yours!

Norine from Norine's Nest leaning on a kitchen counter.

Yield: 6 servings

Easy Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Roast

Name: Easy Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Roast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 to 4 lb boneless turkey roast; 1 packet of gravy mix; 1 large onion, peeled and cut in half; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon paprika; ½ teaspoon thyme; ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning; 1 teaspoon salt; Black pepper; ¼ teaspoon rubbed sage; 1 cup chicken broth; ¼ cup white cooking wine (optional); 2 orange slices; 1 sprig fresh rosemary; 1 sprig fresh sage; 2–3 sprigs fresh thyme

Whether you’re planning a small holiday gathering, a casual weeknight dinner, this slow cooker boneless turkey breast is the perfect solution for a stress-free, flavorful meal.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

3 to 4 lb boneless turkey roast
1 packet of gravy mix
1 large onion, peeled and cut in half
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
Black pepper
¼ teaspoon rubbed sage
1 cup chicken broth
¼ cup white cooking wine (optional)
2 orange slices
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprig fresh sage
2–3 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

Line a 6 quart slow cooker with a slow cooker liner. Place the two halves of the onion on the bottom of the slow cooker liner. This serves as a natural roasting rack.
Remove the turkey roast from plastic wrap. Set the gravy packet aside. Place turkey roast, fat cap side up. Sprinkle the top of the roast with freshly ground black pepper.
Pour the contents of the gravy packet, chicken broth, and white wine onto the bottom of the slow cooker liner.
In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, sage, poultry seasoning and salt. Mix. Sprinkle on top of the turkey roast and gently rub into the top of the turkey roast.
Lay two orange slices on top of the seasoned turkey roast with rosemary, thyme, and sage sprigs.
Gather the edges of the slow cooker liner and fold over 2–3 times to seal the bag shut. Use a metal clip to hold the bag together. Place the lid on top of the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 4 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°.
Carefully open the bag and lay the edges over the side of the slow cooker. Reserve the juices for the gravy. Remove the roast using large tongs or meat forks. Place the roast on a cutting board. Remove the orange slices, herbs, and netting. Slice and serve.

Notes

To make the gravy, strain the juice into a large sauce pan. Remove the strainer and contents. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring it to a low boil. In a large measuring cup, add 1½ cups of water and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Mix until combine. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the boiling turkey juices, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes semi-translucent.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 778Total Fat: 36ggSaturated Fat: 10ggTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 25 ggCholesterol: 372mgmgSodium: 552mgmgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 98 gg

Meet The Author

Photo Credit: Jenelle Lacy Photography

Hi! I'm Norine, the cook, baker, and recipe creator behind Norine's Nest. I love sharing and creating recipes that invite family, friends, and neighbors to gather around the dinner table. Sharing good food and creating memories with those we love brings me happiness. Thanks for stopping by my Nest!