Crock-Pot Turkey Breast
The iconic Thanksgiving turkey. There’s nothing like it. Right? I mean can you compare a Christmas ham to Thanksgiving turkey? Or is it Easter ham? I don’t know. All I know is this is a meal I look forward to for months, and now that Thanksgiving is almost here, I can hardly wait. I’m going to leave the real turkey process to Grace, who is the real professional, and I am going to share with you another turkey option that may be just as delicious, or at least very close!
​I found this recipe a few years ago when I was deciding what to bring to a work Thanksgiving potluck sort of situation. I was in charge of keeping the list and making sure the menu had all of the necessities. Most people were bringing sides or pies, so eventually I decided we had to have some sort of turkey. Obviously, I could not make a whole turkey and somehow have it ready at the end of the school day (I was teaching middle school at the time, in case you missed that).
So, I stumbled upon this gem of a recipe from Nagi at Recipetineats. The only thing I added was a lemon, and this is a clear winner. When I made it the first time, I didn’t crisp the skin because it was cooking in a classroom and in a crockpot while I was teaching Language Arts, and it was so delicious. Everyone loved it. Since then, I have made it two more times and crisped the skin both times, even better!
I love this recipe because it brings all of the perfect flavors of Thanksgiving day turkey, without the constant attention a whole turkey requires and it is much smaller so it can feed a smaller crowd. So, if you are having Thanksgiving with your immediate family and don’t want to attempt the whole turkey, this is a great option. If you are doing a small friendsgiving, again, it’s a great option! ​
For me, I am thankful for recipes like these that can provide the solution to my craving and I can make it while teaching 75 middle schoolers at the same time! Technically.
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If you’re ready for the whole turkey, stay tuned for Grace’s recipe and awesome tips! The options are endless.
Crock-Pot Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb turkey breast
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 onion unpeeled, halved
- 1 lemon halved
- 6 sprigs of thyme
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Mix garlic and onion powder, paprika, salt, and olive oil into paste for rub
- Pat turkey dry and use hands to apply spice rub
- Garlic, onion, thyme, and lemon should be placed on the bottom of the crock pot to create a stand for the turkey
- Slow cook on low for about 6 hours (you can check internal temperature close to this time as it should be 165F)
- Remove promptly and rest for 20 minutes
- Optional- broil turkey on high for about 5 minutes or until skin is crispy
- Serve with your favorite gravy!
Video
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