Suppose you're in the mood for Thanksgiving dinner and the idea of cooking a whole turkey seems daunting and unnecessary, or you lack the oven space, OR you're craving the taste of Thanksgiving turkey out of season. In that case, this easy crockpot recipe will hit the spot.
This turkey dinner with Thanksgiving stuffing and gravy is a family favorite to score those same comfort food flavors in one pot.
How To Make Turkey and Stuffing In Your Slow Cooker
- Line the crockpot if you wish with a liner for easy clean up
- Place turkey breast in the bowl, pour the broth in.
- Make this great stuffing and tuck it in around the boneless turkey breast.
- Place the lid on and cook for 6 hours
- Prepare the homemade gravy and prep any of your favorite recipes for side dishes
Making The Stuffing For The Crockpot
Assemble the ingredients, toss well and tuck in around the turkey. It will absorb those delicious turkey flavors as it cooks.
FAQ Questions:
What will I need to complete this recipe?
Make a list of these easy-to-find ingredients before heading to the grocery store.
You will need the following ingredients:
- turkey broth- If you have trouble finding this, you could also use chicken or vegetable broth. Use low sodium if you’re watching your sodium intake.
- turkey breast- You could substitute this for 2 ½ pounds of chicken breast, turkey tenderloin or legs. I used bone-in turkey breast but boneless works just as well!
- poultry seasoning
- salt
- pepper
- French bread- Any bread you like is fine. Sourdough would be delicious.
- celery
- sweet onion - You can also use a yellow, white, or red onion.
- dried cranberries- Raisins or dried cherries would be tasty too.
- salted butter- If you’re looking for a lower sodium option, you can use unsalted.
- Italian seasoning
- ground sage
- fresh thyme
- roasted garlic- You can substitute this with 1 teaspoon garlic powder for a roasted garlic taste without having to roast garlic.
- all purpose flour
- Worcestershire sauce
- parsley (optional)
You will need the following supplies:
- 8-quart Crockpot
- measuring cups and spoons
- stirring spoon
Storage Instructions:
Refrigerator- Place your leftover crockpot turkey breast with stuffing and gravy in a large glass dish with lid, or individual servings in an airtight container for easy reheating. Your leftovers will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer- If you won’t be able to eat your leftovers within a couple days, you can freeze them. Wrap your leftover turkey in plastic wrap and then foil and place into a resealable bag. You can put the leftover stuffing straight into a resealable bag by itself. Press out as much air as possible and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you have a lot of gravy leftover and want to store it, you can place it directly into a resealable bag (double check to make sure it really is sealed) and lay flat in the freezer. I also like to freeze gravy in ice cube trays overnight.
In the morning, pop them out of the trays and transfer to a resealable bag. You can pull out a couple cubes at a time for individual servings or reheated leftovers or they’re also a great way to add extra flavor to soups and stews.
Reheating Instructions:
You can pull out individual servings of leftovers from the refrigerator and arrange them evenly onto a microwave safe plate and cook on high power for 1 ½ to 2 minutes. To keep your leftovers moist, cover with a damp paper towel before placing in the microwave. If you would rather use your oven, preheat your oven to 350°F. Warm your leftovers for 15-20 minutes or until heated throughout.
Should I eat this dish warm or cold?
This is a dish best served warm and right out of the oven.
What does Crockpot turkey breast with stuffing taste like?
Crockpot turkey breast is warm, savory, and juicy brought together with a hearty and flavorful stuffing. The cranberries in the stuffing add a sweetness to balance out the savory and rich flavors of this dish and the gravy keeps everything ultra moist and rounds out these classic Thanksgiving flavors.
Do I need to add more liquid to hydrate the breadcrumbs?
No, crockpots keep moisture in, which hydrates the breadcrumbs without losing any of the flavors. If you add extra liquid, you risk the stuffing getting soggy. If it looks like your slow cooker is cooking a little warm or the texture is drier than you like you can add a little extra broth or water as you go.
Should I brine my turkey?
You can, but don’t have to. A salt brine for at least 12 hours does help add flavor and hold in moisture though.
Use this easy turkey brine recipe if you wish to brine your turkey. Combine 1 cup of kosher salt with 1 gallon of room-temperature water in a large container and stir.
Add your turkey and place the entire container in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. When you’re ready to use your turkey, remove it from the brine and pat dry with paper towels before seasoning.
Also, check out our favorite brine recipes trusted by thousands of people every year!
Cajun Turkey Brine Recipe (For Ultra Juicy Cajun Turkey)
What can I do if I'm short on time?
If you’re short on time you can use 24 ounces of packaged stuffing instead of making the stuffing from scratch. This will cut down on any preparation especially if you don’t have already stale bread to use for the stuffing. You can also use a jar of gravy or a package mix for turkey gravy.
Just follow the instructions on the package of stuffing and gravy.
Can I make this ahead of time and freeze it?
Yes. You could make the entire recipe and freeze it for up to 3 months. Follow the instructions above for how to freeze and reheat.
Can I use a crockpot liner?
A crock pot liner is such a time saver when it comes to cleanup. All you have to do is line your crockpot before adding any ingredients. When you’re finished cooking and ready to wash up, simply remove the liner from the crockpot and cleanup is a breeze. You’ll avoid any scrubbing or soaking.
Can I use frozen ingredients?
Using fresh or defrosted turkey is best for this recipe. Thaw the turkey well before adding it to the crockpot. This will ensure that everything cooks evenly and has the right texture.
How do I make my bread stale for the stuffing?
Have a fresh loaf of bread and want to quickly make it "stale" for your stuffing?
Preheat your oven to 250°F. Cut your bread into cubes and arrange in an even layer on a baking sheet (use two sheets if necessary. Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes or until the bread is completely dried out.
What Favorite Sides Pair Well With Turkey and Stuffing?
- Cranberry Sauce
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Brussel Sprouts
- Pumpkin Pie
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
- Cooked Vegetables
- Classic Green Bean Casserole
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Crockpot Turkey and Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
For the Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing:
- ⅔ cup turkey broth or chicken broth or chicken stock
- 2 -3 pound turkey breast
- 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 loaf French bread cubed (1/2-inch cubes) and dried
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 sweet onion diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme minced
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish optional
- Slow cooker liner optional for easier clean up
For the Gravy:
- ½ cup 1 stick salted butter
- ½ Tablespoon roasted garlic minced
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups turkey broth
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme finely minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
For the Turkey and Stuffing:
- Add your broth. Pour your turkey broth into an 8-quart crockpot and set aside.
- Seasoning the turkey. Season both sides of your turkey breast with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning and nestle the turkey into the broth.
- Make the stuffing. In a large bowl, mix the cubed French loaf, celery, onion, cranberries, butter, Italian seasoning, sage, and thyme and toss well to coat the bread cubes.
- Cook. Add the stuffing mix around the edges and over the turkey breast, cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check that the thickest part of the turkey breast reads 165°F before removing it to a serving platter.
For the gravy:
- Melt your butter. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and garlic cooking until fragrant and the butter is fully melted.
- Make a roux. Add the flour into the butter slowly whisking for 1 minute, until no lumps remain.
- Flavor your gravy. Whisking continuously, add the turkey broth, poultry seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Serve immediately.
frank says
Easy. used slow cooker for weeknight dinner. turkey breast was tender.
Jony says
Made this for book club and it was so easy. Very good.