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You are here: Home / Recipes / Chicken and Poultry / Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears

Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears

November 17, 2023 2 Comments

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Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears on a platter

Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears is perfect for a smaller but still impressive Thanksgiving dinner. This easy recipe features a boneless turkey breast coated in homemade herb butter and “roasted” in a slow cooker, then served with a creamy cider herb gravy and sautéed browned butter pears.

Slow cooker boneless turkey breast with fresh herb butter resting on a serving platter, cut into slices and served with brown butter pears and apple cider gravy.

My family isn’t really shrinking – they are just disappearing to other regions – which makes holiday gatherings smaller and smaller as our family has scattered across the globe. This crockpot turkey breast with fresh herb butter recipe is a great way to enjoy all of the Thanksgiving flavors you love, but without making a massive whole turkey.

Why wouldn’t you want a full bird? So many reasons!

  1. It is less expensive to buy just a breast versus a whole turkey.
  2. Using the slow cooker lets you “set it and forget it,” so once the turkey is in the crock you can be hands-off.
  3. Slow cooking the turkey frees up the oven to make other side dishes, rolls, and desserts for dinner.
  4. The breast is just the right size to feed 4-6 people. Therefore, you don’t wind up with a fridge and freezer packed with an overwhelming amount of leftovers.

Besides being convenient, my crockpot boneless turkey breast is absolutely delicious! Before slow cooking the bird is slathered in a thick, rich herb butter made with fresh parsley, thyme, sage, and rosemary. This blend infuses the meat with a bright and festive flavor, and pairs perfectly with the apple cider gravy made with turkey drippings and heavy cream.

Then to really kick up the yumminess I quickly sauté seasonal pears in browned butter. The pears become beautifully sweet and nutty, soft and tender, and simply delightful to serve alongside the savory turkey and gravy. All together you have a gourmet meal that makes any dinner a celebration!

Crock pot boneless turkey breast with fresh herb butter resting on a serving platter, cut into slices and served with brown butter pears and apple cider gravy.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Herb butter – butter, nutmeg, fresh parsley, thyme, sage, and rosemary
  • Turkey – boneless breast with skin-on, onion, pear, carrot, fresh parsley and thyme, salt and pepper
  • Cider herb gravy – turkey stock, apple cider vinegar, turkey drippings, fresh herbs, flour, cream, salt and pepper
  • Brown butter pears – Bosc pears and butter

Tip: Purchase a boneless, skin-on turkey breast.  I have a local grocer that removes the breast from a large turkey and keeps the skin intact.  I like an all natural breast that has not been preseasoned or brined.

How to Make Crockpot Turkey with Brown Butter Pears

First, Make the Herb Butter

Piles of fresh thyme, sage, parsley, and rosemary. A stick of butter and small white bowl of nutmeg.
Pulled herbs on a white plate.
Fresh herbs blended together on a white plate.
Final shot mixed herb butter on a white plate.

 Chop 3 tablespoons of parsley, sage, and thyme and 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary. Combine fresh herbs and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of the mixture to add to the gravy.

 Mix remaining herbs into softened 1/2 cup butter.  Set aside while preparing turkey breast.

Next, Assemble the Crockpot Turkey

Turkey breast with herb butter.
Closed turkey with scored skin.
Carrot, pears, herb crockpot.
Herbed turkey breast crockpot.

Carefully lift the skin from a 3 1/2 – 4 lb turkey breast.  Spread the herb butter over the breast reserving 2 tablespoons for the outside of turkey.

Cover with the skin flap, rub remaining herb butter mixture on top and underneath the breast.  Tie the skin on with twine or string.

To the bottom of a crockpot and 1 peeled carrot, 1 onion cut in half, and 1 pear cut in half, along with a few sprigs of parsley and thyme.

Place turkey breast on top of veggies and pears.  Cover with a lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours (depending on the size of the turkey breast) or until internal temperature reaches 160-165F degrees.  An instant-read thermometer comes in handy for testing the temp. 

Meanwhile, Start the Gravy Prep

Glass cup of stock, glass cup of apple cider vinegar, and an empty stock pot.
drippings in a metal pot, with two empty glass measuring cups on the side.

In a saucepan combine 3 cups turkey stock or turkey bone broth with 1/2 cup fresh apple cider or juice.

Simmer until the mixture has reduced to 2 cups.  

Tip: This can be made in advance and refrigerated for a few days.

Turkey is Done! Time to Make the Gravy

One the turkey has reached 160-165 degrees, remove from crockpot and allow to sit while making the gravy.  Letting the turkey sit before carving allows the juices to settle in the meat and not run out while carving.  

Remove turkey from crockpot and allow to sit.  Pour the liquid and solids that remain through a strainer.  Discard solids.  Carefully remove as much of the fat/butter that you can and reserve. 

Tip: Cooking a turkey in a crockpot does not crisp the skin.  If you like a nice crisp skin, place turkey on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for about 5 minutes.  I use the lowest rack in my oven and watch carefully.

Gravy ingredients surrounding a sauce pot.
Added herbs and cream to gravy stock in a small sauce pot.

In a saucepan, add 1/3-1/2 cup of fat/butter.  Stir in 1/3 -1/2 cup flour depending on how thick you like your gravy.  I like my gravy on the thin side. Stir together and cook for a minute or two to cook the flour taste out of the mixture.

Add reserved broth/cider mixture and whatever liquids you have from the crockpot.  Stir until smooth.  Then add reserved fresh herbs and 1/4 cup cream (optional, but good).

Lastly, Make the Brown Butter Pears

Several pears cut in half on a wood cutting board.
Slices of pears browning in butter in a saute pan.

 Peel, core and cut pears into quarters.

Add 3 tablespoons butter to a saucepan and melt over medium/low heat.  Add the pears and brown on all sides.  While the pears are sauteeing the butter will begin to brown and caramelize the pears.

Tip: The pears can actually be made while the turkey is cooking and set aside.

Serving Suggestions

Crockpot boneless turkey breast with fresh herb butter resting on a serving platter, cut into slices and served with brown butter pears and apple cider gravy.

Slice the slow cooker boneless turkey breast and serve with plenty of herb gravy and brown butter pears.

And oh, the side dishes… Because the oven is free to use you can really go crazy with lots of delicious sides. Try my Southern Yams, Fresh Herb Stuffing, Potato Gratin, Grandma’s Famous Mac and Cheese, and Roasted Asparagus. Don’t forget the Buttery Parker House Rolls or Pumpkin Buns with Herb Butter!

Regardless of other dishes you make, I highly suggest serving boneless turkey breast with plenty of Easy No-Cook Cranberry Apple Relish for the perfect bite. It’s my favorite and I’m sure you will love it, too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cooking turkey in a crockpot safe?

Yes, it is completely safe to cook boneless turkey breast in the crockpot. Like all poultry, turkey needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be considered safe to eat.

Should turkey breast be up or down in crockpot?

The breast should be set skin side up in the crock of the slow cooker.

What is the secret to moist turkey?

Cooking low and slow practically guarantees that the bird will be super moist and tender!

How long is leftover turkey good for in the refrigerator?

Cooked turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To keep the turkey for longer, store in an airtight bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Recipes to Try

  • Vanilla Cider Pork with Pears
  • Oven Roasted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy
  • My Favorite Herb Roasted Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
  • Roasted Chicken Pot Pie
Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears on a platter
4.5 from 14 votes
Print

Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears

This recipe is perfect for a smaller but still impressive Thanksgiving dinner. It features a boneless turkey breast coated in homemade herb butter and "roasted" in a slow cooker, then served with a creamy cider herb gravy and sautéed browned butter pears.

Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, crockpot turkey, roast turkey
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
rest time 10 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 596 kcal
Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

Herb Butter:

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 3 tbsp parsley chopped
  • 3 tbsp thyme chopped
  • 3 tbsp sage chopped
  • 1 tbsp rosemary chopped
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Turkey:

  • 1 4 lb Boneless Turkey breast skin on
  • 1 lrg onion cut in half
  • 1 pear cut in half
  • 1 carrot peeled
  • 2 sprigs parsley
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

Cider Herb Gravy:

  • 2 cups turkey or chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • reserved liquid from crockpot turkey
  • 1/2 cup butter drippings from Turkey
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp reserved fresh herb mixture
  • 1/4 cup cream optional
  • salt and pepper to taste

Brown butter Pears:

  • 2-3 pears Bosc
  • 3 tbsp butter

Instructions

Herb Butter:

  1. Chop fresh herbs and toss together with nutmeg.  Reserve 2 tablespoons fresh herbs for gravy.  

  2. Blend fresh herbs with softened butter.  

Turkey:

  1. Carefully fold the skin of the turkey off of the breast meat.  Spread with herb butter reserving 2 tablespoons.  Lay skin back on top of the butter.  Rub reserved butter over skin and bottom part of the breast. Season top with salt and pepper Tie with baking twine.  Set aside.

  2. In the bottom of the crockpot arrange onion halves, pear halves, carrot, parsley, and thyme.  Place turkey breast on top.  Cover with crockpot lid and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or until internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees F.

  3. Remove from crockpot and place on a baking sheet.  Allow turkey to rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.  

  4. For crisp skin:  Place turkey breast, skin side up, on a baking sheet under a broiler set on the lowest oven rack for 5 minutes.

  5. Serve with herb gravy and brown butter pears.

Cider Herb Gravy:

  1. In a saucepan add turkey stock and apple cider.  Bring to a simmer and reduce liquid to 2 cups.  Set aside until ready to make gravy.  This can be done ahead of time.

  2. When ready to make gravy, drain solids from crockpot through a strainer.  Discard solids and skim off any butter/fat.  Combine juices and reserve stock/cider mixture and bring to a simmer.  In a saucepan add 1/2 cup butter/fat mixture and flour to make a roux.  Add hot stock and whisk constantly until gravy mixture is smooth.  Add 2 tablespoons reserved herb mixture and 1/4 cream (optional).

Brown Butter Pears:

  1. Peel and core pears. Cut into quarters.  

  2. Melt butter in a large skillet.  Add peeled and quartered pears.  Saute until brown on all sides.  Serve with turkey breast.

Recipe Notes

Cooked turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To keep the turkey for longer, store in an airtight bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts
Fresh Herb Crockpot Turkey Breast with Brown Butter Pears
Amount Per Serving
Calories 596 Calories from Fat 387
% Daily Value*
Fat 43g66%
Saturated Fat 26g130%
Cholesterol 182mg61%
Sodium 717mg30%
Potassium 593mg17%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 3410IU68%
Vitamin C 14.8mg18%
Calcium 76mg8%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you try and like this recipe please leave a comment and give the recipe a rating at the bottom of this page.  Enjoy your Holiday season.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

  • Orange Rolls
  • Crescent Dinner Rolls
  • No-Knead Christmas Stollen
  • Healing Instant Pot Bone Broth
  • Thanksgiving Pie Prep

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Filed Under: Chicken and Poultry, Entrées

Previous Post: « Easy No-Cook Cranberry Apple Relish

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:46 pm

    This looks wonderful!
    A few questions:
    What Size crOck pOt?
    What setting For crock pot?

    Thanks for Sharing Your fantastic
    Recipes! XO

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      November 19, 2020 at 1:52 am

      Thank you, Michelle. My crockpot is a 7-quart. It only has 2 settings High and Low. I cooked the Turkey breast on the low setting. I hope this helps.

      Reply

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About Me

Janet Barton

Hi I'm Janet and this is where I share my delicious made-from-scratch seasonal recipes that I make at home for my family every day.

I believe cooking from scratch, using unprocessed and whole foods is an important part of healthy eating. My goal is to help you create amazing recipes by providing easy step-by-step photos and instructions.

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