Home » Blog » Course » Crockpot Thanksgiving TurkeyCrockpot Thanksgiving Turkey Pin RecipeRate RecipePublished: Sep 16, 2022 by Andrea + Stef · This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for details. Flavorful, tender and moist Thanksgiving turkey made in the slow cooker. A crockpot turkey is an easy way to free up space in your oven for your other side dishes. Jump to Recipe Learn how to cook a crispy crockpot turkey that comes out tender, moist and full of flavor. It is one of the easiest ways to prepare a turkey dinner, especially for a smaller crowd. Table of Contents How To Defrost A Turkey Why You’ll Love This Ingredients Recommended ToolsInstructionsConvection Oven Turkey Recipe Tips Andrea says….How To StoreHow To ReheatCommon QuestionsCrockpot Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe It cooks completely hands off in the slow cooker for 7-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. After the initial cook time, it only takes 10 minutes under the broiler to crisp up the top of the turkey and this delicious recipe is ready to serve. While the turkey slow cooks, there is no more need to stress out over oven space. You can easily get all your sides done without having to worry about oven space. This is the best crockpot Thanksgiving turkey recipe and it will undoubtedly be a hit at this year’s holiday dinner. How To Defrost A Turkey There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey. How to defrost a turkey in the refrigerator. Keep the turkey in its original packaging. Place the turkey breast side up in a container or pan to catch any drips. It will take a full 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. A 20 pound turkey will take 4 days to thaw. Once it is defrosted you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 more days. (This method is generally regarded as the best way to defrost a frozen turkey.) How to defrost a turkey in cold water. Keep the bird in its original packaging. Place turkey in a larger plastic bag that is leak proof. Try to get all the air out of the bag and seal. Place the bag breast side down in a sink or container large enough for the entire turkey to be completely under water. Fill your container with cold water. Change the cold water every 30 minutes. It will take about 30 minutes for every pound of turkey. A 20 pound turkey will take 10 hours this way. You might need to place something heavy on the turkey to keep it under water. Cook immediately after thawing. How to defrost a turkey in the microwave. Firstly, remove the plastic packaging from the turkey. Additionally, remove any metal tags or clips. Place the turkey breast side up in a microwave safe container to catch drips. Every microwave is different so read the manual for your microwave. It should take an hour to an hour and a half to defrost in a microwave but it depends on the microwave. Clean your microwave well when it is thawed. Cook immediately after thawing. Why You’ll Love This Notable: juicy and flavorful turkey with crispy skinMain Ingredients: whole turkey, butter, paprika, salt and pepperCooking Method: CrockpotNutrients: excellent source of protein, 70g per servingCooking Time: 5 minutes prep time, cooking time: 7-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on highPairs well with: all of your favorite side dishes: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, corn, green bean casseroleDiets: keto friendly, gluten freeSpecial Equipment Needed: slow cooker, high heat thermometer, instant read thermometer sheet pan Ingredients You may have all of these crockpot Thanksgiving turkey ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe. Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: butterMeat Ingredients: whole turkeySpices: paprika, salt and pepper WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: Another great addition to a Thanksgiving celebration is a festive drink. Have you tried our scrumptious Thanksgiving Sangria yet? It is a bold blend of red wine, sparkling cider, rum and cranberries with a hint of spice! Recommended Tools Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale. Crockpot — This recipe requires a slow cooker. We use a 6 qt. basic Crockpot brand slow cooker. It works wonderfully. If you’re planning to take your Crockpot to potlucks you’ll want to check out this one that has a locking lid. A slow cooker has an inner pot called the crock. Neither the crock nor the lid are oven safe on most machines. Do not put them in the oven. Instructions This section shows how to cook thanksgiving turkey in the slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print this slow cooker recipe with or without photos. PREPARE: Firstly, rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Next, place the bird into the bottom of the slow cooker with the breast side up. Then tie its legs together with kitchen twine. You might need to tuck its wings under to get the lid on, depending on the size of the turkey. SEASON AND COOK: Combine melted butter, salt, pepper and paprika in a small bowl. Then, drizzle butter mixture onto turkey and rub all over to coat. Place the lid on the slow cooker tightly. In case it does not fit on tightly, cover with foil to prevent steam from leaking out. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Afterwards, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey in the center of the turkey breast. The temperature should be at least 165° in the breast and 170° in the thighs. BROIL AND REST: Turn the oven to broil. Remove the turkey from the crock and place on a baking sheet or roasting pan. It is awkward to lift the turkey out of the crock while it is hot. You may need 2 sets of tongs or a second person to help. Broil for 10 minutes until the skin is deep golden brown. Finally, allow the turkey to rest for 5-10 minutes before carving. Serve. WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: In case you are looking for a delicious and nutritious side dish for the holidays then you’ll love our Fall Fruit Salad. This colorful fruit salad is full of apples and citrus flavors. A homemade dressing adds sweetness and warm fall spices. Convection Oven Turkey Another great way to cook a turkey is in the convection oven. It cooks the turkey faster than a conventional oven and sears the outside of the bird for extra crispy skin. Therefore, there is no need to keep basting the turkey while cooking. For detailed instructions take a look at our Convection Oven Turkey post. Recipe Tips Follow these tips to make the best crockpot Thanksgiving turkey. Tip: Make sure your turkey is completely defrosted. This ensures even cooking. We added tips on how to safely defrost a turkey above.Tip: Truss the turkey. Tying the drum sticks together with some kitchen twine ensures even cooking and a well shaped cooked turkey. Additionally, it makes it easier to fit the turkey into the slow cooker. Tip: Make sure the skin of the turkey doesn’t burn. Closely watch the turkey under the broiler. You want the skin to turn crisp but not to burn.Tip: Don’t skip the resting time. A 5-10 minute rest will seal in the juices and make the turkey extra juicy. In case you want to make a whole Thanksgiving meal, serve this scrumptious turkey with Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes, Cornbread Muffins, and Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes. Convection Oven Turkey Dry Brine Turkey Recipe Turkey Injection Recipe Convection Oven Roast Chicken Andrea says…. When I put this turkey on the table for my family my kids just kept raving about how it was the best turkey they’ve ever eaten. Cooking it in the crockpot makes it so moist and juicy. It’s not the prettiest turkey but it is the tastiest! How To Store Refrigerate: To begin with, it is important to make sure your turkey is completely cold. Then transfer any leftover turkey meat to an airtight container or ziploc bag and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Turkey leftovers are great to eat on their own or cook them into another recipe. Freeze: Leftover crockpot thanksgiving turkey meat can be frozen in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrosting: Thaw cooked turkey in the refrigerator overnight. How To Reheat Reheat turkey leftovers in the microwave, air fryer, oven or stovetop. Common Questions Does a turkey easily overcook in the crockpot? Actually, the exact opposite! Because the turkey is cooked at such a low temperature, it doesn’t matter if you leave it in there for a bit longer. The meat will still come out tender and juicy. How can I use up leftover turkey meat? You can use turkey meat to make delicious turkey sandwiches, for example. Top meat with leftover potatoes, cranberry sauce and veggies. Add some mustard or mayonnaise and enjoy! Furthermore, you can also turn turkey leftovers into turkey chili, enchiladas, turkey noodle soup or top your favorite pizza with it. Is it possible to make a turkey gravy with crockpot turkey? Yes, of course. In fact, you can make the best gravy using the juices left in the the crockpot. Firstly, you make a roux, then add 1 cup of the slow cooker juices and whisk until smooth. Add more cooking liquid until you reach your desired gravy consistency. You are basically making a white sauce using crock pot drippings instead of milk. Finally finish your gravy by adjusting spices, add salt and black pepper, and maybe add a little heavy cream. Using the turkey’s own juices will beat a gravy packet recipe any day! 5 from 3 votes Crockpot Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Author Andrea + Stef Course Main Dish Cuisine American, keto Prep Time 5 minutes minutes Cook Time 7 hours hours Total Time 7 hours hours 5 minutes minutes Print Pin Rate 8 servings Flavorful, tender and moist Thanksgiving turkey made in the slow cooker. A crockpot turkey is an easy way to free up space in your oven for your other side dishes. Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark Equipmentslow cookersmall bowlmeat thermometersheet pankitchen tongs Ingredients 1x2x3x▢ 1 whole turkey 8-10 pounds▢ 4 tablespoon butter melted▢ ½ teaspoon salt▢ 1 teaspoon pepper▢ 1 teaspoon paprika InstructionsRinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.Place turkey in crockpot with the breast side up. Tie its legs together with some kitchen twine. You might need to tuck the turkey wings down under the bird to get the lid on.Combine melted butter, salt, pepper and paprika in a small bowl.Drizzle butter mixture onto turkey. Rub all over the bird to coat. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Make sure it is on tightly. If it does not fit on tightly, cover with foil to prevent steam from leaking out.Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Check the temperature of the turkey in the center of the turkey breast. The temperature should be at least 165° in the breast and 170° in the legs.Turn oven to broil. Remove the turkey from the crock and place on a baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes until skin begins to crisp. Allow the turkey to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Notes Do not put the crockpot insert into the oven. To transfer the cooked turkey to the baking sheet to broil, place the baking sheet right next to the crockpot. The turkey will be hot. Use 2 sets of tongs or get someone to help you so you don’t drop the turkey. The turkey will cook a few more degrees while it’s broiling. Allow turkey to rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. NutritionCalories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 70g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 247mg | Sodium: 551mg | Potassium: 728mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 376IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 3mg Did you create this? Share it on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more cleverly simply recipes. 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