Absolutely! Cooking a whole turkey in a slow cooker is a fantastic way to achieve a juicy, flavorful bird without the hassle of roasting. It’s a fool-proof method that frees up your oven for other dishes and eliminates the need for constant basting.
Here’s everything you need to know about cooking a whole turkey in a slow cooker:
Benefits of Slow Cooker Turkey:
- Juicy and tender: The slow cooking process ensures that the turkey stays moist and tender throughout.
- Flavorful: The aromatics and seasonings infuse the turkey with incredible flavor.
- Hands-off cooking: Once you assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker, you can simply set it and forget it.
- Frees up oven space: No need to dedicate your oven to the turkey, leaving you free to cook other dishes.
- No basting required: The slow cooker does all the work, eliminating the need for constant basting.
Choosing the Right Turkey:
- Size: A 9-pound turkey typically fits well in a 6-quart slow cooker. If your turkey is larger, consider using a larger slow cooker or dividing the turkey into smaller pieces.
- Thawing: Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before cooking. Allow several days for thawing in the refrigerator.
Preparing the Turkey:
- Remove giblets: Discard the giblets from the turkey cavity.
- Seasoning: Rub the turkey with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Stuffing: Stuff the turkey cavity with your favorite aromatics and vegetables, such as onions, celery, garlic, herbs, apples, and oranges.
Slow Cooker Cooking:
- Lining: Line your slow cooker with a liner for easy cleanup.
- Aromatics: Place the remaining aromatics and vegetables at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cooking: Place the seasoned turkey on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Setting: Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 8-9 hours for an 8-10 pound turkey. Adjust the cooking time based on the size of your turkey.
- Checking temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the breast.
Tips:
- Crispy skin: For crispy skin, broil the turkey for a few minutes at the end of the cooking time.
- Gravy: Use the flavorful juices from the slow cooker to make a delicious gravy.
- Leftovers: Leftover turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
Additional Resources:
- Slow Cooker Whole Turkey Recipe: https://iheartrecipes.com/slow-cooker-whole-turkey-juicy/
- Crockpot Turkey with Garlic Butter: https://www.thereciperebel.com/crockpot-turkey-with-garlic-butter/
FAQs:
- Can I cook a frozen turkey in a slow cooker? No, it’s not recommended to cook a frozen turkey in a slow cooker. The turkey needs to be completely thawed before cooking to ensure even cooking and food safety.
- Can I use a different type of slow cooker? Yes, you can use any type of slow cooker, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Can I add other ingredients to the slow cooker? Yes, you can add other ingredients to the slow cooker, such as potatoes, carrots, or stuffing mix.
- Can I make gravy with the drippings? Yes, you can use the drippings from the slow cooker to make a delicious gravy.
Cooking a whole turkey in a slow cooker is a simple and effective way to achieve a juicy, flavorful bird. With its hands-off approach and minimal cleanup, it’s a perfect option for busy cooks or anyone looking for a stress-free way to prepare a delicious holiday meal. So, grab your slow cooker and give this method a try! You won’t be disappointed.
Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey is THE MOST succulent Turkey, WITHOUT brining OR marinading! Rubbed with a buttery, garlicky herb mixture…and slow cooked until tender and juicy, this Turkey will have EVERYONE talking!
This Thanksgiving, fill your ovens with other essentials and delegate most of the work to your slow cooker—this turkey could not be ANY EASIER, JUCIER, or dare I say it—MOIST!
While I WISH that a slow cooker could magically produce a crispy, golden-browned skin like this one, your broiler will take care of that for the final 10–20 minutes this turkey needs to get all golden-browned. Slow cooking turkey GUARANTEES juicy and succulent meat! All up? 4-5 hours cooking time with your oven freed up for a good chunk of that time!.
A turkey typically requires six hours or longer of slow roasting in your oven, sometimes overnight, in order to be ready for the following day. Am I right?.
Most times you need to brine it for a good 24 hours before even roasting it. Additionally, if you brine it for too long, it will become overly salty, and if you brine it for too little time, you risk washing the natural flavors of the turkey into the water.
Ah the DILEMMA. You need a bucket, a long list of brine ingredients, plus time.
HOW TO MAKE Slow Cooker Turkey
- You will require a small (8–10 pound, or 4–5 kg) turkey. To make sure it fits into the slow cooker bowl, do this. This one was 8 pounds.
- Kindly don’t forget to split your herb butter in half and store the chilled half. The reserved butter will be used later, just before broiling, to give your turkey even more flavor and to brown the skin to a golden brown.
- For our slow-cooked turkey, I love to use thyme and rosemary, but you can also use sage leaves, oregano, parsley, or any other herbs YOU like!