Crock Pot Turkey and Stuffing

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Crock Pot Turkey and Stuffing cooks a whole bone-in turkey breast and a pan of stuffing in the same slow cooker, using the turkey drippings to flavor the stuffing. You get juicy meat and savory stuffing without giving up a single oven rack on Thanksgiving morning. If you want a from-scratch side to go with it, my Semi Homemade Box Stuffing is the one I make when the crock pot is already full.

Pouring gravy over a plate with crock pot turkey and stuffing.

This is the recipe I hand to anyone cooking their first Thanksgiving. There's no basting, no tenting, no turkey that has to come out and rest while everything else waits — the slow cooker does it on low for four to five hours and the stuffing goes in at the end. The drippings you don't use for the stuffing make excellent Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy, so nothing gets wasted.

Quick Look: Crock Pot Turkey and Stuffing

⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Servings: 6
📊 Calories: ~483 kcal per serving
🥣 Ingredients: Bone-in turkey breast, butter, kosher salt, black pepper, poultry seasoning, paprika, onion, carrots, celery, chicken stock, cubed stuffing mix
⭐ Difficulty: Easy — season, cook on low, stir in the stuffing

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Why You'll Love This Recipe

Your Oven Stays Free. The single hardest part of Thanksgiving is oven space. This takes the turkey and the stuffing out of the equation entirely, which leaves room for the Homemade Green Bean Casserole and the rolls.

The Stuffing Cooks In the Drippings. You're not making stuffing on the side — you pull the turkey out, leave a cup and a half of drippings and the softened vegetables in the pot, and the stuffing mix cooks right in it. That's where the flavor comes from.

It's Forgiving. A slow cooker on low doesn't dry out a turkey breast the way an oven can. Pull it at 165°F and it stays juicy while you finish the Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes.

Ingredients Needed

Labeled ingredients for crock pot turkey with stuffing.

Seasonings: A simple blend of salt and black pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning is all you need. Use smoked paprika for a richer flavor.
Turkey Breast: You'll want a turkey breast between 7 and 10 pounds. If it's frozen, be sure to thaw it first.
Veggies: Carrots, celery, and onions are all essential ingredients for a delicious stuffing.
Chicken Broth: You can also use vegetable broth if you prefer, but chicken stock will add more savory flavor.
Box Stuffing Mix: I used Stove Top Stuffing

How To Make Crock Pot Turkey and Stuffing

Steps 1 through 4 for making slow cooker turkey.

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine salt and pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning.
Step 2: Use some paper towels to pat the turkey dry, then rub all over with softened butter and follow with the seasoning blend.
Step 3: To the crock pot, add the diced onions, diced carrots, and diced celery. Pour chicken broth over top
Step 4: Top with the seasoned turkey breast and cover. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.

Steps 5 through 8 for slow cooker turkey and stuffing.

Step 5: When the turkey reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees, remove it from the slow cooker and transfer to a baking sheet.
Step 6: Separate the cooked vegetables from the cooking liquid, reserving a cup and a half of the liquid and placing back in the slow cooker.
Step 7: Add the dry stuffing mixture to the slow cooker along with a cup and a half of turkey drippings from the sheet pan.
Step 8: Cook the stuffing for about 10 minutes on high. In the meantime, broil the turkey for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.

A plate of sliced slow cooker turkey next to a bowl of stuffing.

Recipe Tips

I typically use a bone-in turkey breast for this recipe, but you can use a boneless turkey breast as well. Be aware that boneless turkey will cook faster, so check for doneness sooner.
If you have more drippings than you need for the stuffing, use them for gravy! Strain them and thicken with a flour roux or cornstarch.
Use a digital thermometer or meat thermometer to check the densest part of the turkey for a temperature of 165F.
Store leftover turkey and leftover stuffing in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
For even cooking, arrange the veggies in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.

A close up of perfectly tender slow cooked turkey.

Recipe FAQ's

Is it safe to cook turkey in the slow cooker?

Yes! As long as you cook the turkey to the minimum temperature that's safe (165 degrees F) it's perfectly safe to slow cook your turkey.

Can you cook turkey and stuffing at the same time?

I prefer to wait until the turkey is done to cook the stuffing when it comes to this crockpot method. If you cook them at the same time, the crockpot stuffing will end up a mushy mess and the turkey might not cook properly.

Can I use chicken instead of turkey?

Yes, you can use chicken breast, but the cooking time will change as they are much smaller.

What size turkey breast fits in a slow cooker?

A 7 to 10 pound bone-in turkey breast fits a six-quart or larger crock pot. Measure your slow cooker before you buy — if the lid doesn't sit flat, the turkey won't cook evenly. A smaller breast works, you'll just need to check the temperature earlier and top up the drippings with chicken broth.

Can I use Stove Top stuffing mix?

Yes, that's what this recipe is built around. Any flavor of cubed stuffing mix works — a 12 ounce box. Cubed holds up better than the crumbled kind, which turns to mush once it soaks up the drippings.

Can I make this ahead of time?

The turkey can be seasoned and rubbed with butter the night before and kept covered in the refrigerator, which is what I do. The stuffing has to go in at the end, so don't try to get ahead on that part.