Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey: The Ultimate Guide to Juicy, Flavorful & Easy Holiday Roasts

Imagine a Thanksgiving or holiday turkey so incredibly succulent and bursting with flavor, that it becomes the talk of your dinner table for years to come. Now, imagine achieving this culinary marvel without the stress of brining or constant oven monitoring. Our Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey recipe delivers exactly that – a tender, juicy bird with a beautifully golden, crispy skin, all made possible with minimal effort. Infused with a luscious buttery, garlicky herb mixture, this turkey is guaranteed to impress even the most discerning palates.

This holiday season, reclaim your oven for other essential dishes like casseroles, pies, and roasted vegetables. Let your slow cooker shoulder the main burden of preparing the turkey, turning a typically daunting task into a remarkably simple and stress-free experience. You won’t believe how effortlessly you can achieve such an incredibly tender, moist, and flavorful turkey, making it an absolute game-changer for your festive feasts.

The Magic of Slow Cooker Turkey: Unmatched Juiciness and Flavor

Slow cooking truly is the secret weapon for guaranteeing an exceptionally juicy and succulent turkey every single time. The gentle, consistent heat of the slow cooker ensures that the turkey cooks evenly, retaining all its natural moisture and infusing it deeply with the aromatic herb butter. While the slow cooker excels at tenderness, it won’t magically give you that coveted crispy, golden-brown skin. That’s where your broiler comes in! A quick 10-20 minute finish under the broiler is all it takes to transform the skin into a perfectly crisp, savory layer, completing your masterpiece.

The total cooking time for this magnificent bird is a manageable 4-5 hours, depending on your slow cooker’s setting (high or low). This leaves your main oven completely free for a significant portion of your holiday meal preparation, making multi-course cooking a breeze. For a harmonious Thanksgiving spread, consider pairing this sensational turkey with our creamy Green Bean Casserole, or for a more substantial and aromatic accompaniment, our hearty Sausage Meat Stuffing is an absolute must-have.

Say Goodbye to Brining: A Simpler, More Flavorful Approach

Traditional turkey recipes often call for a lengthy brining process, sometimes requiring a full 24 hours of soaking before even thinking about roasting. This elaborate step typically involves preparing a large brine mixture, finding a massive bucket, and dedicating precious refrigerator space. And let’s be honest, it comes with its own set of challenges: brine it too long, and your turkey can become unpleasantly salty; use a less concentrated brine, and you risk diluting the turkey’s natural flavors into the water.

The dilemma is real: a bucket, a long list of brine ingredients, and a significant time commitment. But with our slow cooker method, you can completely sidestep this often-stressful step. Our buttery, garlicky herb rub, combined with the gentle slow cooking process, locks in moisture and infuses the turkey with incredible flavor from the inside out. This means you get a perfectly seasoned, juicy bird without any of the brining fuss, saving you both time and effort, and ensuring a consistently delicious result without the guesswork.

Simple Steps to Your Best Slow Cooker Turkey

Preparing this incredibly flavorful and juicy slow cooker turkey is surprisingly straightforward. Here’s how you’ll do it:

1. **Choosing Your Turkey:** You’ll want a smaller turkey, typically an 8-10 pound (approximately 4-5 kg) whole bird. This size is crucial to ensure it fits comfortably within your slow cooker bowl. My turkey for this recipe was an ideal 8 pounds, allowing for even cooking and easy handling.
2. **The Herb Butter Secret:** This recipe relies on a fantastic herb butter mixture. When you prepare it, remember to divide it in half immediately and refrigerate one portion. This reserved butter is key – you’ll use it later, just before broiling, to not only enhance the turkey’s flavor profile but also to help achieve that irresistible golden-brown, crispy skin. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference in the final taste and appearance.
3. **Herb Selection for Optimal Flavor:** I personally adore the classic combination of fresh thyme and rosemary for slow cooking turkey. Their robust, aromatic notes perfectly complement the rich turkey flavor. However, feel free to personalize your herb butter. Sage leaves, oregano, or even fresh parsley can be wonderful additions. Choose the herbs that you and your family enjoy most to make this turkey truly yours.
4. **Prepping the Slow Cooker:** Begin by arranging your aromatic base in the bottom of the slow cooker. I like to use two heads of garlic, cut in half horizontally, placed cut-side down. This provides a gentle bed for the turkey and infuses the drippings with a deep, savory garlic flavor. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary, along with a slice of lemon, for an extra layer of fragrant aroma that will permeate the turkey as it slow cooks.

Achieving That Perfect Crispy, Golden Skin

While the slow cooker excels at making the turkey incredibly tender and juicy, getting that beautiful crispy skin requires a specific technique. Follow these steps to ensure your turkey looks as good as it tastes:

• **The Importance of a Dry Surface:** Before applying any butter, it is absolutely essential to thoroughly pat your turkey dry. Use one or two sheets of paper towel, paying close attention to every surface of the skin. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness, so take your time with this step. While you’re at it, check for and remove any lingering rogue feathers.
• **Generous Herb Butter Application:** Now for the fun part! Take the first half of your herb butter mixture and generously smother and slather it all over the entire turkey. Don’t be shy – get it under the skin where possible (especially over the breast meat) and ensure every inch of the skin is coated. This butter is what will protect the skin during slow cooking and contribute to its crispiness later.
• **Seasoning to Perfection:** After the butter, season the turkey generously with salt and pepper. While I tend to eyeball these measurements, a good starting point is about 1 tablespoon of sea salt and approximately 1/2 tablespoon of freshly cracked black pepper. Proper seasoning is crucial for a flavorful bird.
• **Into the Slow Cooker:** Carefully place your prepared turkey on top of the garlic, herbs, and lemon in your slow cooker bowl. Make sure it fits comfortably.
• **Slow Cooking Settings:** For efficiency, I typically cook this turkey on the HIGH heat setting, which usually takes around 4 hours. However, you absolutely can cook it on LOW for 8 hours if that better suits your schedule or if you prefer an even slower, gentler cook. The key is to ensure the internal temperature of the turkey reaches a safe 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.

The Grand Finale: Broiling for Golden Perfection

This is where your slow-cooked, tender turkey gets its glorious crispy skin, bringing it to a show-stopping finish:

1. **Preheat Your Broiler:** Approximately 15-30 minutes before the end of your turkey’s slow cooking time, begin preheating your oven broiler (or grill, if you’re in Australia). You want it to be nice and hot to ensure quick crisping. At this point, also adjust your oven rack to the lower half of your oven. This prevents the turkey from being too close to the heating element, which can cause burning rather than even browning.
2. **Careful Transfer:** Place a large roasting pan right next to your slow cooker. This step requires a bit of care. Using two long tongs or sturdy carving forks, insert them into both ends of the turkey, ideally into the carcass, and gently lift the entire bird out of the slow cooker and into the roasting pan. The turkey will be incredibly tender but should hold its shape since it’s a whole bird. Take your time to prevent any tearing.
3. **The Second Butter Application:** Remember that reserved herb butter you refrigerated earlier? Now is its moment to shine! Generously spread this melted herb butter all over the breast and legs of your turkey. The turkey will be piping hot, so the butter will melt beautifully as you spread it with the back of a spoon or a knife, infusing even more incredible flavor and promoting an even crispier, golden skin.
4. **Broil to Crisp Perfection:** Place your turkey into the preheated oven under the broiler. Keep a very close eye on it! Broilers can vary greatly in intensity. For my oven, 10 minutes on a medium-high broil setting was perfect. If your oven doesn’t have adjustable broiler heat settings, simply monitor it continuously. You’re looking for a rich, golden-brown color and a visibly crispy skin.
5. **The Golden Touch (Optional but Recommended):** If you notice the skin starting to brown too quickly or char in spots under the broiler, turn the broiler off immediately. Instead, switch your oven to a conventional baking setting at 420°F (220°C) and continue roasting for about 15 minutes, or until the turkey achieves your desired golden hue without burning. This helps ensure even browning.
6. **Rest and Carve:** Once removed from the oven, allow your glorious turkey to rest for at least 5-10 minutes before carving. This resting period is crucial as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is as succulent as possible.

Homemade Gravy: The Perfect Companion to Your Turkey

No holiday turkey is complete without a rich, savory gravy, and the best part is that all the incredible flavors from your slow cooker bowl form the foundation of this homemade gravy. Seriously, your guests will be fighting over the last spoonfuls! This gravy is made using the precious pan juices left behind in the slow cooker, which are packed with turkey essence, garlic, and herb flavors. It’s essentially a classic white sauce (béchamel) technique, but instead of milk, we use that flavorful turkey broth. A splash of Worcestershire sauce adds an extra layer of umami depth, making it truly irresistible. It’s so easy to make, and the taste is far superior to any store-bought alternative.

Looking to explore other delicious turkey recipes? You might enjoy this Crispy Beer Turkey for a unique twist, or this convenient One Pan Juicy Herb Roasted Turkey & Potatoes With Gravy for a complete meal in one go!

Perfect Pairings: Delicious Sides for Your Holiday Feast!

To complete your holiday meal, here are some fantastic side dish ideas that perfectly complement your slow cooker turkey:

• Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes: A classic, crowd-pleasing side with irresistible crisp edges and tender interiors, infused with aromatic garlic.
• Cheesy Garlic Sweet Potatoes: A comforting and savory twist on sweet potatoes, made even more delicious with a cheesy garlic topping.
• Sheet Pan Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Green Beans: A vibrant and easy-to-make vegetable side, roasted to perfection with garlic and Parmesan.

Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey (& Homemade Gravy)

By Karina

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs 20 mins
Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8 people

Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey is THE MOST succulent Turkey, WITHOUT brining OR marinading! This Turkey will have EVERYONE talking!

Ingredients

For the Turkey

• 8-10 pound (approximately 4-5 kg) whole turkey, skin on
• 2 heads garlic, cut in half horizontally
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 slice lemon

For the Herb Butter

• 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch cracked pepper

For the Homemade Gravy

• 2 cups turkey broth (from the slow cooker drippings)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch salt (only if needed, to taste)
• 1 pinch pepper (only if needed, to taste)

Instructions

1. **Prepare the Herb Butter:** In a small bowl, combine the softened salted butter, chopped fresh thyme leaves (or dried thyme), minced garlic, salt, and cracked pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. This aromatic butter will be the key to our turkey’s flavor. Reserve and refrigerate half of this herb butter for later use during the broiling stage.
2. **Set Up the Slow Cooker:** Place the two halved garlic heads, cut-side down, in the bottom of your slow cooker bowl. Scatter the sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary, along with the lemon slice, over the garlic. This creates a flavorful bed for the turkey to rest on during cooking.
3. **Prepare the Turkey for Slow Cooking:** Using paper towels, meticulously pat the entire turkey dry, both inside and out. Ensure the skin is as dry as possible, as this is crucial for achieving crispiness later. Rub the remaining half of the herb butter all over the turkey, making sure to get it under the skin where possible. Season the turkey generously all over with additional salt and pepper. Carefully place the prepared turkey on top of the garlic and herbs in the slow cooker bowl.
4. **Slow Cook:** Cover your slow cooker and cook the turkey on the HIGH heat setting for 4 hours, or on the LOW heat setting for 8 hours. The turkey is fully cooked when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) reads 165°F (74°C).
5. **Pre-Broiler Prep:** Approximately 30 minutes before the end of the slow cooking time, adjust an oven rack to the lower half of your oven. Preheat your oven broiler (or grill in Australia) to a medium-high setting. This will be used to crisp the skin.
6. **Transfer Turkey and Collect Drippings:** Carefully transfer the cooked turkey from the slow cooker to a roasting tray. To do this, insert two long tongs or carving forks into opposite ends of the turkey carcass, lifting it gently and placing it directly into the roasting tray, which should be placed right next to the slow cooker for an easy transition. Remove 2 cups of the delicious liquid/drippings from the slow cooker bowl, strain them to remove any solids, and reserve this flavorful broth for making your gravy. Pour any remaining juices from the slow cooker over your turkey in the roasting tray.

Crisp the Skin

1. **Apply Reserved Butter:** Retrieve the reserved herb butter from the refrigerator. Use a spoon to spread this softened butter over the top of your hot turkey. The warmth of the turkey will cause the butter to melt beautifully, adding an extra layer of flavor and helping the skin to brown and crisp perfectly.
2. **Broil for Crispy Skin:** Place the roasting tray with the buttered turkey under the preheated broiler. Broil for about 10 minutes, or until the skin is beautifully crispy and golden brown all over. Keep a very close eye on it, as broilers can quickly burn food. If you notice any areas browning too rapidly, you can turn the broiler off and switch the oven to a conventional baking setting at 420°F (220°C), continuing to roast for about 15 minutes to achieve an even golden finish without burning.
3. **Rest:** Allow the turkey to rest for 5-10 minutes before carving. This resting period is crucial for the juices to redistribute, ensuring every slice is wonderfully moist and tender.

Homemade Gravy

1. **Make the Roux:** In a small pot or saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour until a smooth paste (roux) forms. Cook this roux for about one minute, whisking occasionally, to remove the raw flour taste.
2. **Build the Gravy:** Gradually pour in about 1/2 cup of the reserved turkey liquid/broth and whisk vigorously until it forms a thick paste. Continue to add the remaining liquid in 1/2 cup increments, whisking continuously after each addition, until the gravy is smooth and lump-free.
3. **Thicken and Season:** Allow the gravy to simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired thickness. Gravy will continue to thicken slightly as it cools. Remove from heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce for added depth of flavor.
4. **Final Seasoning:** Taste the gravy and season with salt and pepper only if needed, as the turkey broth may already be quite flavorful.

Notes

• Tip for Crispy Skin: The most important factors for crispy skin are ensuring the turkey skin is thoroughly dried before applying butter and finishing it under a high heat broiler. Don’t skip the second butter application!
• Turkey Size: Sticking to an 8-10 pound turkey is key for it to fit and cook evenly in most standard slow cookers.
• Internal Temperature: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Calories: 586kcal |
Carbohydrates: 6g |
Protein: 71g |
Fat: 30g |
Saturated Fat: 12g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 9g |
Trans Fat: 1g |
Cholesterol: 263mg |
Sodium: 690mg |
Potassium: 782mg |
Fiber: 0.4g |
Sugar: 1g |
Vitamin A: 572IU |
Vitamin C: 4mg |
Calcium: 60mg |
Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Values may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.