Crockpot Cranberry Turkey: The Perfect Small-Group Holiday Dinner Without the Stress
A stress-free holiday dinner your small group will rave about! Crockpot Cranberry Turkey is delicious, tender, savory, sweet, and so easy to make.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 4-7 Hours
- Total Time: 7:30
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- Turkey:
- 1 butterball turkey breast (thawed)
- 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 packet onion soup & dip mix
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic salt
Optional - For Gravy:
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
Turkey
- Place the turkey breast in the crockpot with the netting still in place.
- Place the gravy packet to the side.
- Sprinkle with poultry seasoning & Garlic Salt,
- In a bowl, stir together cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, orange juice, and apple cider. Pour over the turkey in the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6-7 hours OR high for 3-4 hours or until the turkey reaches 165°F.
- Let it rest before slicing
For The Turkey Gravy: – Crockpot Cranberry Turkey Gravy
- After the turkey is done, strain through a mesh strainer and pour the juices from the crockpot into a saucepan.
- Add the gravy packet.
- Bring to a gentle simmer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water until smooth.
- Slowly, whisk the slurry into the simmering juices until it thickens into glossy gravy.
- Taste and adjust –
- If you want a sweeter gravy, add a splash more cider for brightness or a pinch of salt if needed.
- If you want a more savory gravy, add stock: Stir in ½ – 1 cups chicken or turkey stock while simmering the juices. This stretches it and balances the sweetness!
- Throw in a sprig of fresh thyme while it’s simmering to bring an herbiness to it.
It turns into this beautiful, sweet-savory cranberry gravy that’s perfect drizzled over the turkey slices.