About the Recipe
When the leaves start turning and there's a chill in the air, this Cranberry Maple Turkey Breast becomes my go-to recipe. It's one of those dishes that fills your home with the most amazing autumn aromas and brings everyone to the table asking, "When's dinner ready?"
The secret to this recipe is the incredible sauce. Cranberry sauce, maple syrup, orange juice, onion soup mix, and warm spices come together to create a sweet-tart glaze that infuses the turkey with so much flavor. And here's my favorite trick: I grab one of those small frozen turkey breasts from Aldi, pop it in the slow cooker with the sauce, and let it do its magic. No fuss, just set it and forget it!
This recipe has become an autumn staple in our home, and I have a feeling it will become one in yours too. The turkey comes out incredibly moist and tender, and the sauce is absolutely irresistible. Serve it as a beautiful main course with your favorite fall sides, or use the leftovers to make the most amazing sliders the next day. Either way, your family is going to love it!
Ingredients
3 pound boneless, skinless frozen turkey breast thawed (I get mine at Aldi)
2 Tbs unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup orange juice
14 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
2 Tbs pure maple syrup
1 tsp ground sage
1 tsp ground mustard powder
1 tsp garlic powder
Pinch of cayenne powder
2 ounce envelope onion soup mix
Turkey gravy packet from frozen turkey breast
Instructions
Step 1
Coat the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2
Place the thawed turkey breast in the crockpot, ensuring the netting remains on the turkey. Spread the softened butter over the top. In a small bowl, combine the ground sage, mustard powder, garlic powder, cayenne powder, and onion soup mix. Sprinkle this mixture over the buttered turkey breast.
Step 3
In a separate small bowl, combine the orange juice, cranberries, and maple syrup. Pour the mixture around the turkey breast.
Step 4
Cook on low for 5 hours. About halfway through, mix any leftover seasonings on top of the turkey into the sauce around it. Once the cooking time is over, switch the slow cooker to warm.
Step 5
Take the turkey out of the slow cooker and take off the netting. Slice the turkey and keep the slices warm.
Step 6
To make the gravy: Strain the juices through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan on medium-high heat (discard what remains in the sieve). Add the turkey gravy packet from the frozen turkey. Stir and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Step 7
Arrange the turkey slices on a serving tray and pour gravy over them before serving.
Notes
Serving suggestion - Pair with roasted potatoes, your preferred vegetable, and homemade biscuits or dinner rolls. The gravy is delicious on everything!
Small Thanksgiving option - If you're hosting a Thanksgiving meal for a small group, this provides a simple alternative to preparing and serving a large whole turkey! Just set it and forget it!
