Best Slow Cooker Pulled Turkey Recipes

SLOW-COOKER PULLED TURKEY SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spread the onions in the bottom of a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Rub the turkey thighs with the chili powder, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and place over the onions. Stir together the ketchup, sugar and mustard and pour over the turkey. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The turkey should be very tender with the meat falling off the bones.
• Uncover and stir. Let cool for 10 minutes. Using two forks, shred the turkey meat, discarding the bones. Stir in the vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on hamburger buns with pickles and/or coleslaw if desired.

SLOW-COOKER PULLED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika and pepper until well combined. Put the onions in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with the garlic cloves.
• Slowly work your fingers under the skin of the turkey breast to separate the skin from the breast, being careful not to tear the skin. Rub the butter under the skin, covering the entire breast as evenly as possible, then rub the outside of the skin with the garlic powder mixture.
• Place the turkey breast on top of the onions and garlic in the slow cooker and set the slow cooker to low. Cook until the meat is falling apart, 6 to 8 hours depending on the size of the breast.
• Remove the turkey and any bones from the slow cooker. Pull the meat off of the bone and place the turkey back into the juices left in the slow cooker. Using 2 forks, shred the meat in the juices and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

SLOW-COOKER BARBECUE PULLED TURKEY WITH SLAW

Steps:

• Combine the onion, garlic, barbecue sauce and 1/2 cup water in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker; stir well. Season the turkey breast generously with salt and pepper. Combine the paprika and garlic powder in a small bowl; rub all over the turkey. Place the turkey on top of the onion mixture in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until the turkey is cooked through and tender, 7 to 8 hours.
• In the last 30 minutes of cooking, whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar in a small bowl. Pour over the coleslaw mix in a large bowl and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the lid from the slow cooker and use two forks to pull the turkey into pieces. Increase the slow cooker to high and let sit, uncovered, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; add vinegar and sugar to taste.
• Divide the turkey and coleslaw among plates. Serve with cornbread and pickles.

SLOW-COOKER PULLED TURKEY WITH CHERRY-CHIPOTLE BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk the paprika, chili powder and cumin in a bowl. Season the turkey with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and all but 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey thighs, two at a time, and cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side (reduce the heat if the meat is getting too dark). Transfer to a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Reserve the skillet.
• Whisk the ketchup, cherry jam, 1/3 cup vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, molasses, chipotles and sauce, and soy sauce in a medium bowl. Pour 3/4 cup of the mixture over the turkey; set aside the rest for the barbecue sauce. Cover and cook until the turkey is tender and easy to shred, 7 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.
• Meanwhile, make the barbecue sauce: Add the onion, garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the reserved skillet and cook over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved 1 teaspoon spice mixture and toast, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the remaining ketchup mixture and 1/2 cup water and simmer gently until the sauce is thickened but still pourable, about 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids with a rubber spatula. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Remove the turkey from the slow cooker, leaving the juices behind. Shred the meat, discarding the bones. Return the meat to the slow cooker and toss with the juices; season with salt and pepper. Keep on warm.
• Serve the reserved cherry-chipotle barbecue sauce on the side.