SLOW COOKER WHOLE TURKEY

Free up your oven for pies and your favorite side dishes this holiday! Make your turkey in the slow cooker. The herb butter rub adds incredible flavor as well as helps keep your turkey juicy and tender.

INGREDIENTS

1 whole organic turkey (8-10 pounds or whatever fits your slow cooker)
½ large organic onion (sliced)
2 organic potatoes (cut into 1-inch wedges)
4 large organic carrots (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces)
2 stalks of organic celery (cut into 1-inch pieces)
1 organic lemon (zest rind for seasoning, the cut into lemon 4 quarters)

Herb Butter Rub:
1 stick of organic, grass-fed butter (softened)
½ tsp rosemary 
½ tsp sage
½ tsp thyme
¼ tsp paprika
1 tsp lemon zest
3 garlic cloves (minced)
*Note: You can use fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme for this recipe. Finely chop herbs and use ½ tbsp each of rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Gluten-Free Gravy:
2 tbsp grass-fed butter or coconut oil
2 tbsp cassava flour (I get mine from Thrive Market)
2 cups of turkey juices (if you don’t have enough from the crockpot, add chicken or turkey broth)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Optional: Add a dash of coconut aminos for extra flavor and color.

DIRECTIONS
- Combine softened butter with herbs and seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
- Rinse turkey and remove anything from the cavity. Pat dry.
- Loosen skin on breast and legs using your fingers or a spoon. Place half butter mixture under the skin, between skin and meat. Use the remaining half of seasoning to rub all over outside of turkey skin. 
- Place the 4 quarters of the lemon inside the turkey cavity.
- Spread the cut onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place turkey on top of vegetables in the slow cooker. 
- Sprinkle with pink Himalayan salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook 6-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. At 5 hours (low) or 3 hours (high), start checking the internal temperature until it reads 165F.
- Remove turkey and transfer to a baking dish and let rest for 10-20 minutes.
- Place potatoes and veggies in a separate bowl for serving and cover with foil to keep warm. Reserve juices for gravy. 
- Set oven to broil on high. Drizzle turkey with avocado oil and place in the oven for 5-10 minutes until skin is crispy. This won’t take long, so make sure to take the turkey out when the skin turns golden brown.

Serve with veggies, gravy, and your favorite sides. Enjoy!

For Gravy:
- Strain turkey juices from the crockpot into a bowl or measuring cup. If you have less than 2 cups, add some store-bought organic turkey or chicken broth.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in flour and cook until golden. 
- Add in turkey juices/broth and whisk until well combined. 
- Cook until gravy thickens.
- Add salt, pepper, and coconut aminos to taste.

This is a modified version of our slow cooker chicken recipe.