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Sliced Slow Cooker Spiced Turkey Breast and Couscous garnished with cilantro on a wooden board

Slow Cooker Spiced Turkey Breast and Couscous

This Slow Cooker Spiced Turkey Breast and Couscous is a time-saving, delicious meal that combines tender turkey with flavorful couscous and vegetables, making it perfect for busy nights.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole bone-in turkey breast (about 5 pounds)
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups butternut squash chunks (1 inch)
  • 1/3 cup dried apricots (about 2 ounces), coarsely chopped
  • 3 medium carrots (about 8 ounces), halved lengthwise, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3 large strips orange peel (removed with a vegetable peeler) plus 6 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 1 medium onion, thickly sliced
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups couscous
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

Method
 

  1. Remove the skin from the turkey and trim away any excess fat.
  2. Use a chef’s knife to cut out the backbone so the turkey fits into your slow cooker.
  3. Mix coriander, cumin, paprika, ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  4. Rub the spice mixture all over the turkey breast meat.
  5. Layer squash, apricots, carrots, orange peel, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and onion at the bottom of the slow cooker.
  6. Add chicken broth and 1/4 cup orange juice. Stir in 1 1/4 teaspoons salt.
  7. Set the turkey breast-side up on top of the veggies; drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  8. Cover and cook on low until the internal temperature reads 165°F, about 5 hours.
  9. Remove turkey to a cutting board. Rest for 10 minutes.
  10. Turn slow cooker to high. Once simmering, stir in couscous. Turn off slow cooker, cover, and let sit for 7 minutes.
  11. Fluff couscous with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaves.
  12. Slice turkey against the grain and arrange on a platter.
  13. Mix remaining orange juice, olive oil, and salt. Drizzle over turkey.