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Easy Crockpot Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Thighs

crockpot cranberry orange glazed turkey thighs - featured image
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Tender, fall-apart turkey thighs glazed with a sweet-tart cranberry orange sauce, made effortlessly in the slow cooker. This budget-friendly, set-it-and-forget-it recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and delivers comfort food that tastes like a special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 turkey thighs, skin-on, bone-in (about 2.5 to 3 pounds total)
  • 1 can (14 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

  1. Pat the turkey thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Let sit while preparing the glaze.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the canned cranberry sauce, orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. Whisk until well combined.
  3. Place the turkey thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer. Pour the cranberry orange mixture over the top, coating each thigh. Tuck the rosemary sprigs between the thighs.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the turkey is fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
  5. About 30 minutes before serving, carefully remove the turkey thighs to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan, or ladle out the liquid, leaving solids behind.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Bring the cooking liquid to a simmer over medium heat, then whisk in the slurry. Cook, stirring constantly, until the glaze thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  7. Return the turkey thighs to the crockpot and pour the thickened glaze over the top. Toss gently to coat. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with extra glaze spooned over each portion.

Notes

Don’t lift the lid during cooking to maintain heat. Trim excess fat from thighs to avoid greasy sauce. For best results, use full-sugar cranberry sauce. Leftovers taste even better the next day. To freeze, portion shredded turkey and glaze into freezer bags and freeze flat for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot turkey thighs, cranberry orange turkey, slow cooker turkey, easy turkey recipe, budget-friendly dinner, comfort food, gluten-free turkey

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/easy-crockpot-cranberry-orange-glazed-turkey-thighs/