Slow Cooker Thai Turkey Noodle Bowls - A simple slow cooker meal with a flurry of fresh ingredients. | foxeslovelemons.com

So, I have something to confess when it comes to slow cooker recipes.

Even though most people seem to prefer (they even beg me for!) slow cooker recipes where you just dump all the ingredients into the pot, set the timer for eight hours, and then dig in – those are not my favorite.

Yes, they are simple and quick to prepare and don’t require many dishes. It works well for crockpot soups, and if you like that method, you’ll like my Slow Cooker Lentil & Sausage Soup.

But I find that many slow cooker recipes end up tasting, for a lack of a better description, “one note.”

Everything that comes out of the pot just tastes the same, bite after bite. Especially with poultry and meat dishes.

So lately, I’ve been relying on the slow cooker for an easy way to cook tender meat, and then throwing a flurry of fresh ingredients at the situation after it finishes cooking, for a much livelier and more inviting meal.

Slow Cooker Thai Turkey Noodle Bowls - A simple slow cooker meal with a flurry of fresh ingredients. | foxeslovelemons.com

These Slow Cooker Thai Turkey Noodle Bowls are a perfect example of MY idea of a great slow cooker recipe.

I started by putting a package of JENNIE-O® All Natural Turkey Breast Tenderloin in the slow cooker, along with with some coconut milk, peanut butter and soy sauce.

After a low and slow eight hours, the turkey should be practically falling apart and ready to be shredded with a fork.

Toss the shredded turkey with some rice noodles, cabbage (I had some left over from cabbage potato soup and corned beef egg rolls), carrot and cucumber, and then jazz things up.

Cilantro, mint, green onions, peanuts, serrano peppers, lime juice and hot sauce are all great options here.

You can even prep these garnishes a day in advance so that the moment the slow cooker beeps that it’s done, you’re ready to eat.

Add as many or few garnishes as you wish, and then dig in!

Slow Cooker Thai Turkey Noodle Bowls - A simple slow cooker meal with a flurry of fresh ingredients. | foxeslovelemons.com

Slow Cooker Thai Turkey Noodle Bowls

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 package (24 ounces) JENNIE-O® All Natural Turkey Breast Tenderloin
  • 1 package (14 ounces) stir-fry rice noodles
  • 2 medium carrots, shredded or or cut into ribbons using a peeler
  • 1/2 English cucumber, shredded
  • 1/2 small red cabbage, shredded
  • Chopped cilantro, chopped mint, chopped peanuts, sliced green onions, sliced serrano peppers, hot sauce and/or limes, for serving

Instructions

  1. In slow cooker, stir together coconut milk, peanut butter and soy sauce. Add turkey and stir until well combined. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or on low 8 hours.
  2. Remove turkey from slow cooker with slotted spoon; transfer to cutting board and coarsely shred. Transfer shredded turkey to large bowl and cover to keep warm. Turn slow cooker off. Leave liquid in slow cooker with lid off. Liquid will thicken as it sits while you prepare the noodles.
  3. Prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain and add noodles to bowl with turkey. Add carrots, cucumber, cabbage and some of the liquid from the slow cooker; toss until well combined. Add more liquid from slow cooker to reach desired level of "sauciness."
  4. Divide noodle mixture between 6 bowls and serve with cilantro, mint, peanuts, onions, peppers, hot sauce and/or limes.

Notes

Home Chef Tip: Canned coconut milk settles as it sits on store shelves, with the fat rising to the top and the coconut water settling to the bottom. Even shaking the can isn't usually enough. So, when using canned coconut milk, it's a good idea to dump the entire contents of the can into a medium bowl and whisk them before proceeding with the recipe.

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Disclosure: As a member of the Jennie-O Switch Circle, this was a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jennie-O. Sponsored posts help me pay for the costs associated with this blog (groceries…lots of groceries), and help support me as I pursue a career in recipe development and food photography. All opinions are 100% my own.