Turkey Leg Confit Slow Cooker

WW Recipe of the Day: Easy Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Leg Confit/Carnitas
(182 calories | 3 3 3 myWW *SmartPoints value per serving)

It's chilly with occasional snow flurries in Mollans-sur-Ouveze, the tiny village in Provence we've called home for years. The old house has been filling up with smells of fires, garlic, and winter taste treats.

Bare Winter Tree in Countryside outside Bonnieux; Provence, France

Countryside in Provence, France

The other day I was looking through old French cooking magazines looking for inspirations and came across the famous duck confit. It's easy to make, IF you live in an area where ducks are plentiful and duck parts are easy to come by. It can be more difficult in the States, so I was so pleased to run across this rendition with turkey.

Usually with duck, a whole bird is used and after a meal, I scratch my head, wondering what to do with leftovers.

This version uses just two commonly found ingredients, turkey legs/drumsticks, some spices and water, rather than the traditional fat which cooks the duck. The result is great easy, healthy, low calorie, low carb, paleo, whole30 friendly dish for two people!

Turkey Leg Confit/Carnitas with shredded green salad

Turkey Leg Confit/Carnitas

Leftovers can be reheated in the flavorful broth that's left along with a handful of spinach thrown into the pot.

Or, take the leftovers and place them in a dry skillet and warm them up with that handful of spinach. Add two beaten eggs and in minutes a delicious frittata will be on your table.

For those of you living in the southwest, is this really any different than carnitas? That said, the turkey rolled in a warm tortilla and topped with your favorite salsa and a slice of avocado makes a pretty swell lunch too!

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Slow Cooker Turkey Confit?

According to my calculations, each 4 ounce (about ¾ cup) serving of the meat without skin, has 182 calories and:

3 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
3 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
3 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Curious about Weight Watchers new myWW Green, Blue and Purple plans? Watch this short video to learn more:

Slow Cooker Turkey Leg Confit Serving Suggestions

Serve with bread, baked potato fries, a crisp winter salad or tortillas and salsa. You decide!

It's also easy enough to slice some fresh cucumbers and marinate them in a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a dash of stevia.

Closeup of turkey confit salad with mixed greens on wooden table

Turkey Confit/Carnitas Salad

Ways to Use Turkey Confit Leftovers

Leftovers can be reheated in the flavorful broth that's left along with a handful of spinach thrown into the pot.

Or, take the leftovers and place them in a dry skillet and warm them up with that handful of spinach. Add two beaten eggs and in minutes a delicious frittata will be on your table.

Winter Slow Cooker Turkey Confit Recipe Notes

Use the whole unskinned turkey legs when making this. If you're concerned about the skin, it will automatically fall off as the bones cook and can be discarded when you shred it.

Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?

If you've made this Slow Cooker Turkey Leg Confit, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Slow Cooker Turkey Leg Confit or Carnitas Recipe

It's curious that both white and red wines go so well with this dish. Both a bold California white or equally assertive French Cotes-du-Rhone work equally fine. Both are delicious!

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 7 hrs

Total Time 7 hrs 5 mins

Servings (adjustable): 2

Calories: 182

▢ 2 turkey legs/drumsticks
▢ 2 teaspoons Herbs de Provence (if making southwestern style, then use chili powder)
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ 8 cloves peeled garlic

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
Place all ingredients in a slow cooker along with enough water to partially cover (about 5 to 6 cups depending on the size of your slow cooker). Cover and cook for up to 7 hours on LOW, or until meat literally falls off the bones easily separating the meat from the tendons and cartilage.
Shred the meat when cool enough to handle. Save the liquid!
When ready to serve, heat ½ cup of the leftover liquid in a medium sized saucepan. Add the shredded turkey meat and reheat until the liquid has evaporated and the meat is hot and slightly crisp.

Use the whole unskinned turkey legs when making this. If you're concerned about the skin, it will automatically fall of as the bones cook and can be discarded when you shred it.

Serving size: 4 ounces without skin (about ¾ cup)

3 *SmartPoints (Green plan)

3 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)

3 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)

5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Turkey Leg Confit or Carnitas Recipe

Amount Per Serving (4 ounces)

Calories 182 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g 8%

Carbohydrates 0g 0%

Fiber 0g 0%

Protein 32g 64%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French

Keyword: turkey leg carnitas, turkey leg confit

*PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

If you like this Slow Cooker Turkey Confit, You Might Also Like

Slow Cooked Turkey Breast with Garlic (Simple-Nourished-Living)
Five Spice Roasted Chicken Legs (SkinnyTaste
WW Crock Pot Turkey Breast (Simple-Nourished-Living)
Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Breast (SlenderKitchen)

Hallie Harron Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Hallie is a chef-teacher who eventually found her way to Provence, France, where she gave food and wine tours of the region.

In addition to writing more than a dozen cookbooks, she has also been teaching both professional and recreational cooking classes since 1978.

Hallie looks forward to sharing some of her favorite easy, healthy recipes with you here on Simple Nourished Living.

More articles and recipes by Hallie Harron

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