The lovely gravy boat pictured above belonged to my husband’s Grandma Nash. When I went to take pictures for this post, I remembered I don’t actually have a pretty gravy boat myself. So we called Paul’s aunt, who lives just a few streets over from us, and asked if she had one we could borrow. She had three to choose from, but when she mentioned that this one had been her mom’s, I knew there was no other real choice. Grandma Nash was an absolutely wonderful hostess and cook, and I have already shared some of our favorite recipes of hers on the blog, like her creamy apricot pork chops, her famous English toffee, and her flavorful poppy seed dressing. So it was extra special that I got to use her gravy boat for this equally great recipe.
This Turkey Gravy Recipe can’t be beat
Gravy from the grocery store, whether it’s from a powdered mix or the bottled variety, just cannot compete with a batch of homemade gravy. The flavors of homemade turkey gravy made with the pan drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan of a roasted turkey just blow all other gravy recipes away. This recipe is so delicious you won’t believe it’s made with very simple ingredients. Obviously, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without the perfect turkey gravy lavished over some deliciously creamy mashed potatoes. But we also love it over our juicy roast turkey – and any leftover gravy is amazing on leftover turkey sandwiches the next day!
Homemade Gravy Recipe ingredients
Butter or Fat (from turkey drippings) – To make this easy turkey gravy, we need to start with a little fat to create a roux. Once you pour off your drippings, you can measure off ¼ cup of the turkey fat from the top and use that (my personal preference) or just melt ¼ cup of butter instead. Flour – This gravy is thickened with flour for that old-fashioned flavor and texture. All-purpose flour will work best for this recipe. Check out the recipe notes for instructions on how to use cornstarch if you’d prefer to use this instead. Turkey Drippings or Broth Salt & black pepper, to taste – It’s really important to taste the gravy before you add any salt! If you brine your turkey and rub it with a butter rub before roasting it, there is a very good chance you won’t need any salt at all for your gravy!
How to make Turkey Gravy
Heat the drippings or broth. If it isn’t already warm, you can heat the drippings or broth in the microwave or in a separate small saucepan on the stovetop. Adding warm liquid to a butter and flour roux will help get the best texture and avoid lumps. Melt the butter or fat. In a large pan over medium heat on the stove, melt the butter or fat from the top of the drippings. The easiest way to separate the fat from your drippings is with a fat separator, but if you don’t have one, you can just pour all of the drippings from your pan into a tall cup and the fat will fairly quickly rise to the top. Then just use a spoon to skim this layer off. You will only need ¼ cup of butter or fat for a single batch of gravy. Make a roux. Sprinkle the flour over the fat and whisk in to create a roux. Letting the flour cook with the butter or fat for a minute or two improves the flavor of the gravy and also helps avoid lumps. Continue to whisk frequently while the flour cooks until light brown. Add drippings and whisk. Gradually add the warm drippings or broth, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. I add a few splashes of liquid at a time, whisking until it combines with the roux until I have added about half of the liquid. This is the best way to avoid lumpy gravy! Cook until thickened. Once all of the liquid has been added, reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook, whisking frequently, until the gravy reaches the consistency you like.
How to make Turkey Gravy without Drippings
Even though I will always tout the merits of turkey gravy made with drippings from a roast turkey, there are times when you just don’t have any turkey drippings to work with. For instance, when you make a smoked turkey or a deep-fried turkey, you won’t get the same juicy goodness at the bottom of the pan – if you even used a pan! Or also when you accidentally forget that you’re going to use the extra bits to make gravy and toss your disposable roasting pan out, drippings and all, without even thinking about it… (It happens.) Nevertheless, you can still make a delicious homemade gravy using turkey stock, chicken stock, or even just chicken broth in place of the drippings. In this case, I recommend adding a few teaspoons of chopped fresh herbs to the gravy to add some extra flavor. Ensure you taste test and balance out the salt and pepper too, since the stock or broth usually won’t have as much of these as the drippings would.
Turkey Gravy Recipe Tips for Success
If the gravy is too thick, just add a little additional broth or water to thin it out. If it gets too thin, you can thicken it up with a thickening agent. Whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry, then whisk it into your gravy. If your gravy is lumpy, you can pour it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the lumps. To avoid getting lumps, follow the steps of adding warm liquid gradually to the roux while whisking. Adding liquid too quickly can cause lumps.
Homemade Turkey Gravy Substitutions and Variations
You can use butter or fat from turkey drippings for this recipe. If you use butter, use salted butter, or use unsalted and add extra salt to the gravy to taste. All-purpose flour is the best flour to use to thicken this gravy. If you use gluten-free flour or a grain-free alternative, you may need to adjust the amount specified. If you need to use broth for this gravy, you can use turkey broth or chicken broth and achieve a very similar taste to using turkey drippings. If you want a herby gravy, consider adding 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme or rosemary and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley to the gravy along with the drippings or broth. Since I use drippings from my herb-roasted turkey, I usually skip this since the drippings carry a lot of the flavor with them anyway, but it’s a nice addition if you are just relying on broth for your gravy.
Other ways to serve Homemade Turkey Gravy
Turkey gravy can be used on more than just mashed potatoes or sliced turkey! Try adding some to your next turkey sandwich with your leftovers the next day. Or drizzle it over leftover stuffing, which always tends to dry out a bit. Consider adding it to a batch of soup for more body and flavor or pour it over a plate of French fries with cheese curds or melted cheese!
Storing Gravy for Turkey
Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop, bringing it to a boil and stirring it before serving.
Freezing Homemade Gravy
Gravy made with a flour mixture can be frozen in an airtight container or in freezable bags for up to 4 months. Simply thaw your frozen gravy in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it slowly in a saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add a sprinkle of flour or cornstarch mixture to thicken if necessary. Do not refreeze.
Our Best Thanksgiving Sides
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans Easy Corn Casserole Creamy Mashed Potatoes Southern Cornbread Dressing Homemade Cranberry Sauce Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
This post was originally published in September, 2020. The content was updated in September, 2022.
Best Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
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