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Home » Sauces & Seasonings » Turkey Gravy Recipe

Published: November 4, 2020 Last Modified: November 4, 2020 By Sara 21 Comments

Turkey Gravy Recipe

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Turkey Gravy Recipe #turkey #gravy #sauce #thanksgiving #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This is the best turkey gravy you’ll ever have – it’s smooth, creamy and full of savory flavors. Homemade gravy is a must have for any holiday meal, and my version is so simple to make. 

When it’s Thanksgiving time, there are a few necessities for the big meal. Everyone must have a flavorful and juicy roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and of course, plenty of gravy to pour over everything.

This is the best turkey gravy you'll ever have - it's smooth, creamy and full of savory flavors. Homemade gravy is a must have for any holiday meal, and my version is so simple to make.  This is the best turkey gravy you'll ever have - it's smooth, creamy and full of savory flavors. Homemade gravy is a must have for any holiday meal, and my version is so simple to make. 

Turkey gravy being poured over sliced turkey breast.

Turkey gravy is often an afterthought when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. People typically reach for a jar or a packet to make gravy, but in reality, it’s so very easy to make gravy from scratch. It’s definitely worth the 15 minute time investment!

How do you make turkey gravy?

A good gravy is made of a roux, turkey drippings and broth. To make a fantastic and easy roux, heat some butter in a pan until completely melted. Whisk some flour slowly into the butter. Cook the roux until it reaches a nice golden color.  Add turkey drippings and some chicken or turkey broth, along with salt and pepper. After everything simmers for a few minutes, it is ready to pour over your turkey.

A fat separator filled with turkey drippings.

Tips for turkey gravy

  • I like to make my turkey gravy as soon as I take my turkey out of the oven while it’s resting.. To separate the flavorful pan drippings from the fat, I use a fat separator. This device looks like like a large measuring cup with a spout coming out from the bottom. Simply place the drippings and fat in the separator and then pour the drippings from the bottom of the cup through the spout while the fat stays in the cup.
  • Make sure to whisk your gravy as it cooks until it is smooth. If you don’t whisk the gravy, you will get lumps in your gravy. If you end up with any lumps in your gravy, simply pour it through a sieve before serving.
  • Gravy should be served warm. If you find that your gravy has cooled, you can microwave it in 20 second increments until it’s warmed through.
  • If you’ve gotten your drippings from a brined turkey, be sure to go easy on the salt for your gravy.

Butter and flour in a skillet.

How to make turkey broth

For this recipe, you can use homemade or store bought broth. That being said, it’s quite easy to make your own turkey broth, and the flavor is much better when it’s homemade. You can use 4 roasted turkey wings or the carcass of a cooked turkey to start your broth.

Place the wings or carcass in a stock pot with 2 sliced carrots, 2 quartered onions, 1 cut up celery stalk, 1 small bunch of flat leaf parsley, 2 peeled and smashed garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 sprig of fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of whole peppercorns. Pour enough water over everything to fill your stock pot. You want to have around 5-6 quarts of water.

Bring the water to a boil for 5 minutes and then simmer the mixture for 1 hour and 45 minutes. After the broth has cooked, skim the surface to remove any fat and pour the mixture slowly through a mesh strainer or a colander. Place a couple of paper towels on the strainer or colander to remove additional fat.

The broth should be a lovely translucent yellow and the turkey, veggies and seasonings should be discarded. Use the broth immediately or store it in a refrigerator for 2-3 days or freeze it to use within 2 months.

A pan of gravy topped with parsley and cracked pepper.

How do you thicken gravy?

There are several ways to thicken gravy if it ends up a little thin. First make sure that it has simmered long enough to thicken. It should take around 3-4 minutes to thicken. If it doesn’t thicken, give it a couple more minutes of heat.

You can further thicken your gravy by adding a little extra flour. If you add more flour, whisk it with a few tablespoons of water until smooth, then pour the mixture into the pan and cook for another 2 minutes.

You can also thicken the gravy with a little cornstarch. In a separate bowl, mix 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Once the cornstarch has dissolved, slowly and carefully whisk the cornstarch and water mixture into the gravy. You will need heat the gravy to a boil for a minute to activate the cornstarch.

Can gravy be reheated?

You can reheat gravy. Just place leftover gravy in a pan over medium heat, then bring it to a simmer. Whisk the gravy to make it smooth. If the gravy ends up too thick, add a little turkey or chicken broth. If the gravy is a little thin, add a bit of flour or cornstarch dissolved in cold water.

A pitcher of turkey gravy garnished with fresh parsley.

Good gravy can rescue a bad turkey dinner and make a good turkey dinner extraordinary. Instead of packaged gravy, make your own silky and delicious gravy with this quick and easy recipe.

More thanksgiving recipes you’ll enjoy

  • Turkey Stuffing
  • Squash Casserole
  • Southern Cornbread Dressing
  • Cranberry Relish
  • Sweet Potato Casserole

Turkey Gravy Video

Turkey gravy being poured over sliced turkey breast.
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5 from 15 votes

Turkey Gravy

This is the best turkey gravy you'll ever have - it's smooth, creamy and full of savory flavors. Homemade gravy is a must have for any holiday meal, and my version is so simple to make. 
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 95kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups turkey drippings fat separated out
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken or turkey broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  • Slowly pour in the drippings and the broth, whisking constantly.
  • Bring the gravy to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until thickened.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour the gravy into a pitcher or gravy boat. Top with parsley, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This post was originally published on September 19, 2019 and was updated on November 4, 2020 with new content.

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Filed Under: Sauces & Seasonings

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    Comments

    1. Miriam says

      December 3, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Your so right that this homemade gravy is really good! It also didn’t take much time to make.

      Reply
    2. Leslie says

      November 22, 2021 at 10:54 am

      Hi
      Is there a way to do this without the drippings ?
      Thanks ..
      Have a wonderful holiday

      Reply
    3. Mm says

      November 25, 2020 at 8:21 am

      Hi! Can I use roast chicken drippings(from your garlic and herb roasted chicken – great recipe!)and use that instead to make this? Would I change anything?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 25, 2020 at 8:27 am

        It would be the same with the chicken drippings!

        Reply
    4. Kevin says

      November 16, 2020 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      I love trying new gravy recipes! This one is on my must make list!

      Reply
    5. Haley Williams says

      November 11, 2020 at 7:07 am

      5 stars
      Wow this is so easy to make! Definitely worth doubling the recipe for leftovers 🙂

      Reply
    6. Toni Dash says

      November 11, 2020 at 6:32 am

      5 stars
      This was a sure hit at my house!! Will add this to our Thanksgiving menu!

      Reply
    7. Catalina says

      November 11, 2020 at 1:40 am

      5 stars
      With this gravy I am sure my turkey will be more delicious than ever! Yum!

      Reply
    8. Erin says

      November 10, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      What a great recipe! I have to put this turkey gravy recipe on my menu!

      Reply
    9. Amanda says

      November 10, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      I encourage everyone to try this out, it came out absolutely perfect!

      Reply
    10. Beth says

      November 10, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious and yummy! I can’t wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this!

      Reply
    11. Julie Blanner says

      September 23, 2019 at 6:50 pm

      Homemade gravy makes every meal better! This looks amazing for turkey and mashed potatoes!

      Reply
    12. Kimberly says

      September 23, 2019 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely NOTHING beats homemade gravy and homemade turkey gravy is especially fabulous!

      Reply
    13. Natalie says

      September 23, 2019 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      Turkey is so much better with gravy! I love how easy & simple this is to make!

      Reply
    14. Pam Dana says

      September 23, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious and SO easy to make! Thanks!

      Reply
    15. Krissy Allori says

      September 23, 2019 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      This is just in time for the holidays and will be sure to please even the pickiest of guests!

      Reply
    16. Stephanie says

      September 23, 2019 at 8:22 am

      5 stars
      I love homemade gravy and this will be perfect for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
    17. Allyson says

      September 23, 2019 at 7:28 am

      This is my favorite gravy ever, thank you!!!!

      Reply
    18. jade manning says

      September 23, 2019 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      This Turkey Gravy looks so good I can’t wait to try this!

      Reply
    19. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      September 22, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!

      Reply
    20. Catalina says

      September 21, 2019 at 7:26 am

      This is perfect for Thanksgiving or any weeknight dinner! I should try it!

      Reply

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