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Turkey Gravy Recipe with Pan Drippings

Transform those deliciously browned turkey drippings into a delicious turkey gravy in just minutes! Nothing beats a good old fashioned turkey gravy recipe. Homemade gravy is liquid gold and there’s no substitute, IMO! 🙌

Need a turkey recipe to go with this amazing gravy? Try my Roasted Turkey Breast recipe, or this succulent Roast Turkey recipe!

THE BEST TURKEY GRAVY RECIPE

This Turkey Gravy recipe uses a super simple and very quick method to make the tastiest and most perfect gravy. Because, when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, the gravy is the glue to all the food. AMIRIGHT? I-AM!  🙃

Excellent gravy is the crowning glory, if you ask me, thus, learning how to make turkey gravy is an essential part of preparing that delicious Holiday meal. My secret to a rich and silky smooth turkey gravy is using the pan drippings from my cooked turkey. 

Making turkey gravy in a saucepan.

HOW TO MAKE TURKEY GRAVY WITH DRIPPINGS

The perfect time to make gravy is while waiting for the turkey to rest, right before carving. 

  1. To begin, remove roast turkey from roasting pan, and do not throw away the pan drippings. Instead, take those drippings and strain them through a fine-mesh sieve.
  2. Get rid of the solids and reserve 2-1/2 cups of pan drippings. IF you do not have enough pan drippings, add low-sodium chicken broth to the drippings to make 2-1/2 cups of liquid.
  3. Then, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan.
  4. Add flour to melted butter and whisk for about a minute, or until browned.
  5. Add 1/2 cup of those reserved pan juices and whisk until incorporated. Slowly add in remaining liquid and continue to whisk until gravy is smooth. 
  6. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer and whisk in chopped fresh herbs. Continue to whisk and cook until thickened and bubbly, 4 to 5 minutes. 
  7. Remove from heat and taste for seasonings; adjust accordingly. Gravy prepared with pan drippings may not need any more seasonings as all of those pan juices are packed with flavor, but it’s important to taste test and adjust as needed.
  8. Serve.

VARIATIONS ON HOMEMADE TURKEY GRAVY

  • Choose whatever fresh herbs you have on hand. If you only have dried herbs, use 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon rosemary.
  • You can also jazz up your gravy with some cream, or sherry, or wine, or even brandy!  🥂Soy sauce, too. Just play around with it – I’m sure it’s going to be delicious.
  • To brighten up the gravy, add a teaspoon of lemon juice. 
  • Also, you do not need turkey drippings or turkey broth to make gravy; you can also use roast chicken drippings, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.

Turkey gravy in a gravy boat.

COOK’S NOTES

  • Whisk whisk whisk! BUT, If you still have some lumps in the gravy, pour it through a mesh-sieve to smooth it out. 
  • Keep in mind that gravies thicken is they cool, but if your gravy is too thick, whisk in a bit more liquid to thin it out. 

HOW TO STORE GRAVY

  • Store gravy in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
  • Reheat in a skillet set over medium-low heat. Whisk in more liquid, if needed. 

MORE GRAVY RECIPES

ENJOY!

Pouring gravy over slices of turkey.

Turkey Gravy Recipe

Katerina | Diethood
Transform those deliciously browned turkey drippings into a delicious turkey gravy in just minutes!
5 from 12 votes
Servings : 8 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2-1/2 cups pan drippings from Roast Turkey Breast
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves (or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary)
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Take turkey drippings and loosened browned bits from roasting pan (where you cooked the turkey) and strain them through a mesh sieve.
  • Discard solids and reserve 2-1/2 cups of pan drippings. If you do not have enough pan drippings, add low-sodium chicken broth to the drippings to make 2-1/2 cups liquid. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-heat.
  • Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, or until browned and starts to smell nutty.
  • Pour in 1/2 cup of pan drippings and whisk until well incorporated.
  • Slowly whisk in remaining pan drippings; continue to whisk and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer; whisk in chopped herbs and continue whisking until thickened and bubbly; about 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and taste for salt and pepper; adjust as needed.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 4
NOTES:
  • For a different flavor, you can also add a splash of wine, sherry, brandy, soy sauce, lemon juice, or cream.
  • Gravy can also be prepared with just turkey broth, roast chicken drippings, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.
  • Store leftover gravy in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 65.88 kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.11 g | Protein: 0.59 g | Fat: 5.78 g | Saturated Fat: 3.61 g | Cholesterol: 15.05 mg | Sodium: 157.57 mg | Potassium: 23.5 mg | Fiber: 0.1 g | Sugar: 0.01 g | Vitamin A: 174.93 IU | Vitamin C: 2.06 mg | Calcium: 3.44 mg | Iron: 0.24 mg | Net Carbs: 3 g

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy thanksgiving recipe, holiday side dish recipe, how to make gravy, turkey gravy, turkey gravy with drippings
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