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.
HOW TO MAKE TURKEY GRAVY WITH DRIPPINGS
The perfect time to make gravy is while waiting for the turkey to rest, right before carving.
- 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.
- 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.
- Then, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan.
- Add flour to melted butter and whisk for about a minute, or until browned.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Turkey Gravy Recipe
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
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.
Now I know what I will make for Thanksgiving! I will save this recipe for sure!
Such a perfect creamy turkey gravy! Will have to give it a try this holiday season!
This is so easy to make and tastes so delicious!
This Turkey Gravy is seriously making me hungry!
The flavor is so good and so creamy! We loved it!
Love how creamy and flavorful this is! Perfect on potatoes and so much more!
This turkey gravy is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! We love this gravy.
Perfect for Thanksgiving! We are obsessed!! Thanks for sharing!
The best way to do gravy! So glad this method is being shared with the world!!
Perfect turkey gravy recipe! So yummy and delicious everyone loved it!
This is so good! My family loved it!
It’s just like my grandma & mother use to make every year! Exactly what I was looking for!
This was absolutely wonderful! And easy! First time I ever made turkey gravy, and it was a big hit.