Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (2024)

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by Alea Milham 6 Comments

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Hosting the holiday dinner this year? You are going to love this easy turkey gravy recipe!

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (1)

There is absolutely no reason to buy gravy. Ever. Homemade gravy is not only out-of-this-world delicious, but it is also easy to make. For some reason, people have heard stories of lumpy gravy and have the impression that it is difficult to make a smooth, lump-free gravy. This is not the case. You can easily make a smooth turkey gravy for your Thanksgiving dinner in less than 5 minutes.

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (2)

How to Make Turkey Gravy with Drippings

First, start by pouring your turkey drippings through a strainer or slotted spoon. It isn’t essential that you catch everything. Removing the largest chunks will go a long way towards helping you create a smooth gravy.

Next, grab a whisk.

For every cup of turkey drippings you add to the pot, you need to add a tablespoon of cornstarch.

Use your whisk to blend the drippings and the cornstarch.

Place your pot over a medium-high flame. Keep whisking until it reaches a boil. Then, lower the flame and allow it to simmer until it thickens, gently whisking the entire time.

I know it seems like a lot of whisking, but it is really only 3 – 4 minutes total. And it is worth it! Get ready to taste gravy like you have never tasted out of a jar.

How to Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

What to do if you don’t have enough drippings to fill a cup? If you don’t have enough turkey drippings to make gravy, add turkey broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to the bottom of the roasting pan.

Then use your whisk to deglaze the roasting pan. Basically, you scrape the bottom of the pan and mix the cooked-on bits with the broth. This will reconstitute the baked-on drippings and add a richer flavor to the broth.

Use this mixture as you would turkey dripping in the Turkey Gravy Recipe below.

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe

This gravy recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. You can double or triple this recipe if needed.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup turkey drippings
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

    1. Pour the turkey drippings through a strainer or slotted spoon.
    2. Add to the drippings to a small pot.
    3. Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the drippings.
    4. Use a whisk to blend the ingredients.
    5. Place your pot over a medium-high heat. Keep whisking until it reaches a boil.
    6. Lower the heat and allow it to simmer until it thickens, whisking the entire time.

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (3)

Use these tips to keep your turkey moist and prevent the sliced turkey from drying out.

Printable Recipe for Turkey Gravy

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (4)

Print

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe

This easy turkey gravy recipe can be made with drippings or without drippings. Uses cornstarch to thicken the gravy so it is naturally gluten-free.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade turkey gravy, how to make turkey gravy, turkey gravy recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 14kcal

Author Alea Milham

Ingredients

  • 1 cup turkey drippings
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Pour the turkey drippings through a strainer or slotted spoon.

  • Add to the drippings to a small pot.

  • Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the drippings.

  • Use a whisk to blend the ingredients.

  • Place your pot over a medium-high heat. Keep whisking until it reaches a boil. Lower the heat and allow it to simmer until it thickens, whisking the entire time.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 31mg | Sugar: 1g | Iron: 1mg

More Thanksgiving Recipes:

How to Cook a Turkey in a Slow Cooker

Homemade Orange-Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Leftover Turkey Recipe Ideas

This turkey gravy recipe was originally published on November 18, 2013. It was updated on November 12, 2019.

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Cherie says

    Will arrowroot powder work instead of cornstarch? I am planning to make a Keto gravy.

    Reply

  2. Clarice r. says

    This is NOT how to make real homemade gravy! Straight cornstarch will give you a gluey consistency! Real gravy starts by making real turkey broth ( stock)… It’s cooked in the roasting pan after removing the cooked turkey. Then it’s thickened with a mixture of 1/2flour& 1/2 cornstarch mixed with cold water. The gravy gets strained at the very end when you are happy with the flavor, color and consistency.

    Reply

    • Margaret says

      But yours is not gluten free. Hers is. There are trade offs.

      Reply

    • Rebecca says

      Yeah they are trying to help people who are gluten free! Obviously normal gravy is made with flour but some can’t have it. I’m glad I found this.

      Reply

  3. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    Your gravy looks really smooth and luscious – I always think a good gravy makes a meal extra special!

    Reply

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Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to turkey gravy to make it taste better? ›

If you are reaching for a jar or carton of turkey gravy at the store, here are seven easy ways to give it a boost.
  1. Add in some white wine. ...
  2. Thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. ...
  3. Stir in pan drippings. ...
  4. Simmer with fresh herbs. ...
  5. Add an umami-rich condiment. ...
  6. Sauté some vegetables. ...
  7. Add roasted garlic.
Oct 26, 2023

Is cornstarch or flour better for thickening turkey gravy? ›

You can use either cornstarch or flour to thicken your gravy. You may need a bit more or less than called for in the recipe based on how much drippings are in your pan. With either one you will need to create a slurry, this just means mixing the thickener with water/broth before adding to the gravy.

What is the formula for gravy? ›

(The classic ratio for gravy is three:two:one, so 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons fat, and 1 cup of hot stock.) You can add other flavors to the mixture, swap out the stock for another liquid, or use cornstarch rather than flour to thicken your gravy.

How do you fix bland turkey gravy? ›

It's bland.

The solution: The first thing you should try is adding a little more salt, as salt helps bring out the inherent flavors of the gravy that you didn't taste before. If that doesn't work, add umami (savory)-heavy condiments like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

What's the difference between turkey gravy and regular gravy? ›

Thus, turkey gravy is a brown gravy. You can also make brown gravy with the drippings from other kinds of meat, such as a roast or chicken. White gravy is made with milk, fat, and a thickening agent; white gravy is made without drippings, and with sausage added is popular for biscuits and gravy.

Why is my turkey gravy bitter? ›

How to Fix Bitter Gravy. Gravy can turn bitter if you accidentally burn the flour in the roux, or if you added any burnt drippings to the mix. Fat and sweet flavors mask bitter flavors, so add a pinch of sugar, a splash of heavy cream or a pat of butter.

What do chefs use to thicken gravy? ›

Thicken Gravy with a Roux

To make your roux, use an equal amount of flour and fat, like butter or oil, and follow these steps: Melt the butter or heat the oil in a skillet or saucepan on medium heat. Add the flour and whisk into the fat until all lumps are gone.

Why is my cornstarch gravy not thickening? ›

If it doesn't thicken enough, it's a sign that you need more cornstarch. Whisk in more cornstarch slurry a little at a time, and let each addition come to a simmer before adding more.

What is in Butterball turkey gravy? ›

Boneless Turkey Breast Roast: Contains Up To 20% Of A Solution Of Water, Contains 2% Of Salt, Dextrose, Natural Flavor, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Phosphate For Tenderness And Juiciness, Gravy Packet Ingredients: Water, Modified Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Rice Flour, Cooked Turkey, Onion Powder, Caramel Color, ...

How do you add richness to gravy? ›

Milk and cream add richness and flavor; they can round out or mellow any sharper flavors that develop along the way. Finishing a sauce or gravy with butter will thicken the gravy and add a velvety texture—a surefire way to up your gravy game.

How do you add depth of flavor to gravy? ›

But if you have time to spare, add pan drippings from turkey, bacon or bacon drippings, caramelized vegetables (like onions, leeks, carrots and celery), herbs or garlic. You'll want to simmer the gravy with these additions for a good 20 minutes to pick up the additional flavors (longer, if possible).

How do chefs thicken gravy? ›

Another way to thicken gravy with flour is by making a roux. A roux is a mixture of fat and flour, and it's an easy way to thicken a sauce. If you make a roux, it should also be added incrementally. A final option is making a beurre manié, which is made by rubbing flour into butter to create a dough or paste.

What can you add to brown gravy to make it taste better? ›

My beef gravy recipe is delicious for sure – but it's also bare bones. There's so much you can do to spice things up! One easy way to improve your gravy is to add a good balance of flavors — mustard, wine, or vinegar for acidity and some herbs for freshness, for example.

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