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

Is it better to use cornstarch or flour for turkey gravy? ›

Browning adds more flavor to the gravy and gets rid of the raw flour taste. You're basically making a roux. We find that a flour-based gravy holds up better and reheats better later, which is why we tend to prefer using flour over cornstarch to make gravy unless we have a guest who is eating gluten-free.

Is stock or broth better for turkey gravy? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

What to 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.

What is the formula for gravy? ›

A traditional roux uses roughly an equal amount of flour and fat, but gravies often call for a bit more flour than that, to ensure the gravy is thick enough. (The classic ratio for gravy is three:two:one, so 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons fat, and 1 cup of hot stock.)

What thickener is best for gravy? ›

Similar to flour, cornstarch is another ingredient that can be used to make gravy thicker. With cornstarch, making a slurry is also an option, but with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked into cold water. Again, you'll want to add the slurry in increments so you don't over-thicken the gravy.

How do you thicken turkey drippings for gravy? ›

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

Why won t my turkey gravy thicken? ›

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.

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.

Should stock be warm when making gravy? ›

It used to be said that the broth must be cold or the gravy will turn out lumpy. We made three gravies, one with gently simmering broth, one with room-temperature broth, and one with cold broth. Adding the warm broth shaved a few minutes off the cooking time, but there was no discernible difference in quality.

Why does my homemade gravy taste like flour? ›

Your gravy might taste doughy or chalky if you didn't cook the flour enough when making your roux. You'll want to cook the flour for at least five minutes, until it smells nutty and begins to turn light brown. But if you don't notice until it's too late and you've already added your broth, bring the gravy to a simmer.

Which is better for turkey gravy flour or cornstarch? ›

Making a roux with flour and butter “boosts flavor and gives the gravy a silky texture and rich flavor,” she says. Flour also gives the gravy a traditional opaque look, she adds, whereas cornstarch will make the gravy shiny and clear.

How do you make gravy taste richer? ›

Incorporate Drippings From the Roasting Pan

While heating your store-bought gravy on the stove, add drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan to make it more flavorful. The extra fat and flavorful little brown bits give it that store-bought gravy depth and complexity.

How do you add depth to gravy? ›

If your gravy tastes great but it lacks a little depth, add an umami flavor boost. Umami flavors are deeply savory and feel round on the palate. Spruce up the gravy with a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce (if the gravy isn't already too salty, that is).

How do you increase the consistency of gravy? ›

If your gravy is looking watery, you can add a slurry (a mixture of cornstarch/flour and water) or a roux (a mixture of flour and butter) to thicken it up. Other pantry ingredients like Wondra (an instant flour), arrowroot, tapioca, and potato starch can also be used to thicken gravy to a deliciously silky consistency.

Is gravy better with water or milk? ›

Water, broth, or milk: Any of the three will work here. I actually like gravy made with water best, but experiment and see what works for you. Broth will give you a really flavor-packed gravy and gravy made with milk will be richer (but a little sweet for my taste).

Why is my gravy not tasty? ›

If the gravy lacks oomph, adjust seasoning as necessary with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. If you used canned stock instead of homemade, the gravy might not be as flavorful. Homemade stock, even made with chicken stock rather than turkey, will produce a superior gravy—so it's worth the effort.

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