ByDonna Elick
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This Turkey Gravy Recipe is the best you’ll ever make thanks to one special ingredient! Whip up a batch of homemade turkey gravy in 20 minutes, with or without drippings.
Turkey Gravy Recipe
Start with 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, then add in the perfect blend of herbs and spices.
The flavor is truly incredible, unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. Even better, you can make this easy turkey gravy without drippings.
Homemade turkey gravy isn’t just for Thanksgiving, either!
Enjoy it with mashed potatoes or biscuits anytime you have a craving for some homemade comfort food.
Recipe Video
To see us make turkey gravy from stock, start to finish, watch the video in this post!
Tips for Making Turkey Gravy from Stock
- Use unsalted butter.
Since the salt content in poultry stocks varies greatly, unsalted gives you more control over the sodium in this recipe.
When making turkey gravy from stock, start with 1 teaspoon of salt and add more as needed — up to 2 teaspoons total.
If salted butter is all you have on hand, reduce the among of salt by ½ teaspoon and go from there.
- Choose a good wine.
It should be something you would enjoy drinking by itself. I recommend a dry white like Chardonnay.
- Alcohol-free substitute:
White grape juice or additional stock can be used as needed, but the flavor won’t be as rich.
- Skip the fresh herbs.
Because the flavor and aroma of dried herbs are more potent, you don’t need as much.
Plus, you’ll have a smoother consistency without tiny bits of herbs getting stuck in your teeth.
- Want to use drippings?
Simply use them in place of some of the stock. You’ll find more specific instructions for this method in the recipe card below.
More Ways to Use Homemade Turkey Gravy
Now that you know how to make this easy turkey gravy recipe, you’ll want to enjoy it more than once or twice a year!
Bake it into pot pies and casseroles or spoon it over oven-baked meatballs.
It’s also delicious with fried chicken or over french fries with a sprinkle cheese.
Easy Turkey Gravy FAQ
Can I make gravy for turkey ahead of time?
Absolutely! Since this turkey gravy recipe uses stock instead of pan drippings, you can whip up a batch whenever you’d like.
Store homemade turkey gravy in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 1 week. Reheat over low heat on the stove.
Is this turkey gravy recipe safe for kids?
Yes! The alcohol content in wine is already pretty low, but what little there is will evaporate as the sauce boils.
If you are still concerned — or you have guests who are particularly sensitive — feel free to use the substitutes noted above.
How do I make gravy for turkey gluten-free?
Since you’ll be making a roux, your best options are tapioca, sweet rice, or garbanzo flours for this turkey gravy recipe.
These will function similar to all-purpose flour without becoming gummy like some 1:1 blends.
Cornstarch is a naturally gluten-free thickener, but you will need to whisk it into the stock as a slurry instead of adding it to the butter.
Pour 1 cup of the liquid into a separate measuring cup and dissolve in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Then, add this mixture to the pan with the rest of the liquid.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Thanksgiving Recipes
The Best Turkey Gravy Recipe + Video
Donna Elick
This easy Turkey Gravy Recipe is the best you’ll ever make! Enjoy delicious homemade turkey gravy in 20 minutes, with or without drippings.
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 5 cups
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons dried crushed rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, to taste
- 4 cups turkey or chicken stock, 32 ounces
- 1 cup entwine Chardonnay
Instructions
Melt butter in a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat. Once butter is completely melted whisk in flour, herbs, pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes, whisking frequently to cook off the floury taste.
While whisking, pour wine into roux (flour mixture). Continue whisking until mixture bubbles up and becomes a thick consistency, about one minute. While whisking, add chicken stock. Continue whisking until mixture is completely smooth.
Bring gravy to a boil. Whisk occasionally. Boil 10 minutes until gravy is thickened.
Serve and enjoy!
Using Turkey Drippings
Once the turkey comes out of the oven. Remove the turkey and place it on a platter to rest. Turn stove top to medium high and place pan on burner or two. Once the pan drippings are hot, add a cup of chicken stock (from your ingredient list) reserve the remaining chicken stock for the recipe. Use a wooden spatula to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Pour the pan drippings into a measuring cup and let cool in the refrigerator. In about 20-40 minutes the fat will rise to the top and begin to get hard. Skim the fat off of the top, replace the butter in the recipe with the amount of fat you have in your measuring cup. For example if you have 1/4 cup turkey fat, use that plus 1/4 cup butter for a total of 1/2 cup.
Next use the pan drippings (in the measuring cup) in place of part of the chicken stock. If you have 1 cup of drippings, add that when the chicken stock is called for and also the reserved 3 cups chicken stock so you have a total of 4 cups when adding to the recipe.
For a smoother gravy, strain the drippings before adding to the gravy.
Video
Donna’s Notes
If using salted butter, decrease salt by 1/2 teaspoon to start. Salt content in chicken stock varies greatly. Start with 1 teaspoon of salt and add more as necessary. If the gravy doesn’t taste quite right, it could need more salt. I use the full 2 teaspoons in my recipe.
Gravy can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat over low heat.
If you are sensitive to alcohol, you can substitute white grape juice or chicken stock. But, I highly recommend using entwine Chardonnay.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 318cal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 1210mg | Sugar: 4g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Originally published November 2015, updated and republished October 2023
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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