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Turkey Gravy

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Updated Jul 28, 2024
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There’s nothing like a great homemade turkey gravy to tie a meal together, and this particular turkey gravy recipe will have friends and family (politely) grabbing for the gravy boat! Traditionally served as part of a Thanksgiving meal, Christmas dinner or other holiday spread, turkey gravy is a savory sauce that people love to ladle over roast turkey, potatoes, stuffing and more. Check our roundup of Thanksgiving recipes for more great dishes that complement this yummy gravy.

Making turkey gravy from drippings means less waste and all the great taste! So, if you’re planning on cooking a bird for a big family meal, reach for this recipe to learn how to make turkey gravy that comes together in just 10 minutes and delivers next-level tastiness to your meal. Get ready to ladle up deliciousness—just don’t be surprised if friends and family start asking for your homemade turkey gravy recipe.

What Are Turkey Drippings?

Before we talk about how to make gravy from drippings, let’s talk about what those drippings really are and what they bring to the table. Drippings are the juices and fats rendered out by roasting a turkey or other piece of meat. As the bird cooks, the combination collects in the bottom of the roasting pan to form your pooled drippings. It’s a great idea to save some of that liquid—drippings are super flavorful and make a great base for homemade turkey gravy.

You’ll also notice more solid brown bits left in the bottom of your pan. Those little brown pieces are called fond, and they separate from the liquid. These pieces are actually caramelized bits of meat and seasoning, which will bring even more flavor to your turkey gravy!

Homemade Gravy Ingredients

Making turkey gravy from drippings is a great way to use the leftover rendered fats and juices from roasting a turkey. The best part about this turkey gravy recipe? You don’t need many other ingredients to create a delicious sauce! Here’s everything that goes into this savory favorite.

Turkey Drippings: These fats and juices left behind in the roasting pan form the base for this delicious turkey gravy recipe.

Flour: This universal ingredient mixes with the fat in the drippings and forms a roux when heated. Roux is a mixture of fat and flour used to thicken dishes like soups, sauces and this delicious gravy.

Liquid: Whether you choose water, boxed broth or juices from your roasted turkey, some kind of liquid is going to be the key to thinning out your gravy and achieving the right consistency. It can also add additional flavor to your turkey gravy.

Salt and Pepper: Where would we be without these essential seasonings? They add savoriness and just a hint of heat to make this homemade turkey gravy even tastier.

How to Make Turkey Gravy from Drippings

If you ask us, this is the absolute best turkey gravy recipe because it brings tons of flavor in just a few steps—no extra dishes needed. Here’s how to make turkey gravy in two easy steps. The full ingredients list and detailed directions for this recipe can be found below.

Combine Drippings and Flour

You won’t need all your drippings for this turkey gravy recipe, but you will want all of those yummy brown bits that get left in the pan. These caramelized bits are very flavorful so be sure not to leave these out! Stir in some flour to help thicken things up and cook over medium heat.

Add Liquid and Seasonings

When your mixture is smooth and bubbly, add your liquid—take your pick of broth, water or more of the drippings from your roasted bird—and heat to boiling. Season to your heart’s content with salt and pepper, and you’ve got some table-ready turkey gravy from scratch!

How to Store and Reheat Homemade Turkey Gravy

This gravy is so good we wouldn’t be surprised if it disappears in one meal. But if you do end up with leftovers, follow these tips for proper food storage. Keep your turkey gravy tasty by storing it in the refrigerator or opt for the freezer for longer-term storage.

Storing Leftover Gravy

In the Fridge: After enjoying, allow the gravy to cool slightly before refrigerating any leftovers. You can store in a sealed jar or container to maintain freshness. These delicious gravy drippings can be safely kept in the refrigerator for about 2 days.

In the Freezer: Want to set aside some homemade turkey gravy for your next holiday meal or family get-together? Transfer it to a well-sealed container or resealable plastic bag and freeze it for up to 4 months.

Reheating Instructions

It can be tricky to reheat gravy in the microwave without overcooking or curdling the gravy, so we recommend reheating your turkey gravy on the stove over low heat instead. Stir it often, and remove it from the heat as soon as the gravy comes to a simmer.

If you added any milk or cream to your homemade turkey gravy, it’s likely to separate when reheated. Instead of tossing your leftovers, make them into your next meal. Try swapping in leftover turkey gravy where jars of gravy or gravy mix are called for in other recipes!

What to Eat with Turkey Gravy

Wondering what to serve your turkey gravy alongside? This wonderfully versatile sauce is a staple at holiday dinners, but we love to serve it year-round at any big meal since it's such a simple addition. So, what are the perfect sides and main dishes to go with this gravy? The bird itself is the obvious (and most tasty) choice. If you need a recipe, try our go-to brined turkey recipe for an extra tender, extra delicious dinner centerpiece that’s sure to please. Ladle your turkey gravy over slices of the tender bird to bring out its flavor and enhance its juiciness. You can even add it to a savory sandwich made with all of your favorite holiday leftovers!

Homemade turkey gravy also tastes great ladled over a huge range of side dishes, like creamy mashed potatoes and flavorful stuffing. There’s really no limit but your imagination when it comes to uses for this easy turkey gravy! Enjoy it year-round by drizzling it over biscuits or dinner rolls, roasted vegetables or rice.

Can I Use the Giblets to Make Gravy?

If you’re roasting a turkey, you probably also have giblets on hand—the heart, neck, liver and gizzard, often found packaged in the cavity of the bird. Many home cooks throw them away, thinking they have no use. Instead of tossing them out, why not add them to your turkey gravy?

This easy turkey gravy recipe keeps things simple and doesn’t call for giblets, but we’ve got another recipe for you to try! Our giblet gravy is rich, meaty and flavorful. The giblets get cooked down with vegetables like onions and celery for a luxurious sauce that’s great on everything from biscuits to sandwiches made with leftover turkey. So, if you have a little extra time on your hands and want to try using giblets to make gravy, give it a go!

More About This Recipe

  • Don’t believe what you hear – making gravy isn’t as hard as everyone says. Just start with Betty’s guide on how to make gravy and you’ll be ready to go when the big day comes. Take your pick of the many turkey gravy recipe options, all of which will help you add that perfect homemade touch to your dinner. When the moment for gravy-making arrives, measure your dripping accurately, keep stirring, and stay with it. After just a minute of boiling, it’s time to find the gravy boat and call “dinner is served,” because your gravy from drippings will be ready to go. The perfectly cooked bird and the beautifully whipped mashed potatoes will taste even better when you add a few dollops of your rich and robust turkey gravy. Once you’ve tackled turkey gravy, you can add more favorites to your lineup, including Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy, Chicken à la King, Pork Chops in Country Onion Gravy, Hamburger Gravy and Cornmeal-Sage Biscuits with Sausage Gravy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Variations of This Turkey Gravy from Drippings Recipe?

Switch Up the Liquid: Our turkey gravy recipe calls for water, broth, or turkey juices to get your sauce to the right consistency, but you can mix things up with a variety of less traditional liquids. Try using wine, milk or half-and-half with the broth!

Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings: Our no-drippings gravy recipe is a great way to serve up an easy, savory sauce without roasting anything! Reach for this tasty alternative when you don’t have any drippings to work with.

Try More Gravy Recipes: Up your gravy game with everything from top-rated classics to adventurous recipes featuring apple cider, sage and other unexpected flavors.

Can You Make Gravy from Drippings Ahead of Time?

We prefer making fresh turkey gravy on the day of the big feast. But if you’re prepping dishes ahead of time, you can make your gravy whenever you roast your meat. Save those drippings, follow this turkey gravy recipe, and then see our storage and reheating tips below.

Homemade turkey gravy will keep for 2 days in the fridge and up to 4 months in the freezer. Be sure to follow proper storage and food safety instructions so you can have turkey gravy on hand whenever you need a versatile sauce to drizzle over roasted meats and savory sides!

How to Thicken or Thin Gravy

This turkey gravy recipe makes a creamy, silky-smooth gravy—but if you’d like a different consistency, try some of these tips!

How to Thin Out Turkey Gravy: Homemade turkey gravy looking a little too thick? You’ll need a hot liquid, such as stock, broth, water from cooking potatoes, white wine or just plain water. Add your hot liquid of choice to your hot gravy, and whisk it in to incorporate.

How to Thicken Turkey Gravy: For a thicker turkey gravy, mix 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons of water or broth until the flour has fully dissolved. Whisk this mixture into the hot turkey gravy, then bring the gravy to a boil, stirring constantly as it boils for 1 minute.

Another way to thicken up a too-thin turkey gravy is by making a roux. This classic sauce is often used by cooks for thickening and adding richness without also adding a raw flour taste. To make a roux, a mixture of flour and fat (usually butter) is cooked over low to medium heat until smooth and bubbly before a liquid is added. Some recipes call for cooking the roux until it turns golden to deep brown.

Why Is My Gravy Lumpy?

Nobody likes an overly lumpy gravy! But what causes it? Here are a few common factors that could make your turkey gravy lumpy.

Too Little Fat: One culprit is a lack of fat, which can cause your flour to clump together instead of being evenly distributed throughout your gravy. Remember those delicious drippings? Make sure you measure accurately when using them for this turkey gravy recipe.

Improper Mixing: Don’t leave your gravy unwatched! Stirring your homemade turkey gravy constantly will help keep lumps from forming and ensure a smooth, consistent texture.

Bits of Meat: You might notice a few lumps from the browned bits of meat and seasonings left in your roasting pan. This is completely normal, but feel free to remove if you prefer your turkey gravy smoother.

Whatever the case, you can always pour your turkey gravy through a wire mesh sieve to get that characteristic silky smoothness. If you'd like to keep those bits and smooth out your gravy texture, try hitting it with a quick emulsion blender on low speed. Transfer it to a decorative gravy bowl and you’re good to go.

Turkey Gravy

  • Prep Time 5 min
  • Total 10 min
  • Servings 8
  • Ingredients 5
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup turkey drippings (fat and juices from roasted turkey)
  • 1/4 cup Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour
  • 2 cups liquid (juices from roasted turkey, broth, water)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or less, if using turkey drippings
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Pour drippings from roasting pan into bowl, leaving brown particles in pan. Return 1/4 cup drippings to roasting pan. (Measure accurately because too little fat makes gravy lumpy.) Stir in flour. (Measure accurately so gravy is not greasy.)
  • Step 
    2
    Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in salt and pepper.

Nutrition

40 Calories
3 g Total Fat
1 g Protein
2 g Total Carbohydrate

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 2 Tablespoons
Calories
40
Calories from Fat
25
Total Fat
3 g
Saturated Fat
1 g
Cholesterol
5 mg
Sodium
200 mg
Potassium
30 mg
Total Carbohydrate
2 g
Dietary Fiber
0g
Protein
1 g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
0%
0%
Exchanges:
1 Fat;
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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