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Silky & savory Turkey Gravy with Drippings is the perfect sauce for your roasted turkey and mashed potatoes.
Turkey Gravy with Drippings is perfect to top your Slow Cooker Roast Chicken, Roast Turkey, or sop up with a fresh batch of Potato Rolls.
The perfect Turkey gravy
You just can’t have Roasted Turkey without gravy!
Am I right? They simply go together. Now when you are in a pinch, it’s quick and easy to use a packet or gravy mix. But really, if you’ve gone through all of the trouble of roasting a mouth-watering turkey, then why not make the gravy from scratch?
The best way to do this is to use all of those delicious pan drippings left in the roasting pan. These drippings are FULL of flavor and are perfect for whipping up a silky sauce, just like mom would make.
For a perfect Turkey Gravy with Drippings, you really need two things: drippings and a roux. A roux is a flour slurry used to thicken the sauce. Now if you don’t want a lumpy sauce, there are a few extra steps.
But either way, this gravy is dipping perfection! Now just whip up your favorite Mashed Potatoes. You will not be disappointed – Thanksgiving perfection.
How to make turkey gravy
DRIPPINGS. For a smooth Turkey Gravy recipe, pour ¼ cup of the drippings from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. For a gravy with more texture, leave the turkey drippings unstrained.
ROUX. Finish making the roux by adding ¼ cup flour to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until smooth.
BOIL. Whisk the 2 cups of turkey broth into the saucepan. Bring the gravy to a boil stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add the salt and pepper and adjust the seasonings to taste before serving.
Recipe Tips
This easy Turkey Gravy can really tie the whole meal together. I’ve got all the tips for how to make Turkey Gravy from Drippings.
- Too lumpy. After you have mixed up the gravy and decide that it is too lumpy, simply strain it through a wire mesh sieve to remove the lumps.
- Too thick. Mix in a little more broth to thin it out.
- Too thin. Remove ¼ c of the gravy from the pot and mix in 1 tablespoon of flour. Once it is smooth, return it to the main gravy and stir. Repeat if desired.
- Taste as you go. This will not only help with flavor but also the texture. Note – if you cooked a brined turkey you will not need as much added salt. Give it a taste and adjust accordingly.
- Whisk it well. For the most smooth gravy, babysit it and whisk it all along the way.
Drippings. When the moisture builds up in the Turkey it is released and drips down into the pan. The liquid is packed with flavor and makes a perfect base for gravy.
No drippings. Give it time. A turkey is pretty big and it takes time for it to heat up enough for moisture to build up. However, there are some factors that might reduce the amount of drippings.
- Roasting the turkey without a bag, or tented in foil, may cause some of the moisture to evaporate before it can build up and drip down.
- Same goes for a stuffed turkey. The stuffing will absorb some of the excess moisture. Either way, you should still get enough drippings to equal ¼ cup.
How much to make. Not everyone will want gravy. In my experience, most children pass and about ½ of the adults will too. Once you have a rough calculation on who might want gravy, plan to serve ¼ c-½ c gravy per person.
Make your own Turkey broth + SToring Tips
Make your own turkey broth using the giblets and neck.
- In a small saucepan, add 2 cups water, turkey giblets, and neck, as well as some chopped onion, carrots, and celery.
- Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and then simmer over medium-low heat for as long as possible before whipping up the gravy.
- Strain the mixture to create a clear smooth broth.
STORE leftover Turkey Gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
To reheat a large amount simply pour it into a saucepan and heat slowly over low heat. If you just need a spoonful or two, simply place it on top of the Turkey or Potatoes and heat at the same time.
For delicious Sides try:
- Green Bean Bundles
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
- Potato Rolls
- Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
- Honey Glazed Carrots
Turkey Gravy with Drippings
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup turkey drippings
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups turkey broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- For a smooth gravy, pour ¼ cup of the drippings from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. (For a gravy with more texture, you can leave the turkey drippings unstrained.)
- Finish making the roux by adding ¼ cup flour to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until smooth.
- Whisk the 2 cups of turkey broth into the saucepan. Bring the gravy to a boil stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add the salt and pepper, and adjust the seasonings to taste before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow that drippings really elevate the gravy. Im not sure if Ill ever be able to make it using any other base!
Making gravy from the drippings is truly incredible! There is so much flavor and it hits all the notes all the time.
This Turkey gravy is so awesome. Goes so well on mashed potatoes. So easy to make too with just a handful of ingredients.
Who doesn’t like gravy? It just makes everything so yummy!
Gravy is a must with turkey!! This is such a smooth & creamy gravy that adds extra flavor! We can’t go without it!