This easy turkey gravy recipe from drippings is the perfect finishing touch for your Thanksgiving dinner!
Made with only 2 ingredients, this homemade gravy is smooth, flavorful and ready in just minutes. It’s the perfect way to turn the pan juices from your roasted turkey into liquid gold.
It has literally never been easier to create a velvety smooth, flavorful gravy using those delicious pan drippings from your Thanksgiving turkey.
You won’t have to fuss with making a roux or worry about the gravy being lumpy. We’re taking every shortcut in the book for this, and we’re not sorry! It is seriously foolproof.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: You only need 2 ingredients to make this easy homemade turkey gravy recipe.
- Rich, savory flavor: Turkey drippings add incredible depth, while prepared brown gravy creates a luscious mixture.
- Ready in minutes: While your turkey rests, you can prepare the gravy on the stovetop so everything is ready for Thanksgiving dinner.
- Perfect consistency: No need to use flour or butter to create a roux – the prepared gravy does all the work for you.
- Easy to customize: Add fresh herbs, black pepper or homemade turkey stock for extra flavor.
- Make it your own: Whether you prefer a thicker gravy or thinner gravy, you can easily adjust the consistency to your personal preference.
What Are Drippings?
Drippings are the flavorful juices and fat that collect at the bottom of the roasting pan as a turkey roasts. As the turkey cooks, its natural juices combine with rendered turkey fat and the brown bits left behind from roasting. These pan drippings are packed with savory flavor and are the secret to making good gravy.
The turkey juices collected at the bottom of the pan are especially delicious because they contain concentrated flavor from the meat, seasonings, and any fresh herbs or vegetables used during roasting. Think of them as liquid gold!
Ingredients
- Pan drippings from roast turkey
- Prepared brown gravy. This typically contains beef stock. If you don’t eat beef (like me), you can use vegetarian brown gravy, turkey gravy or even chicken gravy. I recommend brown gravy because it adds bold, savory flavor to the turkey pan drippings, making an unforgettable gravy.
How to Make Turkey Gravy from Drippings
Strain the Pan Drippings
Position a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Now, pour all of those beautiful pan drippings from the roasting pan through the strainer. Be sure to scrape up all the browned bits. Get it all into the strainer.
A 14-16lb. turkey should give you about 1 cup of drippings.
Make the Brown Gravy
If you’re using a dry packet of gravy, prepare it in a saucepan on the stove top. You’ll usually only have to add water.
If you are using an already prepared gravy, just dump it into a saucepan and heat it gently over low heat.
Stir in the Drippings
Slowly whisk the strained drippings into the prepared gravy until the mixture is smooth and velvety.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
If you have the pan drippings ahead of time, you can definitely make this gravy ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you have leftover gravy after serving, allow it to cool slightly, then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate leftover turkey gravy within 2 hours of cooking and use it within 5 days.
Reheat in the microwave or in a small saucepan, stirring over low heat until it’s heated through. Give it a splash of turkey or chicken broth if it’s too thick.
Can you freeze turkey gravy?
Yes! Let the gravy cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container, leaving a little room for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months for best quality.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently, whisking well to restore its smooth texture.
Tips for the Best Turkey Gravy
- Monitor the salt content. If you brined your turkey, the drippings will already be pretty salty. If this is the case, opt for a low-sodium prepared gravy.
- Whisk continuously: Adding the drippings to the prepared gravy gradually helps create a smooth, luscious gravy.
- Choose the right prepared gravy for you. You might be like, “Why brown gravy?” Because it packs insane flavor, that’s why! But if you want to use turkey gravy, it will still be darn delicious!
- Keep it warm: If you’re serving the gravy later, keep it warm over very low heat and stir occasionally. Avoid boiling it for an extended time, which can make it overly thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can make delicious gravy even if you don’t have turkey drippings. Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, and gradually add chicken broth or turkey broth. Season with black pepper, salt, and fresh herbs for a flavorful homemade gravy.
If you have turkey neck, turkey giblets, or homemade turkey stock, you can use them to add extra flavor. Store bought stock is also a convenient option.
If you don’t have enough drippings, supplement them with chicken stock or turkey stock. Even a small amount of drippings can make a big difference in the final flavor.
Absolutely! The drippings are naturally gluten free. Simply choose a gluten free prepared gravy. There are gluten free turkey gravies and gluten free brown gravies available and most grocery stores.
Add a little unsalted chicken broth or water to dilute the saltiness. You may need to simmer the gravy briefly afterward to restore its consistency.
Yes! Turkey giblets can add a deeper savory flavor. Simmer the giblets and turkey neck in water or broth until fully cooked and tender, then strain the cooking liquid and use it as part of your gravy base.
Yes. Transfer the finished gravy to a slow cooker set to its warm setting, stirring occasionally. If the gravy thickens while sitting, whisk in a little warm broth to loosen it. Don’t leave gravy at room temperature for extended periods.
When you make this easy turkey gravy, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more Thanksgiving recipes, try these:
Turkey Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 cup drippings from roasted turkey
- 1 cup prepared brown gravy
Instructions
- Set up a fine mesh strainer over a medium sized bowl. Pour the pan drippings through the strainer, scraping all of the brown bits off of the bottom of the roasting pan to get as much as you can through the strainer.
- Make the prepared brown gravy in a small saucepan according to package instructions.
- Over low heat, whisk the strained pan drippings into the prepared gravy until smooth. Serve warm.
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