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This Turkey Gravy is made with rich, glorious turkey pan drippings and is the star of Thanksgiving dinner. It is our Mom’s tried and true recipe and what keeps the family coming home for Sunday dinner. Perfectly creamy and flavorful every time!
Featured with this recipe
If you know our Mom, you know she makes a traditional Sunday dinner. Every. Single. Sunday. When we were growing up, she would alternate weeks between roast and turkey. Seriously, it was like Thanksgiving every other week. We were beyond spoiled. Our mother is the best cook we know. Everything she makes is perfection. But the thing she is most famous for is her turkey gravy.
Anyone who has shared her table over the years asks for this turkey gravy recipe. Until now, we’ve never even written it down; it was just made to taste. But, Mom was generous enough to share her step-by-step method for creating this savory, divine gravy. It’s delicious over all the classic dishes: mashed potatoes, turkey, vegetables, stuffing, roasted carrots, just about anything. Welcome to the best turkey gravy recipe EVER. We know you’ll love it as much as we do.
Ingredients for Turkey Gravy
There is no real “secret” ingredient in this easy turkey gravy recipe, just ingredients that probably everyone has around the house! So here’s what you need to make the most show-stopping gravy ever:
- Turkey drippings – From a roast turkey. Use a liquid measuring cup to get all that rich, delicious broth that comes from the turkey for the best flavor. If you don’t have enough drippings, use turkey stock, chicken broth or chicken stock to supplement.
- Gravy packet – Usually a packet of dry gravy mix is included with the frozen turkey or turkey breast. If your turkey doesn’t have one, a tablespoon or two of chicken or turkey gravy powder works great too.
- Chicken bouillon – We love Wyler’s chicken bouillon granules, but you can use cubed bouillon or your preferred chicken bouillon.
- Pepper – Freshly ground pepper tastes best.
- Milk – You’ll need two cups of whole milk or you can use a mixture of milk and heavy cream for a thicker gravy.
- Cornstarch – This is used to thicken the gravy. You can use all purpose flour too.
- Water – To combine with the cornstarch to make a slurry which will thicken the gravy.
- Salt – To taste.
How to Make Turkey Gravy
Prepare the Turkey Drippings
This recipe incorporates the rich drippings from roasting a turkey or turkey breast. After roasting in the oven, transfer the turkey to a carving board, leaving the flavorful drippings in the roasting pan. Position the roasting pan over the largest stovetop burner, set to medium heat. If the liquid in the pan measures less than one cup, simply add sufficient water to reach that quantity. Vigorously whisk to incorporate any caramelized remnants that may have adhered to the pan. This enhances the flavor of the gravy. The stovetop’s heat assists in loosening these flavorful bits from the pan’s sides.
*Note: If you’ve used an aluminum pan for roasting, do not place it directly on the stovetop. Instead, add water to the drippings to reach one cup and use a whisk or spoon to release the browned bits from the pan’s bottom.
Remove Fat and Turkey Bits
Pour the liquid from the pan into a tempered glass measuring cup or bowl that holds 2 cups or more. The fat will rise to the top. Use a spoon to skim off the fat. Then, pour the remaining liquid through a wire strainer into a medium-sized saucepan to remove any turkey bits or fat. This will ensure your gravy is nice and smooth.
Add Gravy Packet and Seasonings
If a gravy packet came with the turkey, you can add it to the saucepan (skip this step for a gluten-free gravy). Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat to let it simmer. Stir in the bouillon granules and pepper, ensuring they dissolve evenly. Once dissolved, whisk in the milk gradually, then bring it back to a simmer. This gives the gravy a creamy texture. Taste the gravy to check for flavor balance. If it needs more depth, add more chicken bouillon and pepper. Avoid adding salt at this point, as the gravy may become too salty once all the flavors combine while it simmers. Stir the gravy occasionally to prevent lumps.
Thicken the Gravy
In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth, making sure there are no lumps. While continuously whisking the gravy, slowly add the starch mixture until the gravy reaches your desired consistency. Keep it slightly thinner than you prefer, as it will thicken more as it cools. Taste the gravy again and, if necessary, add a bit of salt for flavor.
Serve the Gravy
Keep the gravy warm on the stove until you are ready to serve it. Pour the gravy into a gravy boat for easy pouring onto mashed potatoes or turkey. You can also serve it in a bowl with a ladle.
We have a fool-proof, step-by-step guide for Making the Perfect Turkey. Our Thanksgiving turkey recipe is full of fresh herbs: parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, onion, and celery. As a result, your gravy will have all those delicious flavors and herbs mixed in as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
The #1 secret to good gravy is starting with well seasoned drippings from the turkey. In addition to good drippings, removing fat and straining out any unwanted bits and pieces from the cooked turkey is important for getting the right texture and consistency.
As mentioned above, three things really make a fantastic turkey gravy. First, the turkey drippings from a well-seasoned turkey or turkey breast. When that needs a boost, chicken bouillon granules (we love the Wyler’s brand) is a seasoning that gives richness and flavor to turkey gravy. Last, but not least, adding fresh herbs to the gravy can transform gravy! Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme all add incredible flavor.
If kept in the fridge in an airtight container, turkey gravy will be last a couple of days. Spoon the cold gravy into a skillet and warm over low heat and the turkey gravy will resume its creamy consistency within a few minutes. It can also be reheated in the microwave.
If you run out of potatoes before you run out of gravy (that’s happened to us many times) this turkey gravy freezes beautifully in a freezer safe container for up to three months!
This recipe is gluten-free IF you leave out the gravy packet that comes with the turkey. The rest of the ingredients are completely GF and it will still taste delicious.
If starting from scratch and without any drippings, butter does add flavor to gravy. However, in this recipe, the drippings provide adequate fat and flavor.
Read More: 35 + Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
More Delicious Gravy Recipes
No matter what you’re serving, there’s a scrumptious, savory gravy to go with it. For a step-by-step guide for making gravies and sauces, see our post on How to Make a Roux.
How to Make Turkey Gravy
Turkey Gravy Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ½ to 1 cup turkey drippings from cooked turkey
- 1 gravy packet (included with the frozen turkey or turkey breast)*
- 1 tablespoon Wyler’s chicken bouillon granules
- pepper to taste
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- salt to taste
Instructions
- After roasting a turkey or turkey breast in the oven, remove the turkey and leave the drippings in the roasting pan. Place the pan on the largest stove top burner on medium heat. If there is less than one cup of liquid in the pan, add enough water to make about one cup. Whisk up any little browned bits that may have cooked to the roasting pan. This adds delicious flavor to the gravy. The heat from the stove helps loosen the browned bits on the sides of the pan. If you've used an aluminum pan to cook the turkey, don't place it on the stove after removing the turkey. Add water to the drippings to make one cup. Use a whisk or spoon to loosen the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Pour the liquid from the pan into a 2 cup or larger tempered glass measuring cup or glass bowl. The fat from the drippings will rise to the surface. Skim off the fat with a spoon. Pour the remaining liquid through a wire strainer into a medium-sized saucepan. This will remove any turkey bits or fat and make a smooth, creamy gravy.
- If a gravy packet was included with the turkey, add it to the saucepan (if you want a gluten free gravy, don't add the packet). Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer. Stir in the bouillon granules and pepper. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring back to a simmer. At this point, taste the gravy. Add more bouillon and pepper if needed for flavor. Do not add salt at this time.
- In a separate, small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Stir until there are no lumps. It should be nice and smooth.
- Whisking the gravy constantly, slowly add cornstarch mixture a little at a time until the gravy is thickened to the consistency you desire.
- Make the gravy slightly thinner than what you prefer because it will thicken a little as it cools. Taste the gravy again. If needed, add a little salt for flavor.
- Pour into a gravy boat and serve.
Notes
*For Gluten Free Turkey Gravy
- Don’t use the turkey gravy packet that comes with the turkey or turkey breast.
- This recipe makes approximately 4 cups of gravy when using a gravy packet. If a gravy packet from the turkey is not used, this recipe makes approximately 3 cups.
In 66 years I have never seen a gravy packet with my turkey! However, they have always came with giblets stuffed in the cavity. I’m curious to know what brand of turkey comes with a gravy packet.
It is usually turkey breasts that come with the gravy packet.
I just bought my turkey, it has no gravy packet. What do I do?
You can use a few tablespoons of regular chicken or turkey gravy powder!
I haven’t tried this yet. I usually use bottled gravy because I’m afraid of messing up scratch gravy. This recipe sounds really easy. I am going to make it for Thanksgiving and I am confident I can do it.
We believe in you!!
Let me tell ya, My Mother made the best homemade Thanksgiving Gravy EVER!!!!!!!!!!! I make it still till this day. As I read your recipe and seen the pictures of it I feel I need to add the few things that you used like the Gravy Packet…….. although I haven’t ever gotten a gravy packet ever in my frozen turkeys. But it looks delicious. The one thing that I will remain doing though as my Momma did is to add a couple drops of “Yellow Food Coloring” to the mixture. It gives it a beautiful glow to the gravy. Thanks for the Great Tips. Can’t wait to add these items to my gravy this year.
Exactly the recipe we have always made! This is the tastiest gravy, and the recipe makes plenty for leftovers❤️
This sounds like Perfect Homemade Gravy & is very similar to my own recipe.
This gravy is just like my mother used to make. Unfortunately, she passed away before I was old enough to learn to make it. Thank you so much for bringing back treasured memories with a recipe I will pass on to my own kids.
I’m sorry to hear you lost your mother so young. I’m touched that this recipe brought back special memories for you. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, this recipe is so close to how I make my turkey gravy.
Oh my goodness!!!! I am going to save this recipe! We literally always end up throwing out the homemade gravy and using the gravy powder from Walmart, because we can never get it right and it tastes nasty!
Oh no! I can’t wait for you to try this recipe. You are going to love it!
The best gravy I’ve ever had!
You have to have good gravy for your Thanksgiving Dinner, so I am going to try this for my Thanksgiving this year.
I always have trouble with making gravy from drippings. I end up using jarred gravy 🫤. This recipe is easy, with good tips. I will be making this for thanksgiving and have faith it will be delicious!!
Looks Good 5 Stars
Good gravy can always be used, not just during the holidays and this recipe is easy and delicious.
Gravy is a must have for us and this one is tasty!
Great Gravy
I have never personally made homemade turkey gravy this recipe seems simple and delicious I will have to try it this year
No more dry packet gravy!
Delicious and easy to follow along.
Well done! The directions are easy to follow, and the pictures are amazing. I’ve never added milk to turkey gravy. I’ll be trying this recipe for Thanksgiving. Thank you!