Easy Turkey Gravy

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

Makes

16 servings (1/4 cup each)

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
A traditional, from-scratch easy turkey gravy recipe will work for any roasted meat or poultry. Switch up the herbs to fit your preferences, or simply use what you have on hand. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • Turkey drippings
  • 3 to 3-1/2 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. Pour turkey drippings and loosened browned bits from roasting pan into a 4-cup measuring cup. Skim fat, reserving 2 tablespoons. Add enough broth to the drippings to measure 3 cups.
  2. In a large saucepan, whisk flour, 3/4 cup broth and reserved fat until smooth. Add thyme, sage and pepper; gradually whisk in the drippings mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until thickened.

Easy Turkey Gravy Tips

How do you thicken easy turkey gravy?

If your gravy is runny, slowly stir cold turkey or chicken stock into a bit of cornstarch or flour until you’ve created a smooth paste. Gradually whisk into simmering gravy. If you don’t have turkey or chicken stock, cold water will work, too. Or, consider having a make-ahead roux on hand as a simple solution!

How can you get rid of lumps in easy turkey gravy?

The easiest way to get rid of lumps is to pour the gravy into a blender, and give it a whirl for 30 to 40 seconds. Or, pour the gravy through a mesh strainer and push out the liquid into a bowl or serving vessel using a spatula. Discard the solid lumps left in the strainer. For more tips, check out our guide on how to make gravy from scratch from our Test Kitchen.

What are some variations of this easy turkey gravy recipe?

It’s easy to enhance an easy turkey gravy recipe with aromatics or other ingredients. It may take some trial and error, but common additions include rosemary, basil, tarragon, ground cloves, maple syrup, roasted garlic, apple cider, red wine, dry sherry, hard cider, dry white wine, soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire sauce or sauteed vegetables like onions, leeks, shallots, celery, carrots or dried porcini mushrooms. Experiment to see which you like best, or try one of our other Thanksgiving gravy recipes.

—Amy Glander, Taste of Home Book Editor