• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers & Dips
    • Bars & Brownie Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Brunch & Breakfast Recipes
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Cookies & Crackers
    • Desserts
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Grains & Legumes
    • Muffins and Quick Breads
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Readers' Favorite Recipes
  • Collections
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Heritage Recipes
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Vintage Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
  • Basic recipes
  • About this blog
    • The author
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility statement

Vintage Kitchen Notes logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Holidays
  • Seasonal
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Holidays
    • Seasonal
    • Vintage
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Condiments & Sauces

    Published: Nov 19, 2023 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Turkey Gravy (easy recipe from scratch)

    Jump to Recipe

    Making gravy for your holiday turkey is easy and quite effortless. You don't even have to roast the main dish turkey to make gravy from scratch. Take it to potlucks, add it to your Thanksgiving dinner to complement the rest of the side dishes or use it for the leftovers.

    Table of Contents Open
    Ingredient list
    Homemade turkey broth or stock
    How to make turkey gravy
    Storing gravy
    Turkey Gravy (easy recipe from scratch)
    Glass pouring cup with gravy on a grey white towel. Sliced turkey and parsley in the background.


    Old-fashioned gravy involved dripping from the cooked turkey, and it was a collateral recipe you made that day as you waited for the bird to rest before taking it to the table.

    You can make this recipe beforehand. And year-round. Who says gravy should only be eaten during the holidays?

    A turkey broth is made with drumsticks and veggies. It's then mixed with thickeners and butter to create a smooth, flavorful, creamy sauce.

    Ingredient list

    • Turkey stock: homemade (see below) or store-bought.
    • Salt: I like using kosher salt, but regular table salt works just fine.
    • Black pepper pods.
    • All-purpose flour.
    • Unsalted butter.
    • Nutmeg.

    If using homemade stock:

    • Carrot.
    • Onion.
    • Celery stalk.
    • Turkey drumstick or thigh with bone.
    • Bay leaves.

    See the recipe card towards the end of this post for quantities.

    Bowls containing ingredients for turkey gravy on a grey surface including stock, flour, butter, spices, drippings.

    Homemade turkey broth or stock

    This is a recommended step unless you use a canned or store-bought broth you really love.

    It's easy to make stock from scratch and pretty effortless.

    • Vegetables: the flavor trinity of onion, celery and carrots are used here, together with a piece of turkey with bone (drumstick or thigh) and flavorings.
    • Brown the veggies first: use the same saucepan before you add the water. This step makes the stock much more flavorful so it's highly recommended.
    Turkey drumstick with vegetables in a large pot with water. Top view. Light grey surface.

    How to make turkey gravy

    It's not hard to prepare, and you can easily achieve a lump-free gravy.

    • Turkey drippings: they'll be used as part of the liquid if they're available. If not, omit them and use a flavorful broth.
    • Use a hand whisk: this is the perfect utensil to stir while you incorporate the stock to the roux (butter and flour mixture).
    Dark grey saucepan with roux mixture on a grey surface.

    Make the roux: mix butter with flour and stir until it lightly browns. This is the base that will thicken the gravy.

    Light gray surface with saucepan containing gravy sprikled with spices.

    The liquids (turkey drippings and broth) are added gradually until a smooth sauce is achieved. It can then be spiced to your liking.

    Top view of glass jar with white handle containing gravy. Grey and white kitchen towel. Garnishes around.

    Storing gravy

    Storing turkey gravy properly is essential to maintain its flavor and safety. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to store turkey gravy, but remember to always check for any signs of spoilage before reheating or consuming, no matter what you read. If in doubt, it's better to err on the side of caution and avoid consuming anything that seems questionable.

    • Cool it down to room temperature before storing. This helps prevent bacterial growth. Consider dividing it into smaller portions if you have a large quantity of gravy. This allows for faster and more even cooling.
    • Refrigerate it. Gravy can typically be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Transfer the cooled gravy into airtight containers or resealable plastic bags. Ensure that the containers are suitable for refrigerator storage. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
    • Freeze it for 1-2 months without significant loss of quality. Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty resealable plastic bags. Leave some space at the top of the container or bag to allow for expansion during freezing. Label with the date and contents for easy identification.
    • Thawing and reheating:
      Overnight: place the frozen gravy in the refrigerator the day before.
      Microwave: you can use the defrost setting for a quicker thaw. 
      Stovetop: reheat over low to medium heat, stirring frequently to ensure even warming. 
    • Quality check: before serving, check the consistency and flavor of the reheated gravy. If it seems too thick, add a little water or broth to reach the desired consistency. Discard any gravy that shows signs of spoilage, such as an off smell or unusual color.
    Print
    clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon
    Glass jar with handle and gravy on a grey and white kitchen towel.

    Turkey Gravy (easy recipe from scratch)

    ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    No reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Making gravy for your holiday turkey is easy and quite effortless. You can use drippings if roasting the turkey but they're not essential to make gravy from scratch. Take it to potlucks, add it to your Thanksgiving dinner to complement the rest of the side dishes or use it for the leftovers. 

    • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    • Yield: 2 ½ cups

    Ingredients

    Units

    For the turkey broth (stock):

    • 1 carrot cut into 4-5 pieces
    • 1 onion
    • 1 celery stalk (cut)
    • 1 turkey drumstick or any other part
    • 3-4 peas of allspice
    • 2-3 bay leaves

    For the gravy:

    • 2 cups turkey broth
    • ¼ cup roasted turkey drippings (if available)
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • â…› teaspoon nutmeg

    Instructions

    For the homemade stock:

    1. Brown the chopped vegetables in the large pot you'll be using for the stock without oil for about 3 minutes over medium heat, moving them around regularly. You want them to brown, not burn. 
    2. Add the turkey drumstick or thigh to the pot with the roasted vegetables, bay leaf and pepper pods.
    3. Add water to cover the ingredients. The turkey drumstick should fit in the pot, but if it's too large, cover ¾ with water. Cook the broth for an hour or more. Check for seasonings and flavor and adjust if needed, not only ingredients like salt but also a longer simmering time.
    4. When it's flavorful, strain the broth onto a bowl. You can use the boiled turkey as you wish.

    For the homemade gravy:

    1. Have the broth barely simmering over low heat.
    2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, sprinkle the flour over and cook for 2 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly. The mixture will brown and thicken.
    3. Slowly pour in the turkey drippings and a third of the broth as you stir with a whisk. Mix until all the flour lumps are broken up, and the mixture is smooth.
    4. Add salt and spices and stir to integrate everything.
    5. Pour the remaining broth, stirring constantly over low heat until you get the desired thickness. Add more broth if necessary, check seasonings and adjust if needed.
    6. You can use it immediately or let it cool down and refrigerate it for 2 days. If the gravy has cooled and thickened, reheat it over low heat before serving.

    Notes

    • Turkey drippings: they'll be used as part of the liquid if they're available. If not, omit them and substitute them with more flavorful broth. 
    • Turkey parts: drumstick and thigh with bone are recommended because they pack more flavor, but the breast can also be used. 
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Simmering time: 90 minutes
    • Cook Time: 5 minutes
    • Category: Sauces
    • Method: Cooking
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: turkey gravy

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    More Condiments & Sauces

    • Mason jar with avocado ranch dressing on a wooden table. Tomatoes in white background.
      Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing (10-minute recipe)
    • White plate with pork chops, salsa verde and roasted potatoes. A knife, bowl with salsa, white surface.
      Pork Chops with Salsa Verde
    • Yellow shallow ramekin with caramelized Onion Dip surrounded by potato chips
      Caramelized Onion Dip (easy recipe from scratch)
    • Close up of pesto noodles being forked from a white bowl. Light grey background.
      Spinach Pesto Sauce (easy recipe)

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Thank you for leaving a review for this recipe Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Person with apron laughing in a kitchen with electric mixer in hand.

    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for over 30 years, I'm your designated recipe tester, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Several colorful logos on white canvas

    Thanksgiving recipes

    • On a white plate and surface, an eaten slice of sweet potato pie with pecans, a silver fork
      Sweet Potato Pie (with Condensed Milk)
    • Cut sweet potato cinnamon swirl yeast bread with sugar topping on a wooden table.
      Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread
    • Pumpkin pie slice, bitten, topped with whipped cream, on a white plate
      Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Hand lifting slice of brown sugar cheesecake with a cake server from whole cheesecake on a white plate. Grey background.
      Brown Sugar Cheesecake
    • A slice of pumpkin cheesecake topped with cream, grey background
      Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Close up of white plate with arugula pear salad being dressed with vinaigrette in a jar.
      Arugula Pear Salad

    Popular Recipes

    • Square of pumpkin cake with apples and crumble, white greyish surface
      Pumpkin Apple Cake
    • A single golden muffin on a white surface, open paper liner
      Best Oatmeal Muffins
    • Purple bowl with almond cream being lifted with a silver spoon. Grey and white surface and background.
      Frangipane Recipe (almond cream) with video!
    • Lifting a slice of ricotta cheesecake from the whole cake on a white plate with a silver knife. White background.
      Orange Ricotta Cheesecake (crustless)

    Footer

    About

    The author
    Privacy Policy
    Amazon Associate
    Cookie Policy
    Accessibility

    Contact

    Sign Up! for emails and updates
    Contact


    Copyright © 2022 Vintage Kitchen Notes