Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe Highlights

You will love this turkey gravy recipe because it’s…

• Rich & flavorful. We’re making this turkey gravy with turkey drippings, the flavor-packed juices that drip from the bird as it’s roasting. Turkey drippings add a whole new level of flavor to your gravy. (& if you’ve seasoned your turkey with butter, herbs, or maple syrup, you’ll get a hint of these flavors from the drippings as well!) 
• Seriously EASY! How many times can I say this? This is an incredibly easy turkey gravy. If it’s your first time making gravy, don’t sweat it – this is going to be a breeze!
• Ready in minutes! You’ll love how quickly this gravy comes together. We’re only working with a few ingredients here, & most of the hard work has already been done by roasting the turkey (those turkey drippings are everything in this recipe!).

Pure Thanksgiving goodness! ♡ Read on to learn more about this Easy Turkey Gravy recipe, or jump straight to the recipe & get cooking!

Note: full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below.

You will need… 

• Shallot – This bulb vegetable is aromatic, like onions & garlic…basically, it’s a flavor bomb that starts this gravy recipe off strong. Finely dice your shallot & have it ready – we’re going to start by sautéing the shallots in butter & get your kitchen smelling amazing. 
• Dry white wine – Wine helps deepen the rich flavor in this turkey gravy recipe. Grab a bottle of dry white wine like Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, or Sauvignon Blanc from your wine collection for best results!
• Flour vs. cornstarch. Both flour & cornstarch are thickeners that can turn our delicious turkey drippings into a more gravy-like texture. Cornstarch has more thickening power than flour, so you can use less of it & achieve a thicker, shiny texture quickly. BUT we’re skipping the cornstarch here. We’re using flour to make a roux that’s ideal for that rich, creamy, luscious texture we know & love in gravy. It’s the best thickening agent for our easy turkey gravy.
• Turkey Stock. This is easy to buy at the grocery store. Or, as you become a master of all things turkey, you can even make your own (it’s pretty easy too)!
• Turkey drippings – The most important ingredient for this recipe – irresistible turkey drippings!

Ingredient Spotlight ⇢ Why use turkey drippings?

Turkey drippings contain the BEST flavors from your roasted turkey. Using turkey drippings to make gravy creates a rich flavor that just can’t be replicated. What could possibly taste more deliciously turkey-like than turkey drippings?!

Think about it…turkey drippings are made up of all the goodness from your roasted turkey: a combination of all those turkey juices as the bird roasts in the oven AND the flavors of the seasonings you used on the bird, whether that was some herb butter, fresh lemons, or a maple glaze. Everything combines, dripping off your piping hot roasted turkey & gathering in the roasting pan just waiting to be turned into some delicious turkey gravy. 

Since all of this flavor is built right into your roasted Thanksgiving turkey, turkey drippings make creating a rich & flavorful gravy incredibly easy. Plus, when we use turkey drippings we’re not putting any part of the roasted turkey to waste. Making something completely delicious out of turkey drippings puts this by-product to the best use possible. Who knew so much value was waiting for you at the bottom of the roasting pan?!

Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.

Turkey gravy step-by-step instructions:

1. Collect turkey drippings. Those beautiful turkey drippings are just waiting to be transformed into the best gravy. Start by transferring them from the roasting pan to a large liquid measuring cup. You’re going to notice a layer of fat collecting at the top of the liquid – just take a spoon & use it to skim most of the fat off & discard. (But do save some – it’s delicious!) At this point, you should also remove any turkey bones or spent vegetables from the roasting pan.
2. Cook aromatics. It’s time for that aromatic shallot to shine! After placing your roasting pan over low heat, melt your butter & add your diced shallots. Cook them for just a few minutes until the shallots are softened & golden, not crispy & browned.
3. Make a Roux. Now’s the time to build & simmer the turkey gravy. Start by sprinkling flour over the roasting pan, whisking constantly. A darkened roux is going to form, which is just a fancy way to say a mixture of flour & fat. The roux gives our gravy its thickness. Add the wine, reduce the liquid, then add the turkey stock & those delicious turkey drippings. Make sure you keep whisking! This stirring is going to help the gravy get the consistency it needs. When it’s reached the creamy texture you want, you’re all done!
4. Serve & enjoy! Keep your gravy warm until it’s ready to serve & then get ready to pour it alllll over your plate. If a film forms at the surface of the gravy while it’s staying warm, no worries! Just give it a good whisk to incorporate it back into the gravy.

What do I do if my turkey gravy is too thick?

That probably just means you used too much flour or there’s a lot of fat. All you need is more liquid! Whisk in some of your turkey or chicken stock, a few tablespoons at a time, until the gravy is thinned out to your liking. 

What do I do if my turkey gravy is too thin? 

If your gravy is more of a runny, watery texture then you’ll need to add more thickener. We used flour as a thickener when we made a roux at the beginning of this easy turkey gravy recipe. Resist the temptation to just sprinkle more flour in the gravy at this point… that’ll leave you with clumps! 

2 ways to troubleshoot turkey gravy that is too thin:

• Make another roux, separate from the gravy you already have. No sweat, you already know how to do this! Sprinkle some flour over the fatty goodness from your turkey drippings & whisk it together. Then, whisk this new roux into your turkey gravy.
• Create a slurry with cornstarch & cold water. This is a simple quick fix if you’re REALLY having a hard time getting your gravy to thicken. Once you mix the cornstarch with cold water, whisk this slurry into the gravy in small doses. It’ll only take a small amount to make your turkey gravy thicken up!

Does the color of my turkey gravy matter? 

The color of turkey gravy can vary widely from light to dark brown – & it’s all mostly dependent on the spices & seasonings used to make your turkey. So don’t worry about it. Light or dark, your gravy is going to be delicious no matter what.