Homemade Thanksgiving Gravy Using Turkey Drippings
It’s really not Thanksgiving without gravy. Sure, turkey is always going to be the star of the show but without gravy adorning it, it’s definitely not the same. Nor are mashed potatoes. We don’t say mashed potatoes and butter. We say mashed potatoes and gravy because we all know they’re infinitely better with a puddle of gravy in the middle. I’m sharing my recipe for the best homemade turkey gravy. It turns out perfectly every time, there’s no more guesswork wondering if it will turn out or will it be lumpy or this or that. No! It’s going to be perfect gravy. Best yet, there are only 5 minutes of active cooking time before you have yourself some turkey gravy from drippings that the whole family is going to adore!
Ingredients for Making Turkey Dripping Gravy
Making homemade gravy with drippings doesn’t need to involve all kinds of things that people think are necessary. For instance, I don’t use bullion cubes or cornstarch in my recipe. All you’ll need are these simple ingredients:
Turkey drippings (theoretically you can cheat and use turkey stock although I highly recommend turkey drippings over stock) Fat (from a roasted turkey or slow cooker turkey breast or if you’re not roasting a turkey first, use butter) All-purpose flour Fresh parsley Fresh thyme Black pepper Kosher salt
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Collect Turkey Drippings for Gravy
The first step to this Thanksgiving gravy recipe is to collect the most important ingredient — the drippings! To do this, carefully remove your piping hot turkey from the roasting pan and onto a cutting board or serving platter. Then, ladle the drippings on the bottom of the roasting dish to a saucepan or bowl. From there, you’ll need to separate the fat from the drippings before making the easy homemade gravy.
How to Separate the Fat From Turkey Drippings
When making homemade gravy from drippings, you MUST separate the fat from the drippings or else your gravy will be greasy rather than rich and creamy.
Option 1: Use a Fat Separator (Recommended) — A fat separator is a very handy and inexpensive gadget that helps you separate the fat from the drippings, while also staining out any unwanted bits. Option 2: Let Rest in a Bowl for 30 Minutes — Put all the drippings into a very large bowl and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes so all the fat rises to the top. Then, using a ladle, carefully spoon all the fat off the top into another bowl. Option 3: Chill to Separate the Fat — Put the bowl with all the drippings in the fridge or freezer. The fat rises to the top and solidifies, making it super easy to take off the top.
How to Make Gravy from Turkey Drippings
Now that I’ve clarified in depth and detail drippings, fat, and how to separate the two, making homemade Thanksgiving gravy really is an easy process!
More Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes:
Creamed Corn Casserole — 🌽😋💛 The EASIEST holiday side dish you’ll ever make! This CREAMY corn casserole is a simple stir-and-bake affair that can be made in advance! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy Green Bean Casserole — A fresher take on classic green bean casserole! No processed soups nor canned ingredients and instead made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, red onions, and a cheesy crispy breadcrumb topping that will have the whole family going back for seconds! The Best Mashed Potatoes — Buttery, creamy, PERFECT mashed potatoes that rival your favorite restaurant’s version but EASY and ready in 45 minutes!! The quintessential holiday side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a great family-friendly weeknight comfort food side dish!! Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing – Nothing frilly or trendy. Classic, amazing, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!! Simple ingredients with stellar results! It’ll be your new go-to recipe!! Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping – The holiday classic just got even better because of the amazing topping! A buttery, brown sugary, crunch that’s irresistible! Easy and you can pre-assemble to save time! Cabernet Cranberry and Blueberry Sauce – Make your own cranberry sauce with amazing depth of flavor in 30 minutes! The best cranberry sauce you will EVER have, guaranteed! Roasted Rainbow Carrots — Lightly caramelized around the edges, crisp-tender in the center, and seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and parsley!! A trusty side that you’ll make again and again for holidays or easy weeknight dinners!!
