• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ahead of Thyme logo

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Work With Us
    • Press
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • Food Blogger Business School
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Turkey » Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy

    15 Comments

    3K Shares
    Pin3K
    Yum132
    Share12
    Tweet
    More
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Thanksgiving dinner is just not the same without thick and creamy, classic homemade turkey gravy made from leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. There is seriously no need for powdered gravy if you are already making a roast turkey dinner!!

    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com

    To save time (and free up prime stovetop real estate), you can prepare the turkey stock in advance. You can then store the stock in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it the next day. Unfortunately, we cannot make the whole gravy in advance because putting the gravy together requires those turkey drippings which will only be ready once the turkey is ready. The thought of that kind of sends me into panic mode so thank goodness the gravy only takes about 10-15 minutes to come together!! Breathes sigh of relief. 

    After roasting that bird for a few hours you will end up with about a cup of drippings, or as I like to call it, a cup of Thanksgiving heaven. Don't be alarmed if you think a cup not enough. It is more than enough. That cup of all-encompassing mixture of holiday seasonings and flavour goes a long way. Way longer than any package of powdered gravy ever can. We will use those juicy drippings to create a roux and we will be adding our turkey stock to bulk it up.

    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com

    What is a roux?

    A roux is a fancy word for a cooked mixture used to thicken sauces and gravies. It is a mixture of one part fat (oil from turkey drippings) and one part flour which thickens the sauce without making it clumpy. If you recall, I used a roux in my classic baked macaroni and cheese recipe.

    In other words, our perfect gravy wouldn't exist without it. Thank you fancy french cooking techniques!

    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com

     

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com

    Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy


    ★★★★★

    4.8 from 5 reviews

    • Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4 cups
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock.


    Ingredients

    Turkey Stock:

    • turkey neck and giblets (or turkey neck only)
    • 2 carrots, coarsely chopped
    • 2 ribs of celery, coarsely chopped
    • 1 onion, quartered
    • 2 cloves garlic, whole
    • 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
    • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
    • 2-3 fresh sage leaves
    • 6 cups water

    Gravy:

    • 4 tablespoons fat from turkey drippings
    • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • juice from turkey drippings
    • homemade turkey stock (instructions below)
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Make the Turkey Stock:

    1. In a large pot, add turkey neck, giblets (optional), carrots, celery, onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage and water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and maintain a simmer. Cover and simmer for 2 hours . Strain the turkey stock in a mesh sieve and discard solids. Set aside.

    Make the Gravy:

    1. Remove your cooked turkey from the roasting pan and pour the drippings and brown bits into a clear measuring cup. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the fat and juices to separate.
    2. Remove the fat by tilting the measuring cup gently and use a spoon to skim out the fat. Place the fat in a small bowl and set aside.
    3. Add turkey stock to the juices until you have 4 cups of liquid in total.
    4. In a medium saucepan, add 4 tablespoons of fat and heat over medium high heat. Add flour and whisk together. Cook for a few minutes.
    5. Add the liquid mixture slowly and whisk continuously to prevent clumping. As the sauce thickens, add more liquid.
    6. Allow mixture to come to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes uncovered. If you prefer a thicker gravy, continue to simmer until it reaches a consistency that you like.
    7. Strain the gravy through a mesh sieve. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    • Prep Time: 2 hours
    • Cook Time: 15 mins
    • Category: Sauce
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    The Easiest, Best and Juiciest Roast Turkey

    Get the recipe HERE!!  This turkey cooks faster than traditional methods and requires NO brining!

    Make Thanksgiving easier with the best and juiciest roast turkey ever! It cooks faster and requires NO brining! | aheadofthyme.com

    Check out Some of my Favourite Holiday Dishes:

    • The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes - Ready in under 30 minutes, these potatoes are so velvety and so smooth!
    • Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts - Also ready in under 30 minutes, there tender and caramelized, easy roasted brussels sprouts are tossed in balsamic vinegar and honey.
    • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - The most pinned soup on Pinterest sums up the taste of the holidays in one spoon. Rosemary, sage and thyme, need I say more?
    • Easy Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce - Take the stress out of the holidays and prepare easy make-ahead cranberry sauce days before the big holiday dinner! Ready in only 15 minutes!
    • Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower - Imagine having a nice big serving of mashed potatoes but with a quarter of the calories. Now you can with creamy garlic mashed cauliflower! Cooks in 15 minutes!
    • Apple Walnut Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette - Throw together crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and sweet cranberries for a taste of the holidays in a salad.
    • Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter - When it is inconvenient to grill your corn on the cob, try buttery, oven-roasted corn on the cob with garlic butter instead!
    • Classic Baked Mac and Cheese - The ultimate comfort food: creamy, cheesy, classic baked macaroni and cheese with a crunchy topping cooks in 30 minutes.
    • Cranberry Walnut Apple Stuffing - Cranberry walnut bread paired with sautéed apples, onions and rosemary is exactly what your holiday table needs!
    Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy: Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com
    Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock. | aheadofthyme.com
    Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy
    3K Shares
    Pin3K
    Yum132
    Share12
    Tweet
    More
    « Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
    Pecan Pie in a Mug »

    Stay Updated

    Subscribe now to receive all the latest recipes, tips and news directly to your inbox.
    * indicates required
    How often would you like to receive recipe updates

    Food Blogger Business School | foodbloggerbusinessschool.com

    Food Blogger Business School

    A step-by-step program that teaches food bloggers how to grow and scale their blogs into a full-time business

    in less time and without posting endless content until you burn out.

    LEARN MORE

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rose says

      November 26, 2016 at 9:08 am

      Once you've had homemade gravy, you'll never go back! Creating a roux makes the gravy so thick and flavorful.

      Reply
    2. Fabiola Rodriguez says

      November 24, 2016 at 7:34 pm

      So yummy! Mom always makes homemade gravy. It's so much better than powdered. I pinned for future reference.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Kim MIller says

      November 23, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      I never thought of make a roux for turkey gravy. I always just put the flour into the broth. I will do it this way this year though.It sounds superb. I make a roux for my green chili and sausage gravy and it is the best.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Quick and easy recipes for the everyday home cook, using fresh, seasonal and wholesome ingredients -- from healthy meals to take-out to comfort foods. | aheadofthyme.com

    Hi, we're Sam and Dan! We like to help busy people eat real food that tastes good. Here, you can find hundreds of delicious, quick and easy recipes, using quality and wholesome ingredients. Read more about us

    Stay Updated

    Subscribe now to receive all the latest recipes, tips and news directly to your inbox.
    * indicates required
    How often would you like to receive recipe updates

    Food Blogger Business School | foodbloggerbusinessschool.com

    Food Blogger Business School

    A step-by-step program that teaches food bloggers how to grow and scale their blogs into a full-time business

    in less time and without posting endless content until you burn out.

    LEARN MORE

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About Ahead of Thyme

    Hello and welcome! I'm Sam -- the founder of Ahead of Thyme, where we help busy people eat real food that tastes good. Here, you will find hundreds of delicious, quick and easy recipes, using quality and wholesome ingredients. So stay a while, browse around, and make something tasty for dinner tonight.

    • RSS Feed
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Work with Us
    • Shop
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Food Blogger Business School
    • Newsletter

    Browse

    • 60+ Easy Dinners
    • 60+ Chicken Recipes
    • 25+ Ground Beef Recipes
    • 40+ Pasta Recipes
    • 50+ Bread Recipes
    • 25+ Air Fryer Recipes
    • Dessert

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

    Copyright © 2021 Ahead of Thyme Incorporated