Best 2 Make Ahead Turkey And Gravy Recipes

**Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food. And what's more classic than a roasted turkey with gravy? This year, make your holiday meal even easier by preparing your turkey and gravy ahead of time. With these recipes, you can have a perfectly cooked turkey and homemade gravy ready to go, leaving you more time to enjoy your guests and the festivities.**

**These recipes include:**

* **Make-Ahead Turkey:** This recipe shows you how to roast a turkey breast or whole turkey up to 3 days in advance. Simply follow the instructions and then store the cooked turkey in the refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to serve.
* **Make-Ahead Gravy:** This recipe makes a rich and flavorful gravy that can be made up to 2 days in advance. Simply follow the instructions and then store the gravy in the refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to serve.
* **Easy Mashed Potatoes:** This recipe for easy mashed potatoes is the perfect side dish for your turkey and gravy. They're creamy, fluffy, and made with just a few simple ingredients.
* **Roasted Vegetables:** This recipe for roasted vegetables is a healthy and delicious way to round out your Thanksgiving meal. Simply toss your favorite vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper and then roast them in the oven until tender.
* **Cranberry Sauce:** This recipe for cranberry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving side dish. It's made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice and has a tart and tangy flavor.

**With these recipes, you'll have a delicious Thanksgiving meal that's sure to impress your guests. So gather your family and friends, and get ready to celebrate!**

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY AND GRAVY

Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy image

Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that's ready to serve when you are. It's a great choice for potlucks, too. -Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 5h5m

Yield 16 servings (2-1/2 cups gravy).

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
FOR SERVING:
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning and pepper. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Roast, uncovered, 30 minutes. In a 4-cup measuring cup, mix broth, herbs, lemon peel and juice, and garlic; pour over turkey. Roast, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 3 to 3-1/2 hours, basting occasionally with broth mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly., Remove turkey from pan; let stand at least 20 minutes before carving. Skim fat from cooking juices., To freeze: Carve turkey and place in shallow freezer containers. Pour cooking juices over turkey; cool slightly, about 1 hour. Cover and freeze up to 3 months., To serve: Partially thaw turkey in refrigerator overnight. Preheat oven to 350°. Transfer turkey and cooking juices to a large baking dish. Pour 1-1/2 cups broth over top. Bake, covered, until a thermometer inserted in turkey reads 165°, 50-60 minutes., To prepare gravy: Remove turkey to a platter, reserving broth mixture; keep warm. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth mixture; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 480 calories, Fat 22g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 218mg cholesterol, Sodium 434mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 64g protein.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY WITH PORCINI MUSHROOMS AND MARSALA WINE

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy with Porcini Mushrooms and Marsala Wine image

With this make-ahead gravy on the menu, there's no scrambling to make gravy when the turkey comes out of the oven.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Gravy Recipes Turkey Gravy Recipes

Time 5h55m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
4 turkey necks
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
⅓ cup Marsala wine
2 quarts cold water
1 bay leaf
2 garlic cloves
¼ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
¼ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1 cup hot water
¼ cup butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Brown turkey necks in hot oil, about 6 minutes per side. Add the onion, celery, and carrots; cook until the vegetables begin to soften and brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in the Marsala wine, and scrape and dissolve any browned meat and vegetable bits off the bottom of the pan. Raise heat to high; cook until liquid is reduced by half.
Stir in 2 quarts of cold water, bay leaf, garlic cloves, and 1/4 ounce dried porcini mushrooms. Bring to a simmer, and turn heat to low. As stock simmers, skim and discard any foam that comes to the top. Cover partially, and simmer on very low heat for 4-5 hours. Strain out solids, and set broth aside to cool.
In a bowl, cover 1/4 ounce dried porcini with 1 cup hot water; allow to rehydrate for 10 minutes. Remove mushrooms from water, and chop fine. Heat 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, and brown mushrooms, about 10 minutes. Stir flour into mushrooms and butter, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Whisk in broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, and raise heat to medium high; bring gravy to a boil.
Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook gravy until reduced and thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir often. Just before serving, stir in cream, and season with salt and black pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.5 g, Cholesterol 65.1 mg, Fat 7.5 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 12.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 56.1 mg, Sugar 0.9 g

Tips:

Thaw the turkey properly: Place the frozen turkey breast in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 4-5 pounds of turkey. You can also thaw the turkey in cold water by submerging it completely in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes. For a 12-14 pound turkey, it will take about 6-8 hours to thaw.
Brine the turkey: Brining helps to keep the turkey moist and flavorful. To brine the turkey, dissolve 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of brown sugar in 1 gallon of water. Submerge the turkey in the brine solution and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
Roast the turkey at a low temperature: This will help to prevent the turkey from drying out. Roast the turkey at 325°F for 13-15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Make the gravy ahead of time: This will save you time on Thanksgiving Day. To make the gravy, remove the turkey from the roasting pan and place it on a carving board. Pour the pan juices into a saucepan and skim off any excess fat. Add the chicken broth, flour, and seasonings to the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened.
Carve the turkey and serve: Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving. Then, carve the turkey into slices and serve with the gravy, stuffing, and your favorite side dishes.

Conclusion:

Making turkey and gravy ahead of time is a great way to save time and stress on Thanksgiving Day. By following these tips, you can ensure that your turkey is moist, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So, go ahead and give this recipe a try! You and your family will love it.