Best 3 Rich Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipes

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Indulge in a delectable and hassle-free Thanksgiving feast with our rich and flavorful make-ahead turkey gravy. This versatile recipe serves as the perfect accompaniment to your roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all your favorite holiday dishes. With a simple blend of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can craft a smooth, savory gravy that will elevate your meal to new heights.

Our collection of turkey gravy recipes caters to various preferences and dietary needs. Whether you prefer a classic gravy made from turkey drippings, a creamy mushroom gravy, a luscious red wine gravy, or a vegan-friendly option, we have you covered. Each recipe provides detailed instructions, helpful tips, and ingredient substitutions to ensure your gravy turns out perfectly.

Discover the secrets to creating a rich, flavorful gravy that will impress your family and friends. Learn how to properly brown your turkey for maximum flavor, deglaze the roasting pan to extract all those delicious browned bits, and simmer your gravy to perfection. We'll guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you achieve a gravy that is not only delicious but also complements your Thanksgiving feast perfectly.

So gather your ingredients, prepare your cooking tools, and let's embark on a culinary journey to create a truly memorable Thanksgiving gravy.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY



Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy image

I discovered this excellent Thanksgiving gravy recipe years ago! It is gravy that, unlike most, can be made AHEAD of time. The gravy will keep for 3 months when frozen in an airtight container.

Provided by SUE1956

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

Time 2h30m

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 turkey wings
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
1 cup water
2 quarts chicken broth, divided
¾ cup chopped carrot
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange a single layer of turkey wings in a large roasting pan. Scatter the onions over the top of the wings. Roast in the preheated oven for 1-1/4 hours or until wings are browned.
  • Place browned wings and onions in a 5 quart stockpot. Add water to roasting pan and stir, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour the the water from the pan into the stockpot. Stir in 6 cups broth, carrot, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours.
  • Remove wings from the pot and place on a cutting board. When the wings are cool, pull off the skin and meat. Discard the skin and save the meat for another use. Strain contents of stockpot through a large strainer into a 3 quart saucepan. Press on the vegetables to extract any remaining liquid. Discard the vegetables and skim the fat off the liquid. Bring the contents of the pot to a gentle boil.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk flour into the remaining 2 cups chicken broth until smooth. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the simmering turkey broth; simmer 3-4 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the butter and pepper. Serve immediately or pour into containers and refrigerate or freeze.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 58.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.2 g, Cholesterol 15.2 mg, Fat 2.8 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 17.7 mg, Sugar 0.4 g

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY



Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy image

If you're trying to get ahead of the holidays, you can check gravy off your day-of to-do list. This simple gravy is made with turkey stock (if you happen to have it) or chicken broth, and enriched with a roasted turkey wing, leg or neck. For chicken gravy, you can use leftover wings or bones from a roasted chicken.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     condiment

Time 1h45m

Yield about 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 pound turkey wings, legs or neck pieces, cut into small pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cups homemade turkey stock or low-sodium chicken broth
5 fresh sprigs thyme
2 dried bay leaves
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the turkey pieces on a rimmed baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes.
  • Transfer the roasted turkey pieces to a medium saucepan; scrape up any brown bits from the baking sheet, and add them to the saucepan. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 30 minutes to enrich the stock with roasted-turkey flavor. Strain the liquid into a heat-safe bowl, and keep warm.
  • Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and whisk until the mixture is smooth, toasted and a deep golden brown. Slowly pour in the warm broth, whisking continuously, and continue whisking until the mixture comes to a simmer. Continue to cook, still whisking, until the gravy is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Let the gravy cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
  • To serve, reheat the frozen gravy in a saucepan or a microwave. Be sure to whisk vigorously as the gravy heats up to keep lumps from forming. Adjust the seasoning as needed.

MAKE-AHEAD GRAVY



Make-Ahead Gravy image

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to be hectic and stressful. One way I like to make my day easier is to make my gravy ahead. Make our simple homemade turkey stock, then pan roast turkey bones and vegetables to develop a concentrated turkey flavor base. Do not be intimidated by making your own stock. It's a simple step that can make all the difference to elevate and enrich the flavors of your gravy and Thanksgiving dinner. Chopped turkey bones are very gently simmered with aromatic vegetables on the stovetop for hours, resulting in a delicious, rich turkey stock. Turkey bones are cheap and easy to come by around the holidays, but chicken bones or wings are an acceptable substitute. Add your stock and herbs, simmer, thicken, strain and you have gravy! A great make ahead step, and one less thing to worry about when it's time to get dinner on the table.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     condiment

Time 5h30m

Yield 3 1/2 to 4 cups of gravy and about 8 cups of homemade turkey stock

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound turkey or chicken wings, plus the neck from your turkey if available, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
6 sprigs thyme
4 fresh bay leaves
8 cups homemade turkey stock (recipe follows) or good-quality store-bought turkey or chicken stock
1/2 ounce dried mushrooms, such as shiitakes, porcini or a mix (optional)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 1/2 pounds turkey wings, roughly chopped (or use chicken wings)
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 head garlic, halved crosswise

Steps:

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the turkey wings and cook, undisturbed, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir, then continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, about 5 more minutes. Add the celery, onion and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water, the thyme and bay leaves; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the turkey stock and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Add the dried mushrooms, if using, and simmer until reduced by one-third, about 30 minutes.
  • Mix the butter and flour in a small bowl to make a paste. Stir into the simmering gravy and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large container. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate up to 5 days. Reheat over low heat.
  • Combine the turkey wings, carrots, celery, onion and garlic in a large pot. Add 2 gallons cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low or medium low to maintain a gentle simmer.
  • Simmer the stock about 4 hours, occasionally skimming any scum that rises to the surface with a spoon. Strain into another pot, discarding the bones and vegetables. Let the stock cool completely. (For faster cooling, set the pot of stock in a large bowl; add enough ice water to the bowl to come about halfway up the sides of the pot and let cool, stirring the stock occasionally.) Transfer the stock to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 5 days.

Tips:

  • Make sure to use a roasting pan with a rack to elevate the turkey so that the drippings can collect at the bottom of the pan.
  • Roast the turkey at a high temperature (425°F) for the first 30 minutes to brown the skin, then reduce the heat to 350°F to finish cooking.
  • Baste the turkey with the drippings every 30 minutes to keep it moist and flavorful.
  • Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
  • Use a gravy separator to remove the fat from the drippings before making the gravy.
  • Add some of the roasted turkey meat to the gravy for extra flavor.
  • Season the gravy to taste with salt, pepper, and herbs.

Conclusion:

Making rich and flavorful turkey gravy ahead of time is a great way to save time on Thanksgiving Day. By following these tips, you can easily make a delicious gravy that will complement your turkey and other dishes perfectly.

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