Thanksgiving is incomplete without a rich, flavorful gravy to accompany the turkey, complementing its savory goodness. This article presents a collection of the best turkey gravy recipes, catering to diverse preferences and skill levels. From classic gravy made with pan drippings to unique variations featuring ingredients like mushrooms, herbs, and wine, these recipes offer a range of options to elevate your Thanksgiving feast. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions, tips for achieving the perfect consistency, and suggestions for enhancing the flavor profile. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, you'll find a gravy recipe here that will make your turkey the star of the show.
Let's cook with our recipes!
THE BEST TURKEY GRAVY RECIPE
Silky smooth and perfectly rich, this really is the BEST Turkey Gravy recipe around! There's nothing better than topping creamy mashed potatoes with the most amazing turkey gravy and this recipe delivers - every single time.
Provided by Trish - Mom On Timeout
Categories Side Dish
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Transfer the fat to a large saucepan over medium heat. Let the fat melt and then sprinkle on the flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir continuously until the fat and flour have formed a homogeneous mixture. Continue stirring until the flour browns slightly, this takes 4 to 5 minutes.
- If your drippings have cooled down, heat them up in the microwave for thirty seconds or more until they are nice and hot. (If you have less drippings than the recipe calls for, supplement with turkey broth or chicken broth.)
- Whisk in the hot drippings slowly into the roux. Keep whisking until the liquids are fully incorporated.
- Bring the gravy to a simmer and continue simmering until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper and for the final step...stir in one tablespoon of butter or heavy cream.
- Serve hot in a gravy boat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 174 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Fat 18 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Cholesterol 19 mg, Sodium 28 mg, ServingSize 1 serving
CLASSIC TURKEY GRAVY
Making turkey gravy recipes is simple when you have the right proportions of ingredients. This version tastes delicious and will become your go-to gravy for every holiday dinner. -Virginia Watson, Kirksville, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 15m
Yield 2 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Pour turkey drippings into a 2-cup measuring cup. Skim fat, reserving 2 tablespoons; set aside. Add enough broth to the drippings to measure 2 cups., In a small saucepan, combine flour and reserved fat until smooth. Gradually stir in the drippings mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 45 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 127mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
PERFECT ROAST TURKEY WITH BEST-EVER GRAVY
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 6h
Yield 18 servings with about 7 cups
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Position a rack in the lowest position of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
- Reserve the turkey neck and giblets to use in gravy or stock. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat the turkey skin dry. Turn the turkey on its breast. Loosely fill the neck cavity with stuffing. Using a thin wooden or metal skewer, pin the neck skin to the back. Fold the turkey's wings akimbo behind the back or tie to the body with kitchen string. Loosely fill the large body cavity with stuffing. Place any remaining stuffing in a lightly buttered casserole, cover and refrigerate to bake as a side dish. Place the drumsticks in the hock lock or tie together with kitchen string.
- Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Rub all over with the softened butter. Season with salt and pepper. Tightly cover the breast area with aluminum foil. Pour 2 cups of the turkey stock into the bottom of the pan.
- Roast the turkey, basting all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan (lift up the foil to reach the breast area), until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh (but not touching the bone) reads 180 degrees and the stuffing is at least 160 degrees, about 4 1/2 hours. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Remove the foil during the last hour to allow the skin to brown.
- Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Drizzle 1/2 cup turkey stock over the stuffing in the casserole, cover, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a heatproof glass bowl or large measuring cup. Let stand for 5 minutes, then skim off and reserve the clear yellow fat that has risen to the top. Measure 3/4 cup fat, adding melted butter if needed. Add enough turkey stock to the skimmed drippings to make 8 cups total.
- Place the roasting pan on two stove burners over low heat and add the turkey fat. Whisk in the flour, scraping up browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the turkey stock and the optional bourbon. Cook, whisking often, until the gravy has thickened and no trace of raw flour remains, about 5 minutes. Transfer the gravy to a warmed gravy boat. Carve the turkey and serve the gravy and the stuffing alongside
THE BEST TURKEY GRAVY
This gravy takes a little work but it is sooooooo worth the time and effort.
Provided by JULZBROWN
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Gravy Recipes Turkey Gravy Recipes
Time 3h35m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Remove the wrapping, and place the giblets and turkey neck into a large saucepan with onion, celery, white pepper, and turkey gravy mix. Pour the chicken broth over the mixture, bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the turkey liver and set aside. Allow the stock to simmer for 2 1/2 more hours. Stock should equal about 3 cups; add more chicken broth if necessary. Remove the giblets and chop them if you want to put them back into the gravy. Chop the liver if desired. Strain the stock into a saucepan; discard bones and spent vegetables.
- When the turkey is finished roasting, pour the drippings into a fat separator or bowl, and skim off the fat. In a bowl, whisk the quick-mixing flour with the pan drippings until smooth, then whisk the flour mixture into the stock. Bring the gravy mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, and add the chopped giblets, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229.4 calories, Carbohydrate 4.9 g, Cholesterol 42.2 mg, Fat 20.3 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 6.6 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 142.9 mg, Sugar 1 g
BEST GRAVY EVER
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories condiment
Time 25m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Remove the turkey from the roasting pan and set aside to rest. Leave the drippings from the turkey in the pan and place the roasting pan over medium heat. Add the broth and wine at the same time. Whisk to combine, scraping the bottom of the pan until all of the bits have come loose. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes in order to reduce the mixture slightly. Transfer the liquid to a fat separator and let sit for 5 minutes to allow fat to separate. Return 2/3 to 3/4 cup of the fat to the roasting pan and place over medium-high heat. Discard any remaining fat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook, whisking continuously, until the mixture starts to thicken and become smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Once this happens, gradually add the liquid back to the pan and whisk until smooth and you have reached your desired consistency, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Remember, your gravy should be slightly thin in the pan as it will thicken once you serve it. Add the herbs and whisk to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
- 2 to 3 days before roasting:
- Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.
- Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.
- Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:
- Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
- Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.
- Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.
- Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.
- Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 151 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
CLASSIC TURKEY GRAVY
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 3h
Yield 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- When your turkey goes into the oven, start the broth: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and turkey neck and giblets; cook, stirring, until the giblets are browned, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken broth, herb sprigs and bay leaf; cover and simmer while the turkey roasts, about 2 hours. Strain the broth and keep warm; reserve the neck and giblets, if desired.
- When your turkey is done, transfer it to a cutting board and pour all the pan drippings into a degreasing cup. Add 1/2 cup of the prepared broth to the roasting pan and scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. (If the bits are stuck, put the pan over a low burner to loosen them.) Add the bits and liquid to the degreasing cup.
- Let the fat rise to the top of the degreasing cup, then spoon off 1/2 cup fat and transfer to a large saucepan over medium heat. Make a roux: Sprinkle the flour into the pan and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the flour browns slightly, about 4 minutes.
- Gradually add the hot broth to the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Pour the dark roasting juices from the degreasing cup into the gravy, discarding any remaining fat. If desired, chop the giblets and shred the neck meat; add to the gravy. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flavored butter, if desired.
- Start with cold heavy cream and mix on high speed.
- After about 3 minutes, you'll have whipped cream; continue mixing.
- After about 6 more minutes, the butter will clump and separate from the liquid. Strain and wrap the butter in cheesecloth, then squeeze out the liquid.
- Tip: To make perfect rounds, shape flavored butter into a log using parchment paper; wrap and chill, then slice.
- Pumpkin
- Mash 1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin, 1 stick softened butter, 1/4 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon each sugar and pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt.
- Spiced Cranberry
- Simmer 1/2 cup cranberries with 1 tablespoon water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 strip lemon zest, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 clove, 6 to 8 minutes. Discard the zest, cinnamon and clove; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter and a pinch of salt.
- Bourbon-Raisin
- Microwave 1/2 cup raisins with 1 tablespoon bourbon, covered, 45 seconds; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter, 1 tablespoon chopped chives and a pinch of salt.
- Sage Brown Butter
- Melt 1 stick butter over medium heat and cook until browned. Add 1/4 cup sage and fry 30 seconds; drain on paper towels, then chop. Let the brown butter cool; mash with 1 stick softened butter, the sage and a pinch of salt.
THE BEST (DO-AHEAD) TURKEY GRAVY
Thought I'd post this recipe I found in the Nov. 2002 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine early (for those who don't suscribe). I have always made my turkey gravy (in large quantities) in advance of cooking Thanksgiving dinner (only so many burners, and limited oven space available on "turkey day"). I'm posting this recipe because I think its better than the one I've used for years, and any "short cut/advanced prep" that frees up oven/burner space on "turkey day" is a big help to me, so I wanted to share it with all my Zaar friends :) This recipe can be prepared up to 3 days in advance of serving, and reheated in the microwave when needed. BTW: Turkey wings can usually be had at a major discount at most supermarkets/butchers prior to the holidays, since they frequently remove the wings when they "package" the breast roasts. Ask your poultry supplier/butcher to put some aside for you ;)
Provided by Dee514
Categories Sauces
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 Cups (approx)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In deep 12 inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add turkey wings and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until golden on all sides.
- Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook 8-10 minutes or until turkey wings and vegetables are browned, stirring frequently.
- Transfer turkey and vegetables to a large bowl.
- Add wine to skillet, and stir until browned bits are loosened.
- Return turkey and veggies to skillet.
- Stir in broth, thyme and 3 cups water, heat to boiling over high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes.
- Strain into an 8-cup measure or a large bowl; discard solids.
- Let broth stand a few seconds until fat separates from meat juice.
- Spoon 1/4 cup fat from broth into 2-quart saucepan; skim and discard any remaining fat.
- Add flour to fat in saucepan; cook, stirring over medium heat until flour turns golden brown.
- Gradually whisk in reserved broth and cook until gravy boils and thickens slightly, stirring constantly.
- Pour gravy into a 2-quart container or medium bowl, cover and refrigerate.
- At serving time, reheat gravy and add pan drippings (and/or cooked diced giblets) from the roast turkey if you like.
- Gravy can be reheated in microwave prior to serving.
Tips:
- Use a roasting pan with a rack. This will allow the fat from the turkey to drip away, resulting in a more flavorful gravy.
- Roast the turkey at a high temperature for a short amount of time. This will help to brown the turkey and create a flavorful fond in the bottom of the pan.
- Make sure to deglaze the roasting pan with white wine or broth. This will help to dissolve the fond and create a flavorful base for the gravy.
- Add aromatics to the roasting pan. This could include onions, carrots, celery, garlic, or herbs. These ingredients will help to flavor the gravy.
- Let the gravy simmer for a while. This will help to develop the flavors and thicken the gravy.
- Strain the gravy before serving. This will remove any solids and make the gravy smooth and lump-free.
Conclusion:
Making turkey gravy is a great way to add flavor and moisture to your Thanksgiving meal. By following these tips, you can make a delicious gravy that will be sure to impress your family and friends. So, next time you're making turkey, don't forget to make some gravy!
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