Thanksgiving just isn’t the same without the most perfect turkey gravy to pair with your turkey and creamy mashed potatoes, am I right?!
Every year I make this incredible turkey with pure maple syrup and an herb butter and I’m telling you the drippings made all the difference. It’s like a perfect salted gravy with a hint of savory herbs and sweet maple. TOO GOOD!
With that delicious turkey, I’ll (of course) be making my famous turkey gravy recipe this year. It’s super simple — all you need is turkey or chicken drippings. So let’s get to it!
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Ingredients in homemade turkey gravy
You’ll need just four simple ingredients to make this easy turkey gravy recipe. It comes together quickly and will be a favorite on your Thanksgiving table! Here’s what you need to make it:
- Butter: you’ll add some butter to a skillet to help create a roux with the flour as the base for the turkey gravy.
- Flour: a bit of all-purpose flour will help thicken the gravy to the right consistency. No cornstarch necessary!
- Turkey drippings: the key to a good turkey gravy is to use the pan drippings from the turkey you cook. That way, it’s plenty rich and flavorful without needing to add extra ingredients like heavy cream. Get my best-ever turkey recipe here!
- Salt & pepper: to perfectly season the turkey gravy.
- Extras: feel free to add some fresh herbs like rosemary, parsley, and thyme.
Do I need to use the giblets?
Giblets are the neck, heart, and other organs of the turkey that some people use to make their gravy. I don’t use them in this recipe, so you can feel free to toss them when you’re preparing your turkey.
Can I keep it gluten-free?
Absolutely! Simply use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour in place of the regular flour.
How to make turkey gravy (4 simple steps!)
Start with my amazing herb butter maple roasted turkey and go from there! This is how to make gravy from turkey drippings:
- Measure out the drippings. Make sure you have enough turkey drippings and stock to equal about 4 cups. If you don’t have enough turkey drippings from your roasting pan, you can always make up the difference by adding chicken broth to equal 4 cups total.
- Make a roux, then add drippings. Add butter to a large skillet or saucepan and place it over medium-high heat. Melt butter, whisk in a little bit of flour, and then slowly add in the drippings/stock, a little bit at a time, alternating with the flour and vigorously whisking away any lumps.
- Simmer & thicken. Reduce the heat, bring the mixture to a simmer (not a boil), and allow it to thicken up for a few minutes. Stir occasionally and add more stock to thin if necessary.
- Taste & adjust. Taste and add freshly ground salt and pepper if needed. Sometimes I like to add an extra teaspoon or two of chopped herbs, it just depends on what kind of gravy you like!
How to make turkey gravy without drippings
If you have a pre-cooked turkey (or are skipping turkey altogether), feel free to just use turkey or chicken stock to make the gravy. However, I do really recommend using real drippings or even a little bacon grease as the flavor is a GAME changer.
Tips for making perfect turkey gravy
- Be sure to add the drippings slowly to the roux to avoid any clumping (instead of pouring it all in at once).
- Note that it’s easier to thin your gravy by adding drippings than to thicken it, so be mindful when adding more drippings or stock.
- Once you serve the gravy and it sits at room temperature, it will naturally thicken — so keep that in mind as you thin it out.
- Double this recipe if you’re serving more than 4-6 people!
Store it for later
Store this simple homemade turkey gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat the gravy on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.
This is a great way to make the gravy ahead of time and store it until you’re ready to serve it at Thanksgiving.
Can you freeze turkey gravy?
Yes! Let the gravy cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe bag, container, or even ice tray. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the gravy in the refrigerator before reheating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Tools you’ll need
- Baster (for getting the drippings)
- Large skillet
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
- Gravy boat
Get my go-to Thanksgiving essentials here, and kitchen tools here!
What to serve with homemade turkey gravy
Check out all of my Thanksgiving recipes here, plus a few suggestions for what to serve with (and pour this gravy onto):
- Parmesan Bacon Sourdough Mushroom Stuffing
- Roasted Garlic and Herb Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes (so creamy!)
- The Best Homemade Healthy Green Bean Casserole
- Dad’s Creamy & Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes
- Lightened Up Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Oat Streusel
- Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Gratin
And remember, get my tips for hosting Thanksgiving here!
I hope you love this easy homemade turkey gravy recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment & a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Homemade Turkey Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour (or use whole wheat or all purpose gluten free flour)
- 3-4 cups turkey drippings/stock (plus additional chicken broth if necessary)
- Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
- Extra herbs (rosemary + thyme), if desired
Instructions
- First make sure you have enough turkey drippings + stock to equal about 4 cups. If you don’t have enough turkey drippings, you can always make up the difference by adding chicken broth to equal 4 cups total.
- Add butter to a large skillet and place over medium high heat. Once butter is melted, whisk in a little bit of flour and then slowly add in the drippings/stock, a little bit at a time, alternating with the flour and vigorously whisking away any lumps. I add in around 3-3 ½ cups to start, then see if I need to add more to make the gravy the perfect consistency.
- Bring the gravy to a simmer (not a boil) and allow it to thicken up for a minute or two, stirring occasionally. Add more stock to thin if necessary. Taste and add freshly ground salt and pepper, if needed. Sometimes I like to add an extra teaspoon or two of chopped herbs such as rosemary or thyme to add more flavor, it just depends what kind of gravy you like! Serves 4-6. Double if you want to serve more.
Recipe Notes
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on November 23rd, 2022, republished on November 20th, 2023, republished on November 26th, 2024, and republished on November 25th, 2025.
Turned out well, I chill broth and take off fat first. Then make this, I like a thinner gravy so went half on flour, and I skip butter as I am a calorie cutter. I mix some flour with a small amount of broth then start to heat it up , and add the rest of the broth. Made the turkey shin. Thanks.
Perfect!!
I almost…ALMOST… bought premade gravy but I’m glad I didn’t. I made everything else from scratch so what’s one more thing, right? This is a great recipe – simple and delicious! I used some bone broth in addition to the pan drippings and turkey juice. It came out fantastic! Thanks
So glad you made this one!!
Delicious! I used extra flour as I was using GF flour and it didn’t seem to token as well as I would have liked. Once I added the extra flour it turned out perfectly!
Glad to hear it came out great!
I’ve never made my own gravy and you gave me the confidence to finally do it. This turned out sooo good and so easy. This will always be my go-to now.
Amazing! I’m so glad 🙂
Made exactly as directions indicated, using homemade turkey stock and it came out amazing! This was my first time making from scratch gravy and it was very simple. So much better than store-bought. Thanks, Monique!!
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!