Add this simple turkey gravy to your Thanksgiving menu! It’s easily made with turkey drippings, broth and a little bit of cornstarch. Enjoy!
Our Go-To Turkey Gravy
Every turkey needs a little gravy whether you’re roasting a whole bird, smoking a turkey or just making turkey legs. And this is our go-to turkey gravy — you’ll love how simple and flavorful it is.
Why you’ll love it!
Super flavorful
Easy to make
Pairs with any variety of turkey
Featured Ingredients
This flavorful turkey gravy comes together with just 3 ingredients — one of which you’ll already have on hand from whatever variety of turkey you’re cooking in your kitchen. You’ll need:
- Turkey drippings / basting liquid: whether you’re roasting or smoking a turkey, you’ll want to save those flavor-filled drippings for the broth.
- Broth: any variety of broth will work! We prefer turkey, but chicken or vegetable broth are also great options.
- Cornstarch: a little goes a long way here! We use 2-3 tablespoons, but if you prefer a thicker gravy, feel free to use more.
try it!
Homemade Chicken Broth
Make our homemade broth to use in this turkey gravy. It’s so flavorful!
How to Make Turkey Gravy
Bring broth & drippings to a boil
Place the basting liquid and broth into a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.
Prepare cornstarch slurry
Remove 1 cup of the liquid and whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the liquid, and whisk until there are no lumps.
Whisk together
Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and whisk over medium/low heat until the mixture thickens.
For a thicker gravy you can remove 1 cup more of the liquid and add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to that cup. Whisk and pour back into the saucepan.
Let stand, then serve
Remove from the heat, salt and pepper to taste, and allow it to thicken for 5-10 minutes before serving with turkey and other sides.
Turkey Variations
We have lots of great Thanksgiving turkey recipes on Fit Foodie Finds and this turkey gravy works with all of them.
Roasted Turkey: check out our classic Roasted Thanksgiving turkey recipe. You’ll love it!
Smoked Turkey: our smoked turkey is a reader favorite!
Spatchcock Turkey: spatchcocking a turkey is one of our favorite cooking methods because it cooks super fast.
Smoked Turkey Legs: while turkey legs are already made with juicy dark meat, a gravy does wonders for flavor!
Top Tips for Turkey Gravy
If you want gravy, but didn’t make a turkey you can use 4 cups of broth instead. We recommend sautéing a few tablespoons of white onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic before adding the broth to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
Feel free to add any classic gravy seasoning or herbs to this recipe. Fresh sage, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, or a mixture would work great. A lot of the flavor for this recipe comes from the basting liquid, so keep that in mind!
For a thicker gravy you can remove 1 cup more of the liquid and add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to that cup. Whisk and pour back into the saucepan.
Latest Thanksgiving Recipes
Storage
Store leftover turkey gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Freezer Directions
Lucky for you, this turkey gravy freezes really well!
- Let it cool completely.
- Then, transfer it into a gallon-size plastic bag or freezer-safe container.
- Remove as much air as possible and then seal.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Turkey Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup turkey basting liquid/drippings
- 3 cups turkey or chicken broth
- 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Place the basting liquid and broth into a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Remove 1 cup of the liquid and whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the liquid. Whisk until there are no lumps.
- Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and whisk over medium/low heat until the mixture thickens (about 5 minutes). If you wish for a thicker gravy you can remove 1 cup more of the liquid and add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to that cup. Whisk and pour back into the saucepan.
- Remove from the heat, salt and pepper to taste, and serve with turkey and other sides.
Tips & Notes
- We use the basting liquid from our Thanksgiving Turkey recipe. If you want gravy, but didn’t make a turkey you can use 4 cups of broth instead. We recommend sautéing a few tablespoons of white onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic before adding the broth to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
- Feel free to add any classic gravy seasoning or herbs to this recipe. Fresh sage, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, or a mixture would work great. A lot of the flavor for this recipe comes from the basting liquid, so keep that in mind!
