The BEST recipe for turkey gravy to go with your turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, and everything in between!
In addition to my sardonic tips for creating gluten-free gravy and achieving a stunning deep brown hue, this turkey gravy recipe can be used with either oven-roasted or slow-cooked turkey!
There are people who prefer gravy over cranberry sauce when it comes to turkey. Me – I’ve got a foot in both camps.
There’s nothing quite like the combination of turkey with sweet-tart cranberry sauce. But on the other hand, gravy and I are very good friends. You’d be hard pressed to find a roast on this site that doesn’t come with a gravy recipe!!.
I have a regular “formula” I use for all my gravies which I also apply to turkey gravy:
Absolutely! You can easily make delicious gravy from the drippings of a roasted boneless turkey breast Here’s how:
Ingredients:
- Drippings from roasted boneless turkey breast
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Remove the turkey breast from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board. Tent it with foil to keep it warm while you make the gravy.
- Pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a small saucepan over medium heat. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
- Add the butter to the saucepan and let it melt. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the gravy is smooth and thickened. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the gravy hot with your roasted turkey breast.
Tips:
- For a richer gravy, use a combination of chicken broth and turkey stock.
- If you don’t have enough drippings, you can add a little water to the saucepan.
- To make a lump-free gravy, whisk the flour and butter together in a small bowl before adding it to the saucepan.
- You can also add other ingredients to your gravy, such as herbs, spices, or vegetables.
Additional Resources:
- Easy Roasted Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy: https://www.howsweeteats.com/2022/11/easy-roasted-turkey-breast/
- How to Roast a Turkey Breast (and make gravy): https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/how-to-roast-a-turkey-breast-and-make-gravy/
FAQs:
- Can I make gravy from frozen turkey breast drippings?
Yes, you can make gravy from frozen turkey breast drippings. Just thaw the drippings in the fridge for the entire night, and then proceed as directed above.
- How long will turkey gravy last?
Turkey gravy will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze gravy for up to 2 months.
- Can I make gravy without drippings?
Yes, you can make gravy without drippings. Simply use butter, flour, and chicken broth to make a roux. Then, follow the instructions above to finish the gravy.
Enjoy your delicious homemade turkey gravy!
How to darken gravy
Because we don’t achieve caramelization in them, slow cooker turkey gravy is pale unless you use a gravy darkener. The taste is great, it’s just a visual thing that bothers some people (like me!).
Though you can buy gravy darkeners, here’s a cheeky tip for darkening gravy and boosting flavor: use dark soy sauce. I know what you’re thinking, “That’s so Asian!” Since I know a lot about Asian condiments, I did think about it.
But it’s 100% effective. These days, soy sauce is frequently used to season and add salt to non-Asian dishes; it darkens the gravy without adding any Asian flavor. It’s a better version of salt because it has more umami (savouriness) than salt.
Try it – you’ll be converted for life!
Alternative: Worcestershire sauce can also be used but approach with caution because the flavour can overwhelm. You won’t get the same deep brown color—or, if you do, Worcestershire sauce will overpower the gravy flavor.
Here’s a comparison of the two gravies. On the left is the gravy for Juicy Roast Turkey made using the pan drippings. A natural deep brown colour.
And on the right is the gravy from the Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Turkey Breast I shared recently.
The two methods yield a very flavorful gravy that you will want to pour over everything, despite their differences.
Enjoy! – Nagi x
PS: I always include a gravy recipe with my turkey recipes, but you can also browse through them here. .
How to make Turkey Gravy
Use 1. 5 tbsp pan drippings or butter plus 1. 5 tbsp flour for every 1 cup of broth/stock. Simmer until thickened, season to taste. Strain if required then serve.