Don’t let a lack of turkey drippings stop you from enjoying homemade turkey gravy with your roast! Make rich, savory turkey gravy without drippings with this simple stovetop recipe. Pantry staple ingredients, make-ahead and gluten-free options.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s quick and easy. This easy recipe will deliver a smooth, delicious gravy in a few simple steps.
- No drippings required. Make a rich, savory gravy without roasting a whole bird. Perfect for when you cook a turkey breast or other cut that doesn’t yield drippings like this air fryer turkey breast, or this turkey tenderloin sheetpan recipe.
- Make-ahead. You can make this gravy ahead of time before cooking your turkey.
Scroll down for the printable card for this no-dripping turkey gravy recipe, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
- Butter. Typically gravy is made with fat from drippings, but for this recipe, we will use butter. Salted or unsalted is fine.
- Stock. You can use turkey or chicken stock (or broth), or a combination of the two.
- Flour. All-purpose flour is used to create a roux, which thickens the gravy and gives it a silky texture.
- Seasonings. Salt and pepper are essential seasonings for this recipe, but you can also add other seasonings such as thyme, sage, rosemary, and/or onion powder to season the gravy. Feel free to adjust according to your own preferences.
Cornstarch (or cornflour 🇬🇧) can be used as an alternative to flour, or if you need to make gluten-free turkey gravy. However, the texture will be a little different from traditional gravy, being clear rather than opaque. Use half the amount stated in the recipe for flour.
Note: For make-ahead turkey gravy opt to use flour rather than cornstarch if you can, as it is much easier to reheat.
How to make turkey gravy without drippings
This recipe is very simple to prepare, there are just a few key steps to getting it just right:
- Heat the butter over medium-low heat in a small saucepan until it’s melted.
- Mix in the flour, and cook, stirring, until it’s a golden color. This should take about 3 minutes.
- Gradually add the stock, while whisking constantly. Whisking helps to prevent lumps from forming in your gravy.
- Add your seasonings, like salt, pepper, thyme, sage, and rosemary, adjusting the amounts based on your taste preferences.
- Bring your gravy to a simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens.
Note: if substituting cornstarch:
- Mix the cornflour with an equal amount of water or stock.
- Melt the butter, then add the stock and whisk.
- Gradually add the cornstarch slurry, whisking constantly until thickened.
Serving ideas
Homemade turkey gravy is the perfect finishing touch for Thanksgiving dinner and beyond. Here are some tasty dishes to serve it with:
- Turkey Tenderloin Roast
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
- Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
Storing and reheating
If you end up with leftover gravy, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days, or freeze it for later use.
Reheat the gravy gently in a small saucepan or in the microwave. You may need to whisk in a little water to achieve the right consistency.
Note: gravy made with cornstarch can sometimes have an uneven texture when re-heated. If you are making gravy ahead of time, to reheat to serve with the meal always use flour as the thickener.
Homemade Turkey Gravy (without Drippings)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (See Notes)
- 2 cups turkey or chicken stock (or broth )
- Salt and pepper [Note 1] (to taste )
Directions
- Heat the butter in a pan over a medium-high heat until melted. Add the flour [if using cornstarch see Note 1], and stir to combine with the butter to form a paste.
- Allow it to cook for a few minutes until golden brown.
- Slowly start to add the stock around ¼ cup at a time. Mix it in well each time you add some, and allow the gravy to thicken before adding more. You can whisk the gravy to make it really smooth.
- Once all the liquid has been added, continue heating and stirring for around 2 minutes while the gravy thickens.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Add other seasonings such as onion powder, dried rosemary, or thyme (around ½ teaspoon of each) for additional flavor.
If substituting cornstarch:
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
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