Quick and Easy Homemade Turkey Gravy That Your Family Will Love!

Name: Quick and Easy Homemade Turkey Gravy
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup turkey drippings; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; Salt to taste; Pepper to taste

Posted on November 15, 2025

Rich homemade turkey gravy being poured from white gravy boat over mashed potatoes and sliced turkey

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This delicious Homemade Turkey Gravy comes together in about 20 minutes and is made all in one pot for a quick and easy side dish that your family will love! Switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a “clean out the fridge” meal to get rid of leftovers and odds and ends. Trust me, you’re going to want this velvety, flavorful gravy drizzled over everything at your Thanksgiving table or on a cozy Wednesday night dinner.

Ingredient Breakdown

Turkey Drippings

The star of our Homemade Turkey Gravy is, of course, the turkey drippings. This rich liquid is what gives your gravy tons of flavor and helps prevent it from being, well, boring! If you don’t have turkey drippings, no worries, you can easily swap in store-bought broth.

All-Purpose Flour

This is what’s going to thicken your gravy into that smooth, creamy texture everyone craves. I usually start with about a quarter cup, but feel free to adjust based on how thick you like your gravy.

Chicken Broth

While turkey broth is ideal, chicken broth works wonderfully too. You’ll want that liquid to balance the richness of the drippings. I go for low-sodium to keep it healthier (and so I can control the salt), but regular broth will do just fine too!

Salt and Pepper

A couple of pinches of salt and pepper are essential for bringing out all that flavor! Adjust it to taste, of course. Don’t skip this step; seasoning makes such a big difference!

Let’s Get Cooking!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Pour the turkey drippings into a saucepan. After roasting your turkey, don’t discard those beautiful drippings! Pour them into a medium saucepan, you want about a cup. If you have big chunks, just strain out the bits. Don’t worry; those perfectly crispy bits will make their way back into your gravy soon enough!
Whisk in flour over medium heat and cook until golden brown. Time to thicken things up! Lower the heat slightly and add the flour, whisking it in. You want to keep stirring until it’s well combined and starts smelling nutty, about 2-3 minutes. This will create a roux, which is the magic foundation for this gravy.
Gradually add chicken broth while whisking to avoid lumps. Now, it’s time for the chicken broth. Pour it in slowly, whisking it constantly to avoid those pesky lumps. You’ll see it start to thicken right before your eyes, such a satisfying sight!
Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Turn up the heat slightly until it starts to bubble (that’s a simmer!). This usually takes about 5 minutes. Give it a good stir, and let it cook until it’s thickened to your desired consistency.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in a couple of pinches of salt and pepper. Taste it to ensure it’s seasoned perfectly. The best part is that this step lets you customize your gravy to suit your family’s preference more pepper? Go for it!
Serve warm. This gravy is best served immediately, drizzled over mashed potatoes, turkey, or whatever your heart desires.

My Go-To Recipe: Why I Love This Turkey Gravy

Let me take a moment to tell you why this is my go-to recipe whenever I need a quick and comforting addition to our dinner table! Seriously, it’s like a warm hug. This homemade turkey gravy is not just for the holidays, it’s wonderful on any weeknight with roast chicken or even just simple mashed potatoes. I’m a real sucker for versatility, and the best part is that you can use whatever you have on hand, whether it’s just drippings or a mix of leftover stocks and broths.

With each mouthful, I’m reminded of family gathering around the table, sharing laughter and stories, nothing brings people together quite like a good homemade gravy! And trust me, even my picky 8-year-old ratified this one when I made it last week, asking for seconds.

If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my Easy Chicken Alfredo Garlic Bread Bowls, my Garlic Parmesan Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes, or my Mongolian Beef!

Why This Recipe Works

Quick & Easy

This gravy literally comes together all in about 20 minutes. That’s less time than it takes to decide what show to binge-watch next! Perfect for those busy nights when you need a delicious addition to your meal without a whole lot of fuss.

One Pot Minimal Cleanup Required

Let’s be honest, who wants to do a mountain of dishes on a busy weeknight? This recipe keeps everything contained to one pot, sparing you the hassle of cleaning multiple cooking vessels. Just toss in your ingredients, whisk away, and voilà!

Comfort Food

You can’t go wrong with gravy, it just makes everything better! This comforting, creamy blend is loaded with tons of flavor. It takes ordinary meals and elevates them into something you’ll look forward to.

Customizable

You can pivot with what you have in your kitchen. Maybe you have different herbs, a bit of leftover wine, or want to add some sautéed shallots. The freedom to adapt is yours, and it’s all about what you enjoy!

Budget-Friendly

We’re all about being kind to our wallets here! This recipe uses affordable and everyday ingredients that you probably already have at home. Plus, using up leftovers means less food waste!

Serving and Storage Tips

What to Serve With This

This gravy is fantastic over classic mashed potatoes, served alongside turkey, chicken, or even drizzled over roasted veggies. You could even toss it on a biscuit for breakfast yes, please!

Storage

Once it’s cooled completely, store your homemade turkey gravy in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep well for about 3-4 days. Just make sure not to let it hang out too long!

Reheating Instructions

When you’re ready to enjoy this again, reheat it gently on the stovetop over medium heat. If it’s too thick, simply whisk in a splash of broth or water until you reach that desired creamy consistency again.

Freezer Friendly

Yes, you can freeze this gravy! Just cool it completely, then pour it into freezer-safe bags or containers. Lay the bags flat for easy stacking. It will keep in the freezer for about 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw it in the fridge and reheat on the stove.

Food is such a beautiful thing, and this fantastic homemade turkey gravy really embodies that comfort and joy. You know that feeling when you’ve outdone yourself? Well, get ready for that, because this recipe is bound to bring smiles to your dinner table!

And remember, as I always say don’t sweat the small stuff in cooking. We’re here to create joy, flavor, and lasting memories with every meal we share! Enjoy every bite!

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