• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dutch Oven Daddy
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Memorial Day Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cast Iron Care
    • Store
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Sauces and Condiment Recipes

    Easy Turkey Gravy

    Published: Nov 21, 2022 ยท Modified: Dec 22, 2022 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 22 Comments

    160 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe

    Take that liquid gold known as turkey drippings and turn it into the most flavorful, rich, and Easy Turkey Gravy.

    While the holiday table may have numerous dishes upon it like the turkey and stuffing, nothing brings the meal together like this turkey gravy recipe. Toss those packets or jars and whip up this quick and easy homemade gravy.

    Branded Image of Turkey Gravy in a cast iron skillet with a boquest of herbs as a garnish.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe ingredients
    • How to make easy turkey gravy from drippings
    • Adaptations and variations
    • How to make pan drippings gravy using cornstarch
    • How to prevent gravy from forming a skin
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Our favorite tools to make Easy Turkey Gravy!
    • Other Related Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    This recipe is specifically about turkey gravy, but the steps work the same whether it's turkey, chicken, beef, or country gravy.

    The key to a rich, thick, and smooth gravy is equal parts fat and flour mixed with drippings, broth, water, and/or milk. Herbs, spices, and seasonings are also important.

    Recipe ingredients

    Ingredients to make turkey gravy: turkey drippings, flour, butter, assorted herbs, salt, and pepper.
    • Turkey drippings — the renderings from roasting a turkey.
    • Butter — we used salted, but unsalted is fine too, especially if your drippings are salty.
    • Flour — we used all purpose flour.
    • Seasonings — if the turkey drippings are flavorful, not much more than salt and pepper is needed.
    • Herbs — additional fresh herbs, the same that were used in making the turkey to enhance the gravy, we used thyme, sage, and rosemary the gravy.

    How to make easy turkey gravy from drippings

    Pan drippings with all the produce and herbs used to roast the turkey.
    Step 1
    Produce and herbs being removed from the pan drippings in the cast iron skillet.
    Step 2

    Step 1 — After the turkey is removed, save all the liquid and cooked pieces in the skillet.

    Step 2 — Remove as many large pieces of the produce and herbs from the pan drippings, then pass the rest of the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and discard anything left behind. Set the broth aside.

    Butter melting in the skillet.
    Step 3
    Flour being whisked into the butter to make a roux.
    Step 4

    Step 3 — Melt butter in the same skillet or roasting pan the turkey was roasted in, if possible, over medium high heat.

    Step 4 — Once the butter has melted, slowly whisk in flour to create smooth paste.

    Pan drippings being poured and whisked into the roux.
    Step 5
    The gravy at a high simmer to thicken.
    Step 6

    Step 5 — After the roux has been made, slowly pour in and incorporate the turkey drippings. Whisk continually, taking care there are no roux lumps.

    Step 6 — Bring the gravy to a high simmer, whisking constantly.

    Fresh herbs, salt, and pepper added to the gravy.
    Step 7
    Fresh herbs being removed from the gravy.
    Step 8

    Step 7 — As the gravy begins to thicken, taste for seasoning. Season with salt and pepper to taste; add fresh herbs and return to a boil.

    Step 8 — Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the gravy has reached the desired consistency then remove the herbs.

    Turkey gravy in a glass pourer.
    Turkey gravy being over sliced turkey breast.

    Adaptations and variations

    • Add cayenne, chipotle, or red pepper flakes if you'd like a bit of a kick to your gravy.
    • Use some granulated bouillon to enhance the flavor if water has been used in place of drippings.
    • Either increase the roux or decrease the liquid to add in milk for a creamier gravy. Or simply add a few drops of heavy cream.
    • White wine can be used in place of some of the liquid.
    • 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce to deepen the flavor.

    How to make pan drippings gravy using cornstarch

    In a pinch or if you're trying to keep the gravy gluten free, cornstarch base gravy is the way to go.

    • Make a slurry of ยผ cup of COLD water and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch together for every 2 cups of pan drippings.
    • Bring the pan drippings to a simmers with 2 tablespoons of butter and any aromatics and seasonings.
    • Slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry a bit at a time and allow it to simmer for several minutes to thicken.

    How to prevent gravy from forming a skin

    After gravy has been made and sits for even just a short time, a skin begins to form on top. The longer it sits, even if it's warm, the thicker the skin will become.

    Sometimes, if caught quickly, the skin can be mixed in and dissolved. However, if you can't serve right away and don't want to waste any of this delicious gravy, simply press plastic wrap over and on the gravy, directly.

    You'll want softly press it right on top of the gravy, leaving little-to-no air between the plastic wrap and the gravy. When you're ready to serve, simple pull off the plastic wrap, toss it, and serve.

    Plastic wrap firmly pressed against the gravy to prevent a skin from forming.

    Recipe FAQs

    I followed the directions, why is my gravy thin?

    There are couple of reasons, it may need to reduce further or it could need a bit more flour. When using equal parts butter and flour with pan drippings, the pan drippings may have a higher fat content requiring a bit more flour. If your drippings are fattier than standard broth, when making the roux, add an additional tablespoon or two of flour.

    I don't have 4 cups of drippings, what do I use?

    The rule is 1 tablespoon each of flour and butter for every 1 cup of liquid. Add water, chicken broth, chicken stock, or milk to bring you to the 4 cups needed for this recipes or reduce the rest of the ingredients to match the amount of liquid you have.

    Can I freeze leftover gravy?

    Absolutely! I like to store any leftover in ice cube trays, then once frozen, pop out and store in a air tight container for up to 3 months. However, freeze it altogether or portioned any way you like.

    My gravy is too salty, how do I fix it?

    There's a couple of ways, thin it with more water or low-sodium broth. Counter with a bit of sugar and more black pepper. The sugar to offset the salt and pepper take away any sweetness. Some say tossing in a peeled and chopped potato will do the trick too.

    Turkey gravy cooked and garnished with a boquet of fresh herbs in a cast iron skillet.

    Our favorite tools to make Easy Turkey Gravy!

    Image of 15″ Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

    15″ Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    Buy Now →

    Other Related Thanksgiving Recipes

    • Freshly made cranberry sauce garnished with orange zest.
      Homemade Cranberry Sauce
    • Bacon green bean casserole in a cast iron skillet with a couple portions spooned out.
      Bacon Green Bean Casserole
    • Creamy corn in a white bowl garnished with bacon crumbles and chives with spoons and fresh corn cobs in the background.
      Southern Style Creamed Corn
    • Dutch Oven Honey Glazed Carrots in a green serving bowl garnished with fresh thyme.
      Dutch Oven Honey Glazed Carrots

    If you tried this Easy Turkey Gravy  or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Turkey gravy cooked and garnished with a boquet of fresh herbs in a cast iron skillet.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 21 votes

    Easy Turkey Gravy

    Take that liquid gold known as turkey drippings and turn it into the most flavorful, rich, and Easy Turkey Gravy.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravy
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 57kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • cast iron skillet 10-15" will do, or the one the turkey cooked in.

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups turkey drippings
    • ¼ cup flour
    • 4 tablespoon butter
    • ½ teaspoon pepper +/-, to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon salt +/-, to taste

    Optional ingredients

    • fresh herbs
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Remove as many large pieces left in the pan drippings, then pass the rest of the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and discard anything caught. Set the broth aside.
    • Melt the butter in the same skillet the turkey was roasted in, if possible, over medium high heat.
    • Once the butter has melted, slowly whisk in the flour to create smooth paste.
    • Slowly pour in and incorporate the turkey drippings to the roux, whisking continually, taking care there are no roux lumps.
    • Bring the gravy to a high simmer, whisking or stirring almost constantly.
    • As the gravy begins to thicken, taste for seasoning; add any salt, peppers, and fresh herbs and return to b boil.
    • Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the gravy has reached the desired consistency and remove the herbs.
    • Transfer to a bowl, boat, or similar and serve.

    Notes

    My gravy is too salty, how do I fix it?
    There’s a couple of ways, thin it with more water or low-sodium broth. Counter with a bit of sugar and more black pepper. The sugar to offset the salt and pepper take away any sweetness. Some say tossing in a peeled and chopped potato will do the trick too.
    I followed the directions, why is my gravy thin?
    There are couple of reasons, it may need to reduce further or it could need a bit more flour. When using equal parts butter and flour with pan drippings, the pan drippings may have a higher fat content requiring a bit more flour. If your drippings are fattier than standard broth, when making the roux, add an additional tablespoon or two of flour.
    I don’t have 4 cups of drippings, what do I use?
    The rule is 1 tablespoon of flour and butter for every 1 cup of liquid. Add water, broth, stock, or milk to bring you to the 4 cups needed for this recipes or reduce the rest of the ingredients to match the amount of liquid you have.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 443mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 142IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    More Sauce Recipes and Condiments in Cast Iron

    • Easy Sausage Gravy in a cast iron skillet.
      Easy Sausage Gravy
    • Easy homemade Alfredo sauce in a cast iron skillet and a wooden ladle for serving.
      Easy Creamy Alfredo Sauce
    • Easy skillet gravy is in a glass gravy pitcher with meatballs in the background.
      Easy Skillet Pan Gravy
    • Steak Marinade
      Steak Marinade

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 21 votes

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Anjali

      November 15, 2023 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      This gravy looks so rich and delicious!! Definitely saving this recipe to make for Thanksgiving next week!

      Reply
    2. Karlie

      November 15, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      Simple, rustic, flavorful, everything a good gravy should be. This will go great with all your Thanksgiving accoutrements.

      Reply
    3. Shelby

      November 15, 2023 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is the only turkey gravy recipe you need! I also love your tip about the plastic wrap - works every time!

      Reply
    4. Kelley

      November 15, 2023 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is my go to recipe! So easy to follow and always a hit thank you!

      Reply
    5. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      November 15, 2023 at 12:46 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy this recipe is. Canโ€™t wait to try it this weekend. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    6. Kristen

      August 18, 2023 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      This gravy was really easy to make and tasted great. I'll definitely make it again!

      Reply
    7. Sharon

      March 19, 2023 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for this detailed step-by-step recipe. I have never been able to master the art of making gravy and now I feel equipped.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    picture of dutch oven daddy holding a dutch oven.

    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

    More about me

    Popular Recipes

    • Plated pot roast over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans.
      Dutch Oven Mississippi Pot Roast

    • Baked skillet full of bacon cheeseburger casserole.
      Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

    • A portion of beef stroganoff served in a white bowl with a fork.
      One Pot Beef Stroganoff

    • Creamed Corn Cornbread still in the skillet ready to be served.
      Skillet Creamed Corn Cornbread

    • Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.
      Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

    • Dutch Oven Pork Roast

    Memorial Day Recipes

    • Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.
      Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

    • Freshly steamed corn on the cob in a dutch oven with butter and chopped parsley.
      Steamed Corn on theย Cob

    • Glazed smoked chicken wings on a platter with corn and other sides.
      Sizzling Smoked Chicken Wings

    • Red, white, and blue berry cobbler baked in a round 12-inch cast iron skillet.
      Red, White, and Blueย Berry Cobbler

    • Cooked and ready to eat cinnamon holes.
      Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls

    • The camp oven lasagna has cooked, rested, and been garnished with fresh basil and is ready to serve.
      Dutch Oven Lasagna

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    160 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    This worked exactly as written, thanks!
    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Or write in your own words:

    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.