Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Making Turkey Gravy Without Drippings is quick, easy and perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, leftovers or meals throughout the year. One of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time. If you are looking for a flavorful gravy that your family will love, and that you can make ahead of time, then this is the perfect recipe for you! Make sure to also check out my helpful tips for avoiding lumpy gravy, thickening gravy, storing gravy and reheating gravy.

Homemade Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Thanksgiving just might be one of the greatest days of the year – it’s all about food and family! The family gathers round to enjoy turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, homemade rolls and all the pies. There is so much good food!

Which also mean so much good food for you to make, all in time for one meal. It can be a bit overwhelming, which is why make ahead recipes really help save the day. Not only is this recipe great for making gravy ahead of time, but it’s perfect for those who need to make gravy without turkey drippings.

We love to use this gravy on top of air fryer turkey breast, they pair perfectly!

How To Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Let’s discuss the ingredients you’ll need, and the steps you’ll take, to make this delicious turkey gravy. If you want to skip my discussion, tips and answers to frequently asked questions, just scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe.

Ingredients

1. Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will work fine. I personally prefer salted, but that’s a matter of taste.
2. All purpose-flour – I haven’t tested it personally, but I’ve read that many people successfully make this gravy gluten free by using a gluten free flour substitute.
3. Turkey stock – Turkey stock is usually readily available at your local grocery store around Thanksgiving. It can be a bit hard to find the rest of the year. As of now (mid-October) my local Safeway, Aldi, Natural Grocers and Albertsons have it in stock. Walmart shows next day delivery. As we get closer to Thanksgiving, you’ll find most stores carry it. That said, you can substitute chicken for turkey stock.
4. Fresh parsley – Fresh parsley is really the best choice with this. If you can’t find any, it’s fine to leave it out.
5. Pepper – Fresh cracked pepper is always ideal, but any pepper will work.
6. Salt – I highly recommend Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt which you can find at your grocery store. No additives, less sodium and better flavor than table salt. If you want to take it up another notch, I am a huge fan of Jacobsen Salt Co Sea Salt. Everything tastes better with it. That said, table salt is totally fine!

Looking for gravy with very intense flavor? Try adding a spoonful of Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base. Add it in when the salt and pepper are added, and whisk well until it combines with the gravy.

Directions

This turkey gravy without drippings is quick and easy to make. It’s one of those recipes that once you’ve made it a few times, you likely won’t even need the recipe to work from – it’s that simple. Here are the steps you’ll take.

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Whisk the flour into the melted butter. Allow this mixture to cook for two minutes, making sure you are stirring to prevent it from burning.
3. Whisk in the turkey broth, pouring slowly, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add parsley, pepper and salt and allow the mixture to come up to a low simmer, stirring often.

Expert Tips & Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

While gravy is very easy to make, it’s one of those things that can still come with challenges. Here is my best advice on the common problems people have when making gravy. With these tips, I am confident you can make great, lump-free gravy!

Avoid lumpy gravy

To avoid lumps make sure that you add the turkey stock slowly, while whisking constantly. A little at a time makes a big difference in creating a smooth gravy.

To get rid of lumps in gravy once they are there, here are a few different options:

• Keep whisking, vigorously, using a circular motion. This works best while the gravy is still on the heat.
• Pour it through a fine mesh strainer. Truth is, lumpy gravy happens to all of us, especially when we are juggling a lot in the kitchen. A fine mesh strainer can be a savior when it comes to lumpy gravy. Simply pour the gravy through the strainer, and you are good to go.
• Give it a spin in a blender or food processor. This can help smooth out lumps. Take note, this can cool the gravy off a bit, so make sure to check the temperature before serving.

How To Thicken Gravy

Wondering how to make gravy thicker? Once you have made your gravy, if you want to thicken it do not add flour directly to the gravy. Let me repeat that, do not just add flour to the gravy. This WILL without question result in lumpy gravy.

To thicken gravy, stir 2-3 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water, to create a slurry, which is a smooth paste like mixture. Then very slowly add some, but not all, of the slurry, a little bit at a time, to the gravy whisking constantly while on low to medium heat. Whisk for one to two minutes and if you haven’t reached the desired consistency, add a bit more and repeat the process. You might not need all of the slurry mixture, and it’s always better to start with less and add more if needed.

How To Store Gravy

Store turkey gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. This gravy, like most, will thicken up when refrigerated.

How To Reheat Gravy

Reheat gravy by placing it in the microwave and heating in thirty second increments, stirring well between each, until lumps are gone and gravy is at a temperature you want. If you want to thin it out a bit, add a few tablespoons of turkey stock and stir well to combine it in well.

Another option is to reheat it in a saucepan on the stove, on low.

How To Make Vegan Gravy

If you have a friend or family member who is vegan, you can make this gravy with vegetable stock. When doing so I like to add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for a bit more flavor.

Thanksgiving Recipes

If you need more recipes to complete your Thanksgiving meal, I’ve got you covered! Here are some of the tried and true recipes my family enjoys for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

• Instant Pot Turkey Breast
• Homemade Green Bean Casserole
• Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
• Broccoli Casserole With Ritz Crackers
• Mashed Butternut Squash
• Easy Homemade Scalloped Potatoes
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
• Crockpot Creamed Corn
• Easy Mac and Cheese
• Jiffy Cornbread

Thanksgiving Desserts

• Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup
• Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
• Pumpkin Bundt Cake
• Air Fryer Pumpkin Pie
• Individual Pumpkin Pies
• Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars
• Pumpkin Roll
• Caramel Apple Pie