Homemade Turkey Gravy

4.25 from 8 votes

This healthier Turkey Gravy Recipe is smooth, flavorful, and easy to make without butter or heavy cream! Made with turkey drippings, broth, fresh herbs, and cornstarch, it's the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner. You can even make it without drippings!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Low Fat

Skill Level: Beginner

Servings:

Author: Rena Awada

Ingredients

1 Cup Turkey drippings from Pan
4 Cups Unsalted chicken broth turkey broth
2 Garlic Cloves minced
2 tablespoons Fresh Sage finely chopped
2 tablespoons Fresh thyme leaves
1 Cup Milk dairy or non-dairy if necessary
3 tablespoons Cornstarch
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

After you roast the turkey, set the roasting pan with the turkey drippings on a medium-high heat on the stovetop.
Add the broth to the pan, then stir and scrape any turkey bits from the bottom of the roasting pan.
Strain and pour the gravy into a bowl, then refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to let the fat rise and harden on top.
Remove hardened fat with a spoon and place the chicken broth into a saucepan. Add the garlic, sage, and thyme.
Bring the broth and turkey drippings to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering until the liquid has reduced to about 3 cups. This helps concentrate the flavor before thickening the gravy.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the milk and cornstarch until well combined.
Pour the milk mixture into the gravy mixture, stirring slowly.
Continue to simmer and stir frequently until the gravy thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Notes

Makes about 4-4.5 cups. Serving size is 1/4 cup.
Turkey drippings: Remove the excess fat before using. If you don't have drippings, replace the 1 cup of drippings with 1 cup of additional chicken or turkey broth.
Broth: Use unsalted chicken or turkey broth to control the sodium.
Milk: Regular milk or plain, unsweetened dairy-free milk can be used.
Cornstarch: Mix with cold milk before adding to the hot gravy to prevent lumps.
Consistency: If the gravy is too thick, whisk in a little additional warm broth.
Make ahead: Prepare 1 to 2 days in advance and refrigerate until ready to reheat.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop, whisking in additional broth as needed.

Nutrition