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The Best Homemade Gravy Recipe to Elevate Your Thanksgiving

Don't pour those turkey drippings down the drain! Save them and make a delectable homemade gravy instead.
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If you're roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving, or even roasting a chicken for a weeknight dinner, don't pour those drippings down the drain! You can make an incredibly easy gravy with those leftover drippings that will complement the turkey (and mashed potatoes) perfectly.

How to measure for your drippings

While this homemade gravy recipe calls for 1 cup of drippings from a chicken or turkey, you may not have that exact amount by the end of your roasting process. Don't worry, there's an easy way to fix that.

First, measure out the amount of drippings you have. Whatever that amount might be, you want to match the same amount in chicken (or vegetable) stock. So if you end up with 1/2 cup of drippings, you'll want to also use 1/2 cup of stock.

Now, for every 1/4 cup of drippings, you'll want to use 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of flour. So this means for 1/2 cup of drippings, you'll double it with 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour. Double again for 1 cup.

The secret to homemade gravy is in the whisking

For any sauce that uses a thickener (like flour or cornstarch), it is best to continuously whisk it while cooking. This will help to evenly cook the gravy. The last thing you want is to have burnt or chunky gravy as you're making it.

The gravy should be served right away

I highly recommend that this homemade gravy recipe be the last thing you make when putting together your Thanksgiving meal. Homemade gravy is best when it is served immediately. Because it doesn't take long to make, you can easily whip this up as soon as the turkey is done roasting in the oven before you serve the meal.

Homemade gravy in a boat with turkey wing and mashed potatoes seasoned
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Makes 8-10 servings

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup turkey (or chicken) drippings
1 cup chicken (or vegetable) stock
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt & pepper, to taste

How to Make It

    1. After roasting a turkey, chicken, or even turkey wings, pour the drippings in a measuring cup. If you don't have exactly 1 cup, read above on how to properly measure for the recipe.
    2. In a skillet, melt the butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously until the flour is completely mixed in and starts to brown.
    3. Slowly pour in the drippings, then the chicken stock. Whisk continuously as you are pouring.
    4. Sprinkle in the sage, ground thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
  1. As you continue to whisk, you'll end up with a thick gravy. Pour into a gravy boat and serve immediately.
Pouring homemade gravy from a gravy boat onto a plate with mashed potatoes
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Easy, healthy, 350-calorie recipe ideas you can make at home.

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Kiersten Hickman
Kiersten Hickman is a freelance health and nutrition journalist. Read more about Kiersten
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