Turkey Gravy without Drippings

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Wondering how to make turkey gravy without drippings? You’ve come to the right place! This easy gravy recipe is perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter and requires just a few simple ingredient and NO drippings!

I first started making turkey gravy without drippings when we decided to try to fry a turkey one Thanksgiving. Because I knew we wouldn’t have the drippings from roasting the turkey I decided to trial and error my gravy recipe a few times before the big day.

I realized it is totally possible to make amazing, flavorful turkey gravy without the drippings. Now I love to make this dripping-free gravy ahead of time to save me time on Thanksgiving day, even if we decide to roast the turkey.

What are drippings?

Drippings are the juices and fats that are released from the meat as it cooks. Traditionally the drippings are collected and used as the base for the gravy.

The fat and juices separate and become the base of the gravy-making process and add a ton of flavor to the gravy.

If you DO have drippings, try this Thanksgiving turkey gravy on our sister site.

What to substitute for drippings in gravy

Butter – use butter as a replacement for the fat in the drippings

Broth – turkey or chicken broth replaces the juices in the drippings

You will also use flour for thickening and salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and poultry seasoning to max out the flavor!

Need a gluten free gravy? Try this cornstarch gravy instead.

Step by step

1. Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion and cook until softened.
3. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
4. Add in flour and pepper and whisk continuously to make a roux. It is important to whisk to keep the gravy smooth and not lumpy!

Did you know? A roux is made with equal part butter and flour and is used for thickening gravies, sauces, and soups

5. Slowly add the broth to the gravy while continuing to whisk constantly.
6. Add poultry seasoning and stir to mix. The gravy will look thin at this point in the cooking process but that is okay!
7. Continue to cook the gravy down until you reach the desired thickness, about 5-7 minutes. If the gravy begins to stick to the bottom of the pan reduce the heat.
8. After you reach the desired thickness, taste test the gravy and salt it to your taste.

Why not double the recipe so you have enough for these 15 uses for leftover gravy!

Variations

• Add 1/4 cup white wine to the pan before adding the broth to deglaze and add a little extra flavor
• substitute 3/4 teaspoon onion powder for the diced onion if you prefer gravy with no “chunks”
• no poultry seasoning? no problem! Substitute 2 parts dried sage and 1 part dried thyme instead

Adding drippings to premade gravy

One reason I love this recipe is that I can make the gravy ahead of time and free up some of the last minute kitchen time on Thanksgiving day. When I do make the gravy ahead of time I can still add any drippings I have to the gravy to add extra flavor.

To do so, pour the drippings in a gravy separator or a glass or narrow jar. Allow the fat to come to the top. Pour off the fat and add the remaining juices a little at a time to the gravy you made without the drippings. (You don’t need the fat because we used butter already.)

Add the juices until you get the desired taste, too much may thin your gravy so its best to add a little at a time.

What to do if your gravy is too thin or too thick

If the gravy is too thin you can let it continue to simmer OR you can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it.

Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Remove the gravy from heat and stir in the slurry. Return to heat and stir continuously until it thickens.

If your gravy is too thick you can slowly add more broth, stock, drippings, or water. You may need to add additional seasoning if you dilute it too much

Tip: these adjustments for thinness/thickness can change the flavor…this is why we always salt the gravy once we have it at the desired thickness.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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