Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe: A Delicious Time-Saver
Make-ahead turkey gravy is delicious and a huge time-saver whenever you are cooking a big turkey dinner. Time and flavor are the two biggest reasons to try this gravy, especially to go with a big Thanksgiving meal.
But when it comes to preparing make-ahead turkey gravy, there may be a few things you’re wondering about. So, here’s what I’ve found in my cooking experience that I’d like to share with you.
What kind of turkey parts make the best make-ahead turkey gravy?
Honestly, since I’ve made make-ahead turkey gravy several times, I have a preference for which turkey parts work the best.
Small packs of turkey parts can usually be found in grocery stores several weeks before Thanksgiving, so look for them ahead of time. I’ve made this gravy with just turkey legs and they work best. Why? Because they yield a lot of drippings and make the gravy a rich, darker color.
However, this time, I waited too late to shop and found only turkey thighs, which still make a good gravy. So, my advice is if you want to do a make-ahead turkey gravy. Buy wings and legs as soon as you see them available at your local grocery store.
What to add to make-ahead turkey gravy for more flavor?
- Onion
- Green bell pepper
- Garlic cloves
- Olive Oil
- Butter
- A splash of red wine
What is the drippings to flour ratio for make-ahead turkey gravy?
Use this ratio to make 1 cup of gravy.
- 1.5 tablespoons of fat
- 1.5 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup liquid (broth)
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
To make this turkey gravy, pre-heat the oven to 365 degrees, gather up the turkey parts an place them in a baking dish or roasting pan. Drizzle olive oil over the turkey, then add chopped onion, green pepper and garlic. Top everything with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and roast for 30 minutes or until you see browning in the pan.
Add 1/2 can of broth, and scrape sides of the pan and roast for another 30 minutes until the turkey parts are browned. Place turkey and drippings into a stockpot, straining out the vegetables. Add in the additional broth and butter, then simmer on low for 10 more minutes. Remove the turkey parts from the stockpot an begin mixing in 1.5 tablespoons of flour, a little at a time for every cup of drippings.
To keep gravy from lumping you can use a mesh sieve or an immersion blender to remove lumps. Keep whisking in the flour until gravy is smooth, then let it simmer on low to thicken. Add in any additional seasoning to taste and serve warm.
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
This make-ahead turkey gravy is flavorful and a big time-saver whenever you are cooking a big turkey dinner.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1.5 hours
- Yield: 4 cups
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Turkey parts: 2-4 thighs, 6 wings, or 4 legs
1-TBS Olive oil
1 Small onion, peeled and sliced
1/4 Green bell pepper, sliced
1 Garlic clove, peeled
2-14.5 oz. Cans of chicken broth
2-TBS Butter
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder seasonings.
All-purpose flour, or Wondra flour
Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 365 degrees. Arrange turkey parts in a glass baking dish or roasting pan and drizzle olive oil over turkey parts.
2. Add onion and green pepper slices and sprinkle with seasonings.
3. Roast in the oven for 30-minutes or until sides of this dish starts to brown.
4. Next add 1/2 can of broth, and scrape sides of the baking dish.
5. Continue roasting in the oven for 30 more minutes or until the turkey is golden brown.
6. Place browned turkey and drippings into a stockpot, straining out the vegetables.
7. Add the additional 1-1/2 cans of broth and butter, then simmer on the stovetop on medium heat for about 10 minutes to get additional flavor from the turkey.
8. Remove the turkey parts from the stockpot. This should leave about 3.5 cups of drippings/fat.
9. Using the measurement of 1.5 tablespoons of flour for every cup of drippings/fat, start whisking in the flour a little at a time.
1o. To keep gravy from lumping you can use an immersion blender or a mesh sieve to remove lumps.
11. Continue whisking in the flour until gravy is smooth, then let it simmer on low to thicken.
12. Add salt, pepper and additional seasoning to taste and serve warm.
Notes
Make-ahead turkey grave can be made a few weeks before serving and can be frozen, then thawed when needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Make-ahead turkey gravy does take a little of effort, but it’s worth it – especially on the day you are roasting your turkey and serving guests.
With that said, on Thanksgiving when I’m cooking a large turkey and it makes more pan drippings, I will collect the drippings in a bowl, whisk them with a bit more flour and add them to the make-ahead turkey gravy stockpot. This extra step is optional but adds great flavor to the gravy!
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