Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Silky make-ahead turkey gravy with roasted turkey wings or leftover drippings—stress-free Thanksgiving essential. Freeze or fridge ahead, then finish on the big day with pan drippings.
🛒Ingredients
- 2 pounds turkey wings or necks (or 1/2 cup reserved turkey drippings)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 1 carrot, chunked
- 2 celery stalks, chunked
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce or Worcestershire (optional, deepens color)
- Fresh thyme sprig (optional)
🔧Kitchen Tools Needed
- Sheet pan
- Stockpot
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Instant-read thermometer
📝Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss turkey wings with oil on a sheet pan with onion, carrot, and celery. Roast 45–55 minutes until deeply browned.
- 2
Transfer wings and veggies to a pot; add broth and thyme. Simmer 45 minutes. Strain; skim fat. You need about 4 cups stock (supplement with broth if short).
- 3
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook 2–3 minutes until blonde (roux).
- 4
Slowly whisk in hot stock. Simmer 8–12 minutes until gravy coats a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, and soy/Worcestershire.
- 5
Cool and refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months. Reheat gently, whisking; stir in Thanksgiving pan drippings if you have them.
- 6
Food safety: bring gravy to a full simmer (165°F+) before serving; do not leave on a buffet over 2 hours.
🥗Nutrition Information
⚡Calories per serving: 80
🏷️Recipe Tags
❓Frequently Asked Questions
No turkey wings?
Use chicken wings or skip roasting and start with good broth plus roasted turkey drippings on the day.
Lumpy gravy?
Whisk constantly while adding stock; blend with an immersion blender if needed.
Gluten-free?
Use a cornstarch slurry (2–3 tbsp cornstarch + cold water) instead of flour roux; simmer until clear and thick.
Too thin/thick?
Simmer to reduce, or whisk in more stock.
How to use leftover gravy?
Reheat to a boil for turkey sandwiches, mashed potatoes, or leftover bowls.
