While it’s true that you can make really good turkey gravy with store-bought broth, the absolute best gravy for Thanksgiving starts long before the holiday with our Make-Ahead Turkey Stock. Built from inexpensive, widely available turkey wings, the stock can be made now and frozen for up to 3 months. We highly recommend making extra for all your holiday essentials, including stuffing, green bean casserole, and anything else that might require a splash of the good stuff.
Once you’ve got a rich stock in hand, this classic turk…
While it’s true that you can make really good turkey gravy with store-bought broth, the absolute best gravy for Thanksgiving starts long before the holiday with our Make-Ahead Turkey Stock. Built from inexpensive, widely available turkey wings, the stock can be made now and frozen for up to 3 months. We highly recommend making extra for all your holiday essentials, including stuffing, green bean casserole, and anything else that might require a splash of the good stuff.
Once you’ve got a rich stock in hand, this classic turkey gravy recipe practically makes itself while the bird rests. Melt butter, whisk in flour until golden, then slowly add hot stock and drippings from your roast turkey. The trick? Go slow with the liquid so the roux stays silky, not lumpy. Let it simmer just until glossy, and it leaves a thin coating on the back of a spoon.
Gravy thickens as it cools, so take it off the heat when it’s still a little loose—it’ll tighten up to perfect texture right on cue. Warm your gravy boat with boiling water before filling, and it’ll stay hot through the last bite of mashed potatoes.
Tips and FAQs for the best turkey gravy
- Can I make turkey gravy ahead of time? Absolutely. The roux can be made up to 2 days ahead, and finished gravy keeps in the fridge for three. Reheat gently on the stove, whisking in a splash of stock and any pan drippings to loosen.
- How do I fix lumpy gravy? Whisk it hard, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve, or use an immersion blender. Crisis averted.
- What can I do with leftover gravy? Gravy will keep in your fridge for about 3 days, but you can freeze it for at least 3 months. Use it as the base of a stew or braise, deploy it as a sandwich spread, use it to make a pasta sauce, or any of these other ideas from our friends at Epicurious.
- Pro tip: Always make extra turkey gravy—it’s the one Thanksgiving side dish no one complains about having too much of.
All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through the retail links below, we earn an affiliate commission.