This Turkey Gravy Without Drippings recipe is rich, savory, and full of homemade flavor! Made with turkey stock and infused with fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme, this easy gravy has all the delicious flavors of Thanksgiving without needing to roast a turkey first. Best of all, you can make it ahead of time so there’s one less thing to worry about on Thanksgiving Day!
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Gravy Recipe
This Turkey Gravy Without Drippings has all the traditional flavor homemade turkey gravy, but you don’t need to roast a turkey to make it. It’s an easy recipe that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime you’re craving a comforting homemade gravy.
- No Drippings Needed: Turkey stock gives this gravy a rich, delicious flavor without having to wait for a turkey to roast.
- Fresh Herb Flavor: A bundle of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme infuses the gravy with classic Thanksgiving flavors. Remove the herbs before serving, don’t worry about any little bits of herbs that fall off, it’s just more flavor in the gravy.
- Easy to Make: A few simple ingredients and about 10 minutes is all you need.
- Perfect for Making Ahead: Prepare this gravy a day or two before Thanksgiving, then gently reheat it when you’re ready to serve.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this homemade turkey gravy without drippings. The combination of turkey broth, fresh herbs, and a buttery roux gives the gravy a rich, savory flavor that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
- Butter: The base of our gravy, adding richness and flavor while helping to make the roux.
- Shallot: A minced shallot adds a mild, sweet onion flavor without overpowering the gravy.
- Flour: Combined with butter to make a roux that thickens the gravy. Cooking the roux until golden brown also adds a delicious toasted flavor.
- Fresh Herbs: A combination of fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary gives this gravy its classic Thanksgiving flavor. Tie the herbs together with kitchen twine so they’re easy to remove after simmering.
- Turkey Stock: The key to making flavorful turkey gravy without drippings! Use a good-quality turkey broth or stock for the best results. Chicken broth can also be substituted.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Season the gravy to taste. You may need less salt depending on the broth you’re using.
- Poultry Seasoning: Just a pinch adds another layer of savory, herbaceous flavor.
How To Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings
Making homemade turkey gravy is easier than you might think! The key is taking a few extra minutes to brown the roux for a richer flavor, then letting the fresh herbs infuse the gravy as it simmers. For the complete instructions and ingredient amounts, see the recipe card below.
- Cook the shallot: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Make the roux: Whisk in the flour and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the roux turns a deep golden-brown color. For a lighter gravy with a milder flavor, cook the roux for just 2–3 minutes.
- Add the turkey broth: Slowly pour in the turkey broth while whisking to prevent lumps. Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer, then stir in the salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning.
- Simmer with fresh herbs: Tie the rosemary, sage, and thyme together with kitchen twine and add the bundle to the gravy. Simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful. Remove the herb bundle, adjust the seasonings to taste, and serve warm.
Tips For Making The Best Turkey Gravy
- Take your time with the roux: After making this gravy a few times, we found that cooking the butter and flour for about 5 minutes gives the gravy a deeper color and richer, more developed flavor. If you prefer a lighter gravy, cook the roux for just 2–3 minutes instead. Keep stirring and watch the heat so the flour doesn’t burn.
- Use fresh herbs if possible: Fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme give this gravy that classic Thanksgiving flavor. Tying the herbs together with kitchen twine makes them easy to remove once they’ve infused the gravy.
- Choose a good-quality turkey stock: Since turkey stock is the base of this gravy, using one with plenty of flavor makes a big difference. Some store-bought stocks can be watery or bland. We love the Trader Joe’s version!
- Adjust the consistency: If your gravy gets too thick, whisk in a little extra turkey stock until it’s just right. Remember that gravy will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Can You Make Turkey Gravy Ahead Of Time?
Absolutely! One of the best things about this turkey gravy without drippings is that you can make it before Thanksgiving Day. Since you don’t need to wait for the turkey to roast, you can have your gravy ready to go well before dinner.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the gravy up to 2 days in advance. Let it cool slightly, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. Remove the fresh herb bundle before storing.
- Reheating: Add the gravy to a saucepan over medium-low heat and warm gently, stirring occasionally. The gravy will thicken as it cools, so you may need to whisk in a splash of turkey stock to bring it back to your desired consistency.
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Freezing: This gravy freezes well, too! Let it cool, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently on the stovetop, whisking until smooth and heated through.
Why You Should Always Have Extra Turkey Gravy On Hand
Even if you’re planning to make traditional turkey gravy from drippings, having a batch of this homemade gravy ready to go can be a lifesaver on Thanksgiving Day!
Maybe your turkey didn’t produce enough drippings to make all the gravy you need. Or maybe your gravy turned out a little too salty. Having this turkey gravy without drippings made ahead of time (or tucked away in the freezer) means you’ve got a delicious backup ready when you need it.
Simply whisk some of this gravy into your drippings gravy to stretch the amount, balance out an overly salty batch, or add even more flavor. Start with a little at a time, tasting as you go. If you’re making this no drippings gravy ahead of time, hold back on the salt a bit because you can always add more salt to the finished gravy.
And if everything turns out perfectly? You’ve got extra gravy for those Thanksgiving leftovers!
What To Serve With Turkey Gravy
- Stuffing Crusted Chicken Cutlets
- Hot Turkey Sandwich
- Roasted Turkey Breast
- Whole Roasted Turkey
- Perfectly Smooth Mashed Potatoes
- Sausage Stuffing
- Stuffing Muffins
Looking for another way to jazz up your turkey gravy? Try our Cranberry Whiskey Turkey Gravy recipe for a fun twist on a classic recipe!
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Turkey Gravy Without Drippings Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis Turkey Gravy Without Drippings is rich, savory, and full of homemade flavor! Made with turkey stock, shallots, and fresh Thanksgiving herbs, it’s an easy gravy recipe that you can make ahead of time or freeze for later.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1/4 cup flour
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3–4 fresh sage leaves
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 cups turkey stock (can also substitute chicken stock)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the flour into the butter and shallots, whisking until combined. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the roux develops a deep golden-brown color. This gives the gravy a richer, more toasted flavor. For a lighter-colored gravy with a milder flavor, cook the roux for just 2–3 minutes. Watch carefully and adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning.
- Slowly pour in the turkey broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Tie the fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary together with kitchen twine. Add the herb bundle to the gravy along with the salt, black pepper, and poultry seasoning.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy has thickened and the herbs have infused the broth with flavor.
- Remove the herb bundle and discard. Stir the gravy, taste, and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. If the gravy is too thick, whisk in a little additional turkey broth until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve warm over roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes.
Recipe Notes
Kitchen Twine: Tying the fresh herbs together with kitchen twine makes them easy to remove after simmering. If you don’t have kitchen twine, you can add the herbs directly to the gravy and remove the stems before serving.
Storing Leftovers: Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating: Add the gravy to a saucepan over medium-low heat and warm gently, stirring occasionally. The gravy will thicken as it cools, so you may need to whisk in a splash of turkey stock to bring it back to your desired consistency.
Freezing: This gravy freezes well, too! Let it cool, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently on the stovetop, whisking until smooth and heated through.
- Category: Marinades & Sauces
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
