You’re going to want to pour this Cranberry Turkey Gravy on everything! Cranberry sauce and a splash of bourbon add so much flavor than a regular gravy recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Turkey Gravy
Why add cranberry and bourbon to turkey gravy? Well because it’s delicious. This Cranberry Turkey Gravy is one of the most flavorful gravy recipes that you’re ever going to try, guaranteed.
We’re pouring this gravy on everything. The star of the show, the turkey, of course. The mashed potatoes, of course. Our sausage stuffing, yep. It just gives everything that yummy Thanksgiving flavor.
However, if you’re in the mood for regular turkey gravy – minus the cranberry – we’ve got you covered, too. Whip up our Homemade Turkey Gravy from your drippings and go the traditional route!
How to Make
Just a few steps and you’re on your way to a delightful gravy experience! For the complete recipe, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Start by pouring your turkey drippings into a gravy separator. If you don’t have a separator, pour the drippings into a large, cold bowl so that the grease rises to the top. After about 5 minutes you should be able to spoon off most of the grease.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Carefully pour in the bourbon, (off the flame if you have a gas burner) whisk and reduce for 1 minute.
- Slowly sprinkle in the flour, while whisking until combined. Let the flour cook out for 1 minute.
- Slowly pour in the turkey drippings while whisking. Pour in the chicken or turkey stock, starting with 3/4 cup and whisk to combine. If you want the gravy thinner, you can add the remaining stock. Season with pepper and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cranberry sauce, breaking up with a whisk as you stir. Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the cranberry sauce has melted into the gravy. Taste for seasonings and add salt if needed.
Can You Make Gravy Without Turkey Drippings?
You definitely can, it won’t be AS flavorful as this turkey gravy recipe – but it’s still going to be delicious. Use chicken or turkey stock in place of the turkey drippings and add a few more seasonings to the gravy at the end. You can also use a more flavorful bone broth to add even more flavor.
And yes, you can also leave the bourbon out of this gravy recipe. Just omit the bourbon and proceed with the rest of the instructions. Or you can try adding a splash of white wine instead of the whiskey.
Can You Freeze Turkey Gravy?
Yes, you can definitely freeze gravy. We don’t ever waste homemade gravy! Usually leftover gravy isn’t an issue at our house, it’s the lack of gravy that is sometimes more of an issue.
But if you can’t get to any of these recipes then by all means, freeze it. Frozen gravy defrosts perfectly, even right in the microwave. Imagine having delicious homemade gravy on a random weeknight over a store bought rotisserie chicken? It’s leftover perfection.
Recipes To Use With This Turkey Gravy:
- Thanksgiving Quesadillas
- Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- Hot Turkey Sandwich
- Turkey or Chicken Cutlets
- Steak Fries
Cranberry Turkey Gravy
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 1/2 cups 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeYou’re going to want to pour this delicious Cranberry Turkey Gravy over everything on your Thanksgiving plate!
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup onion, diced fine
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cup turkey drippings (degreased)
- 3/4 – 1 cup chicken or turkey stock (start with 3/4 and then add more if you need to thin it out)
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce (for this recipe canned works best)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon salt (this will depend on how salty your drippings are, which is why we like to add the salt at the end)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Carefully pour in the bourbon, (off the flame if you have a gas burner) whisk and reduce for 1 minute.
- Slowly sprinkle in the flour, while whisking until combined. Let the flour cook out for 1 minute, then slowly start pouring in the turkey drippings.
- Pour in the chicken or turkey stock, starting with 3/4 cup and whisk to combine. If you want the gravy thinner, you can add the remaining stock. Season with pepper and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cranberry sauce, breaking up with a whisk as you stir. Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the cranberry sauce has melted into the gravy. Taste for seasonings and add salt if needed. Remove the rosemary sprig and serve.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store leftover gravy in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can transfer extra gravy to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
