How to Make the Best Turkey Giblet Gravy Recipe Without Drippings (2024)

A make-ahead turkey gravy without drippings. A silky smooth, flavorful giblet gravy, oozing with turkey flavor! Freezer instructions too!

This has been my go-to easy gravy recipe for years. I love it because you can make your Thanksgiving gravy ahead, it comes together at the last-minute for amazing gravy, bursting with flavor turkey gravy from neck and giblets without drippings!

Need more ideas for a full Thanksgiving dinner try these popular dishes, Air Fryer Turkey Breast, Whole Turkey, Cheesy Funeral Potatoes and the must have classic Green Bean Casserole.

I’m 65 years old and have been making gravy for many years…. Best gravy I ever made! This recipe will be passed down for generations!

Lyn

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Can you freeze giblet gravy?

YES! This gravy stock or full on finished gravy freezes beautifully! Cool completely, freeze in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in fridge and re-heat when ready to serve.

Sometimes it gets a bit thick, if needed, thin with a little extra chicken or turkey stock, or turkey drippings if you happen to have them!

How to prepare turkey giblets for gravy

• Retrieve giblets; (yes, you have to get your hands dirty) place turkey in a sink on a plate and cut the package open. The neck is typically in the larger cavity while they usually put the sack of giblets in the other end.
• After removing giblets, rinse the turkey with cold water, pat dry using paper towels, dry it well, cover it in plastic wrap, place on a plate (or you’ll have turkey juice all over your fridge) and return to fridge until ready to place in roasting pan.
• Try my super easy, air fryer turkey thighs or this Instant Pot Turkey Breast.
• Rough chop giblets, you can leave the neck whole, or you can try and cut off the neck meat.

Simple Ingredients for turkey gravy without drippings

Turkey Stock Ingredients

• Turkey Giblets | You cannot very well make giblet gravy without the giblets! What are giblets you ask? In every turkey, fresh or frozen, unless it is marked without giblets, tucked in one cavity or another, will be a bag filled with the giblets; the heart, kidneys, liver and neck of the turkey — this is what gives this gravy the best flavor!
• Veggies | All of the best giblet broth begin with veggies, we’ll use the classics here: celery, carrots, onion and garlic.
• Chicken Broth or Stock | Unless you can find turkey stock (which Trader Joe’s often carries during the holidays) chicken stock or broth will be just fine, you can even use vegetable broth!
• Marsala Wine | This is a flavor kicker! But, use Sherry or even Apple juice, if you can’t find Marsala.
• Herbs | Delicious gravy has fragrant herbs, I used a bay leaf, fresh rosemary and fresh sage.

Classic Turkey Gravy Ingredients

• Butter | Use real butter, no blends, it adds creaminess and smoothness — we don’t count calories on holidays and birthdays! I recommend unsalted butter, though I have used both, adjust your salt at the end.
• All-Purpose Flour | Used as a thickening agent, I use organic AP flour, or good Gluten-Free All Purpose flour if trying to make Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy, I do it all the time!
• Apple Cider Vinegar | Apple cider vinegar works best, but you can certainly use regular vinegar or a wine vinegar if you can’t get ACV! Some people use soy sauce, either way you are adding a little acidic flavor, balancing out all of the flavors.

Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.

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How to make turkey gravy without drippings

Step One | Make Turkey Stock

Chop onions, celery and carrots, a rough chop is fine for all. I ran out of regular carrots and had some shredded carrots — improvise, it’s okay!

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat, increase to medium-high heat and toss in your giblets and your veggies; stand back it’ll spit and spurt at you!

Allow to brown for a little bit, then turn the giblet pieces and give your veggies a stir.

Step 2 | Deglaze and simmer

Once they are nice and browned and you have some brown bits sticking to the bottom of the pan, increase the heat slightly and pour in your marsala, (or sherry, I’ve used both), deglazing the pan.

Prefer not to use alcohol? Use apple juice, chicken or turkey stock instead.

Pour in chicken stock, stir well. Add pepper and bay leaves. Add sprigs of fresh rosemary and sage. Give it all a good stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for an hour.

If you are putting it together right away, strain after you’ve simmered for an hour. If you are making the gravy a day or two ahead of time, then let it sit as is overnight in the refrigerator.

Step 3 | Straining the Homemade Turkey Stock

Strain through a mesh colander into a large bowl or medium saucepan, let sit for a few minutes to allow all of those yummy juices to drip out.

Toss or compost the rest away and keep that homemade turkey stock, will measure about 3 cups, you’ll need about 4 cups; you should get another cup from the turkey drippings which you’ll add later. However; the turkey drippings are not necessary to make this gravy!

If you are making the gravy before you cook the turkey, just add chicken or turkey stock to yield 4 cups. Set aside.

If you have time, refrigerate, until fat rises and becomes solid, then using a spoon or spatula or fat separator to skim off the fat.

Recommended Tools

• Love this fat separator!!

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How to Make Turkey Gravy without Drippings

• Melt butter in a large or roasting pan over medium-high heat
• Add all-purpose flour (or sub Gluten Free All Purpose) to make a flour mixture, called a roux.
• Whisk for 1-2 minutes until slightly browned, this gets rid of the flour pasty flavor, an important step.

• Slowly pour in reserved stock whisking while you pour, which is hard to do when you are trying to take a picture with one hand and pour with the other.
• Bring gravy to boil; whisking and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar and adjust seasonings with sea salt and pepper.

Gluten-free Turkey Gravy

I typically make this recipe gluten-free as my brother’s family is all gluten-free, and it’s so easy and nobody will even know the difference! Simply substitute your regular flour with a good gluten-free all-purpose flour! Check your seasonings and stocks and you are all set!

Best sides to serve with turkey giblet gravy

For me, having a turkey is all about the sides! Here are a few of our readers (and our families) favorites:

Our favorite leftover turkey recipes

Plan for leftovers when you buy your turkey and indulge in these tasty leftover turkey recipes.

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