How to Make Homemade Gravy
This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.
Delicious homemade gravy is the cornerstone of traditional holiday meals. And once you learn my simple easy recipe, you’ll be whipping up batches of goodness all year long! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m so excited to share my family’s secret for how to make homemade gravy from scratch, both with drippings and without drippings. It’s a quick and simple recipe that you’ll absolutely love.
This scrumptious family recipe is not only perfect for making turkey gravy, it’s also ideal for making delicious chicken gravy too. So there’s no need to hold onto multiple recipes. This is the only gravy recipe you’ll ever need.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEST HOMEMADE GRAVY
More than likely, right now in your pantry you already have most of the ingredients needed to make this homemade gravy recipe: one stick butter (8 tablespoons), 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 4 cups of strained pan drippings OR 4 cups of organic chicken stock. Often, the most flavorful recipes are those traditional favorites that are simple, straightforward and without a series of gourmet twists. They’re the ones that are handed down from generation to generation.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRAVY
Here’s how to make perfect homemade gravy: Start by melting the butter over medium-high heat. As soon as the butter’s melted, lower the heat to medium-low. Slowly add in the flour as you continuously whisk, whisk, whisk. By slowing adding in the flour instead of adding it to the pan all at once, it’s so much easier to whisk away any potential lumps. Add in the pepper and half the salt. You can do a taste test later on to see if you’ll need the full amount of salt or if just half the amount is perfect. Continue to whisk the mixture for a few minutes just until the flour has become fully incorporated into the butter. While still continuing to whisk, slowly add in 4 cups of strained turkey drippings or chicken drippings. The deep-brown colored drippings are what will provide that classic brown color of traditional Thanksgiving gravy. However, if you don’t have any chicken or turkey drippings to work with – no problem! Instead add in 4 cups of organic chicken stock. Your gravy will be lighter in color, but still super scrumptious. Or you can use just a little bit of drippings and make up the rest of the 4-cup measurement in chicken stock – which is exactly what I did today. This recipe is very versatile!
Once everything is well combined and the gravy is smooth, allow the gravy to simmer for just a few minutes so it can thicken up nicely. If somehow your gravy is too thick, simply whisk in some more melted butter. When the gravy reaches the thickness you desire, remove the pan from heat. Do a taste test and see if you need to add in more salt. If you notice a few lumps, simply pour the gravy through a basic mesh strainer. It only takes a few minutes to do. Transfer the gravy to a serving dish and get ready to enjoy this traditional Thanksgiving favorite. From start to finish, this homemade gravy recipe can be made in about 10 minutes flat. How wonderfully convenient is that?
KITCHEN TOOLS FOR HOMEMADE GRAVY > SHOP THIS POST
Only a few basic kitchen tools are needed to make and serve this homemade gravy recipe: A medium saucepot, measuring cups, measuring spoons, whisk, mesh strainer, a gravy boat or simple serving bowl with a ladle.
HELPFUL TIPS: When purchasing new measuring spoons it’s essential to look for a set that includes a measuring spoon for 1/2 tablespoon. Not all sets include this! For measuring cups, look for a stainless steel set that won’t bend and has engraved US and metric markings that will never wash off. Also look for a set that has the full SEVEN measuring cups – it’s especially helpful to have that awesome 3/4 measuring cup! I use it all the time. The 1/8 cup is perfect as a scoop for measuring coffee. For whisking gravies in a saucepot it’s super helpful to have a flat whisk that’s best suited for this task.
Homemade Gravy Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
Description
Delicious homemade gravy is the cornerstone of traditional holiday meals. And once you learn my simple easy recipe, you’ll be whipping up batches of goodness all year long!
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 cups strained turkey or chicken pan drippings OR organic chicken stock
Instructions
- From start to finish it takes only 10 minutes to make this gravy recipe. In a medium saucepot, melt the butter over medium heat. Lower the heat to medium-low. Slowly add in the flour as you continuously whisk, whisk, whisk to incorporate the flour into the butter and prevent any lumps from forming.
- Add in the black pepper and only 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Keep whisking. Later on you can taste test the gravy to see if it’s absolutely perfect or if it needs the extra salt. My preference is for 1 teaspoon, but yours may be different.
- Slowly add in the strained pan drippings or the chicken stock while continuously whisking away. Or if you have just a little bit of dippings to use, that’s absolutely fine – just make up the rest of the 4-cup measurement with chicken stock. This is a very versatile gravy recipe!
- Allow the gravy to simmer for a few minutes so it can thicken up. If there are lumps in the gravy, keep whisking while it’s simmering. Once the gravy reaches the desired thickness. Remove the pan from heat. If the gravy has become too thick – whisk in some more melted butter. If the gravy has a few lumps, pour it through a simple mesh strainer.
- Transfer the gravy to a gravy boat or serving bowl with ladle. If making the gravy earlier in the day, simply refrigerate it. Just before serving time, rewarm it in the microwave or on the stovetop and it’s ready to enjoy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Condiment, Holiday
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
?HOMEMADE GRAVY RECIPE > PIN IT TO PINTEREST!
Save this quick and easy HOMEMADE GRAVY recipe for later!
❤️OTHER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
SOUR CREAM MASHED POTATOES
BUTTERY PARKER HOUSE DINNER ROLLS
BAKING POWDER BISCUITS
RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE GRAVY >> YOUR THOUGHTS
How often do you make homemade gravy? Do you have a favorite gravy recipe that’s been handed down through the generations? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
This gravy is absolutely delicious! I have never been good at making gravy. My mom was really good at it and tried to teach me but she didn’t have a specific recipe. Thanks for this!
This was the perfect addition to my Friendsgiving this year! Best gravy I’ve found.
Definitely using your recipe on Thanksgiving. Gravy intimidates me and I usually get the kind that comes in the jar. I’m much less afraid of it now!
This is almost exactly how my MIL does it, but since she doesn’t follow a recipe, I’ve never known exactly how to recreate hers. I’m so glad to have actual measurements to follow finally! Thanks for the recipe.
This was fantastic with our roast chicken and with the roast turkey. A recipe that I will be making again.
Perfect gravy every time! Thank you for this recipe. Every time I ask someone how to make gravy, they say to “stir in a little bit of this into a a bunch of that” and my gravy turns out differently each time I make it. You are the first person to give me an actual amount.
Gravy is my favorite part of the meal! This recipe sounds absolutely perfect!
Gravy is definitely necessary on our Thanksgiving table. It’s wonderful to have a trusted go-to gravy recipe so I can make it quickly. Very handy recipe – thank you!
My mouth is watering! Mmm, I pinned this recipe for later. I can’t wait to try it!
This looks delicious and so nice that you can customize it for turkey or chicken, AND make with drippings or stock! Super handy! Thanks for sharing!
I think this recipe is genius, but I do think that it would take up a little too much time on my Thanksgiving morning. Oh how I wish there were more time in a day!
Your gravy looks so delicious, I really like that you can go from turkey to chicken with the same recipe! I can’t wait for Thanksgiving! Pinning.
I’ve made homemade gravy before- it tastes SO much better than the packets. My recipe was a bit different than yours- so I will have to try yours out!!!