If you’re just cooking a turkey breast for Thanksgiving, or if your turkey didn’t provide you with any drippings, you need to know how to make the best turkey gravy without drippings!
Turkey Gravy Without Drippings
This quick turkey gravy is so good that you would never believe it was made without pan drippings. The thyme and poultry seasoning add the right flavor to make it taste like it was made with turkey drippings.
It’s thickened perfectly with a golden roux, then it’s simmered to a lush and delicious gravy consistency.
This is seriously the best and easiest turkey gravy! It takes only 15 minutes, and you probably already have all the ingredients in your cupboard. This simple recipe is so delicious served over creamy mashed potatoes, with a side of Cranberry Relish, and slices of Boneless Turkey Breast.
If you’re looking for more gravy recipes, be sure to check out both of our other super popular 5 star gravy recipes. Our White Country Gravy and this Sausage Gravy Recipe both get such rave reviews!
Ingredients
Butter: Melted butter is my favorite fat to use in gravy recipes. You need to use a fat to combine with the flour to make a roux, which is how the gravy is thickened. I think butter adds so much more flavor than oil does. Salted butter is my favorite. If you use unsalted, you’ll probably need to add a bit more salt to taste after you make the gravy.
Flour: We’re using all-purpose flour as the thickener in this gravy. If you’d rather use cornstarch, you’ll only need to use 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch (instead of 1/4 cup flour). Cooking the flour with the butter for a few minutes is a critical step. It takes away the raw flour flavor (because nobody wants a gravy that tastes like flour), and it adds so much depth of flavor.
Broth: I like to use turkey broth, but it can be hard to find and this recipe also tastes just as good with chicken broth. You could also use a combination of chicken broth and beef broth.
Garlic: A little fresh garlic adds so much flavor to this gravy. I think the flavor is definitely better with a clove of fresh garlic instead of using garlic powder.
Spices and Herbs: A combination of dried thyme, poultry seasoning, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper is the easiest way to doctor up gravy! You really only need those few spices to amp up the flavor in this easy gravy recipe.
How To Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings
Start by melting the butter in a saucepan. Once the butter has melted, add in the garlic and dried thyme. Saute until the garlic and thyme are aromatic. (See the recipe card below for the full written instructions.)
Add in the flour and whisk to create a roux. Continue whisking the roux while cooking it until it’s a deeper golden color.
Slowly add in the broth while whisking constantly. Once all of the liquid has been incorporated, whisk in the poultry seasoning and black pepper.
Simmer the gravy until it has thickened. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
What Is The Best Gravy Thickener?
I prefer using flour to thicken my gravy, though gravy that’s thickened with cornstarch is also very common. Gravy that’s thickened with flour reheats better, so if you plan to make gravy ahead of time, I really recommend using flour. It also has the traditional silky smooth texture and opaque look.
What To Add To Turkey Gravy To Make It Taste Better?
Nobody wants bland gravy. To make gravy more flavorful try cooking the roux for a few minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients. Letting that roux darken adds a lot of flavor. I also like adding some poultry seasoning into my turkey gravy to lean into the classic Thanksgiving flavors.
Why Are There No Drippings From My Turkey?
This could be because you didn’t baste your turkey or because your turkey wasn’t fully thawed when you started baking it. You’re also only going to get drippings if you roast a whole turkey, if you’re only cooking a turkey breast there isn’t enough fat to create the drippings you’d need for gravy. That’s where this recipe for turkey gravy without drippings comes in handy!
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Thanksgiving Recipes
If you’re looking for more inspiration for the holiday, be sure to check out all of our Thanksgiving recipes! Some reader favorites are:
- Boneless Turkey Breast
- Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
- Cranberry Relish
- Cranberry Jello Salad
- Canned Cranberry Sauce
- Pecan Pie Brownies
- Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
- Crockpot Green Beans
- How to Make Jiffy Cornbread Better
BEST Turkey Gravy Without Drippings Recipe
Doctor up your Thanksgiving turkey tenderloin or boneless turkey breast with the best turkey gravy without drippings!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 medium clove garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups turkey broth (substitute with chicken broth if you can’t find turkey broth)
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt*
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add the butter and swirl to melt. Once the butter has melted, add in the minced garlic and dried thyme. Saute until aromatic (about 30-60 seconds).
- Sprinkle the flour over the butter and whisk together until there are no lumps, creating a roux. Cook the roux while whisking almost constantly until it starts to darken (about 3 minutes). This will cook off the flour taste and add more depth of flavor.
- Slowly pour the broth into the roux while whisking quickly and constantly. Continue whisking until there are no clumps. Sprinkle in the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper, and whisk to combine. While slowly whisking, bring the gravy to a gentle boil then lower the heat to a simmer until the gravy has thickened.
- Once the gravy has thickened, transfer it to a serving dish, and enjoy!
Notes
*If you’re using regular table salt, start with only 1/4 teaspoon (it tastes saltier than sea salt does). Then adjust to taste from there.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 94Total Fat: 7.9gCarbohydrates: 4.8gFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.4gProtein: 1.2g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Yes, you can make turkey gravy without drippings! This quick and easy recipe is the best gravy for Thanksgiving.
