45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (2024)

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (1)

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The days of you making packaged gravy are long over. These easy gravy recipes are so amazing, you'll be making homemade gravy for the rest of your life—trust us on this one. Gravy tastes incredible no matter what you're ladling it over, whether it's a pile of mashed potatoes, a plate full of tender turkey, or a serving of stuffing. And because the dish can literally be poured on just about every other side dish on your Thanksgiving menu, you want to make sure it's absolutely delicious in every way.

Although these gravy recipes are made from scratch, the majority of them are ridiculously easy to make. In fact, a few can be prepared in as little as five minutes. (Yes, really!) Most of these ideas, including a handful of turkey gravy recipes, use drippings as the base, so make sure you don't throw them away after you cook your bird. For those who don't eat meat, don't worry—there are both vegan and vegetarian options on this list, so everybody at your dinner table can enjoy a helping (or two...or three...) of these savory, delicious gravy recipes. In fact, even carnivores will like the meatless versions—they're that good. But don't worry, traditionalists—there are tons of classic gravy options for you too!

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1

The Best Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (3)

Make sure you save those turkey drippings—they're the key ingredient in this rich recipe.

Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.

SHOP SAUCEPANS

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2

White Wine Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (5)

One of the best things about this bowl is it can be made several days in advance. Just warm it back up before you're about to serve.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

SHOP SKILLETS

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3

Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (7)

Although this recipe is pretty simple, it's still super tasty. In fact, this blogger calls it the best she's ever tried.

Get the recipe at Natasha's Kitchen.

SHOP GRAVY BOATS

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4

Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (9)

Need your gravy fix ASAP? This dish comes together in just five minutes flat. (Yes, really!)

Get the recipe at Cafe Delites.

SHOP POTS

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5

Vegan Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (11)

Don't be fooled by the name—even carnivores will go crazy for this meatless meal. It's bursting with flavor thanks to a heaping of dried porcini mushrooms.

Get the recipe at Minimalist Baker.

SHOP BLENDERS

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6

Easy Homemade Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (13)

You just need three ingredients to whip up this super-simple dish. It might be the easiest recipe you make on Thanksgiving.

Get the recipe at I Heart Naptime.

SHOP GRAVY BOATS

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7

Shallot and Shiitake Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (15)

Believe it or not, this super zesty gravy recipe has absolutely zero meat in it. (But it's so good, your guests will never guess it's vegan!)

Get the recipe at Oh My Veggies.

SHOP SAUCEPANS

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8

Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (17)

Although most turkey gravy recipes call for drippings, this blogger offers an alternative option. No matter which version you make, it will be delicious.

Get the recipe at It Is a Keeper.

SHOP SAUCEPANS

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9

Homemade Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (19)

To give your gravy a little kick, this blogger recommends adding some juice from a can of peppers. She notes that pecorino or banana peppers work well.

Get the recipe at Sugar, Spice and Glitter.

SHOP SAUCEPANS

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10

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

Save yourself a little stress this year and whip up this gravy recipe. You'll be so thankful for this dish you can make in advance.

Get the recipe at Butter Your Biscuit.

SHOP DUTCH OVENS

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11

Easy Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (23)

If you want to make this recipe even easier, you can use store-bought broth. This blogger recommends trying chicken or turkey broth.

Get the recipe at Spend With Pennies.

SHOP GRAVY BOATS

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12

Easy Vegan Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (25)

This blogger writes her recipe stays good up to a week. But we doubt you'll even have leftovers the next day!

Get the recipe at Nora Cooks.

SHOP POTS

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13

Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (27)

Although this dish calls for giblets, you can leave them out if you'd like. The recipe is delicious with or without them.

Get the recipe at Tastes Better From Scratch.

SHOP SAUCEPANS

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14

Easy Mushroom Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (29)

Not only does this gravy taste great at Thanksgiving dinner, but it also pairs deliciously with other dishes. It works especially well with steak or meatloaf.

Get the recipe at Countryside Cravings.

SHOP SKILLETS

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15

Vegetarian Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (31)

Sage, garlic, and tamari ensure every ladleful of this gravy is filled with flavor. Even the meat eaters will enjoy it.

Get the recipe at Build Your Bite.

SHOP BLENDERS

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16

Easy Turkey Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (33)

Your Thanksgiving guests will want to cover their entire plates in this dressing that takes 10 minutes to make.

Get the recipe at Bread Booze Bacon.

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17

Creamy Brown Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (35)

This gluten-free option isn't just for Thanksgiving—it's delicious on pastas, casseroles, vegetables, and more.

Get the recipe at My Plant-Based Family.

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18

Beef Broth Brown Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (37)

Use either beef broth or beef roast drippings in this five-ingredient idea.

Get the recipe at Creme de la Crumb.

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19

Skinny White Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (39)

The key to this guilt-free gravy is cold almond milk. (Yes, really!)

Get the recipe at Chocolate Salad.

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20

Easy Gravy

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (41)

This super simple take tastes just right on top of a mountain of creamy mashed potatoes.

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

45 Easy Gravy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast (2024)

FAQs

How much gravy do I need for 20 people for Thanksgiving? ›

For six guests, make four cups of gravy — keeping in mind the "one extra cup" rule. A party of 12 guests will need eight cups of gravy, while a group of 20 Thanksgiving guests should need around 13 cups of gravy.

How much gravy do you need per person? ›

Gravy. “In terms of gravy, I am a firm believer in there is no such thing as too much gravy,” writes Virginia Willis. However, experts say that ⅓ to ½ cup of gravy per guest is a good place to start. Our favorite Make-Ahead Gravy makes one quart of gravy, which would serve eight to twelve guests.

What can I add to turkey gravy to make it taste better? ›

If you are reaching for a jar or carton of turkey gravy at the store, here are seven easy ways to give it a boost.
  1. Add in some white wine. ...
  2. Thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. ...
  3. Stir in pan drippings. ...
  4. Simmer with fresh herbs. ...
  5. Add an umami-rich condiment. ...
  6. Sauté some vegetables. ...
  7. Add roasted garlic.

What is the formula for gravy? ›

(The classic ratio for gravy is three:two:one, so 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons fat, and 1 cup of hot stock.) You can add other flavors to the mixture, swap out the stock for another liquid, or use cornstarch rather than flour to thicken your gravy.

How many sides should you have at Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

How many mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving? ›

Plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound potatoes per person for your feast.

What is Cracker Barrel gravy made of? ›

It consists of milk or cream, meat grease, flour, salt, and plenty of pepper. It can be either a white or light brown gravy, depending on the fat (butter or meat drippings).

What is in Butterball turkey gravy? ›

Boneless Turkey Breast Roast: Contains Up To 20% Of A Solution Of Water, Contains 2% Of Salt, Dextrose, Natural Flavor, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Phosphate For Tenderness And Juiciness, Gravy Packet Ingredients: Water, Modified Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Rice Flour, Cooked Turkey, Onion Powder, Caramel Color, ...

Is it better to make gravy with flour or cornstarch? ›

Browning adds more flavor to the gravy and gets rid of the raw flour taste. You're basically making a roux. We find that a flour-based gravy holds up better and reheats better later, which is why we tend to prefer using flour over cornstarch to make gravy unless we have a guest who is eating gluten-free.

Does gravy get thicker as it cooks? ›

Cooking for too little time: As the gravy cooks, it slowly thickens, so if you don't allow it to cook long enough, it will be too thin. Set the stove on medium heat and bring your gravy to a boil before letting it simmer. Once the gravy has reached your desired consistency, turn off the stove and let the sauce cool.

What is a good substitute for flour in gravy? ›

Cornstarch and potato starch are the best options for gravy. Avoid arrowroot and tapioca starches because they can get "stringy" and look artificial in gravy. Cornstarch gravy is more translucent than flour based sauces. Potato starch gravy is more opaque than cornstarch, but less opaque than flour.

What is the best thickener for turkey gravy? ›

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

What's the difference between turkey gravy and regular gravy? ›

Thus, turkey gravy is a brown gravy. You can also make brown gravy with the drippings from other kinds of meat, such as a roast or chicken. White gravy is made with milk, fat, and a thickening agent; white gravy is made without drippings, and with sausage added is popular for biscuits and gravy.

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