Making Mouthwatering Butterball Turkey Gravy from Scratch

Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be complete without rich, savory turkey gravy smothered over sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more When cooking your Butterball turkey this holiday season, homemade gravy is a must to bring everything together

Making turkey gravy can seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple with the right ingredients and techniques In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through how to make sensational Butterball turkey gravy from scratch From key ingredients to gravy secrets, you’ll have everything you need to prepare the perfect gravy for your Thanksgiving feast.

Why Make Homemade Turkey Gravy?

Before jumping into the recipe, let’s look at why homemade gravy is worth the small effort:

• Adds moisture and flavor to turkey and sides
• Binds together all flavors on your plate
• Delicious drizzled over stuffing and mashed potatoes
• Makes use of flavorful turkey pan drippings
• Impresses guests with your cooking skills
• Controls exactly what ingredients go in

Additionally, pre-made and canned gravies often contain mystery ingredients and lack fresh flavor. With homemade, you know exactly what you’re getting.

Choosing the Best Ingredients

Making outstanding gravy begins with using quality ingredients. Here are the key components:

Butterball Turkey Drippings – The flavorful fond left in the roasting pan after cooking your Butterball turkey provides incredible base flavor. Be sure to spoon off excess fat, reserving just enough to sauté the aromatics.

Aromatic Vegetables – Onions, carrots, celery, and herbs like thyme and sage are commonly used. Sautéing them builds even more flavor.

Flour – All-purpose flour whisked with the fat makes a roux to thicken the gravy. Cornstarch can also be substituted.

Broth – Chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth thins and prevents a pasty texture. Homemade is best but low-sodium canned works too.

Dairy – For a velvety texture, stir in a splash of milk, heavy cream, half-and-half or butter at the end.

Seasonings – Don’t forget salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, or fresh herbs to balance the flavors.

Must-Have Equipment

You don’t need any fancy kitchen tools to make exquisite gravy. Here’s the basic equipment:

• Large skillet or saucepan
• Wooden spoon for stirring
• Whisk for blending
• Fine mesh strainer for smoothing
• Ladle for serving

Also have on hand your prepared turkey pan drippings and other ingredients before starting.

Step-by-Step Gravy Instructions

Follow my easy process for smooth, rich homemade Butterball turkey gravy:

1. Pour drippings into a skillet, leaving some fat behind.

2. Add aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened.

3. Whisk in flour to form a roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes to remove raw taste.

4. Gradually whisk in hot turkey broth, scraping any browned bits off the skillet bottom.

5. Stir in any desired seasonings like garlic, sage, salt, and pepper.

6. Let the gravy simmer gently for 10-15 minutes to thicken and meld flavors.

7. Before serving, strain through a fine mesh strainer if needed to remove lumps.

8. Stir in a splash of cream or milk for a silky texture. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

9. Pour into a gravy boat or serve directly over your Butterball turkey and sides. Enjoy!

Tips for Perfection

Follow these tips for gravy success:

• Whisk the flour thoroughly into the fat to prevent lumps.

• Add very hot broth slowly while whisking constantly. This prevents clumping.

• Simmer the gravy for longer to concentrate flavors and reach the desired thickness.

• For ultra-smooth gravy, strain through a fine mesh strainer before serving.

• Taste and adjust salt, pepper, herbs as needed for optimal flavor.

• If the gravy is too thick, thin it with additional hot broth. If too thin, make a slurry with cornstarch and water to thicken.

Gravy Variations

There are many ways to customize your turkey gravy:

• For gluten-free gravy, use cornstarch instead of flour.

• For vegetarian gravy, replace the turkey drippings with vegetable or olive oil. Use vegetable broth.

• For lighter gravy, use milk instead of heavy cream. Omit fat from the drippings.

• For ** richer** gravy, stir in extra butter and cream.

• For giblet gravy, sauté chopped turkey giblets like livers and hearts as the aromatics.

• For mushroom gravy, add sautéed sliced mushrooms when cooking the vegetables.

The options are endless for putting your own spin on turkey gravy. Play around to create your family’s new favorite!

Perfect Pairings

Homemade Butterball turkey gravy complements so many Thanksgiving foods:

• Roasted or mashed potatoes
• Stuffing or dressing
• Biscuits, rolls, or bread
• Vegetables like green beans, broccoli, or carrots
• Turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce
• Leftover turkey casseroles and pot pies

Drizzle it over everything on your plate for a unified, mouthwatering flavor.

Make Your Best Gravy Ever

As you can see, preparing flavorful, lump-free turkey gravy from scratch is totally doable with some simple ingredients, the right techniques, and my step-by-step guidance. This Thanksgiving, wow your guests by serving the most aromatic, silky, and delicious homemade Butterball turkey gravy. Your taste buds will thank you!