How to Make the Most Delicious Gravy from Turkey Giblets

Happy Thanksgiving! This year, be sure to include the giblets! I like to prepare the gravy right into the roasting pan itself. Along with the giblets, I mix in all the tasty browned bits and gelatin off the bottom of the pan. Turkey Pan-Gravy with Giblets is the perfect nutrient-dense sauce for your roast turkey and holiday sides!

Gravy is an essential component of many holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving. When made properly, gravy pulls the entire meal together, adding moisture and an incredible depth of flavor to turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more. While gravy can be made from a packaged mix, nothing compares to homemade gravy crafted from turkey giblets. If you want to take your holiday meals to the next level, learning how to make gravy from turkey giblets is a must.

What Are Turkey Giblets?

The term “giblets” refers to the internal organs of a turkey that are frequently included within the bird’s cavity when purchased from a grocery store. Giblets typically include the liver, heart, gizzard, and neck. The liver is often excluded from giblet packages since its strong flavor makes it unsuitable for gravy. However, the heart, gizzard, and neck make fantastic additions to gravy and should always be used if available.

When cooking your Thanksgiving turkey, be sure to remove any giblets from the cavity as soon as possible. Place them in a small saucepan and cover with water. Allow the giblets to simmer for an hour or more until fully cooked and the liquid has reduced by about one cup. This will create an intensely flavored giblet broth that will serve as the base for your gravy.

Why Make Gravy with Turkey Giblets?

You may be wondering why anyone would want to make gravy from the giblets when a packaged gravy mix is so much easier Here are some of the biggest benefits of crafting your gravy using turkey giblets

Unmatched flavor – The natural flavors of the giblets are difficult to replicate with anything else The gravy takes on a rich, savory taste.
Versatility – Gravy made with giblets can be adapted to your preferences Make it smooth or chunky, light or dark
Cost savings – Since you already have the giblets, making your own gravy is practically free compared to a store-bought mix.
No weird ingredients – With a homemade giblet gravy, you control exactly what goes in it. No mystery xanthan gum or artificial flavors.
Texture – Giblet gravy has a luxuriously velvety mouthfeel unlike thin, gloppy gravy from a mix.

Simply put, gravy made with turkey giblets is in a class of its own compared to commercial gravy products. The unmistakable turkey flavor shines through brilliantly.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Giblet Gravy

If you’ve never made gravy from scratch before, have no fear. With these simple steps, you’ll be ladling giblet gravy like a pro in no time:

Prep the Giblets

Remove giblets from the turkey and rinse. Place in a saucepan and cover with water.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 hours until giblets are very soft and liquid is reduced.
Strain and reserve giblet broth and chopped giblets.

Make the Roux

Pour turkey drippings into a bowl and allow fat to separate from juices.
Return 1 cup of fat to the pan. Whisk in 1/2 cup flour until smooth paste forms.
Cook roux over medium heat, whisking constantly until deep golden brown.

Finish the Gravy

Whisk 1 cup turkey juices and 4 cups giblet broth into roux.
Reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes until thickened.
Stir in chopped giblets.
Season with salt and pepper.

If the gravy becomes too thick, stir in more broth. For thinner gravy, mix a bit more flour with water and whisk it in while simmering.

And that’s it! For just a bit of hands-on time, you’ll have the most phenomenal gravy to grace your holiday table.

Turkey Giblet Gravy Variations

Once you master the basics, try mixing up your giblet gravy with one of these fun variations:

Chunky style – Leave giblets in larger pieces for hearty texture.
Creamy style – For super silky gravy, blend half the gravy and giblets before mixing back together.
Herb gravy – Stir in 1 tsp dried sage or poultry seasoning for warmth.
Mushroom gravy – Sauté 8 oz chopped mushrooms and 1 minced shallot. Add to gravy.
Bacon giblet gravy – Cook 4 slices chopped bacon until crisp. Mix drippings into roux.
Porcini gravy – Soak 1 oz dried porcini mushrooms in water for 30 minutes. Use liquid instead of some broth.

Don’t limit yourself – get creative with flavors! Apple, pear, or maple would all be delicious mixed into giblet gravy.

Storing and Reheating Your Giblet Gravy

A batch of homemade giblet gravy is far too good not to have leftovers. Here are some storage tips:

Refrigerate gravy for up to 3 days.
Freeze gravy for 4-6 months.
Store gravy in airtight containers to prevent drying out.
Reheat gently on the stovetop while stirring frequently.

Avoid microwaving gravy, as this can cause separation. Always reheat gently to preserve the luxurious texture.

Time to Get Gravy-fied

As you can see, preparing mouthwatering gravy from turkey giblets is easy, budget-friendly, and so rewarding. There’s simply no comparison to the deep, savory flavor homemade giblet gravy delivers. This Thanksgiving, skip the powdered gravy packets and wow your guests with the real deal. Once you master the basics, experiment with fun additions like mushrooms, herbs, or spices. Best of all, you can feel good about serving wholesome gravy made with simple, natural ingredients. Ditch the mystery sludge and get gravy-fied with giblets this holiday season!

how do you make gravy from turkey giblets

Turkey Pan-Gravy with Giblets

The general rule of thumb for gravy is to match the proportion of fat to flour for making the roux and then add broth until the desired consistency. So for the gravy, if I have 1 tablespoon fat, I will use 1 tablespoon of flour and 1 cup of broth.

To make gravy without flour, use a broth that gels and this consistency should also hold. Without the flour, it’s a bit harder to make an emulsion – where the fat is mixed evenly. In this recipe, we’ll blend the Gravy with Giblets, so it should emulsify in the blender.

To prepare the giblets, I gently pan-fry them. After, I cut them into pieces that will blend evenly and reserve until my gravy is ready.

To make the Gravy with Giblets, I wait for the fat to get hot in the pan, then I whisk in the flour. After the flour browns, you add the broth bit-by-bit making sure that each addition is incorporated well before adding more. Each time, I try to scrape up more of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until I’ve incorporated them all.

Boil the gravy, check your consistency and pour into your blender along with the reserved organs. Make sure that it’s blended well and voila – gravy!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, appreciating and giving thanks is a worthy habit. I like to appreciate until I actually feel overcome with joy and gratitude and I encourage you to do the same! Like other habits, appreciating seems to be a muscle that when well-trained, comes to service easily. So let Thanksgiving be the start of practice and appreciate every day!

How To Make The Best Giblet Gravy | Dear Test Kitchen

FAQ

What is the best way to use turkey giblets?

Clean: Rinse giblets under cold water. Boil: Simmer giblets (except liver) and neck in water or broth with onion, carrot, celery, and herbs for 1.5–2 hours. Add Liver: Cook liver separately for the last 20 minutes. Use: Chop giblets for stuffing, gravy, or eat as a side.

What giblets not to use in gravy?

Add fresh herbs, chicken stock and giblets except for the liver — you don’t want to cook the liver in the stock because it tends to make for a slightly bitter gravy.

What is the best thing to do with giblets?

The giblets can also be used to make a gravy. You essentially use the giblets as a base for stock, then strain it and thicken with flour and turkey drippings. Or you can use the giblets to make turkey stock along with the turkey carcass when the meal is done.

How do I thicken my giblet gravy?

Milk and cornstarch: A mixture of milk and cornstarch thickens the gravy to the perfect consistency.Nov 20, 2024

What is turkey giblet gravy?

Turkey giblet gravy is, of course, a natural fit on the Thanksgiving table, and there’s nothing like pouring this thick, savory gravy over slices of roast turkey, homemade stuffing or traditional mashed potatoes. However, you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving.

Can I make gravy without turkey giblets?

If you don’t have turkey giblets, you can make gravy using 2 pounds of bone-in turkey wings or drumsticks. Follow the instructions in the recipe card below to make the gravy. If you prepare the gravy ahead, you can still use the pan drippings whenever they’re ready.

What is giblet gravy made of?

Made from turkey drippings and a medley of flavorful giblets, this rich and velvety sauce is a timeless recipe that brings a whole new level of depth and deliciousness to your meal. What Is Giblet Gravy? Transform your Thanksgiving dinner with this Giblet Gravy recipe!