It’s turkey time! Tackling the holidays with a new celiac disease diagnosis or gluten-intolerance can feel daunting.
Thankfully, turkey and gravy are easily made gluten-free. Your Thanksgiving guests will love this juicy turkey that’s full of rosemary flavor and tender on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. No one will even know the gluten-is missing!
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While most turkeys are gluten-free, there is the possibility that a brine, marinade, or injection in your turkey could contain gluten.
Butterball frozen turkeys are easy to find on sale leading up to Thanksgiving. Butterball states “our Butterball fresh and frozen raw unstuffed turkeys are always gluten-free, and our gravy pack included with our Butterball Whole and Boneless Breast items is also gluten-free.”
Turkey gravy is a staple side dish for many during the holidays. Its savory, meaty flavor perfectly complements roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and more. But for those avoiding gluten, the question arises: is store-bought turkey gravy safe to eat? Specifically, is Butterball turkey gravy gluten free?
Butterball is one of the most popular brands of turkey in the U.S. Many of their turkey products come with gravy packets or concentrates. With fluctuating formulas over the years, Butterball’s gravy has gone back and forth on being gluten free.
So what’s the status today in 2022? Can you safely enjoy Butterball turkey gravy on a gluten free diet? Let’s find out
A Brief History of Gluten in Butterball Turkey Gravy
Butterball turkey gravy has not always been gluten free. In fact, before 2009 the gravy packets contained wheat flour as a thickener. This means the gravy was off limits for anyone avoiding gluten.
Around 2009, Butterball reformulated their gravy to use rice flour instead of wheat flour Rice flour allowed them to create a smooth, gluten free gravy. However, this change didn’t happen all at once across all product lines.
During the transition period from 2009-2011, some Butterball turkeys had the new gluten free gravy packets while others still contained the wheat-based packets. This caused confusion among consumers over which packets were which.
By 2011, all Butterball turkey gravy packets were supposed to contain only rice flour and be gluten free. However, some exceptions occurred:
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In 2011, some stuffed Butterball turkeys oddly contained the gluten free gravy despite having gluten-containing stuffing. This defeated the purpose of the gluten free gravy. Butterball corrected this mismatch shortly after.
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Isolated reports until 2013-2014 noted some traditional frozen Butterball turkeys still contained wheat flour gravy packets, suggesting the switch to rice flour was not 100% consistent.
So Butterball’s path to gluten free gravy has been complex. While today it is largely gluten free, some exceptions occurred in recent history.
Is Butterball Turkey Gravy Gluten Free in 2022?
According to Butterball’s website, all of their gravy packets today are gluten free, with one exception.
Any Butterball turkey product packaged with gravy contains gluten free gravy – with the only exception being the stuffing in the Stuffed Turkey, which contains bread stuffing.
So if you see a Butterball turkey product with an included gravy packet in 2022, you can trust that the gravy is gluten free. Some examples include:
- Whole turkeys (fresh and frozen) with gravy packets
- Turkey breasts with gravy packets
- Turkey roasts with gravy packets
- Ground or diced turkey products with gravy packets
As long as the product does not contain the stuffed turkey with bread stuffing, you can be confident the gravy packet is gluten free.
Double Checking the Ingredients
To exercise extra caution, you can always double check the ingredients on any gravy packet. Gluten free Butterball gravy contains:
- Water
- Rice flour
- Modified corn starch
- Natural flavors and spices
It does not contain wheat flour or wheat ingredients. Checking for the presence of rice flour and absence of wheat flour provides an extra layer of assurance.
Making Your Own Turkey Gravy
For maximum control, you can also prepare your own homemade turkey gravy using turkey drippings.
To make gluten free turkey gravy from scratch:
- Roast the turkey and reserve the pan drippings
- In a saucepan, whisk 2-3 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder into the drippings
- Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 5 minutes
- Season with salt, pepper and herbs as desired
- For the smoothest gravy, strain out any crispy bits from the drippings
This allows you to customize the ingredients and ensure a completely gluten free homemade gravy.
The Bottom Line
Butterball has come a long way in reformulating their turkey gravy to be gluten free and accommodate special diets. While the transition was gradual and imperfect at times, today’s Butterball gravy packets are reliably gluten free.
As long as you check the ingredients to confirm rice flour and no wheat flour, Butterball’s turkey gravy can be enjoyed as part of a gluten free Thanksgiving feast. For additional assurance, whipping up your own homemade turkey gravy is a fail-proof gluten free option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butterball turkey gluten free?
Yes, Butterball fresh and frozen turkeys are gluten free. The only exception is the stuffed turkey, due to the stuffing containing bread.
What’s in Butterball gluten free turkey gravy?
Butterball’s gluten free turkey gravy contains water, rice flour, modified corn starch, natural flavors, salt, and spices. It does not contain any wheat ingredients.
Does Butterball make gluten free turkey sausage?
Yes, Butterball’s turkey sausage and turkey franks are gluten free and wheat free. They are made without wheat-containing binders. Always check labels to confirm gluten free status.
Can celiacs eat Butterball turkey?
Yes, celiacs can safely enjoy Butterball fresh and frozen whole turkeys, as well as turkey parts and ground turkey. The stuffing in pre-stuffed Butterball turkeys contains gluten from bread. But all other Butterball turkey products are naturally gluten free.
Is turkey gravy naturally gluten free?
Turkey gravy made from scratch using just turkey drippings, broth and thickened with cornstarch is naturally gluten free. However, packaged gravy mixes and ready-to-use gravies often contain wheat flour or maltodextrin derived from wheat. Always check ingredients.
Roasting in an Oven Bag
This turkey recipe calls for roasting your Thanksgiving turkey in an oven bag. It is a game changer.
Using an oven bag is a time and effort saver! Easy prep, easy cleanup, and easy everything in between. No dry turkey. No basting is necessary. Once the turkey is prepped and in the bag, you don’t touch it until 15 minutes before the turkey is done (for crispy skin).
The turkey comes out exceptionally tender and roasts quickly in the bag. Even a 24 lb turkey will be done in about 3½ hours. And a 10 lb turkey is ready in as little as 1½ hours!
The oven bag has the added benefit of protecting the turkey from cross-contact with gluten-containing side dishes in a shared kitchen. This is especially helpful during busy holiday meal prep.
Turkey Size and Cook Times
The general rule of thumb is 1-1½ pounds of turkey per guest. I like to lean towards the upper end of that scale. My family likes leftovers.
Cook times are quick in an oven bag:
- 10-12 lb turkey: 1½-2 hours
- 12-16 lb turkey: 2-2¼ hours
- 16-20 lb turkey: 2¼-2½ hours
- 20-24 lb turkey: 2½-3 hours
Always verify that the turkey is done with a meat thermometer. The turkey is done when the meat thermometer reads at least 165°F in several places not touching the bone.
The gluten-free turkey gravy is made from the flavorful pan drippings of the rosemary roast turkey.
Instead of traditional flour-thickened gravy, this gravy is thickened with cornstarch. You won’t miss the gluten. Cornstarch is commonly used to thicken sauces in restaurants around the country.
Be sure to use gluten-free chicken broth. I use Pacific Foods Chicken Broth, which is labeled gluten-free
What to do with all that leftover turkey?
Store leftover turkey and gravy in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or freezer for up to 3-4 months.
Better yet, try this Gluten-Free Turkey Pot Pie (an Easy 1-Skillet Recipe). It features a delicious white wine sauce and is the best way to use leftover turkey, leftover veggies, and even leftover pie dough!