Learn how to make turkey gravy from drippings the easy way. Don’t let all the seasonings and juicy pan drippings from your turkey go to waste!.
Don’t let all the seasonings and juicy pan drippings from your turkey go to waste. This is the best turkey gravy recipe ever! Use all the tasty brown bits at the bottom of your roasting pan.
If there’s good gravy at the dinner table, I love pouring it all over my plate, not just on the meat. What about you? When there’s gravy on the mashed potatoes, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and everything else, you know it’s good.
It’s easy and tastes great when you make turkey gravy from the turkey drippings. It brings out the flavor of the Thanksgiving turkey you worked so hard to make. Plus, you can make it while your turkey rests and cools down so you can carve it.
The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a beautifully roasted turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. As the turkey cooks all those tasty juices collect in the bottom of the pan. But after you carve the turkey and serve it up what do you do with those drippings leftover in the pan? Don’t throw them out! Turkey drippings are a secret cooking weapon you can use in various ways to add rich, savory flavor to other dishes.
As an amateur home cook and food blogger, I’ve discovered several clever uses for turkey drippings that I want to share with you. With these 7 ideas, you’ll be able to transform what could be wasted turkey juices into incredible ingredients that make other recipes taste amazing. Let’s get cooking!
1. Make Gravy
The most obvious use for turkey drippings is to make gravy. This classic accompaniment turns leftovers into the perfect sauce for your Thanksgiving meal. Simply mix 2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water in a separate bowl until smooth. Add the cornstarch slurry to the hot turkey drippings in the pan, whisking constantly. Let it simmer until thickened. Finish with salt, pepper and any other desired seasonings. Easy turkey gravy ready in minutes!
2. Use It as a Cooking Oil
After separating the rendered turkey fat from the browned bits, you can use the clean turkey drippings just like any other cooking oil for sautéing veggies, frying eggs or any other stovetop cooking. The subtle turkey flavor adds extra depth without overpowering other ingredients. Try using turkey drippings instead of vegetable oil or butter to brown ground beef or turkey for tacos, chili or pasta sauce.
3. Make a Flavorful Rice Pilaf
For a simple rice dish with gourmet flavor, use turkey drippings instead of oil or butter to sauté onions and seasonings. Then add rice and broth to cook. The turkey fat adds a subtly more complex flavor. Try adding mushrooms, celery and carrots for a turkey and wild rice pilaf.
4. Roast Potatoes or Root Vegetables
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots and other root veggies are even more irresistible when roasted in turkey drippings. After separating the fat from the pan drippings, toss chopped veggies with the turkey fat and spread on a baking sheet The turkey flavor really amps up the taste of the crispy roasted vegetables
5. Give Soups and Stews a Boost
Adding a few spoonfuls of turkey drippings can transform the flavor of soups and stews. Use it instead of oil when sautéing aromatics like onions and garlic for the base. Or stir a bit into the finished soup or stew to add richer depth. Turkey drippings are especially delicious in recipes like chicken noodle soup, beef stew or chili.
6. Make Savory Turkey Croutons
For a delicious spin on classic croutons, stir some turkey drippings into melted butter, add garlic powder, salt and pepper, then toss with bread cubes and bake until crispy Turkey drippings give croutons incredible flavor they don’t get from regular butter They’re perfect on salads, casseroles or eaten by the handful as a snack!
7. Whip Up Flavorful Compound Butter
Blend turkey drippings with softened butter and herbs or lemon zest for an easy, versatile compound butter. Slice off a pat to melt over grilled chicken, fish fillets or steaks. Or spread it on dinner rolls or biscuits right from the fridge. The possibilities are endless with this simple flavored butter.
As you can see, with a little creativity, it’s easy to transform leftover turkey drippings into all kinds of delicious additions for other recipes. No more wasting this flavorful fat down the drain! Next time you roast a turkey, try some of these ideas to get the most out of the tasty drippings. Your cooking will be more convenient, economical and flavorful.
Now I don’t know about you, but writing this has made me hungry thinking of all the delicious ways to use turkey drippings! I can’t wait to try out some of these ideas myself this holiday season, and I hope you’ll give them a try in your own kitchen, too. Cooking and enjoying food with family and friends is what the holidays are all about. So don’t throw out the turkey drippings – use them to make your meals even more special.
What to Serve with Turkey Gravy
If you’re making this gravy for an upcoming Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration, here are a few serving suggestions:
- Medium saucepan. Perfect for making the gravy. This pot spreads heat out evenly and makes it less likely that something will catch fire.
- Strainer. It’s helpful to strain the drippings to get a smoother gravy. This one comes in three different sizes.
- Whisk. Essential for ensuring a smooth and lump-free gravy. This comes in a set of three different sizes.
Leftover gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
To reheat, heat the gravy in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until warmed. You may need to whisk in a splash of broth or water to thin it out. You can also reheat it in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute.
How to make turkey gravy from drippings
- Put the turkey juices through a strainer and into one or two large glass containers. For 15 minutes, put them in the fridge to let the fat rise to the top and set.
- Take the drippings out of the fridge and take out 2 tablespoons of the fat. You can either throw away the rest of the fat or put it in a container to use later. You should now have only the liquid turkey drippings remaining.
- Heat the all-purpose flour and 2 tablespoons of the fat you saved in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk the ingredients together until they are smooth. Keep whisking for one to two minutes, or until it bubbles and turns light to golden brown.
- First, add 1 cup of the turkey fat and 1 cup of stock. Mix everything together until it’s completely smooth. If you want the gravy to be thicker, turn down the heat and let it cook for a while longer. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- If the turkey fat doesn’t give you two tablespoons of fat, you can use two tablespoons of butter instead.
- Use unsalted, low-sodium turkey or chicken broth if possible. If you can find low-sodium or unsalted stock, use that instead of the pan drippings, which may already be salty. After that, you can check the gravy and add more salt and black pepper if needed.
- This gravy has become too thick. To thin it out, add more turkey or chicken stock one tablespoon at a time while whisking.
- A quick fix for gravy that isn’t thickening is to whisk in a little cornstarch.
- When you season your turkey, the spices and herbs you use can change the color of your gravy from light brown to dark brown.
How to Make Gravy from Turkey Drippings | Thanksgiving Turkey Gravy | Turkey with Gravy | Easy Gravy
FAQ
What to do with turkey pan drippings?
What to do with fat from turkey drippings?
What can I do with turkey drippings besides gravy?
How do you cook a Turkey drippings?
To gather up the turkey drippings, carefully lift the cooked turkey from the roasting pan and place it onto a cutting board to rest. Remove as much grease or fat as possible from the pan using a spoon, ladle, or gravy separator. Reserve ¼ cup of fat. Place the roasting pan over two burners on the stove on medium heat.
What to do with Turkey drippings?
* To make gravy, whisk together the drippings with flour, broth, and seasonings. * To make a pan sauce, add the drippings to a hot skillet and whisk in some flour, broth, and herbs. * Turkey drippings can also be used to make a variety of other dishes, such as biscuits, stuffing, and rice.
What are Turkey drippings?
Turkey drippings are the flavorful juices that come out of a turkey as it cooks. They can be used to make a variety of delicious dishes, such as gravy, pan sauces, and even soups. * Save the drippings from your turkey as it cooks. You can do this by placing a roasting pan underneath the turkey and catching the drippings as they fall.
How do you make turkey gravy from pan drippings?
Set the turkey aside to rest on the cutting board while you make the gravy. Making the gravy really won’t take long at all. Strain the pan drippings from the roasting pan into a measuring cup through a fine mesh strainer. I usually get anywhere between 1-2 cups of pan drippings.
What to do with leftover Turkey pan drippings?
In order to get a really flavorful gravy, I use the leftover turkey pan drippings to add richness and turkey flavoring that instantly elevates the taste of the gravy! The best way to get the drippings out of the pan is to add a splash of broth and then use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan.
How do you save turkey drippings?
* Save the drippings from your cooked turkey. The best way to save turkey drippings is to place a roasting rack in the bottom of the pan and then pour the drippings into a heatproof container. You can also use a gravy separator to separate the fat from the drippings.