If you’re looking for a delicious and stress-free way to make-ahead turkey gravy, look no further than Chef John’s make-ahead Turkey gravy. This easy-to-follow recipe yields a rich and flavorful gravy you can make or refrigerate later.
Start by roasting the veggies and turkey wings in a preheated oven until browned and caramelized. Next, scrape off the bits and boil them until smooth. Make the gravy by adding flour, roasted turkey wings, and veggies to the broth. Simmer the mixture until warm and thickened.
You can spice up the gravy by adding a variety of your favorite herbs- rosemary, thyme, parsley, or sage—and let the gravy extract some of the flavors while it is being heated.
With this step-by-step guide, you can make flavorful Turkey gravy. Scroll down for the recipe and detailed instructions below for Chef John’s make-ahead Turkey gravy. Check other Chef John’s recipes here.
What's In The Post
Other Chef John’s Recipe That You Can Try
- Chef John’s Salmon Cakes
- Chef John’s Perfect Prime Rib
- Chef John’s Chicken And Rice
- Chef John’s Bread And Butter Pickle
- Chef John’s Quiche Lorraine
- Chef John’s Fried Zucchini Spaghetti
- Chef John’s Pecan Pie
- Chef John’s Mashed Potatoes
- Chef John’s Buttermilk Biscuits
- Chef John’s Meatballs
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy?
- Oven – Roast the turkey and veggies in the oven until the turkey wings are browned and the vegetables are caramelized and softened.
- Roasting Pan – You will need a roasting pan to roast veggies and turkey beef for making turkey gravy.
- Stockpot – A stock pot is used for making turkey stock quickly and is an excellent choice for boiling water for gravy or cooking broth.
- Knife – Chop the veggies with a sharp knife into chunks to add to the gravy.
- Chopping Board – Chop the veggies by keeping them on the board for easy cutting.
- Spatula – Scrape the pan to let off the bits with a flat-surfaced spatula.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy?
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Minutes | 3 Hours 25 Minutes | 3 Hours 40 Minutes |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy?
- Turkey wings – Season with garlic, salt, and pepper to get the dark, rich and juicy flavor.
- Onion – Chop and cook the onion until soft and translucent to add a sweet flavor.
- Carrots – When added to the mixture, the carrot will give a slightly sweet flavor.
- Celery – Celery will add a leafy and earthy flavor to the turkey gravy.
- Olive oil – Cook the beef and onion in olive oil until tender and translucent.
- Cold water – Add ten cups of cold water to the turkey mixture to make the gravy.
- Thyme – Thyme will provide an earthy, minty, slightly lemony flavor.
- Garlic – Add garlic to the turkey mixture for a unique and intense flavor.
- Butter – Butter adds richness and a lovely golden color to the gravy that cannot be matched by using any other type of fat.
- All-purpose flour – Flour is a critical element when making gravy. It helps thicken the liquid and create the silky texture people expect when they think of gravy.
- Cayenne Pepper – Sprinkle cayenne pepper while making the gravy for a hot and fruity flavor.
- Salt – It’s important to remember to season properly at every step of the cooking process, including this one!
- Black Pepper – Black pepper will aid a spicy, earthy, hot, woody, and distinct flavor that pairs well with this recipe.
Steps To Make Chef John Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
1. Slice Them Off
Chop the veggies into chunks. I have used onions, carrots, and celery and have chopped them into pieces using a sharp knife.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Roast The Veggies
Combine chopped onions, carrots, celery, and vegetable oil in a large roasting pan until well coated. Place turkey wings on top of the coated vegetables.
Roast it in the oven until the turkey wings are browned, and the vegetables are caramelized and softened. Transfer roasted turkey wings and vegetables to a large stockpot.
3. Deglazing The Bits
Add a small amount of water to the pan to help deglaze the pan and dissolve any bits that might have been left behind. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
Simmer for about 10 minutes to ensure that any bacteria in the drippings are killed off. Next, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and pour the liquid back into the saucepan.
At this point, the liquid would be considered broth. Transfer the mixture to the stockpot and add 10 cups of cold water, thyme, and garlic.
4. Making Of The Gravy
Bring the turkey wing mixture to a boil until the meat falls off the bone for about 3 hours. Skim off the fat and reserve it for making gravy.
Slowly whisk all-purpose flour in a saucepan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in reserved turkey and butter, whisking constantly. Simmer gravy until thick and warmed about 5 minutes, and season with cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 115 kcal |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Cholesterol | 23 mg |
| Sodium | 92 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 10 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Calcium | 34 mg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 163 mg |
How Will Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy Look And Taste Like?
Chef John’s make-ahead turkey gravy is a delicious and savory gravy that can be made and stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. Turkey gravy is a thick, flavorful sauce made from the drippings of a roasted turkey. When served, the gravy is smooth and rich, with a slightly fruity flavor from the white wine.
Recipe Card
Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Roasting Pan
- Stockpot
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Spatula
Ingredients
- ½ cup All-purpose Flour
- 1 large Onion (chopped)
- 2 Carrots (chopped)
- 2 ribs Celery (chopped)
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 2 large Turkey Wings
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- 12 cups Cold Water
- 4 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine chopped onions, carrots, celery, and vegetable oil in a large roasting pan until well coated.
- Place turkey wings on top of the coated vegetables.
- Roast it in the oven until the turkey wings are browned, and the vegetables are caramelized and softened.
- Transfer roasted turkey wings and vegetables to a large stockpot.
- Add a small amount of water to the pan to help deglaze the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and pour the liquid back into the saucepan.
- Transfer the mixture to the stockpot and add 10 cups of cold water, thyme, and garlic.
- Bring the turkey wing mixture to a boil, uncovered, until the meat falls off the bone for about 3 hours. Skim off the fat and reserve it for making gravy.
- Slowly whisk all-purpose flour in a saucepan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in reserved turkey and butter, whisking constantly.
- Simmer gravy until thick and warmed through, about 5 minutes and season with cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you make gravy ahead of time and reheat it?
We recommend not making gravy right before serving, and you can prepare it up to five days ahead. Then, whisk the turkey pan drippings and reheat them for extra flavor. The result is as good as last-minute gravy — and far less crazy-making.
How long can you keep make-ahead gravy in the fridge?
You can refrigerate your make-ahead turkey gravy for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 4 months,
Why does reheated gravy go watery?
Cornstarch and sweet potato starch are different thickeners if your gravy goes watery.
How do I add flavor to bland turkey gravy?
Add herbs or a splash of wine to spice up the gravy. You can also add pan drippings from turkey, bacon or bacon drippings, vegetables like onions, leeks, carrots and celery, herbs or garlic to enhance flavor.
Conclusion
Make Chef John’s make-ahead turkey gravy this holiday season and enjoy this Thanksgiving Day. You can make this delicious Chef John’s make-ahead Turkey gravy ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve.
