Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (2024)

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This easy gluten free turkey gravy can be made with chicken, turkey or beef stock, or turkey drippings. It's the perfect sauce to serve with roast turkey, or any other turkey entree.

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (1)
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  • Why you'll love it
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Top tips
  • Serving suggestions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Storage
  • Frequently asked questions
  • You might also like these recipes
  • Recipe
  • Food safety tips

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This amazing gluten free gravy is made from the pan drippings that are left in the roasting pan after cooking a whole turkey. No gravy mix is required!

Preparing for a big holiday meal? Make sure to try my favorite Healthy Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli!

Why you'll love it

  • Really easy to make
  • Customize the sauce to suit your preferences
  • Pairs perfectly with any turkey entree
  • 5-minute turkey gravy recipe
  • Gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free
  • Suitable for most diets
  • Vegan "turkey gravy" alternative available

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Ingredients

Turkey drippings: This is the main liquid ingredient. The turkey drippings is the grease or fat that drips off turkey when it roasts. You can also use turkey stock, chicken stock, beef broth or water to increase the amount of liquid used if you don't have enough (or any) drippings available.

Sweet rice flour: This is an excellent natural thickening agent, and completely gluten free. You can also use cornstarch instead, but make sure that it's certified gluten free. Alternatively, gluten free flour will also do the trick.

Water: Used to turn the sweet rice flour into a paste.

Seasoning: I use salt and pepper, but you can adjust the seasoning to taste.

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (2)

Instructions

You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page

One: Pour the turkey drippings into a small pot, and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer.

Two: Combine sweet rice flour and cold water in a bowl to form a paste. Add the paste to the turkey drippings, and whisk.

The turkey gravy will quickly thicken. Allow it to gently simmer, and add seasoning to taste. Serve the gravy immediately while it's warm.

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (3)

Top tips

  • Keep whisking the gravy after you add the thickening agent to prevent any lumps from forming.
  • If you use stock or broth instead of drippings, you might want to add extra seasoning or the gravy could be bland.
  • Adjust the amount of salt to taste. You might not need to add as much if your drippings or broth contains salt already.

Serving suggestions

Gluten free turkey gravy is perfect to serve with any turkey entree. Turkey is commonly served with a variety of side dishes for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or other special occasions.

This is also a great sauce to serve with roast chicken or any other poultry.

Serve turkey gravy with turkey steaks or roasted whole turkey. Pour it over mashed potatoes for an easy side dish. Or, you can pair it with your favorite side dishes, like slow cooker green beans, almond milk mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, or garlic parmesan brussels sprouts.

Variations

Creamy turkey gravy: Add some heavy cream, half and half or creme fraiche to the gravy before you serve it. Cream gravy is thick, flavorful and delicious. This also makes the sauce more filling.

Add more volume: If you want to make more gravy, but don't have enough turkey drippings, you can add water and a bouillon cube, or beef broth or chicken stock. You can also add a stock pot. Keep in mind that this will dillute the flavor, and you might have to compensate by adding more seasoning.

Vegan version: Make vegetarian turkey gravy by replacing the turkey drippings with vegetable broth, drippings from roasted vegetables, or chicken flavored vegetarian bouillon.

Other thickening agents: You can replace the sweet rice flour with gluten free cornstarch, gluten free all-purpose flour, a small spoon of instant mashed potato powder, or even mashed potatoes. These are all easier to find than sweet rice flour.

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Equipment

To make this easy dish, you will need a small pot or sauce pan. Make sure that you use a pot that's large enough to comfortably fit the amount of liquid used. Additionally, you will need a small bowl and a whisk.

Since the recipe requires turkey drippings, it's best to serve it with roasted turkey. This means that you will need a whole turkey or turkey breast, and a roasting dish as well.

Storage

Store any leftover turkey gravy in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat it on the stove or in a microwave, and serve it warm with fututre meals.

Alternatively, use the leftover gravy in other dishes like casseroles.

You can also freeze this sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen sauce in a refrigerator overnight, and reheat it as described above. This means that the gravy can be made ahead, which can save you a lot of time when cooking dinner on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (6)

Frequently asked questions

Can you make gravy without drippings?

Yes. Drippings add a lot of flavor to turkey gravy, but it's possible to make it without. Instead, you can use concentrated chicken broth or turkey stock, grease from roasting vegetables, or any other flavorful liquid of your choice.

Can you make gravy without any dairy?

Absolutely. You can make gravy with or without milk or cream. If you choose to make a cream gravy, you can use dairy free cream if you prefer.

Why is flour used to thicken gravy?

Flour is used to thicken gravy, as it gives the sauce a good, creamy consistency. Without adding flour, gravy would be extremely watery. You can use any type of flour, like all-purpose flour, cornstarch or sweet rice flour.

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You might also like these recipes

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  • Lemon Garlic Sauce
  • Healthy Teriyaki Sauce
  • Gyoza Sauce
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If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with#hintofhealthy!

Recipe

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (7)

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy

This easy gluten free turkey gravy is packed with flavor, and made in only 5 minutes. The perfect sauce to serve with roast turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

5 from 1 vote

Created by: Tonje

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 0 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 57 kcal

Equipment

  • Pot

  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 2 cups turkey drippings
  • 1 tablespoon sweet rice flour (or cornstarch)
  • 1 tablespoon cold water
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (optional)

Instructions

  • Add the turkey drippings to a small pot. Bring it to a boil over medium heat on the stove, and reduce it to a simmer.

  • Combine sweet rice flour and cold water in a small bowl to form a paste.

  • Add the flour paste to the warm turkey drippings, and whisk. The sauce will thicken quickly.

  • When the gravy has thickened to your liking, remove it from the heat, and add salt and pepper to taste if required.

Video

Notes

  • You can use cornstarch or all-purpose flour instead of sweet rice flour if you prefer.
  • If you don't have enough turkey drippings, you can add turkey stock, chicken broth or beef stock to make up the amount required.
  • If you want to make cream gravy, you can add half and half, heavy cream, milk or creme fraiche towards the end of the cooking time. Add this to taste.
  • Make sure to use certified gluten free ingredients. This is often indiciated on the nutritional label on the packaging.

Nutrition

Calories: 57kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 686mgPotassium: 3mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1IUCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg

Keyword easy, gluten free, gravy, turkey, turkey drippings

Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

Food safety tips

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy (Easy Recipe) - Hint of Healthy (2024)

FAQs

What is the best gluten-free flour to use for gravy? ›

Sweet rice flour is my go-to flour for making gluten-free gravy. It contains a slightly higher starch content than other gluten-free flours, making it silky and smooth. Even more, because this flour is gluten-free, it doesn't clump as easily as wheat flour.

What is a healthier option for gravy? ›

When looking for a healthier gravy alternative, seasoned yogurt is one of the best substitutes. Yogurt is a great source of calcium, a micronutrient essential for bone health and many other body functions. Plain yogurt also has a mild taste that lends itself well to a variety of dishes.

What is the best substitute for flour in gravy? ›

Cornstarch and potato starch are the best options for gravy. Avoid arrowroot and tapioca starches because they can get "stringy" and look artificial in gravy. Cornstarch gravy is more translucent than flour based sauces. Potato starch gravy is more opaque than cornstarch, but less opaque than flour.

Which is better for turkey gravy cornstarch or flour? ›

Cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour, so it's best to go slowly and add a little at a time until the gravy reaches your desired consistency. The best way to do that is to make a slurry of one tablespoon cornstarch to one cup of cool stock, whisked together.

What is the best thickener for gluten-free gravy? ›

Cornstarch is probably the most readily available ingredient to sub in for flour in your gluten-free gravy—and you probably already have it in your pantry. The only catch is you'll skip the roux-making process. Once you've deglazed your roasting pan and added stock, transfer about 1 cup stock mixture to a medium bowl.

What is the closest gluten free flour to regular flour? ›

"But, if I'm trying to sub a regular traditional flour, I tend to grab oat flour since that mimics wheat flour beautifully." She also attains fluffiness by mixing blanched almond flour and oat flour, adjusting the amounts for each recipe.

What sauce can I use instead of gravy? ›

A Velouté is simply a sauce made with fat, flour, and the stock of your choice. It's a great versatile tool to use in home cooking that can serve as a gravy or a simple sauce to transform leftovers.

What can I put on mashed potatoes instead of gravy? ›

Instead of gravy, opt for a lemony hollandaise sauce recipe to add a little tangy flavor and heat to your side dish. This works especially well for any mashed potatoes that have found their way onto a brunch menu, or if you're cooking a French entrée.

Can gravy be healthy? ›

Gravy adds flavor, mainly due to its sodium and fat content. It imparts richness and decadence to otherwise drier foods, like turkey. Although gravy isn't the most nutritious option as an everyday choice, it's still possible to include this staple on your holiday plate while maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.

What can I use if I don't have flour or cornstarch for gravy? ›

It is possible to thicken gravy without flour or cornstarch, and it's as simple as keeping it on the heat. When gravy is left to simmer or reduce, it naturally thickens, so be patient with your gravy. One downside to reducing gravy, though, is that it can become too salty.

How do you thicken turkey gravy? ›

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

How to make gravy without flour or cornstarch? ›

Another way to thicken gravy without flour is to roast vegetables like carrots, onions or shallots, celery, whole garlic and red bell peppers with the meat. Strain the juices and puree the vegetables and add it to the de-fatted meat juices, wine and some stock. Reduce the liquid to a thick gravy then strain and serve.

What can I add to turkey gravy to make it taste better? ›

If you are reaching for a jar or carton of turkey gravy at the store, here are seven easy ways to give it a boost.
  1. Add in some white wine. ...
  2. Thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. ...
  3. Stir in pan drippings. ...
  4. Simmer with fresh herbs. ...
  5. Add an umami-rich condiment. ...
  6. Sauté some vegetables. ...
  7. Add roasted garlic.

How does Gordon Ramsay make turkey gravy? ›

Roughly chop the bacon, add to the tray and fry for a few minutes. Chop the onions and lemon and add to the tray with 2 rosemary sprigs and the tomatoes. Cook for 1–2 minutes, then add the turkey wings, parson's nose and drumstick tips and fry for a few more minutes. Pour in the cider and boil for a few minutes.

How do you thicken turkey gravy without flour? ›

Add cornstarch: To thicken your gravy with cornstarch, make a slurry, which is a liquid-based paste. Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with one cup of cold water, whisking the mixture together until the cornstarch granules dissolve. Stir this mixture into your gravy on low heat.

Does gluten-free flour work in gravy? ›

Yes, gluten free flours can be used to thicken, as the key part is the starch in the flour, not the protein, which is the gluten. Corn flour (not wheaten cornflour) is a common gluten free thickening agent.

What is the best gluten-free flour for making a roux? ›

Sweet rice flour, ground from glutinous rice, makes a velvety gluten-free roux and nicely replaces wheat flour measure for measure. Classically roux uses clarified butter as its fat.

What is the best gluten-free flour to use for thickening? ›

Tapioca flour: ideal as thickener or for healthy baking

It also thickens very quickly without changing the flavour of the dish. When baking with tapioca flour, you can substitute it at a 2:1 ratio for corn starch or combine it with other gluten free flours to make your own all-purpose blend.

Can you use Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour to thicken gravy? ›

Yep! GF flours like Bob's Red Mill and other rice based flours do well as a roux.

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