Gluten Free Gravy for Turkey (or Chicken)

This Gluten Free Gravy recipe is perfect for turkey or chicken! Gluten Free turkey gravy without drippings is my go-to recipe for Thanksgiving or for whenever I want a smooth and rich gravy that is simple to make. 

For me, Thanksgiving is about all the sides. I like stuffing, Mac and Cheese, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and sometimes the turkey is almost an afterthought. But we must have turkey on Thanksgiving! So of course I want to make some gravy to go with it. 

I'll admit that when it comes to gravy, I am a bit of a snob. I just can't serve it out of a jar so I make sure there is always some in my freezer. Homemade gravy is a bit more time-consuming than opening up a jar of gravy but so worth it.

Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

I make this turkey gravy without drippings for Thanksgiving every year. It is easy to make in advance and store in the freezer. It is one less thing I will have to make on Thanksgiving Day.

• Make this gluten free gravy up to 3 days in advance and store in the fridge until ready to reheat.
• Make and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight in the fridge and whisk until smooth while heating.
• Always store gravy in an airtight container or a ziptop bag with as much air removed as possible.

Ingredients Needed for Gluten Free Gravy

• Turkey Wings – Check with your local butcher if you don't see turkey wings in your grocery store meat department.
• Olive Oil – Or use your favorite neutral-flavored oil.
• Poultry Seasoning – This blend of seasonings often includes nutmeg, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and black pepper.
• Carrots – Use 5 large carrots or 2 cups baby carrots.
• Onion – Peeled and quarter a sweet yellow onion.
• Salt and Pepper – Always taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
• Parsley – Use one bunch of fresh parsley.
• Turkey Stock – You can also use chicken stock.
• Water
• Corn Starch – Corn starch will be used to thicken the gravy instead of flour.
• Onion Powder
• Celery Salt
• Butter – Use salted or unsalted. Whaterever you have on hand.
• Roasted Turkey Drippings – You can certainly make this turkey gravy without drippings but they do add a nice layer of flavor if desired.

How to Make Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Turkey drippings can add lots of flavor to a gravy but since we roast the wings and veggies, we can easily leave them out and still enjoy gravy with incredible flavor.

1. Coat turkey wings with half of the olive oil and poultry seasoning.
2. Toss the carrots and onion with the remaining olive oil and salt and pepper.
3. Place the wings and the veggies on a sheet pan and roast for 30 minutes or until golden in color.
4. Add the meat and veggies to a soup pot along with the stock and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Strain out the meat and veggies and return ½ a cup of the broth to the soup pot.
6. Whisk in the cornstarch over high heat to create a paste. Add the remaining broth, onion powder and celery salt and whisk until smooth.
7. Remove from the heat and strain if needed. Stir in a bit of butter or turkey drippings.

Gluten Free Gravy Making Tips

Here are a few easy tricks to making this gravy perfect.

• The turkey wings and vegetables are roasted before I add them to stock. The roasting adds a rich flavor. 
• Turkey stock can be used but if you can't find it, chicken stock will work too.
• Make sure the gravy is strained well as lumps have no place in gravy. This insures the gravy is perfectly smooth.
• Add a bit of your turkey drippings to the gravy at the end if you have some.  If you don't , no worries because this gravy is also great without drippings.  

This Gluten Free Turkey Gravy goes great on turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. In fact, you'll want to put this gravy on everything. Do yourself a favor and make homemade gravy for your next holiday dinner.

This gravy recipe works on any type of poultry including chicken and cornish hens too.

More Thanksgiving Side Dishes

• Italian Stuffing for Thanksgiving via Aggie's Kitchen
• Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Braised Collard Greens with Turkey Bacon
• The Best Mashed Potatoes via Gimme Some Oven  
• Cranberry Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad

If you like this recipe for Gluten Free Turkey Gravy, please give it a 5 star rating below!

Print Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Gluten Free Turkey Gravy

This gluten free turkey gravy is good to put on everything at your Thanksgiving table.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Gravy

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy recipe, gluten free, make ahead, Thanksgiving, turkey gravy

Servings: 20 ¼ cup servings

Calories: 83kcal

Author: Lisa Grant

Cost: $5

Ingredients

• 2 large turkey wings
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 5 large carrots peeled or 2 cups baby carrots
• 1 large onion peeled and quartered
• ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
• 1 large bunch of parsley
• 32 ounce carton of turkey stock
• 2 cups of water more if needed
• 4 Tablespoons corn starch
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon butter
• roasted turkey drippings, if desired

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Coat the turkey wings with half the olive oil and poultry seasoning.
• Toss the carrots and onion in a bowl with the remaining oil and ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
• Place the turkey wings and vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes or until wings are golden brown.
• Place the wings and vegetables in a medium size soup pot with the parsley. Pour the turkey stock and 2 cups of water on top and place on medium high heat. Let mixture come to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes covered on low heat.
• Strain mixture and save the turkey and veggies for another time.
• Place ½ cup of broth back in pot and add the cornstarch. Heat on medium high heat and whisk vigorously so that the mixture comes to a paste. Add the remaining broth, onion powder and celery salt. Keep whisking until mixture comes to a boil and is smooth. Remove from heat. Strain gravy and make sure there are no lumps. Whisk in butter and a few spoons of turkey drippings if desired.. Add salt and pepper to taste. If mixture is too thick, a little water can be used to thin out.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2578IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

First Published November 2017; Updated November 2021

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