Today, I’m sharing an easy Make Ahead Turkey Gravy to top your Thanksgiving Turkey and mashed potatoes. When you make it with bone broth, your gravy will be delicious and good for you too!
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Table of Contents
- Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- Mashed Potatoes for Your Turkey Gravy
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
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- Kitchen Pioneer Videos
- Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Using Bone Broth Recipe
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Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
For Thanksgiving dinner, you can make two small turkeys in the oven or a turkey breast in your Instant Pot.
And be sure to save your bones afterward to make turkey bone broth.
Mashed Potatoes for Your Turkey Gravy
Your homemade gravy will be delicious on your turkey and mashed potatoes. I show you how to make creamy, light, and fluffy mashed potatoes in the following recipe.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
How to Make a Blender Pumpkin Cake with Spelt
Delight your guests with dessert that’s in the holiday spirit but is something different from pumpkin pie.
Northern Italian Spinach Ricotta Pie Recipe
This spinach ricotta pie makes a tasty appetizer, side dish, or holiday entree for family and friends who follow a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.
Turkey Neck Pot-au-Feu Recipe
Surprise yourself and your family and friends with this easy and memorable French Pot-au-Feu recipe made with turkey necks.
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Kitchen Pioneer Videos
Let’s Talk Akkermansia: A Tiny Helper for Big Gut Health
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How to Eat a Mediterranean Diet with a Keto Twist
Explore a Mediterranean-Keto twist with a full sample menu focused on healthy fats, quality proteins, and low-carb veggies.
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I chat about what’s in store for my Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy in 2025.
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Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Using Bone Broth
Ingredients
Turkey Bone Broth
- 2 Turkey necks, cut into pieces
- 2 Turkey backs, cut into pieces
- 2 stalks Celery Stalks, including tops, chopped
- 2 Carrots, chopped
- 1 Medium yellow onion, skin on and chopped
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon Whole black peppercorns
- Water to cover
- 1/2 cup White vermouth can substitute white wine or vinegar
Turkey Gravy
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 4 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 4 cups Turkey bone broth
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/3 cup Heavy whipping cream
Instructions
Turkey Bone Broth
- Add all bone broth ingredients to your stockpot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then turn to low and allow to simmer for three hours. After 3 hours, strain solids and set liquid aside.
Turkey Gravy
- Place the butter and the flour into a medium-sized saucepan and cook butter for approximately 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Add 4 cups of bone broth to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir with a whisk until there are no visible lumps. Add the salt and stir.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup heavy cream.
- Store in your refrigerator and reheat when needed. Gravy will stay fresh refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hello Mary,
I am a follower from Ontario, Canada.
I enjoy your explicit, detailed instructions.
I have to ask you….
1. What are “backsides” you reference in the ingredient list?
2. Do you use the wings? Is that what “backsides” are?
3. Would adding chicken feet also help flavour-wise, or would that make it too jellied?
Thank you,
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for your kind comment. I’m so glad you like the detail I include in my videos. That’s why they’re usually long! 🙂
You have some great questions!
(1) What are “backsides” you reference in the ingredient list?
I can see how the backsides term is confusing. I updated the recipe to mention Turkey backs, instead of backsides. The backs are part of your turkey carcass that you can use to make bone broth.
Note that I also have other in-depth videos where I demonstrate how you can make turkey bone broth:
* Slow cooker: https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-turkey-bone-broth-in-the-slow-cooker/
* Instant Pot: https://marysnest.com/instant-pot-turkey-bone-broth-that-gels-every-time/
* Stovetop: https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-roast-turkey-bone-broth-on-the-stovetop/
(2) Do you use the wings? Is that what “backsides” are?
You can use the bones of wings when making bone broth. Any poultry bones will work well.
(3) Would adding chicken feet also help flavour-wise, or would that make it too jellied?
Adding chicken feet is a great idea! The feet are an inexpensive way to make sure that you have a rich and gelatinous bone broth. I highly recommend adding feet to both beef and chicken bone broth. Here are two of my videos, where I show you how to use chicken and beef feet to make beautifully gelatinous bone broth:
* Chicken Feet: https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-collagen-rich-bone-broth-for-under-2-dollars/
* Beef Feet: https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-affordable-bone-broth-using-beef-feet/
Thanks for the wonderful questions and for being on this traditional foods journey with me! 🙂
Love and God bless,
Mary