How To Make Gravy Without Drippings

Knowing how to make gravy without drippings in 10 minutes is a cook's secret weapon. It's silky, delicious, and crazy easy! Available drippings can be used, but this 5-ingredient gravy holds its own without them.

It happens to all of us. You're roasting holiday turkey breast and you don't have pan drippings to make Thanksgiving gravy. Or maybe you're air frying whole chicken with mashed potatoes and need a super quick gravy but you don't have drippings or a gravy packet.

Problem solved! This super easy gravy recipe doesn't require drippings and can be made at the very last minute. You can also make ahead up to 5 days before serving, or freeze for later. Trust me, this recipe has literally saved the day for countless Thanksgiving dinners and family meals because it takes 5 ingredients and 10 minutes!

5 ingredient gravy

Get ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card below.

• butter - I use unsalted butter because it allows me to add salt to taste. If using salted butter, I recommend reducing the amount stated in the recipe and adding to taste.
• flour - I find that all purpose flour creates a silkier texture than whole wheat flour, but either will work. You can even use white whole wheat flour.
• cooking liquid - Broth or stock is an essential ingredient to create the sauce that thickens into gravy. To make a Thanksgiving gravy, turkey stock or turkey broth will add depth and delicious turkey flavor, but chicken or vegetable broth can work too!
• salt and pepper - I like to add these to taste because the salt in your broth or butter might be enough.
• (optional) poultry seasoning - Add a pinch of poultry seasoning for a more traditional Thanksgiving gravy flavor.

How to make no-dripping gravy

Gravy 101. We know that classic turkey gravy is made with pan drippings (fat), starch (flour), cooking liquid (broth), and seasonings. The drippings are strained, then heated with the flour to make a roux. Cooking liquid is added to the roux and thickens as it simmers and boom, gravy!

To make turkey gravy without drippings, simply substitute butter for pan drippings in equal amounts, and follow the same instructions. It's perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, chicken entrees, mashed potatoes, or a delicious poutine.

Here's the step by step. Grab the full recipe below.

Step 1: Melt BUTTER in a saucepan over medium heat and add FLOUR.

Step 2: Whisk until flour dissolves. Then cook a few minutes until it becomes golden brown. Note: the longer it cooks, the browner it gets.

Step 3: Add BROTH or STOCK in small amounts, whisking continuously to incorporate ingredients.

To make Thanksgiving gravy, use turkey stock or broth and a pinch of poultry seasoning. These ingredients will add so much delicious depth and richness, you won't miss the drippings! Of course, using a vegetable broth would make this a vegetarian turkey gravy.

Step 4: Continue cooking about 5 minutes, or until it reaches your desired thickness, whisking as needed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

How to thicken gravy or make it thinner

If you need to make gravy thicker once it's made, simply whisk together 1 Tbsp flour (or 1 tsp corn starch) + 1 Tbsp cooking liquid. Stir it into the gravy, and continue simmering and whisking until it thickens to your liking.

To make gravy thinner once it's made, add a few splashes of cooking liquid and heat, whisking as needed. Repeat this process until it reaches the desired consistency.

How to use pan drippings in gravy

If you find yourself with enough drippings to make classic gravy, you can use this recipe for that. Even just 1 tablespoon of drippings from turkey, chicken, beef, or pork will add so much flavor to this recipe. To do so, just swap available drippings for an equal amount of butter and follow the recipe.