Good Gravy

An easy version of the giblet gravy Grandma used to make, this cornstarch-thickened favorite is made by using turkey necks, giblets, carrots, celery, and onions to enhance store-bought chicken stock. Giblets can be strained out of the stock or chopped up into the finished gravy.

This easy gravy calls for cornmeal instead of flour, and is a wonderful use for bacon drippings. The buttermilk adds authentic Southern flavor.

Start with the pan juices from roasting the turkey and add broth, cornstarch, salt and pepper for this super-easy gravy.

If you serve ham at your holiday gatherings, try pairing this flavorful gravy with the ham and a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes. Redeye gravy, a traditional Southern gravy, is made from bacon and/or ham drippings mixed with black coffee. It's the perfect partner for a nice holiday ham.

Not cooking a whole turkey but still want homemade turkey gravy? Here's a quick alternative. Sauté turkey wings and necks with some veggies and then simmer the mixture with canned chicken broth. Finish it off with poultry seasoning, sage, chopped parsley and a little bit of flour.

Take the turkey drippings, add some stock, thicken with flour and cornstarch, and then season with salt and pepper. It's just your basic gravy with few ingredients, minimal fuss, and a big, rich turkey flavor.

If holiday meal preparations have you stressed to the max, try this strategy for making the gravy ahead of time. On the big day, you'll just need to add drippings from the fresh cooked turkey to lend another layer of rich turkey flavor to your gravy.

The country-style gravy that tops the chops is easily adapted to any meal for the holidays. For a different version of this same gravy, cook turkey thighs instead of pork, and dredge them in the dried herb-flour mixture. Using milk as the liquid instead of broth adds a creamy color and flavor to the thick gravy.

A classic breakfast splurge for the holidays or any special occasion, this sausage gravy is foolproof. Five ingredients and a few minutes in the kitchen make a thick milk-based sauce that's a perfect topping for homemade biscuits or toast.

For leaner turkey gravy, use just some of the fat from the turkey pan drippings and discard the rest. Combine defatted drippings with canned stock, flour, salt and pepper for a thick, rich gravy with a little less fat than usual.

Crushed pine nuts and a homemade stock made with the turkey neck and bay leaves help add an unusual but fun twist to traditional turkey gravy. The extra step of browning the flour makes for rich, mahogany colored gravy.

Sage gives this gravy a more traditional Thanksgiving flavor, but to change it up, try some chopped rosemary, tarragon, thyme, or parsley. This is slightly thinner than some gravies because we found the consistency to be more pleasing to the palate.

For more hints and tips, check out our how-to videos with easy step-by-step instructions for making gravy and deglazing a pan.