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Easy Turkey Gravy Without Flour

This gluten-free turkey gravy recipe is super easy to follow. It has no flour that can cause a problem for people who follow gluten-free diets. One of the many things I love about this recipe is that it’s so much simpler to make than a traditional gravy.

Ladle of gluten-free turkey gravy over a bowl of gravy

So now, anyone who has issues with gluten can enjoy rich, hearty turkey dinners again. Whether you’re cooking for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just making a turkey dinner, this gravy complements the meat and whatever else you plan to put it on.

What’s great about this gravy recipe is that even people who can have gluten will love it. In fact, I don’t think most people can tell the difference … unless, that is, you spill the beans. I typically make a batch of this gravy in November and another one in December. Whatever you don’t eat can be frozen, either in ice cube trays or in small, sealed containers.

Chances are, it will be used up very quickly … especially if your family enjoys open-face turkey sandwiches. They are so delicious!

Turkey Gravy Without Flour

Most gravy recipes involve starting with a roux that consists of flour and some sort of fat. I used to make it with either meat drippings or butter and a sprinkling of white flour.

However, as time went on, I became very sensitive to foods containing gluten. So I stopped adding gravy to my meat. I was sad about this because many times the meat is dry without any gravy.

But I never wanted to make a scene, so I just ate it without saying anything. Now that I’ve discovered how easy it is to make gluten-free gravy, I don’t hesitate to bring it to any dinner party.

Bowl of turkey gravy with a ladle in it

When other people try it, they often say they like it just as much as traditional gravy. So make sure you make enough for everyone to try. It goes without saying that I make it at home quite often.

I used to make 2 versions of the same food, but I stopped doing that when my husband said he likes gluten-free food.

Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy Ingredients

You only need 2 ingredients for this delicious gravy—turkey stock and cornstarch.

Or if you have pan drippings, use that in place of the turkey stock. I also add some salt and black pepper, but they’re not essential.

Corn starch and turkey stock

Plus, some brands of turkey stock are loaded with a ton of salt, so you might not need it. Another issue about salt is that everyone has different requirements.

So taste it as it cooks and determine how much, if any, salt and pepper you’ll need. Other ingredients you might want to add include Worcestershire sauce, white wine, and basil. All of those change the flavor, so go easy on those if you choose to use them.

Also keep in mind that most Worcestershire sauce has gluten, so check the label if you need to be gluten-free.

You can also use turkey bouillon and water in place of the turkey stock. Since most bouillon has quite a bit of sodium, you’ll definitely need to taste it before adding more.

I always prefer turkey stock, and it’s even better if it comes from the turkey I’m cooking. However, there are times when it’s not possible to make that, so it’s nice to have packaged stock or bouillon on hand.

How to Make Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy

Making this gravy is one of the easiest things you’ll ever cook. Simply combine the turkey stock and cornstarch, mix, and heat.

If you’ve ever worked with cornstarch before, you know it can get quite clumpy. For that reason, I use a shaker bottle to mix the cornstarch with the turkey stock. This is called a slurry. I always put the turkey stock in first and then add the cornstarch.

The cornstarch still sinks to the bottom. But for some reason, it mixes better when added after the liquid.

Cornstarch and broth in a shaker bottle

Secondly, I put in the little divider piece that helps with the mixing. Some shaker bottles have balls that do the same thing.

Mixing piece in the top of the shaker bottle

Next, I put the lid on the bottle and shake it like crazy. For some extra fun, put on some music while you do this.

Cornstarch and broth that has been shaken in the shaker bottle

You can also use a blender to mix the ingredients. It’s up to you, but you’ll have to hand wash it after you’re finished.

Finally, I pour the mixture into a pot and heat it until the gravy thickens. You can always add more turkey stock if it’s too thick.

Pouring the gravy into the pot

Using a whisk, stir the gravy until it thickens. This keeps it from clumping. Don’t worry about getting tired because it doesn’t take long.

In fact, this gravy cooks very quickly. Because of this, you need to pay attention to it in order to get a delicious, smooth consistency.

Bowl of gluten-free turkey gravy

More Recipes

Whether you’re making a holiday dinner or simply enjoying a delicious meal, you’ll need some delicious side dishes.

I have so many side dishes here that you really need to peruse them to find the ones that sound best to you. According to my family, this green bean casserole is a perfect side dish.

Fork of green bean casserole

If you like green beans but want something different, try these stovetop cheesy green beans.

Another delicious food for a large family dinner is this easy squash casserole. After I bring it to any potluck, people ask me to bring it again.

Fork of squash casserole on a plate

It’s always nice to have a salad with any dinner. One we particularly enjoy is this Greek olive and feta salad.

Or if you prefer something more traditional, try this delicious potato salad. It’s my mama’s recipe, so it’s really good.

bowl and plate of potato salad

Another delicious side is this cranberry sauce. Most people only have it during the holidays, but it’s actually good any time of year.

My family expects dessert after any special meal. So I like to make something delicious that doesn’t take forever in the kitchen.

One dessert that’s a big hit around here is this wonderful pineapple upside down cake. No one has to know it was made in your rice cooker.

If you like cake, try this sour cream chocolate cake from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage. It’s simply delicious!

Kids and adults both love these fabulous peanut butter fudge bars. They’re actually one of my favorite desserts!

Yield: 12 servings

Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy

Ladle of gluten-free turkey gravy

This gluten-free turkey gravy is so good everyone will love it!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of turkey stock
  • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    1. Combine the turkey stock and cornstarch and blend it in a shaker bottle or blender.
    2. Pour it into a saucepan and cook it on medium-high heat until it bubbles. Using a whisk, stir it often to prevent clumping.
    3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Make sure you taste the gravy before you add salt. Turkey stock often has quite a bit of sodium, so you might not need more.
  • If you like texture in your gravy, add cooked and chopped turkey giblets or bits of turkey.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 20Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 1mgSodium 82mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 1g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

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Tamara Drobitsky

Saturday 19th of November 2022

FYI - to truly be gluten free - do not add the worchestershire sauce that was mentioned as a suggestion. It has soy sauce in it and most soy sauces have wheat. You can find some that do not. I tried this recipe with my turkey drippings and it was very good. I am serving it this weekend to a large gathering - as we celebrate Thanksgiving a little early.

I appreciate the suggestions. I have four family members that can not have gluten products.

southernhomeexpress

Saturday 19th of November 2022

Hi Tamara. You are so right! Most Worcestershire sauce does have soy with gluten. So if someone needs to avoid gluten, it's best to either leave it out or find a brand that doesn't have it.

Miz Helen

Monday 16th of November 2020

Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday,510. Hope you are having a great week and come back soon! Miz Helen

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