Easy Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy (Dairy-Free)

Thanksgiving is Almost Here!

Now that the holidays will soon be here and Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I’m getting excited!

Holiday season always makes me smile, because gathering with family and friends after a long year apart is good reason for celebration.

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, you know how important turkey is as a centerpiece of the holiday table. But what’s roast turkey without turkey gravy by the side?

Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy

Traditional gravy is often thickened with normal wheat flour (which contains gluten) and regular butter (which contains dairy).

That means that the turkey gravy served in most restaurants or sold in the supermarkets are not gluten-free or dairy-free.

Today, we’re making a homemade gluten-free dairy-free turkey gravy that is rich in flavor but completely safe for those with gluten allergies, lactose intolerances or Celiac disease!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients required for this gluten-free gravy recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery stores.
• Easy to Make: Prepare this easy gluten-free gravy for turkey in just 15 minutes (either store-bought or homemade broth will work), and you can have this homemade gravy grace your Thanksgiving table in no time!
• Totally Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: The best part is that this homemade turkey gravy is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease, gluten or dairy intolerances, or those simply on a gluten-free diet can enjoy it without issues!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free homemade gravy recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

• Turkey Broth: You can either make your own homemade turkey broth (as shown in the recipe card) or use storebought turkey broth or turkey stock for convenience (either will work).
• Turkey Drippings: Turkey drippings are the juices and fats left at the bottom of the pan after the turkey has been roasted (do not throw these pan juices away – they are liquid gold!).
• Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch or corn starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made up of heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour). Alternatively, you may also use corn starch, tapioca starch or arrowroot powder as a thickener instead.
• Butter: I used dairy-free butter (vegan butter) to keep the recipe dairy-free. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, you can use regular butter or ghee instead.
• Salt: Depending on whether you used salted or unsalted turkey broth, you may need to add more or less salt, so make sure to test the turkey gravy and then add salt to taste.
• Black Pepper: I like adding a pinch of ground black pepper for extra kick. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount according to how much heat you like.
• Nutmeg: I added a bit of ground nutmeg for extra flavor and recommend adding it in to deepen the flavor.

Easy Homemade Turkey Broth:

If you prefer to make your own turkey broth at home, here’s how you can make it.

Ingredients for Turkey Broth:

How to Make Turkey Broth:

To make the broth more aromatic, sauté the vegetables in a skillet without oil for about 3 minutes over medium heat.

Place the drumstick or other part of the turkey in a pot, then add the roasted vegetables, bay leaves and whole allspice berries.

Add water to the pot and cook the broth for an hour. Then strain the broth. You can use the cooked turkey as you wish.

How to Make Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy (Step by Step):

1. Melt Butter and Mix in Flour

Melt the dairy-free butter in a small saucepan and add the gluten-free all-purpose flour, stirring for 2 minutes over low heat until golden brown.

2. Add Drippings and Turkey Broth

Pour in the turkey drippings and a third of the broth. Mix until all the flour lumps are broken up and the mixture becomes homogeneous.

3. Add Condiments

Add the salt, pepper and ground nutmeg, mixing everything together.

4. Add Remaining Broth

Pour in the remaining broth, stirring the turkey gravy with a wooden spoon or whisk until the desired consistency is achieved (the gravy should be thick but pourable).

For a very smooth gravy, make sure to strain the gravy with a fat separator or fine-mesh sieve to get rid of any fats or undissolved lumps of flour.

5. Serve and Enjoy

Enjoy this flavorful gravy with your holiday meal!

You can use the gluten-free turkey gravy immediately, but if the gravy has cooled and thickened, it is better to reheat it until you get a smooth gravy again before serving.