• About
  • Work with Me
  • Contact
  • Food Photography

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home » Sauces and Dressings » Gluten-Free Gravy (Turkey)

October 18, 2017 (last updated November 12, 2020)

Gluten-Free Gravy (Turkey)

Jump to Recipe
gluten-free gravy pouring onto stuffing on white plate. Baking dish and green plant in background

If you ask me, perfect gluten-free turkey gravy is the most important thing on the holiday table and there never seems to be enough of it. If your turkey is too dry, gravy is a lifesaver.

I know that so many people are afraid of making gravy. Too lumpy, too thick, too watery, not enough flavor, ack! So much can go wrong. But follow my step-by-step instructions and you’ll get the hang of it. I have tried to anticipate any problems that arise when making gravy and have provided solutions to the common gravy catastrophes.

Most people I know, wait until the turkey is out of the oven to start the gravy. But I would rather be with my family and guests and I personally hate to wait, so here’s how I do it.

Make Ahead Gravy

white plate with turkey with gluten-free gravy, stuffing and yams on burlap mat with white gravy pitcher on right and plates in background

In order to have lots of flavorful gluten-free gravy, I make some ahead of time using turkey stock or chicken stock as the base. Then when the bird is out of the oven, I strain the drippings, skim off some the fat, if necessary, and pour it into the ready-made gravy. This method allows me to really inject some flavor, keeps me from having to do a lot of cooking at the last-minute and assures that there will be plenty of gravy for second and third helpings and leftovers for days.

Gluten-Free Gravy Ingredients

overhead view of gravy ingredients - cut celery stalks, cut carrots, fresh parsley, quartered white onion, 2 bay leaves and sprigs of thyme on wood cutting board

Even without pan drippings this gravy has plenty of flavor, so if you’re not making a turkey, this is a great recipe. The herbs, celery, carrot and onion will amp it up enough to satisfy. To help ensure that my gluten-free turkey gravy is full of flavor, I like to make my own turkey stock a couple of days before my holiday meal using turkey necks or wings. These parts are inexpensive and usually pretty easy to find in the fall and winter. Follow this link for my turkey stock recipe. 

If you don’t want to make your own stock, you can use ready-made low-sodium chicken or turkey stock. Be sure to get low-sodium so you can control the salt level. Imagine Foods makes excellent quality broths. If you want to make vegan gravy, their “No-Chicken” broth is fantastic. It is the only vegan broth I recommend.

overhead view of ingreditns for gluten-free gravy- fresh thyme and parsley, 2 stalks celery, onion cut in half small square bowl with butter cubes and small wood spoons with ground sage

How to Thicken Gluten-Free Gravy

White rice flour is the best option I have found for thickening gluten-free gravy. It provides the same texture and silkiness that you get with wheat flour. Brown rice flour does not have a high enough starch content and you will end up using way too much flour to get the gravy thick. Other ingredients like potato starch or tapioca starch give gravy a much more gel-like consistency which I don’t like.

NOTE: Depending on the white rice flour you use, the thickening power may vary from what I have used. White rice flours vary greatly from super fine to somewhat coarse, so if you find that your gravy is not thickening the way it should, I have provided some tips to fix it. See the recipe card below.

How to Make Gluten-Free Gravy

Continue to Content
gluten-free gravy pouring onto stuffing on white plate. Baking dish and green plant in background

Gluten-Free Gravy (Turkey)

Yield: 2 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Follow this step-by-step recipe for a perfectly thickened, flavorful and silky turkey gravy.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 onion roughly chopped
  • 2 celery stalks roughly chopped
  • 1 carrot roughly chopped
  • 3 Tbsp white rice flour
  • 2 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth or stock
  • a few sprigs of fresh parsley
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 fresh sage leaves or 1/4 tsp rubbed sage
  • a sprig of fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp dried
  • salt and pepper to taste

Have Ready for Possible Adjustments

  • softened butter
  • white rice flour
  • low-sodium chicken or turkey stock

Instructions

Note: If you plan to add pan drippings after the gravy is made, use 3 Tbsp butter and ¼ c white rice flour instead of the 2 and 3 Tbsp listed above. This will make the gravy extra thick so that it will be a good consistency once the pan drippings are added.

  1. In a medium-sized pot, melt the butter over a medium flame. When it bubbles, add the onion, celery and carrot and cook over medium heat, stirring often for about 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
  2. Sprinkle in the rice flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the butter and flour have melted together smoothly. It will start out lumpy and chunky – don’t worry – just keep cooking and stirring and the mixture will smooth out. Cook for about 3-4 minutes stirring often.
  3. Pour in the stock and immediately begin stirring with a wire whisk. Throw in all of the herbs. Raise the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. When it boils, the flour will begin to thicken the liquid. Once it boils, turn the heat down to low so that the gravy is simmering very gently.

Let’s check in. How is the thickness level?

  1. Is it just right? Good. Go to “Next Steps”
  2. Is it just a bit too thin? That’s okay it will probably thicken up more in the next step. If not we’ll fix it later.
  3. Is it too thick? No problem, add more stock, about 1/4 cup at a time until it thins out.

Next Steps

  1. Most people would stop at this point because it looks like gravy. It’s important to keep going for 2 reasons. First, you want to time to cook out the raw, grainy flour taste and texture.
  2. Second, we want plenty of time for the vegetables and herbs to give up their flavor to the gravy. Cook on low for another 15 minutes or longer, stirring often.
  3. Strain the gravy with a fine mesh strainer. Return the strained gravy to the pot.
  4. Pour in the strained pan drippings and stir with the wire whisk.

Let’s check in again for the thickness level.

  1. Is it just right? Great, go to “Final Step.”
  2. Too thick? Add some stock just a little at a time. Go to “Final Step.”
  3. Too thin? If so make a buerre manie.

Make a Buerre Manie

Fancy name-but pretty simple. I like this one because it adds extra butter and that means flavor.

Mix 1 tbsp white rice flour with 1 Tbsp softened butter to form a paste. Turn the flame down to low, drop in 1/2 of the paste and stir. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil stirring with the whisk. If it thickens up, go to the final step below. If not repeat with the rest of the buerre manie.

Final Step: 

If any lumps formed when you added the additional thickening you can strain again. Season with salt and pepper.

Recommended Products

  • Low Sodium Vegetarian No-Chicken Broth
    Low Sodium Vegetarian No-Chicken Broth

Did you make this recipe?

Share the yum!

© Janet Harlow
Cuisine: American / Category: Sauces and Dressings
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Sauces and Dressings

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

These chocolate strawberry tartlets have a graham These chocolate strawberry tartlets have a graham cracker crumb crust, a vegan chocolate filling topped with fresh strawberries, for the perfect one bite treat. Link to the brand new recipe in my profile.
🍓🍫🍓
These tartlets can be made gluten-free or not vegan or not, but anyway you make them they will be a gorgeous & delicious bite.
🍓🍫🍓
This is my contribution to the #onebitefoodcollab hosted by @deliciousfood2k19.
🍓🍫🍓
#tartlets #chocolateandstrawberries #chocolatetartlets #onebite #glutenfreetreats #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreedessert #easydessert #grahamcrackercrust #chocolateavocado #foodphotography  #strawberrytartlet #minidesserts #vegantartlets #smalldesserts #vegandesserts #featuremyfood @nutpods @pamelasproducts
A perfect dessert is sweet, creamy, crunchy and me A perfect dessert is sweet, creamy, crunchy and melts in your mouth. This buttery bunny cookie and carrot cake cupcake check all the boxes. Both gluten-free recipes are up on my blog!
🐇🥕🐇
This is my contribution to the #spring_foodphoto_challenge hosted by, @turkuazkitchen  and @sweettooth_foodtography sponsored by @alacarte.props @myluciebackdrops @jeffersonstreetceramics and judged by @voll_korn 
🥕🐇🥕
#bunnycookies #eastercupcakes #carrotcake #carrotcupcakes #glutenfreecarrotcake #buttercreamfrosting #cookieicing #buttercookies #cutoutcookies #foodphotography #glutenfreecupcakes #glutenfreecookies #glutenfreedessert #eastertreats #easyglutenfree #glutenfreebaker
Which gluten-free flour do you prefer? I have roun Which gluten-free flour do you prefer? I have rounded up 12 of my favorite recipes that I tested with King Arthur's Gluten-Free Measure for Measure flour, including these GLUTEN-FREE COFFEE CAKE MUFFINS. Link to the blog post in my profile @chefjanetk
🥚🧂🥄
Options for gluten-free flour have gotten so much better over the past few years. Maybe you remember when you had to have five different kinds of flour, starches and xanthan gum in your pantry? But now that one for one options are available, that's no longer necessary.
🥄🧂🥚
Gluten-free flour can be so expensive but I have shopped around and found the best price for you linked in my blog posts. You'll find my Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake recipe, cookie recipes, banana bread and more.
🧂🥄🥚
#glutenfreeflour #glutenfreerecipes #bakingflour #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreeflours #glutenfreemuffins #crumbcake #coffeecakemuffins #coffeecakerecipe #coffeecakes #glutenfreecake #glutenfreevanillacake #glutenfreecake #foodphotography #glutenfreebaker #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles
Do I need to say more than "spring is here"? These Do I need to say more than "spring is here"? These Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes are topped with fondant flowers and piped buttercream grass for the perfect spring time treat. They are gluten-free, dairy-free and the recipe link is in my profile.
🧁🍋🧁
This is my contribution to the #spring_foodphoto_challenge hosted by @turkuazkitchen & @sweettooth_foodtography sponsored by @alacarte.props @myluciebackdrops & @jeffersonstreetceramics & judged by @voll_korn Thanks so much to them for making it happen!
🧁🍋🧁
#fondantflowers #glutenfreecupcakes #cupcakerecipe #raspberrycupcakes #lemonade #cupcakerecipes #springdessert  #eastercupcakes #glutenfreebaker #glutenfreelife #glutenfreedesserts #buttercreamfrosting #cakedecorations @fondx #glutenfreeeaster #lemoncupcakes
What is your favorite spring dessert? I think thes What is your favorite spring dessert? I think these Gluten-Free Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes are the perfect Springtime treat. Link to the easy recipe in my profile.
🍋🧁🍋
I used store bought lemonade, lemon zest & lemon extract for a triple dose of lemon. Add sweet tart raspberries & sweet frosting for, imo, the perfect cupcake.
🍋🧁🍋
This is my contribution to the #spring_foodphoto_challenge
hosted by @sweettooth_foodtography @turkuazkitchen judged by @voll_korn & sponsored by @alacarte.props @jeffersonstreetceramics @myluciebackdrops Check out the hashtag for more beautiful spring photos.
🍋🧁🍋
#glutenfreecupcakes #raspberrycupcakes #raspberrylemonade #cupcakerecipe #freshraspberries #organicraspberries #glutenfreebaking #bakingfromscratch #featuremyfood #lemonadecake #lemonbuttercream #lemonbuttercreamfrosting #foodphotography #glutenfreebaker
My Gluten-Free, No-Spread Cut Out Cookie recipe is My Gluten-Free, No-Spread Cut Out Cookie recipe is perfect for these cute Spring cookies.Link to the recipe in my insta  profile.
🐇🥕🐇 
Decorated with an easy cookie icing that is colored with @colorkitchenfoods plant-based, powdered food colors. The powdered colors are especially great for frosting and icing because it won't make them runny like liquid food colors.
🐇🥕🐇
#gifted #cutoutcookies
#eastercookies #easterbunnycookies #glutenfreecookies #buttercookies #cookieicing #featuremyfood #cookierecipe #glutenfreebaking #cookiedecorating #foodcoloring #glutenfreeeaster #reaturemyfood #cookiesfromscratch #glutenfreelife #thebakefeed #cutecookies #glutenfreechef #bunnycookies
These Gluten-Free Lemonade Scones are the perfect These Gluten-Free Lemonade Scones are the perfect sweet and tart breakfast treat. Link to the brand new recipe in my profile.
🍋🍋🍋
I haven't had a scone since going gluten-free years ago and they are one of my favorite breakfast bakes. So I went to work on the recipe. Scones are traditionally made with cream but I am lactose-free too. So I subbed in @greenvalleycreamery lactose free sour cream and it is a winner! A little butter, lemonade plus lemon zest and a lemon icing makes these scones lemony & sweet.
🍋🍋🍋
This is my contribution to the lemon #flavourbakecollab hosted by @theaccidentalcaker and @criticalcupcakeunit A big thank you to them for organizing a collab with my favorite flavor! Check out the hashtag for more amazing lemon bakes.
These Gluten-Free Funfetti Cookies are the definit These Gluten-Free Funfetti Cookies are the definition of fun. Better yet the recipe is super easy and mixes up in one bowl. Link to the new recipe in my profile. 
🎉🎉🎉
I did a little research on gluten-free rainbow sprinkles & included the info in the recipe. Gluten-free is a must for me and plant-based colors are a preference. It's hard to find both in certified gluten-free sprinkles. 
🎉🎉🎉
I've seen a lot of people using  funfetti cake mix as a base for funfetti cookies. The only dry ingredients needed for this recipe are flour, baking powder, salt and sprinkles. A gluten-free box mix costs $6 so I'd rather do it from scratch! 
🎉🎉🎉
#funfetticookies #foodphotography #glutenfreecookies #funcookies #rainbowsprinkles #glutenfreerecipes #cookierecipe #bakefromscratch #featuremyfood #funfetti #glutenfreeblog

Copyright © 2021 Chef Janet · Theme by 17th Avenue · Privacy Policy