How to Make the Most Delicious Gravy from Turkey Giblets

Making gravy from turkey giblets may sound intimidating but it’s actually quite easy and results in an incredibly rich, flavorful gravy. When done right gravy made with the giblets is far superior to gravy made with just pan drippings.

What Are Turkey Giblets?

Turkey giblets refer to the organs of the turkey that come packaged inside the bird. The package typically includes the neck heart gizzard, and liver. The liver is often excluded from gravy recipes, but the heart, gizzard and neck are used.

Why Use Giblets for Gravy?

There are a few key reasons why giblets result in the best gravy:

• The giblets add rich flavor from the organs and neck bones. This flavor gets infused into the gravy.

• Simmering the giblets produces a tasty broth that gets incorporated into the gravy.

• Chopped giblets add nice texture and bites of turkey flavor to the finished gravy.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the most flavorful gravy using turkey giblets:

Step 1: Simmer the Giblets

Place the neck, heart and gizzard in a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. This will cook the giblets fully while also producing a rich, flavorful broth.

Step 2: Strain and Reserve the Broth

Remove the giblets from the pot and strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve. Reserve the broth for later use in the gravy. Pick any meat off the neck bone and set aside.

Step 3: Finely Chop the Giblets

Once cooled, finely chop the heart and gizzard. You want very small pieces so they distribute nicely throughout the gravy. Any meat picked from the neck should also be chopped.

Step 4: Make a Roux

Make a roux by cooking equal parts fat and flour together. For gravy, you can use drippings from the roasted turkey along with butter or oil. Cook the roux until browned for maximum flavor.

Step 5: Whisk in the Broth and Drippings

Gradually whisk in the giblet broth and turkey drippings from roasting. Whisk continuously to prevent lumps. Let simmer until thickened to your desired consistency.

Step 6: Add the Chopped Giblets

Once thickened, stir in the chopped giblets. They will add nice texture and turkey flavor to the gravy.

Step 7: Finish with Herbs and Seasoning

Finish the gravy by seasoning with salt, pepper and any desired herbs. Thyme, sage and rosemary complement turkey nicely.

Gravy Tips

• For a smoother gravy, press the chopped giblets through a sieve before adding to the gravy.

• For extra richness, add 1-2 tablespoons of cream at the end.

• If the gravy is too thin, mix a slurry of cornstarch and water and whisk in to thicken.

• Letting the gravy simmer for 10-15 minutes helps develop the flavor.

• Adding a splash of wine (red or white) boosts the flavor.

• Fried sage leaves make a nice garnish.

Turkey Giblet Gravy Recipes

There are many takes on giblet gravy. Here are some highly rated recipes to try:

Classic Turkey Giblet Gravy

This recipe from AllRecipes produces a classic giblet gravy using the giblets, neck, pan drippings and just a few additional ingredients. It’s simple and delicious.

Giblet Gravy with Hard Boiled Egg

The Pioneer Woman’s recipe includes chopped hard boiled egg for extra richness and texture. The result is a hearty, old-fashioned gravy.

Turkey Gravy from Giblets

This gravy on AllRecipes uses the giblet broth as the base and doesn’t add the chopped giblets. It’s smooth, full-bodied and less labor intensive.

Is It Worth the Effort?

While making giblet gravy requires some extra steps, the consensus is that the effort pays off in the form of gravy with unbeatable flavor and texture. If you want the absolute best gravy to complement your Thanksgiving turkey, giblets are the way to go. Just be sure to start early, as simmering the giblets takes at least an hour.