A Thanksgiving gravy recipe doesn’t have to wait for the turkey. We read three that skip the drippings: one built on store-bought stock, one on homemade wing stock and one on butter, onion and broth. They run from a 25-minute pot to a five-and-a-half-hour project.
We haven’t made any of these, so every amount and time belongs to the page it’s credited to. You’ll also see which ones the sources say you can make ahead!
How do three Thanksgiving gravy recipes compare?
The three differ in where the flavor comes from and how long they take. King Arthur starts with stock you buy or already have. Noble Pig (November 2026) roasts turkey wings for its own stock. Dizzy Busy and Hungry (November 2024) skips stock and uses onion and broth.
| King Arthur | Noble Pig | Dizzy Busy and Hungry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavor base | 4 cups chicken or turkey stock | 2 cups stock from 2 roasted turkey wings | 1 cup chicken or beef broth |
| Fat and flour | 6 tbsp butter, 6 tbsp flour | 4 tbsp butter, ¼ cup flour | 4 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour |
| Extras | Bay leaf, thyme, ½ tsp Worcestershire | ½ cup whole milk, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar | ¾ cup chopped onion, 1 tbsp half and half |
| Total time | 30 minutes | 5 hours 30 minutes, including chilling | 25 minutes |
| Makes | About 2½ cups | 10 servings of ¼ cup | 8 servings |
| Ahead | Fridge up to 5 days, or freeze | Cool and refrigerate; no time given | Not addressed |
Don’t compare the servings. King Arthur and Noble Pig both come out near 2½ cups, and the Dizzy Busy page doesn’t say how much its 8 servings hold.
Which Thanksgiving gravy should you make?
Not sure how much work you want? Pick by your Wednesday. The long one gives you real turkey flavor, and the short ones give you your stove back.
- Easiest to store: King Arthur, which gives a 5-day fridge window and a freezing option.
- Most turkey flavor: Noble Pig, since the stock comes from roasted wings.
- Fastest: Dizzy Busy and Hungry, at 25 minutes total.
- Richest finish: Noble Pig, which stirs in whole milk, or Dizzy Busy and Hungry, which adds half and half.
Can you make Thanksgiving gravy ahead?
Two of the three say yes. King Arthur says to cool it completely, then refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze it. To reheat frozen gravy it says to thaw it overnight in the fridge, then warm it over low heat and thin it with stock or water if it’s too thick.
King Arthur also says the gravy may look thin coming off the stove and will thicken as it cools. Dizzy Busy and Hungry says the same about its gravy as it stands.
If you do have drippings, King Arthur says you can scrape them into the pot for extra flavor. For the rest of the plate, see our KFC mashed potatoes and gravy, our cranberry sauce recipe and the full Thanksgiving side dishes list.
Thanksgiving gravy questions people ask
Do you need drippings?
Not for these. All three pages build the gravy from stock or broth, and King Arthur treats drippings as an optional add-in.
How dark should the roux be?
King Arthur cooks it to light golden brown for about 4 minutes. Noble Pig says to cook it about 2 minutes with no need to brown it.
What if it comes out too thick?
King Arthur says to thin it with more stock or water when you reheat it. Noble Pig suggests saving a little extra stock for the same job.