If you’re trying to decide what to do with those giblets that come with a whole chicken or turkey, then make this classic giblet gravy. This old-fashioned recipe is the perfect comforting gravy to serve alongside your meal.
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Chicken or turkey giblet gravy is a classic recipe and this one comes from Grandma Corine, my husband’s grandmother. She’s over 100 years old (yep, you read that right) and she still be cooking in the kitchen.
My husband would tell me stories of how she would cook this classic turkey giblet gravy and all the family would just eat it up. I’m happy that she decided to teach us how to make this old-school gravy recipe.
Even better this make-ahead giblet gravy can be cooked and frozen for up to 3 months ahead of when you need it. This is ideal during the busy holiday season when we all have so much other things to be getting on with.
Be sure to try my Drippings Gravy and Instant Pot Sausage Gravy too!
What is giblet gravy made of?
This easy homemade giblet gravy recipe starts with the pack of giblets that come in a pack inside a whole turkey or chicken. Giblets include the neck, heart, liver, and gizzard of poultry. Rather than waste these parts of the chicken, they are cooked to release flavor and turned into gravy.
A hard-boiled egg is also added to this recipe. Why? Mainly because it was all that was leftover after baking a cake and eggs shouldn’t go to waste either, at least that’s what I was told.
How to make giblet gravy
- Gather your ingredinets.
- Heat oil in a 3-quart pan over medium heat. Add the giblets and brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the giblets and remove the pan from the heat and set aside. Chop the gizzard, heart, and liver into small pieces. Remove some of the meat from the neck bones with a fork.
- Place the pan back over medium heat and add butter. Allow the butter to melt and whisk in the all-purpose flour. Continue to whisk for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in 3 cups of water, continuing to whisk. Reduce the heat to low.
- Add the browned giblets (neck bone included) back into the pan and continue to cook for 30-35 minutes, or until the giblet pieces are tender.
- Remove the neck bone. Add the chopped hard boiled egg, salt, and pepper.
- Serve giblet gravy while hot along with the rest of the meal.
What is included in the giblets?
Giblets are found in turkey, chickens, and other poultry. They consist of the liver, heart, gizzard, and neck. Some turkeys and chickens will have these removed, otherwise, they will be found in the cavity of an oven-ready bird.
What do you serve it with?
This giblet gravy is perfect to serve as part of your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, or whenever you enjoy a whole roasted chicken or turkey! Great with these recipes here:
- Roasted Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Sous Vide Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Cranberry Sauce
- Cornbread Dressing
Try it alongside these other favorite sides:
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes
- Air Fryer Carrots (Sweet or Savory)
- Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Recipe notes and tips
- You can cook the gravy for the times indicated or you can cook longer if need be, especially if you need more time to get dinner ready. If cooking for longer, add more water by the ½ cup if you notice your gravy getting low.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like sage, thyme, or a bay leaf while the gravy is simmering for an additional herb taste.
- You can use chicken broth instead of water if you prefer. We use water and enjoy it very much.
- I use about 3 teaspoons of kosher salt and 2 teaspoons of black pepper when seasoning this gravy.
More gravy recipes
How to store make ahead giblet gravy
To refrigerate: This giblet gravy can easily be made ahead of time and reheated, and you can leave it to cook for longer on the stovetop while you are waiting to cook the recipe of the meal. Once cooked, let the gravy cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best to be used within two days, and reheat it to a boil before serving.
To freeze: This gravy freezes well, so it’s a great option if you want to use up all of your turkey or chicken and not let anything go to waste. Let cool completely before freezing, and it will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
FAQs:
Giblets are a high in protein and a great source of vitamins.
I use turkey or chicken giblets to make great tasting gravy. But you can also use them in sauces or stuffings for the bird, or to make tasty broths and stocks.
Giblets are left in a turkey as people like to use them to make stocks and gravy.
Sure! But then it wouldn’t be grandma’s recipe 😉
If you have tried making my Grandma’s giblet gravy recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Grandma’s Giblet Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- Giblets from a whole turkey or chicken (gizzard, neck, heart, and liver)
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups of water*
- 1 hard boiled egg peeled and chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a 3-quart pan over medium heat. Add the giblets and brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the giblets and remove the pan from the heat and set aside. Chop the gizzard, heart, and liver into small pieces. Remove some of the meat from the neck bones with a fork.
- Place the pan back over medium heat and add butter. Allow the butter to melt and whisk in the all-purpose flour. Continue to whisk for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in 3 cups of water, continuing to whisk. Reduce the heat to low.
- Add the browned giblets (neck bone included) back into the pan and continue to cook for 30-35 minutes, or until the giblet pieces are tender.
- Remove the neck bone. Add the hard boiled egg, salt, and pepper. Serve giblet gravy while hot along with the rest of the meal.
Notes
- You can cook the gravy for the times indicated or you can cook longer if need be, especially if you need more time to get dinner ready. If cooking for longer, add more water by the ½ cup if you notice your gravy getting low.
- Feel free to add herbs like fresh sage, thyme, or a bay leaf while the gravy is simmering for an additional herb taste.
- You can use chicken broth instead of water if you prefer. We use water and enjoy it very much.
- I use about 3 teaspoons of kosher salt and 2 teaspoons of black pepper when seasoning this gravy.
Nutrition
This post was originally published October 1, 2021. It has been updated with additional helpful information.
Gay Mamantov
Wednesday 23rd of November 2022
I/2 cup of flour?? This seemed like too much. It didn’t even have time to cook the flour and forced me to add water too soon. If others didn’t have that problem, it must be the cook!!
Tanya
Monday 28th of November 2022
Sorry to hear that Gay. I'll say different flours have different densities. For example, white lily brand flour tends to be thicker and you'll need less of it for this gravy.
Robbie McGurran
Thursday 7th of October 2021
Is the hard boiled egg optional? What does it do for the gravy?
Tanya
Thursday 7th of October 2021
Hi Robbie, you can leave it out. It's more of a traditional part of the recipe but it does give a little more texture to the gravy. Flavor-wise, I didn't find it gave me much of a difference but I can always tell a giblet gravy from a drippings gravy based on the egg in it.
Diane Kelley
Thursday 7th of October 2021
Just like my Southern Grandmother and Mother taught us to make. So delicious and easy to prepare. You just can’t beat our Southern heritage. What a blessing to have your Mother in your life passing on her wisdom to others.
Tanya
Thursday 7th of October 2021
Thanks Diane! A blessing indeed. And yes, one of my favorite things about Southern cooking is the history behind each recipe, the fresh ingredients, and how delicious the food is.
Daphne Worsham
Thursday 7th of October 2021
This is exactly the way my west Texas mother-in-law has always made her giblet gravy and it is wonderful! The one exception is that she never uses the liver. I have always enjoyed the addition of the egg, and I had never seen anyone else use it in their recipe, until now! Thanks for sharing this with everyone!
Rebecca Bradley
Sunday 13th of November 2022
@Daphne Worsham, My mom and me, have always used hard boiled eggs in our giblet gravy.I didn't know it was made without an egg! lol
Tanya
Thursday 7th of October 2021
Aww, that's awesome Daphne. Yep, I asked my grandmother-in-law and my mother-in-law and both mentioned the egg. My mother-in-law mentioned even adding two eggs lol. I'm still not clear on why it needs to be added but I listened and I'm glad I did lol.