This Instant Pot Gravy is the easiest way to make gravy when you make an Instant Pot Turkey or Whole Chicken. You just work with the juices left behind in the pot after you’ve removed the other ingredients!
My Thanksgiving philosophy is to keep my focus on my family and friends. When I fret over the details of the feast, that focus is threatened.
I use this Thanksgiving Checklist to help me stay on top of details. And as much as possible, I try to stick with simple recipes that dirty the fewest dishes possible.
Since one of the reasons I love my Instant Pot is that it makes true one-pot meals easy, it gets put to good use around here at Thanksgiving.
This year, my 8-quart is doing double duty. First, I’m going to make the turkey in it and then, to save extra dishes, I’ll make Instant Pot Gravy in the same pot!
It’s super easy since I’ll work with all the delicious juices left behind after I remove the turkey. Just a few additional ingredients and the gravy is ready in minutes!
What You’ll Need
The main ingredient (the turkey juices) will already be in the pot if you made your turkey in your IP. You could also pour your oven drippings in if you roasted a traditional turkey, but at that point, it would be just as easy to use a saucepan instead.
In addition to the turkey drippings, you’ll also need:
- Broth
- Cornstarch
- Cold water
- Salt and pepper
Other than your Instant Pot, the only other things you’ll need to make Instant Pot Gravy are a small bowl and a whisk.
How to Make Instant Pot Gravy
If you’ve made gravy before, making it in your Instant Pot isn’t much different. Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Prepare liquid
Spoon off as much fat as you can from the top of the leftover turkey juices. If you want to be really precise, you can use a fat separator (but it will be an extra dirty dish you have to wash!).
Add chicken broth to the leftover juices so you have a total of 4 cups of liquid.
Step 2: Bring liquid to a boil
Turn the Instant Pot on Saute mode and heat the turkey drippings and juices until they come to a boil. Use a whisk to gently scrape any bits that might have stuck to the bottom or sides.
Press “Cancel” and then choose “Saute” again and “Adjust” to set the temperature to medium.
Step 3: Prepare the thickener
Next, we need to get the thickening agent ready. In a small bowl, combine cold water and cornstarch.
It’s really important to mix the cornstarch and water thoroughly so that the cornstarch is completely dissolved. Otherwise, you’ll end up with lumpy gravy.
Once the two are combined, pour the mixture into the boiling liquid in the pot.
Step 4: Season
Now you just need to add salt and pepper until your gravy tastes the way you like it. Continue whisking and cooking on medium heat until the gravy reaches your desired thickness.
That’s it! You can keep your gravy warm in the pot (cancel Saute and choose Warm) until you’re ready to serve. Then, just transfer to a serving bowl or gravy boat.
Instant Pot Gravy Recipe
In case you need it, here’s the printable recipe card for Instant Pot Gravy.
📋 Recipe
Instant Pot Gravy
Ingredients
- 4 cups pan juices strained
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spoon fat from turkey dripping juices. Add broth to measure 4 cups total liquid.
- Cook pan juices on saute mode for 2-3 minutes, allowing to come to a boil. Cancel, the press saute again and adjust heat to medium.
- Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl until cornstarch has dissolved, and then whisk into the pan juices.
- Add salt and pepper and continue whisking until gravy reaches desired thickness. Use Instant Pot warm mode to keep gravy warm until ready to serve, then transfer to serving bowl or gravy boat.
Nutrition
More Thanksgiving Inspiration
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1/2 C water and 1/2 C cornstarch?? Shouldn’t that be 1/2 C water and 2 TBS cornstarch??
Can this be made using chicken or turkey pieces, instead of a whole one?
Yes! If you don’t have enough liquid left after cooking your chicken or turkey, just use more broth.