Published: November 21, 2020 · Modified: November 13, 2023 by Cindy Gibbs

Go ahead and check the gravy off your Thanksgiving day to-do list with this Make-Ahead Onion & Sage Turkey Gravy!  This easy gravy starts with a rich make-ahead gravy base, then wine and sage get added and cooked until the wine reduces.  The result is the most amazing rich and silky gravy ever, and it’s just as perfect the next day!!

Make ahead onion and sage Turkey gravy.

If you’re the main cook on the holidays you know first hand, how stressful it can be.  That’s why I decided it was time to find some make-ahead sides to lessen the stress. 

I’m not one for trying new recipes on a holiday, so I experimented back in the Fall with some of Ina Garten’s make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes.  As usual, Ina didn’t disappoint.  She has an episode that’s entirely devoted to a make-ahead Thanksgiving meal.  This Make-Ahead Onion & Sage Gravy goes hand in hand with my recent post for Moist & Juicy Make-Ahead Turkey

There are 2 parts to this easy make-ahead gravy.  Let’s start with the first part…RICH GRAVY BASE!  You can make this gravy base up to 3 months in advance and freeze.  What a time saver!

RICH GRAVY BASE

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 large red onion, halved and sliced in 1/4 inch slices
  • 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups good chicken stock, preferably homemade
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
  • 10 fresh sage leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  1. Melt 1 stick of butter in a large skillet or a saucepan.  Add the 1 sliced red onion and 4 garlic cloves, (peeled and halved), and saute over medium heat until the onions are soft and start to look browned and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of flour over the onion mixture and whisk constantly for about 1 1/2 minutes, long enough to cook out the flour taste.
  3. Add 4 cups of chicken stock, 2 tablespoons of brandy or cognac, 10 fresh sage leaves, 2 bay leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper.  Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer.  Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.  Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids.  Don’t skip this step.  This makes for a silky smooth gray.  Discard the solids and use this base to finish making the gravy, (or you can freeze it for up to 3 months, to make gravy later).

GRAVY

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio
  • Turkey base, all of it
  1. Place the turkey roasting pan on a burner over medium heat.  Use a fork to loosen up any brown bits in the pan.
  2. Add the wine and cook for about 2 minutes until the wine has reduced.  Add the gravy base and simmer for about 5 minutes, whisking frequently, until the gravy has thickened.  Remove the pan from the heat and serve or refrigerate the gravy.
Make ahead Onion & sage Turkey Gravy.

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Make Ahead Onion And Sage Turkey Gravy

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  • Author: Cindy Gibbs
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1/2 cups 1x
  • Category: gravy, thanksgiving
  • Method: cook
  • Cuisine: American

Description

The key to this delicious, flavorful gravy is the gravy base.  It can be made up to 3 months in advance and tucked away in the freezer.  Then bake the turkey the day before, and use the pan drippings and wine to finish the gravy.


Ingredients

Units Scale

GRAVY BASE

  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 large red onion, halved and sliced in 1/4 inch slices
  • 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups good chicken stock, preferably homemade
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
  • 10 fresh sage leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

GRAVY

  • 1 cup dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio
  • Turkey base, all of it


Instructions

  1. Add the butter to a large skillet or a saucepan.  Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onions are soft and start to look browned and caramelized, about 15 minutes.  Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and whisk constantly for about 1 1/2 minutes, long enough to cook out the flour taste.  Add the chicken stock, brandy or cognac, sage and bay leaves, salt, and pepper.  Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer.  Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.  Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing lightly on the solids.  Don’t skip this step.  This makes for a silky smooth gray.  Discard the solids and use the base to finish making the gravy, or freeze for up to 3 months for gravy later.

GRAVY

  1. Place the turkey roasting pan on a burner over medium heat.  Use a fork to loosen up any brown bits in the pan.  Add the wine and cook for about 2 minutes until the wine has reduced.  Add the gravy base and simmer for about 5 minutes, whisking frequently, until the gravy has thickened.  Remove from heat and serve or refrigerate.

This recipe was slightly adapted from Ina Garten’s recipe for Easy Make Ahead Onion & Sage Turkey Gravy.


Notes

  • If you’re making the Moist and Juicy Make-Ahead Turkey recipe, pour some of the gravy into the bottom of the serving platter before arranging the turkey pieces over it.