Marcus Wareing's turkey gravy recipe

TV chef Marcus Wareing shares his favourite recipe for Christmas gravy, which can be made with either turkey or goose.

a white gravy boat filled with gravy
Published - 20 Nov 2025
Social Facebook Social Twitter Social Pinterest Email

Sauces are a key element of any dish, and you can’t have Christmas lunch without a beautiful gravy.

My favourite is the one I make at home with my wife. We always make it on Christmas Day, using turkey or goose wings and giblets.

Ingredients

  • The wings and giblets from the goose/turkey
  • 50g butter
  • Cornflour to coat the giblet and wings
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • 1 peeled garlic, crushed
  • 1 shallot, finely sliced
  • 500ml red wine or port
  • 500g liquid chicken stock

Method

  1. Coat the wings and giblets in the cornflour and pinch of salt.
  2. Melt the butter in a medium-sized pan until it foams.
  3. Add the wings and giblets, garlic and shallot.
  4. Add the wine or port and leave to reduce to about half.
  5. Add the liquid chicken stock and reduce again until thickened to your liking.
  6. Check for seasoning – adjust as necessary.
  7. Strain through a sieve and serve.

Notes

We don’t use flour, though we do coat the wings and giblets in cornflour before adding them to a pan of foaming, melted butter with some garlic and shallots.

Alcohol is crucial – either red wine or port. I add that, let it simmer for a while and then add stock – chicken is fine.

Then I reduce it down until I’m happy with the consistency.

(Hero image credit: Shutterstock)

Related articles
Dish of spaghetti covered in tomato sauce with meatballs and garnished with basil leaves
The Hairy Bikers' spaghetti and meatballs
Mary Berry's classic fruit scones
Mary Berry’s fruit scones
Vegetable and chervil soup
Raymond Blanc's vegetable and chervil soup 'Façon Maman Blanc'
Bread, cheese and wine on a wooden board
Love food and wine?

Find out about Saga's gastronomy holidays here...

They say the way to the heart is through the stomach, and Saga’s thoughtfully crafted food and wine holidays are perfect if you like trying new flavours and exploring traditional methods of cooking.

Find out more
Vintage by Saga Christmas Champagne offer
Hand-picked wines from Vintage by Saga

Skip the queues this Christmas with high quality wines delivered direct to your door. Save £89 on your first case and receive a free bottle of champagne

Find out more

Related articles

A boiled egg with the top removed and a runny yolk, with a small piece of bread dipped in
How to cook a perfect boiled egg - From the ultimate egg to an air fryer hack

The best ways to boil an egg, which may surprise you, and the egg-boiling mistakes to avoid.

Healthy granola bowl with yoghurt
The best granola to buy: tried and tasted
Oaty, nutty and fruity, granola is a breakfast staple. Which shop-bought mix bowled us over?
Grapefruit topped with cottage cheese - delicious! | Getty/kaphotollc
Bland, boring and back: why is cottage cheese in fashion again?
Welcome to the cottage cheese revival – but is it even good for you? And would YOU eat it?
potatoes and onions being stored together
The foods you must never store together
If you want your food to last longer, we've got the 5 common food pairs you must never store together.
Young man and his senior father going through shopping list while buying in supermarket
How to save money on your food shop – without noticing the difference

We’ve found the best money-saving alternatives to some of the most popular branded products. 

Close-up of a barista pouring frothed milk into a coffee mug in front of a large coffee machine
The secrets of cafe-quality coffee (and it’s not just about the machine)
We quizzed the experts on why a barista brew always tastes so good – and got some insider tips on how to recreate it at home.
Hand swirling a glass of red wine on a blurred background of a wine cellar
The best low alcohol wines offering great taste without the headache
Want to take a break from booze? From low-alcohol Tempranillo to 0% aperitifs, our expert has the best on offer.
A person putting tomatoes away - but should tomatoes be stored in the fridge? | GettyLiudmila Chernetska
Don’t store these 7 foods in the fridge

These foods will lose flavour and freshness if you store them in the fridge.

A delicious chicken kyiv | Getty Images
The best chicken Kyiv we've tried and tasted
Chicken Kiev has been popular for more than a century, but which supermarket Kyiv is best?
three rolled up Chinese style duck pancakes on a table with chopsticks
How to cook Chinese food in an air fryer - with 3 easy recipes to try
We've got expert advice on how to cook up a feast in your air fryer in minutes.
Baked chicken and salad
How to bake perfect chicken
Avoid dry, overcooked meat with our guide to baking chicken in the oven.
A man wearing an apron pours white wine from a glass into a pan of food, with various vegetables on the worktop
Diana Henry's tips for cooking with alcohol
If you've got leftover sherry, vermouth or limoncello, the food writer shares her advice on how to use alcohol in your cooking.
Someone putting a cooked shepherd's pie into a red flask to eat outdoors
Food for your flask – take your dinner outdoors
Flasks aren’t just for soup and hot drinks: we’ve got two delicious recipes to cook and take with you anywhere.
Cooked couscous
How to cook couscous
Versatile and easy, couscous is a useful staple in your kitchen cupboard.
Black air fryer in a kitchen setting
How to cook healthy food in your air fryer - with 3 recipes to try
Advice from an expert on healthy air fryer swaps, with delicious and easy recipes to get you started.