LogmaMade the classic way with turkey fat or butter and flour. Jarred turkey gravy is about 51 kcal per 100 g, so 20 to 30 per 1/4 cup.
Approximate values for 1/4 cup (60 g) of homemade turkey gravy made with fat and flour.
Turkey gravy calories by portion
Gravy is mostly stock, so the liquid itself barely counts. What counts is the fat you start the roux with and how much of it you skim off. That's why a homemade gravy can carry three times the calories of a jar.
| Portion | Approx. amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade turkey gravy | 100 g | ~160 kcal |
| Homemade, 2 tablespoons | 30 g | ~50 kcal |
| Homemade, 1/4 cup | 60 g | ~95 kcal |
| Homemade, a big ladle (1/2 cup) | 120 g | ~190 kcal |
| Jarred or canned turkey gravy, 1/4 cup | 60 g | ~30 kcal |
| Jarred or canned, 1/2 cup | 120 g | ~60 kcal |
Homemade is built from a classic recipe of 1/4 cup turkey fat or butter, 1/4 cup flour and about 1 3/4 cups of stock, listed at 88 kcal for each of 8 servings, about 160 kcal per 100 g. Jarred uses USDA's 51 kcal per 100 g for canned turkey gravy; store brands label 20 to 25 kcal per 1/4 cup.
Why turkey gravy calories vary so much
- The fat in the roux: a tablespoon of butter is about 102 kcal, and pan drippings are mostly fat too. A gravy started with 1/4 cup of fat carries roughly 400 kcal of fat before a drop of stock goes in.
- Skimming: pouring the drippings through a fat separator and keeping only the juices takes most of those calories out.
- Jar or homemade: jarred turkey gravy is thickened with starch and has little fat, so it lands near 20 to 30 kcal per 1/4 cup.
- The pour: 1/4 cup is a small puddle. A real ladle over turkey, mash and stuffing is easily 1/2 cup or more.
A photo can't tell a skimmed gravy from one built on butter and drippings. They look the same brown on the plate. Saying "half a cup of homemade gravy" gives the count the fat it would otherwise miss.
“Three ounces of turkey breast, a cup of mashed potatoes and half a cup of homemade gravy.”
Example: Logma logs the turkey, the buttery mash and the gravy as three items, and adds about 590 kcal with macros. You said homemade, so the gravy is counted with its fat.
Thanksgiving plate with gravy
| Plate | Approx. calories |
|---|---|
| 3 oz roast turkey and 1/4 cup homemade gravy | ~255 kcal |
| 1 cup mashed potatoes and 1/4 cup homemade gravy | ~335 kcal |
| 1 cup stuffing and 1/4 cup homemade gravy | ~455 kcal |
| 3 oz turkey, 1 cup mashed potatoes and 1/2 cup homemade gravy | ~590 kcal |
Turkey numbers use 3 oz of breast with skin at about 160 kcal, mashed potatoes made with milk and butter at about 240 a cup, and bread stuffing at about 360 a cup. Gravy on every pile adds up faster than any single side.
Can you eat turkey gravy on a diet
Yes. Gravy is a sauce, not a meal, and even homemade gravy is about 95 kcal for a 1/4 cup. It's the ladle size and how many things you pour it on that decide the total.
- Pour it on the turkey and the mash, not on everything
- Use a 1/4 cup measure once to see what a serving really looks like
- Skim the drippings before you make the roux
- Log it honestly. One holiday plate won't undo your week if your calorie deficit holds the rest of the time
4 ways to make a lighter gravy
- Use a fat separator: keep the dark juices from the roasting pan and leave most of the fat behind.
- Thicken with a slurry: cornstarch or flour whisked into cold stock thickens without a butter roux.
- Cut the fat in half: 2 tablespoons of fat instead of 4 still makes a smooth roux for the same amount of stock.
- Serve it in a small jug: people pour less from a jug than they ladle from a boat.
FAQ
How many calories are in turkey gravy?
A 1/4 cup of homemade turkey gravy made with fat and flour is about 95 calories. Jarred or canned turkey gravy is about 20 to 30 calories for the same 1/4 cup.
How many calories are in a ladle of gravy?
A typical ladle is about 1/2 cup, roughly 120 g. That's about 190 calories of homemade gravy or about 60 calories of jarred gravy.
Is jarred gravy lower in calories than homemade?
Usually, yes. USDA lists canned turkey gravy at 51 calories per 100 g, while a classic homemade gravy built on 1/4 cup of fat is closer to 160 per 100 g. Jarred gravy is often much higher in sodium, though.
How much fat is in homemade gravy?
About 8 g in a 1/4 cup when it's made with 1/4 cup of turkey fat or butter for about 1 3/4 cups of stock. Skimming the drippings and using less fat brings that down.
How do I log gravy on Thanksgiving?
Log it as its own item with a rough amount, like half a cup of homemade gravy. It's easy to forget because it sits on top of everything else, but it can add 100 to 200 calories to a plate.
Sources: USDA FoodData Central via Triage Method (turkey gravy, canned) · CalorieKing (Heinz roasted turkey home style gravy) · FatSecret (Great Value turkey gravy, 1/4 cup) · Classic Recipes (homemade turkey gravy with drippings) · FatSecret (USDA butter per tablespoon). Values are approximate and vary by recipe, portion and brand. Not medical advice.
