The Best Homemade Beef Gravy Recipe (How to Make Brown Gravy) (2024)

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The Best Homemade Beef Gravy – Here’s an easy recipe for how to make classic (gluten free!) brown gravy that’s great to enjoy with potatoes, noodles, sandwiches, or nearly any side dish!

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Why We Love This Gravy Recipe

If you are having a true down-home comfort food dinner there has to be a bowl of gravy on the table. It’s the best friend of nearly any carb, from fluffy potatoes to tender noodles, and all the good stuff (like stuffing!) in between. A great gravy adds delicious flavor and that *something extra* that every meal needs.

This is a super simple Homemade Brown Beef Gravy recipe that will give you all the cozy and yummy feels. It is made with only a handful of pantry staples, like cornstarch, and is a gluten-free gravy that’s smooth and luscious. We also add a splash of cooking sherry for a deeply savory, slightly sweet, and rich flavor. I promise you’ll never buy processed gravy packets again after getting a taste of this.

The brown gravy is easy to cook in one pot in less than 10 minutes. Stir up a batch and ladle it over beef recipes with your favorite side dishes, or use it as a dip for sandwiches. Whatever floats your (gravy) boat!

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Ingredients You Need

  • Butter – unsalted
  • Cornstarch – for a gluten-free beef gravy recipe
  • Worcestershire sauce – for that deep beefy, savory flavor
  • Cooking sherry – optional, but highly recommended
  • Spices – onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
  • Beef stock – store-bought or try our Homemade Beef Consommé
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How to Make Beef Gravy from Scratch

Set a large sauté pan over medium heat.Add the butter, cornstarch, onion powder, and garlic powder.

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Then add Worcestershire sauce and sherry.

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Whisk in the beef broth as the butter melts.

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Continue to whisk as the gravy thickens into your desired consistency, approximately 5 to 8 minutes.

Get the Complete (Printable) Beef Brown Gravy Recipe Below. Enjoy!

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Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.

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Serving Suggestions

This easy brown gravy recipe is great to make as an accompaniment to all kinds of side dishes and sandwiches. Here are a few ideas of what to serve beef gravy with:

  • Best Mashed Potatoes
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Baked Potatoes
  • Stuffing in a Bundt Pan
  • Meatballs and egg noodles
  • Steak
  • Beef Sandwiches
  • Chopped Steak
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Recipe Variations and Tips

  • Want extra dark brown gravy? Add 1 teaspoon of beef base to this recipe.
  • Make this a dairy free beef gravy recipe by swapping butter with a plant-based alternative.
  • To avoid clumping we suggest starting with cold stock from the fridge. Another great way to prevent clumping is to add the cornstarch to the beef broth and whisk well before pouring it into the pan!
  • Don’t stop whisking! The key to a perfectly smooth beef gravy is to let it slowly heat up while you whisk constantly. This blends in the cornstarch and butter without any “breaking” (AKA butter separating).
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is beef gravy the same as brown gravy?

Yes, the names are interchangeable. Both are made with beef, and both are brown. :)

Is country gravy the same as brown gravy?

No, these are not the same. Beef gravy recipes include stock and cornstarch for a thinner consistency. Country gravy is made with flour and milk and is often a white color – which is why it’s also known as white gravy.

How long do leftovers last?

Homemade gravy will keep well for up to 4 or 5 days in the fridge. Let it cool completely before transferring it to a container with a lid and placing it in the refrigerator.

What is the best way to reheat homemade beef gravy?

Microwave the gravy in short 20-second bursts at 50% power. Stir between each burst, and serve once warmed throughout.

Reheat on the stovetop in a small sauce pot over low heat, stirring frequently.

Add a splash of water or stock to the gravy if it seems a bit thick when reheating.

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Looking for More of the Best Retro Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

  • Apple Cider Turkey Gravy
  • Espagnole Sauce (Demi Glace Recipe)
  • How to Make Marinara Sauce
  • Homemade Creamy Pesto
  • How to Make Vegetable Stock

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Easy Beef Gravy Recipe (How to Make Brown Gravy)

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes minutes

Here's an easy recipe for how to make classic (gluten free) beef brown gravy that's great to enjoy with potatoes, noodles, sandwiches, or nearly any side dish!

Servings: 8 servings (2 cups total)

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Set a large sauté pan over medium heat.

  • Add the butter, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, optional sherry, onion powder, garlic powder, and beef stock. Whisk the cornstarch into the beef broth as the butter melts.

  • Continue to whisk as the gravy thickens into your desired consistency, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

Want extra dark brown gravy? Add 1 teaspoon of beef base to this recipe.

Homemade gravy will keep well for up to 4 or 5 days in the fridge. Let it cool completely before transferring it to a container with a lid and placing it in the refrigerator.

To reheat: Microwave the gravy in short 20-second bursts at 50% power. Stir between each burst, and serve once warmed throughout. Reheat on the stovetop in a small sauce pot over low heat, stirring frequently.

Add a splash of water or stock to the gravy if it seems a bit thick when reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25c, Calories: 88kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 325mg, Potassium: 265mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 177IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Condiment, Main, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Southern

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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The Best Homemade Beef Gravy Recipe (How to Make Brown Gravy) (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my gravy more brown? ›

To make dark brown beef gravy, cook the roux even longer (but at a lower temperature) until it's a dark color with a nutty aroma. Then use beef broth or beef juices to make your gravy.

Is beef gravy the same as brown gravy? ›

What is the difference between brown gravy and beef gravy? A brown gravy comes from any brown stock, whereas beef gravy always comes from beef stock specifically. In other words, all beef gravy is a brown gravy but not all brown gravy is beef gravy.

What is brown gravy mix made of? ›

INGREDIENTS: CORNSTARCH, WHEAT FLOUR, DEXTROSE, HYDROLYZED CORN, SOY, WHEAT PROTEIN WITH SUNFLOWER OIL, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT (YEAST EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN ), NONFAT DRY MILK, CANOLA OIL, ONION, SILICON DIOXIDE (TO PREVENT CAKING), GARLIC, BEEF FAT WITH TOCOPHEROL , CARAMEL COLOR, EXTRACTIVES OF ...

What is the secret to good gravy? ›

Here are my principles for making great gravy without fear:
  • Make it ahead. This is the most important one. ...
  • Make a really good homemade turkey stock first. Don't skimp on this crucial first step. ...
  • Reinforce the stock's flavor. ...
  • Simmer, simmer, simmer. ...
  • Strain and cool. ...
  • Reduce. ...
  • Hot liquids only.
Nov 5, 2021

What makes brown gravy darker? ›

The real gravy starts with the fats and drippings from what ever protein you cooked. Then on med-high heat sprinkle all purpose flour onto the pan. Stirring until the liquid and flour is a really think paste. Now the longer you cook the Rue, the darker it becomes.

What is the difference between brown gravy and gravy? ›

It turns out, the biggest difference between the two is brown gravy is broth-based, while white gravy typically has a milk or cream base. Garcia said both types usually have flour or cornstarch for thickening and they both contain some sort of “fat or meat drippings.”

What makes brown gravy thicker? ›

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

What is the gravy at KFC made of? ›

What is the gravy at KFC made of? The restaurant uses a simple combination of gravy powder, water, and – their secret ingredient – chicken crackling. This is a collection of the browned bits and pieces leftover from frying their world famous chicken.

Does brown gravy have milk in it? ›

Brown gravy is made from meat fat and is usually made from adding water or broth along with flour or cornstarch. White gravy is made by adding milk or cream to meat drippings with butter and flour or cornstarch.

What is traditional gravy made of? ›

What is gravy anyway? At the most basic level, gravy is a simple pan sauce that requires liquid and a thickener. Traditional turkey gravy usually has fat, flour, and stock. You can make excellent turkey gravy with just those ingredients, plus salt and pepper for seasoning.

What is American brown gravy? ›

Brown gravy is the name for a gravy made from the drippings from roasted meat or fowl. The drippings are cooked on the stovetop at high heat with onions or other vegetables, and then thickened with a thin mixture of water and either wheat flour or cornstarch.

What is the difference between brown sauce and brown gravy? ›

In classical French cuisine, a brown sauce is generally a sauce with a meat stock base, thickened by reduction, and sometimes the addition of a browned roux, similar in some ways to, but more involved than, a gravy.

How is gravy made from scratch? ›

Pour ¼ cup of the fat into a saucepan, then whisk in the flour over heat. Add stock to the remaining drippings in the measuring cup to equal 2 cups. Whisk the stock until it's incorporated. Cook until thickened and bubbly.

Is gravy better with flour or cornstarch? ›

Browning adds more flavor to the gravy and gets rid of the raw flour taste. You're basically making a roux. We find that a flour-based gravy holds up better and reheats better later, which is why we tend to prefer using flour over cornstarch to make gravy unless we have a guest who is eating gluten-free.

What adds flavor to gravy? ›

Fortunately, Shannon has several suggestions for fixing bland gravy, starting by adding a bouillon cube, herbs or a splash of wine or cognac. But if you have time to spare, add pan drippings from turkey, bacon or bacon drippings, caramelized vegetables (like onions, leeks, carrots and celery), herbs or garlic.

What can I add to gravy to make it darker? ›

Soy sauce might seem odd, but adding a little at the end darkens the colour and the flavour goes really well with everything else going on and just works.

Why is my brown gravy not brown? ›

Make sure the flour has been cooked long enough: When flour is added to the pan drippings or butter, whisk constantly while the mixture cooks until it turns a deep golden brown and smells nutty.

Why isn't my gravy Brown? ›

The color of the finished roux will determine the color of the gravy. To make a roux, cook the flour in oil, butter or pan drippings. Heat the roux long enough for the color to deepen a little darker than the desired color of the gravy. Darker roux produces a deeper, richer flavor.

How do you make gravy darker and thicker? ›

Return to the heat and bring back to the boil stirring continuously until the gravy starts to thicken, then season to taste with herbs and seasoning of your choice. If you want to make your gravy darker, add a tablespoon of gravy browning.

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