How To Make Gravy In 10 Minutes

Easy gravy from scratch

Learn How to Make Gravy from scratch using 5 ingredients! Ready to eat in just 10 minutes, this chicken gravy is so delicious and mashed potatoes best friend. Gravy is a salty, savory sauce that has the ability to make simple foods POP with flavor. A traditional gravy recipe is made from pan drippings (usually from the Thanksgiving turkey) and is elevated with fresh herbs and butter. This homemade gravy recipe has been simplified so you don’t need drippings, complicated ingredients, or special equipment. Instead, it’s stirred together in 1 pot using just chicken broth, milk, cornstarch, salt, and onion powder. This recipe is made with a chicken broth base but can easily be made with beef broth or vegetable broth for a vegetarian alternative. The best part? Any version you make can be poured over basically anything, like mashed potato patties, rotisserie chicken, Salisbury steak, Thanksgiving stuffing or Stuffing Balls.

How to make homemade gravy from scratch

This is a chicken gravy recipe but can easily be adjusted to be made with beef or vegetable broth instead. Once you’ve decided on which broth to use, it’s easy to put the gravy together: Pour your broth into a saucepan and bring it up to a low boil over medium high heat. Stir the milk and cornstarch together in a small bowl until it’s no longer clumpy. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the broth, along with the salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir it all together. Once the gravy comes up to a boil, lower the heat and let it simmer until it thickens up. Pour the hot gravy over mashed potatoes, turkey, or biscuits and enjoy!

How to thicken gravy with cornstarch

For that silky smooth consistency, you’ll need a thickening agent like cornstarch or all purpose flour. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener compared to flour. Stir it together with milk or water to make a slurry, then add it to the gravy to achieve the perfect consistency.

Gravy add ins and variations

Add ins – Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms, sautéed onions, or fresh or dried herbs to enrich the gravy with savory and earthy flavors. For a richer gravy – Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter. Change up the broth – If you want a beef gravy, use beef broth. If you want vegetable gravy, use vegetable broth. Vegan – Swap the milk for your favorite unsweetened dairy free milk. Instead of broth – Use bouillon cubes dissolved in hot water for a more intense flavor (also more economical!). Instead of milk – Swap it for half-and-half or heavy cream. For an umami flavor – Add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.

Ways to use homemade gravy

Gravy is a magical condiment you can slather on plenty of meals and side dishes or serve as a savory dipping sauce. These are my favorite ways to use it (besides eating it with a spoon – hah):

It’s an obvious one, but gravy is mashed potatoes best friend! For a lighter option, pour it over cauliflower mash or dairy free mashed potatoes Serve the gravy with Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner Enjoy it in chicken and gravy sandwiches Make this leftover Thanksgiving casserole extra delicious with some gravy on top It’s a must for biscuits and gravy Pour it over roasted vegetables or potatoes Serve it next to this whole roasted chicken

Storing, freezing, and reheating gravy

To store: The gravy can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To freeze: Freeze the gravy in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a saucepan the next day. To reheat: Pour the gravy into a saucepan and reheat over medium heat. While it heats up to a boil, continuously whisk the gravy until it’s smooth and warmed through.