Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe

This Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe starts with a roux and is flavored with beef stock and seasonings. It comes together in about 10 minutes, and no drippings are needed- only butter and flour. A tasty homemade brown gravy recipe that’s easy and perfect for the dinner table.

I used to be terrible at making homemade gravy. I had to throw it out the first time and times after before I finally got it right. Honestly, I was trying too hard to make the perfect gravy and always ended up with a raw flour taste and a greasy mess.

Then, after many tries, I mastered the best brown gravy recipe perfect for mashed potatoes, fried pork chops, and biscuits. Plus, anyone can easily make a large skillet of the best brown gravy, and having a good gravy recipe in your toolbox always comes in handy.

Brown gravy in a cast iron skillet with text overlay.

What is Brown Gravy?

Brown gravy is the best condiment for topping mashed potatoes or turkey during the holidays, and no holiday meal is complete unless brown gravy is on the table. This gravy comes together fast, and you can control the seasonings. Gravy packets are convenient to use, but they always seem slightly too salty. 

Why You’ll Love This Brown Gravy Recipe

Don’t let the idea of making homemade gravy scare you. It’s a lot easier than you think.

  • It comes together fast and will be on the table in no time.
  • It is made with simple ingredients, and you can control the seasonings.
  • Perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.
  • Use as a sauce for turkey, chicken, or pork.

Ingredients for Easy Homemade Brown Gravy

  • Butter— Most of the time, I use salted butter, but unsalted is fine. You may need to add a little salt to the gravy for seasoning.
  • Flour— All-purpose flour
  • Water– This is used to thin the gravy. If the gravy is thicker than you like, use more cold water. 
  • Beef Broth – or beef stock- I usually have a can on hand in the pantry. I’ve used chicken broth, and it works well.
  • Garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper are my three favorite seasonings I use most of the time.

How to Make Easy Brown Gravy

No store-bought gravy packet is required for this recipe.

  1. Make the roux: Add butter to a hot skillet over medium heat and melt. Sprinkle flour and seasonings and stir for about 2 minutes continuously until a roux is formed.
  2. Add beef broth and water: Slowly pour in beef broth while stirring vigorously with a whisk. This will help prevent lumps. Once smooth and lump-free, add the water.
  3. Thicken: Let the gravy boil until thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Taste and season more if desired.
Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe in a skillet with text overlay.

What is a Roux?

When making this gravy, you will start with creating a roux. A roux is simply fat (butter) and flour stirred together and cooked until lightly golden brown. Then, the liquid is slowly added, and everything is whisked together until lump free and smooth. You can make the gravy as thick and thin as you like. 

Expert Tips and Variations

  • If you don’t have beef broth, chicken broth will work nicely.
  • You can use unsalted butter if desired.
  • No pan drippings are required to make this easy recipe. But feel free to add some if you have them on hand. They will add more flavor.
  • Add more seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce for more flavor.
  • Add some fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary.
  • Whisk as you add the liquid. It will appear lumpy but continue to whisk until smooth.

How to Thicken the Gravy

If you find yourself with thin gravy it is easy to thicken it up. First, you will make a slurry of cornstarch and water. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water to a cup and stir. Slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the simmering gravy and whisk well. Cook to whisk until you get the desired thickness.

How to Thin Gravy

If you like a thinner gravy, add more liquid to the simmering gravy. For example, more beef stock or water will thin the gravy nicely.

How to Fix Lumpy Gravy

I rarely have lumpy gravy with this recipe, but if you do, strain your gravy through a mesh strainer. This will remove the lumps.

Tomato Gravy is another easy gravy to make and is wonderful over hot biscuits. These 3 ingredient biscuits and tomato gravy would make a great start to your day.

Homemade Brown Gravy in a cast iron skillet with text overlay.

Add-Ins for the Best Gravy

Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms– Saute the onions and mushrooms first before adding them to the gravy. They need to soften, and the onions are best if they caramelize a bit for a huge flavor.

How to Make Brown Gravy with Pan Drippings

To make easy brown gravy: There are no pan drippings required. However, if you have some on hand and want to add them to the gravy, do so. Pan drippings such as bacon grease or beef drippings will only enhance and enrich the gravy flavor. Just add the drippings along with the beef stock.

What to Serve with this Perfect Brown Gravy

For the ultimate comfort food dishes, fried chicken, cubed steak, meatloaf, beef tips, and hamburger steak are lovely dishes with this delicious gravy. This gravy also makes a great dipping sauce for potato wedges.

Tools Needed for Making Gravy

Large Skillet, Wooden Spoon, Whisk, Measuring Cup, and Measuring Spoons.

How to Store Leftover Gravy

Leftover gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave until warmed throughout. Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

I like to cook my butter and flour until light brown in color. This cooks the flour a bit and gets rid of the raw flour taste.

You can undoubtedly use pan/ meat drippings or bacon drippings for this recipe. You will add the dripping into the gravy along with the beef stock and seasonings. Adjust the seasonings as desired. Pan dripping will add a bit more flavor and would make a great addition.

You can make this gravy a day ahead of time if desired. Just refrigerate and then reheat on the stovetop. The gravy tends to get thicker the longer it sits; therefore, you may need to add a splash or two of beef broth or water to thin it a bit before serving.

Homemade Brown Gravy recipe in a cast iron skillet.

Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe

Gina Abernathy
This Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe starts with a roux and is flavored with beef stock and seasonings. It comes together in about 10 minutes, and no drippings are needed- only butter and flour. A tasty homemade brown gravy recipe that's easy and perfect for the dinner table.
5 from 5 votes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ¼-½ cup water
  • 1 (15oz.) can beef broth or beef stock
  • ½ teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Make the roux: Add butter to a hot skillet and melt. Add flour and seasonings and stir for about 2 minutes continuously until a roux is formed.
  • Add beef broth and water: Slowly pour in beef broth while stirring vigorously with a whisk. This will help prevent lumps. Once smooth and lump-free, add the water.
  • Thicken: Let the gravy boil until thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Taste and season more if desired.
Keyword Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe

5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Yum! How comforting and rich does this look. Never knew homemade gravy could actually be so simple! Thanks for the recipe!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating