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 can I add to brown gravy to make it taste better? ›

What can you add to Brown Gravy to Make it Taste Better? We add a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce to give this gravy great flavor. Another addition we love is Bouillon paste, powder works too!

What is brown gravy made of? ›

Brown gravy is a delicious sauce made from beef stock and thickened with roux, a flour and butter mixture. It's easier than you think to make gravy from scratch and tastes so much better than the packaged gravy powder!

What can you put in gravy to make it dark? ›

Add the chicken broth, beef broth, beef bouillon, onion and garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce to a medium saucepan. Stir to combine. Optional: If a darker color is desired, add 2-3 drops of Kitchen Bouquet browning and seasoning sauce. (Gravy Master works well too.)

What can I use for gravy browning? ›

Two popular brands are Kitchen Bouquet and Gravy Master. If you can't locate browning sauce, you can make your own at home (more on how to do that in a minute!). You can also substitute store-bought gravy powder, make a dark roux or substitute other dark-colored liquids like Worcestershire, molasses or soy sauce.

What is the secret to good gravy? ›

The most important foundation of any good gravy is the homemade roux. A roux is made up of flour and fat (in this case butter), cooked together, and used to thicken sauces and gravies. What is this? One of the most important keys to the best gravy is to cook the roux until golden in color.

What makes gravy more tasty? ›

Add an umami-rich condiment.

Just as you might add condiments like soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire sauce, or even a splash of sherry or cider vinegar to your favorite gravy recipe, incorporate them into store-bought gravy for a more complex flavor.

How many tablespoons of flour per cup of liquid for gravy? ›

(The classic ratio for gravy is three:two:one, so 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons fat, and 1 cup of hot stock.) You can add other flavors to the mixture, swap out the stock for another liquid, or use cornstarch rather than flour to thicken your gravy.

What thickens brown gravy? ›

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 traditional gravy made of? ›

Basic gravy starts with a roux, which is a mixture of cooked butter and flour that will naturally thicken liquid. There's a reason we're not just tossing cornstarch in here- a butter and flour based roux provides one of the main flavor components.

Why does my brown gravy taste like flour? ›

Problem: Your Gravy Tastes Like Flour

Flour thickens your gravy, but if you don't allow enough time for the ingredients to come together, or if they're not combined properly, the end result can be disappointing—it can feel doughy, chalky, or taste like flour.

How can I darken gravy without browning? ›

Wheat flour and cornflour(cornstarch) work too, but potato flour just gives the gravy a better flavour, while still being smooth. 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.

What will thicken brown gravy? ›

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 can I use instead of gravy darkener? ›

Instant coffee can provide a similar browning effect as Kitchen Bouquet, which can be particularly useful in recipes where a dark brown color is essential, such as gravies or stews.

Why is some gravy brown? ›

Brenda Garcia, Health and Wellness Manager and Registered Dietitian for United Supermarkets, said the difference between the two has to do with the liquid base of the 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.

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