Learning how to make gravy from scratch will have you never going back to those store bought packets again. With just 4 basic ingredients, this easy gravy recipe will elevate everything from mashed potatoes to roasted meats.

This recipe is one of the basic recipes that every home cook needs to learn how to make. It uses simple ingredients and has simple steps. Holiday meals need a real, good gravy. Honestly, so does any other normal day of the year. So whether you are here on the day of your thanksgiving dinner or just a Thursday, let’s make the perfect gravy together. Whatever day it is, this creamy gravy is the unsung hero of your meal. It’s kind of a big deal. 

Ingredients Needed

• Butter: 1/4 cup:  you can measure off fat from the top of pan drippings (keep reading for step by step directions on how to do this). You need some sort of flavorful fat components. 
• Flour: All purpose or for gluten free, use rice flour
• Broth: 3 cups-ish: This makes the flavor of your gravy. Chicken broth makes chicken gravy; turkey broth makes turkey gravy; beef broth makes brown gravy
• Salt & Black Pepper: to taste

How to Make Gravy From Scratch

Warm up pan over medium heat and melt butter.

Make a roux by sprinkling flour over top of melted butter.

Let it cook for about a minute before whisking.

Continue whisking until it turns golden brown. 

Slowly whisk the broth into the roux mixture and turn the heat up so it boils. Whisk frequently to prevent lumps from forming.

Gradually add more broth while continuing to whisk until you reach your desired consistency. For a thicker gravy, use less stock; for a thinner gravy, use more stock.

Once it starts boiling, cook for a minute and then reduce heat to a medium low heat so it simmers.

While whisking frequently, allow the gravy to cook until it reaches the consistency you like. 

Add salt and be sure to taste as you go and adjust accordingly.

Once the gravy is ready, transfer it to a serving dish or gravy boat and serve hot alongside your favorite dishes.

If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @1898_mama with pictures of your delicious creation!

Tips for Making Gravy

• If you’re gravy is too thick, thin it out by adding more broth.
• If gravy is too thin, thicken it up with some cornstarch. Whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry, then whisk it into your gravy.
• Adding fresh herbs can really enhance the flavor of the gravy. 

Leftover Gravy

• Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. Reheat on the stovetop, bringing it to a boil and stirring it well before serving. Have extra broth on hand, this will need to be thinned out because after getting cold, it turns into a real thick gravy. 
• Freeze gravy in an airtight container for a few months. Thaw frozen gravy in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it slowly in a saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking consistently.
• Making a turkey gravy recipe ahead of Thanksgiving is a great hack to save some time on the actual big day.  Just reheat and thin out right before meal time to save a little bit of stress! 

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How to Use Meat Drippings

If you make anything that results in having meat drippings at the end of cooking, be sure to use them for a delicious gravy. You can freeze until you’re ready to use. 

If you have a fat separator, that is the easiest. However, if you don’t, there is still a simple way to get the meat juices. 

Pour all the drippings from your pan through a fine mesh sieve and into a tall cup or bowl. Quite quickly, the fat rises to the top. Use a spoon to skim the layer of fat off. 

If there are browned bits stuck to the bottom of the roasting pan, pour a small amount of stock into the pan and scrape up all the flavorful bits with a wooden spoon. This process, known as deglazing, will add deeper flavor to your gravy.

You may not get enough drippings to make an amazing homemade gravy, so just make up the difference with broth if needed. 

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• Whisk
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This post may contain affiliate links which I would receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please read disclaimer and privacy policy for full disclosure.