ByDonna Elick
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Best Brown Gravy Recipethat you can make with just a few ingredients in just 5 minutes? Sign me up!! Not only that, but it’s just as smooth and scrumptious as any pan gravy or sauce that’s been cooking for ages. Check out this walkthrough and video to see how to make this easy recipe for brown gravy without drippings that’ll totally blow your mind!!
When there just never seems to be enough time to make dinner, you need recipes that are simple, fast and flavorful.
That is the exact time to make my 5-5-5 brown beef gravy!!
Making homemade gravy with flour and broth issomuch easier than working with pan drippings.
You don’t need to wait for anything to cool, strain out any unwanted fat, or go through the whole process of cooking the meat beforehand.
Plus, you can make it well ahead of time, saving you evenmoretime on the day of. It’s so convenient!
You’ll love the rich flavor that pairs perfectly with any simple recipe! This is the best gravy, ever!
Best Ever Brown Gravy
Why do I call this a 5-5-5 brown gravy recipe? Well, in 5 minutes and using only 5 ingredients, you can make 5-star gravy!!
This sauce is perfect over egg noodles, meatballs, roasts, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, you name it! It is delicious and silky smooth!
Don’t like beef gravy? Try thisturkey gravy! Or if you need gravy to pair with pork, I’ve got you covered with mycrockpot pork chops recipe.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Butter– You really need this to make the roux! I like to use unsalted butter and then season with salt at the end.
- Flour– You can almost never go wrong with all-purpose flour.
It’ll yield a thick, luscious gravy that literally cascades over meat, potatoes, or whatever you want to add it to – my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
- Onion Powder– This is a good, basic flavor to enhance your gravy. You could use garlic powder but I think onion powder is perfect for our palates.
If you want to get more advanced with your spices and seasonings, check out the FAQ below, where I detail ways to really dress up your homemade brown gravy!
- Beef Bouillon & Water– I lump these two together because they go hand in hand – you need the water to dissolve the bouillon!
Tips For Making This Easy Brown Gravy Recipe
- Before making this think of all your favorite ways to enjoy this delicious gravy.
It’s perfet with your favorite meat, great for a roast dinner, and even perfect with french fries, too!
- Don’t overboil the hot liquid. Just 2-3 minutes of simmering once this great gravy is boiling and it’s good to go.
How to Make Gravy With Beef Broth
To make this homemade brown gravy recipe with beef broth, you’ll need to start by making a roux. It sounds fancy, but it’s super simple!
Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Once it’s melted, add the flour and onion powder. Start whisking!
Let the mixture cook for a minute or so while that floury taste cooks away.
Follow up with the beef broth! Add just ¼ cup at a time, whisking thoroughly with each pour. Once it’s all been added, bring it to a boil.
When a rolling boil is achieved, reduce the heat to a simmer for a couple of minutes… And you’re done!
Storing and Reheating Homemade Brown Gravy
This beef gravy recipe can be made up to 5 days ahead of time. Keep it covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
Don’t be alarmed when it comes out thicker – that’s supposed to happen! It’ll thin out when it’s reheated. Do so in a saucepan over medium heat.
If it still isn’t as thin as you’d like, whisk in a tablespoon of beef broth.
Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe FAQ
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. It’s like the “all subs are sandwiches but not all sandwiches are subs” conundrum.
How can I make brown gravy better?
My beef gravy recipe is delicious for sure – but it’s also bare bones. There’s so much you can do to spice things up!
One easy way to improve your gravy is to add a good balance of flavors — mustard, wine, or vinegar for acidity and some herbs for freshness, for example.
Adding extras to your roux will also work wonders and cook those flavors deep into the gravy itself. Sauteeing onions, garlic, mushrooms, or bacon (or all of them if you’re daring!!) in the butter before adding the flour will have atremendouseffect on the overall flavor profile of your gravy. In a good way!
Can I use beef stock instead of beef broth? What’s the difference between the two?
Good questions!
Broth is made from either meat or vegetables (or a combination of the two), simmered in water and releasing all of its flavor into the liquid over an extended period of time. Stock, on the other hand, is made by cookingbonesin water.
With that cleared up – you can absolutely use stock and broth interchangeably. A few differences you’ll want to keep in mind: stock is usually thicker than broth, while broth is more full-bodied and flavorful.
When should I serve this classic gravy recipe?
In my opinon, this is one of my go-to recipes for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s such a delicious sauce made with simple ingredients and tastes so much better than any store-bought gravy.
I love making it for the holidays because it’s a great option loaded with a great depth of flavor. While it’s the perfect gravy for the holidays, you can make this easy homemade brown gravy recipe for extra flavor during the week, too. It’s literally the perfect topping for pot roast, roast beef, and beef tips.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Recipes
5-Minute Beef Gravy + Video
Donna Elick
Beef Gravy is the perfect topping for your meal! Make this homemade brown gravy recipe with just 5 ingredients in 5 minutes!
5 stars from 5 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 12 makes 2 cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4 teaspoons beef bouillon powder, or 4 beef bouillon cubes
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Combine water and bouillon in a heat proof container (I use a 2-cup glass measuring cup). Heat the beef broth in microwave 1 minute at a time, until it is steaming hot.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add flour and onion powder and whisk to combine.
Continue whisking until mixture bubbles up and becomes a thick consistency, about one minute. This helps cook out the ‘floury’ taste.
While whisking, pour in hot beef broth to the flour mixture. Whisk to combine and bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 1 minute.
Serve and enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
You can use chicken bouillon to create an amazing chicken gravy that is perfect for turkey or chicken dinners, especially Thanksgiving!
You can use chicken or beef stock or broth in place of the bouillon and water. Be sure to heat well.
This recipe stores in the refrigerator, covered for a week.
Be sure to whisk as you add the broth to get a smooth lump-free gravy.
The recipe doubles perfectly!!!
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 45cal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 176mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Originally published July 2012, updated and republished November 2023
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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