This easy homemade brown gravy recipe is so, so delicious. Savory beef broth combines garlic powder, onion powder, bay leaves, and butter to make for a rich and decadent brown gravy. Best of all, it comes together in just 15 minutes. So, if you're looking for a tasty brown gravy recipe to make for your Thanksgiving dinner you've come to the right place!
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The Best Brown Gravy Recipe
Whether it's Thanksgiving, or there are just mashed potatoes on the menu, there's always a reason to make some brown gravy.
And this homemade gravy is surprisingly easy. So easy in fact, you might wonder why you've ever bothered buying it from the store!
Seriously though, ever since we started making gravy from scratch at our house, we've never looked back. It goes terrific on things like these twice baked mashed potatoes.
Plus, one of the best things about this easy brown gravy recipe is that it can be made while you go about preparing the rest of the dinner. It spends most of its time slowly simmering, leaving you more time to focus on the main course, or other sides.
And that means you can whip up this Pioneer woman stuffing or this old fashioned sweet potato pie while the gravy cooks.
Anyway, with all that said, let's get into the ingredients you'll need to whip up this easy brown gravy.
Ingredients
As I mentioned before, the ingredient list for this brown gravy recipe is pretty darn simple. You need just 7 ingredients and about 25 minutes to make it.
Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make this brown gravy recipe:
- 3 cups Beef Stock
- ¼ cup Corn starch
- 2 tbsp. Butter
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1 Bay Leaf
- Salt and Pepper
Yup, that's it!
And I know I mentioned this homemade gravy is ideal for Thanksgiving and mashed potatoes, but it can be used for so many more meals too.
My favorite things to eat with this beef gravy are these crispy air fryer smashed potatoes, this KFC famous bowl, and this braised beef shank. So you'll definitely want to try pairing this delicious gravy with those recipes, too, along with classic mashed potatoes, of course.
And I know this sounds weird, but this brown gravy recipe also goes great with some french fries too. Honestly, I think it's one of the most underrated pairs out there.
Oh, by the way, if you want to make this a vegetarian brown gravy recipe, just use vegetable broth and add about two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
How To Make Brown Gravy
Now, you're probably tired of me saying that this is an easy brown gravy recipe, but it's the truth. You barely have to do anything.
Seriously, measuring out the ingredients is the hardest part of making this stuff.
Anyway, let's not waste any more time. Let's get into how to make brown gravy!
Step 1: Dissolve the Corn Starch
First, add a half cup of good quality beef stock and corn starch to a small bowl and let it dissolve- doing this will thicken the gravy later on.
Make sure the corn starch is added to beef stock that is cold or at room temperature, as corn starch won't dissolve properly in hot liquid.
Step 2: Make The Brown gravy
Now, heat a pot over medium-high heat and add the cold unsalted butter, garlic powder, and onion powder to it. Then, let it cook for a minute - or two - until the butter melts.
Next, add the rest of the beef stock and bay leaf to the pot and give everything a stir to combine.
Once combined, add the cornstarch mixture to the pot along with the salt and pepper.
Step 3: Simmer The Gravy
Now, cook the gravy for about 15 minutes or until the gravy thickens. Also, just so you know, the longer you let the brown gravy simmer, the thicker and richer it will be.
That being said, don't let it cook for too long, as it could burn.
Anyway, once your brown gravy has simmered for long enough, remove the bay leaf and taste the gravy. Then adjust the salt and other seasonings as necessary and, as always, serve hot with mashed potatoes or whatever you want.
Now, I don't know about you, but sometimes I like my gravy on the thinner side. Maybe that's weird, but I do. So, to thin out the gravy recipe, just add a little beef broth until it's reached the consistency that you want.
Anyway, however you serve the beef gravy, it'll be delicious, so enjoy!
How To Store Homemade Brown Gravy
This recipe for brown gravy will make about 3 cups worth. So, that means it's the perfect amount for a big Thanksgiving dinner with mashed potatoes!
And, I have a feeling that it'll be gone by the end of dinner, but if it's not, it stores really well. You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
However, if you want to keep it for even longer, you can put the leftover gravy in a freezer bag, airtight container, or ice cube tray and store freeze gravy for up to 4 months.
How To Reheat Gravy
Now, after making brown gravy, it will separate a little bit when stored. So you'll definitely want to reheat it after it's been stored.
The quickest way to reheat brown gravy it is to put it in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring between each one until it's thoroughly heated.
Alternatively, you can heat the brown gravy up in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat on the stove. Just make sure to stir it every so often to keep it from burning. Then serve with mashed potatoes or whatever you want and enjoy!
Wrapping It Up
Well, that's how to make brown gravy from scratch!
This stuff is so much better than any gravy you can find at the store or any gravy packets. Plus, this easy homemade brown gravy recipe not only tastes great, but it's quick and simple to make to have for mashed potatoes and so many other foods.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this brown gravy recipe as much as my family and I do!
As always, don't forget to check out our Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok for more quick and easy recipes like this one.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
If you're looking for more Thanksgiving dinner and dessert recipes, we have a ton on the blog that you have to try making this year!
Check some of these out next:
- White country gravy
- Seafood stuffing
- Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
- Southern cornbread
- Asparagus casserole
- Pumpkin custard pie
- Custard pie
Brown Gravy Made In Only 15 Minutes
This easy homemade brown gravy recipe is so, so delicious. Savory beef broth combines garlic powder, onion powder, bay leaves, and butter to make for a rich and decadent brown gravy. Best of all, it comes together in just 15 minutes. So, if you're looking for a tasty brown gravy recipe to make for your Thanksgiving dinner you've come to the right place!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thanksgiving
Ingredients
3 cups Beef Stock
¼ cup Corn starch
2 tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Onion Powder
1 Bay Leaf
Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Add ½ cup of beef stock and cornstarch to a bowl and let it dissolve.
- Heat a pot over medium heat and add the butter, garlic powder, and onion powder to it.
- Add the rest of the beef stock and bay leaf to the pot. Then add the cornstarch mixture to the pot with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 15 minutes, or until it thickens.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 69
- Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Protein: 2
Keywords: brown gravy, brown gravy recipe, how to make brown gravy, gravy recipe, brown gravy from scratch, brown gravy recipe with beef broth, brown gravy recipe from scratch,
Kayla
I made this to eat with some grilled chicken and potatoes and it was terrific! I'll be using it for Thanksgiving this year for sure.
★★★★★
Cynthia
The easiest gravy recipe that I have tried making. I don't think I'll ever make a different one.
★★★★★