The Ultimate Homemade Brown Gravy (No Drippings Needed!) – Rich & Savory Perfection
Make rich, velvety brown gravy from scratch without needing meat pan drippings. This easy stovetop recipe delivers deep, savory flavor perfect for mashed potatoes, meatloaf, or holiday dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: About 2 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk the flour into the melted butter. Cook this mixture, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until it forms a smooth, light brown paste (the roux). Do not let it burn.
- Slowly whisk in the beef broth, a little at a time, ensuring no lumps form. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth.
- Bring the gravy to a simmer, stirring frequently. Let it simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the gravy thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and dried thyme.
- Taste the gravy and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot over your favorite comfort foods.
Notes
- For a deeper brown color without drippings, cook the roux for an extra minute or two until it reaches a peanut butter color.
- If the gravy is too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of warm water or broth until you reach your desired consistency.
- Use high-quality beef broth for the best deep-flavored gravy results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 1.5
- Cholesterol: 15