How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (2024)

Home » Recipes » Sauce » How to Make Gravy From Drippings

Ellen Leave a comment

JUMP TO RECIPE

Post may contain affiliate links: disclosure policy.

Rich, smooth, and so savory, this homemade gravy from drippings is so dang good that you’ll be licking your plate clean! Learn how to make gravy from drippings in just 10 minutes and take your dinner to a whole new level.

How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Is the Best Gravy From Drippings
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Gravy From Drippings
  • Tips for the Best Homemade Gravy
  • What to Serve With Homemade Brown Gravy
  • How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
  • More Easy Gravy Recipes
  • Get the Recipe

    Why This Is the Best Gravy From Drippings

    Thick and velvety, this decadent pan gravy will make any piece of meat instantly better. Making gravy from drippings is so easy, and it’s a great way to maximize all the flavor from whatever meat you cooked for dinner. Here’s why this is our go-to homemade gravy recipe:

    • Fast & Easy: This luscious gravy is super easy to make in just 10 minutes. Once your meat is cooked, we whisk in a little flour, seasonings, and broth into the pan drippings. We simmer our gravy until it has thickened and that’s it, it’s ready to serve!
    • Mess-Free: This pan gravy from drippings is such a great way to add flavor to your meal without making your kitchen any messier. If you make the recipe right after cooking a piece of meat, you can just make the gravy directly in the same pan.
    • Maximize Flavor: Anytime you cook a piece of meat, you leave so much flavor in the pan. When you make gravy from drippings, you get to use that flavor instead of wasting it!
    • Use Any Meat: This is a versatile gravy recipe, so you can use the drippings from any meat. You can make beef, pork, chicken, bacon, or turkey gravy from drippings.
    • Better Than Store-Bought: There’s simply no comparison between homemade gravy from drippings and store-bought gravy. This gravy will have a meatier and deeper flavor, with an irresistible smooth and velvety texture, than any store-bought gravy you’d find at the store.
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (3)

    Ingredients Needed

    You only need a few basic pantry staples that you probably already have on hand to make gravy from drippings. For full ingredient amounts and directions, scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    • Pan Drippings: You can use drippings from any kind of meat.
    • All-Purpose Flour
    • Broth: Chicken or beef broth are best for this recipe.
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper: Always use freshly cracked pepper for the most flavor.
    • Garlic or Onion Powder: This is an optional ingredient, but can add a lot of flavor to your gravy.
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (4)

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings

    Whether you’re making homemade turkey gravy, pork gravy, or pan gravy with any other kind of meat, this sauce is rich, smooth, and packed with a deep, meaty flavor. And it only takes 10 minutes to cook! Scroll to the recipe card at the end of the page for detailed instructions on how to make gravy from drippings.

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (5)
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (6)
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (7)
    • Add Flour: Heat the pan drippings in a heavy skillet, then add the flour. Whisk until the roux turns a medium brown.
    • Pour In The Broth: Slowly pour in the broth while whisking.
    • Finish: Cook the gravy, while whisking, until it thickens. Season to taste and serve immediately.
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (8)

    Tips for the Best Homemade Gravy

    Making rich and savory homemade gravy from pan drippings is so easy, but here are a few things you can do to ensure that it comes out perfectly every time.

    • Whisk Thoroughly: Once you start making the gravy, it’s important to whisk continuously. If you’re not constantly whisking, the roux might burn, or the gravy might break. When you add the broth, the gravy might separate a little bit, but keep whisking until it comes back together.
    • Season At The End: It’s really important to wait until you’re done cooking the gravy before you season it. Since your pan drippings will likely have salt from the meat you cooked and most broth has added salt, the gravy might be plenty salty without adding any extra salt. Once the gravy is done cooking, taste it, and adjust the seasonings as needed!
    • Adjust The Thickness. You can easily adjust how thick this homemade pan gravy is, depending on your taste. If the gravy is too thick, add a splash of water, broth, milk, or cream. Adding milk or cream will make the gravy extra creamy and smooth. If your gravy is too thin, just cook it for a little bit longer.
    • Add Flavors: Garlic and onion powder are included as optional seasonings for this savory gravy. Just a pinch will really add a lot of extra flavor! You can also add fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, sage, or thyme.
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (9)

    What to Serve With Homemade Brown Gravy

    This hearty homemade gravy is so easy to serve. Our favorite way to eat it is with whatever piece of meat you’re using the drippings from and a side of mashed potatoes!

    • Pork: As shown in these photos, this gravy is delicious over some breaded fried pork chops! We also love to serve it with these juicy pan fried pork chops.
    • Chicken: A little chicken pan gravy would be amazing over these pan seared chicken breasts!
    • Beef: Chicken fried steak is a classic with white gravy, but it’s also delicious with a light brown gravy made with the pan drippings. This easy smothered cube steak is another great option!
    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (10)

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    This homemade gravy will last for up to 5 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. We don’t recommend freezing homemade pan gravy from drippings. The texture will really suffer if you freeze and then thaw the gravy.

    You can reheat the gravy over medium heat on the stove, or in the microwave on 80% power in 20-second bursts. You’ll need to stir the gravy after reheating it. If your gravy has thickened too much, you can add a little broth to thin it out.

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (11)

    More Easy Gravy Recipes

    If you’re a big gravy fan then we’ve got you covered. Here are some more of our favorite easy and comforting gravy recipes.

    • Homemade White Gravy
    • Chicken and Gravy
    • Homemade Brown Gravy
    • Beef Tips and Gravy
    • Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (12)

    5 from 3 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 4 servings

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings

    This homemade gravy from drippings is rich, smooth, velvety, and meaty. It only takes 10 minutes to make, and is perfect on top of just about everything!

    Prep Time2 minutes minutes

    Cook Time8 minutes minutes

    Total Time10 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons pan drippings
    • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups broth, chicken or beef
    • ½ teaspoon garlic or onion powder, optional
    • Salt and freshly black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • If using old pan drippings, heat the pan drippings in a heavy bottom skillet over medium-to-medium high heat.

    • Once pan drippings are hot, add in the flour and whisk continuously so the flour does not burn. Keep whisking, and cook until the flour change colors to a medium brown, about 2 minutes. You can also start to smell the flour cooking when it’s ready.

    • Slowly pour in the broth, while whisking continuously. At first everything will separate, but keep whisking making sure to stir the entire skillet.

    • Continue cooking and whisking, until gravy thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes.

    • Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Storage: This homemade gravy will last for up to 5 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.

    Reheat: You can reheat the gravy over medium heat on the stove, or in the microwave on 80% power in 20-second bursts. You’ll need to stir the gravy after reheating it. If your gravy has thickened too much, you can add a little broth to thin it out.

    Whisk Thoroughly: Once you start making the gravy, it’s important to whisk continuously. If you’re not constantly whisking, the roux might burn, or the gravy might break. When you add the broth, the gravy might separate a little bit, but keep whisking until it comes back together.

    Season At The End:It’s really important to wait until you’re done cooking the gravy before you season it. Since your pan drippings will likely have salt from the meat you cooked and most broth has added salt, the gravy might be plenty salty without adding any extra salt. Once the gravy is done cooking, taste it, and adjust the seasonings as needed!

    Adjust The Thickness.You can easily adjust how thick this homemade pan gravy is, depending on your taste. If the gravy is too thick, add a splash of water, broth, milk, or cream. Adding milk or cream will make the gravy extra creamy and smooth. If your gravy is too thin, just cook it for a little bit longer.

    Add Flavors:Garlic and onion powder are included as optional seasonings for this savory gravy. Just a pinch will really add a lot of extra flavor! You can also add fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, sage, or thyme.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 491mg, Potassium: 13mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 0.4mg

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Sauce

    How to Make Gravy From Drippings | Homemade Gravy Recipe In 10 Mins! (2024)

    FAQs

    How is gravy made from scratch? ›

    Melt butter in a medium-sized sauce pan. Add flour and whisk constantly until mixture is golden caramel color and smells fragrant (3-5 minutes). Slowly whisk in liquids, while whisking, until mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened and bubbly, 5 minutes or longer.

    How do you thicken meat drippings for 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.

    Can you make pan sauce with water? ›

    Though you can use any liquid (yes, even water, in a pinch!), this is a good time to add some acidity to help balance your sauce. White or red wine, dry vermouth, dry sherry, beer, or even vinegar are popular options, but any kind of broth or stock works great, as well.

    Can I use water instead of stock for gravy? ›

    Originally Answered: How to make gravy without broth? You don't need a meat broth to make gravy. You can use water, milk, or cream to make a gravy. Brown flour in hot drippings or other fat, then slowly add the liquid while stirring.

    How to make gravy without cornstarch? ›

    All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering. Cooking the flour in the sauce will remove the flour taste.

    Can you make gravy with just flour and water? ›

    Flour + water is called a “slurry”. Flour + butter (or other fat) is either a Beurre manié or a roux, depending on if it's raw or cooked. For making gravy with a slurry, you would combine flour and *cool* water until hom*ogeneous, then whisk it into the simmering stock/drippings.

    Is gravy better with flour or cornstarch? ›

    Cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour, so it's best to go slowly and add a little at a time until the gravy reaches your desired consistency. The best way to do that is to make a slurry of one tablespoon cornstarch to one cup of cool stock, whisked together.

    How much flour do I need for 1 cup of gravy? ›

    Tip: The important thing to know when making a roux gravy is the ratio of flour to fat to liquid. The ratio I use is: 1.5 tablespoons fat to 1.5 tablespoons flour to 1 cup liquid, which yields 1 cup of gravy.

    How much flour does it take to thicken 1 cup of liquid? ›

    However, when using flour as a gravy thickener, you must double the amount—use 2 tablespoons of flour per 1 cup of liquid. Use a whisk or wooden spoon to incorporate, stirring constantly until you thicken the gravy to the desired consistency.

    How long does gravy take to thicken? ›

    With this method, you'll want to add the slurry in gradually, allowing the gravy to cook and thicken for one to two minutes before adding more (you might not need the entire slurry or you might need more, depending on the consistency). Another way to thicken gravy with flour is by making a roux.

    How do you use pan drippings? ›

    You can use them in any recipe calling for chicken stock or broth. Or invent your own by sautéing onions, then adding the drippings and whatever vegetables, grains and legumes you have on hand. Dilute and use instead of water for cooking rice or other grains. Add to mashed potatoes.

    Do you remove fat from drippings to make gravy? ›

    Before making a gravy from pan drippings, it's best to skim off the fat that has accumulated—a process known as degreasing. Degreasing is simple to do and ensures that you get the full flavor from the sauce or stew. Thankfully, fat naturally separates and floats to the surface, making it easy to remove.

    What is the difference between pan sauce and gravy? ›

    To me, a pan sauce is thinner than gravy. Both are made with deglazed pan scrapings. Sauce is a French word, while gravy is old English. I would add that gravy is probably always thickened with a roux, while a sauce has more possibilities (like egg yolks or cream).

    Can I add pan drippings to store bought gravy? ›

    Incorporate Drippings From the Roasting Pan

    With a little help from store-bought gravy, you can ensure you have enough to coat everyone's turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans. While heating your store-bought gravy on the stove, add drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan to make it more flavorful.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Rob Wisoky

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5781

    Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

    Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Rob Wisoky

    Birthday: 1994-09-30

    Address: 5789 Michel Vista, West Domenic, OR 80464-9452

    Phone: +97313824072371

    Job: Education Orchestrator

    Hobby: Lockpicking, Crocheting, Baton twirling, Video gaming, Jogging, Whittling, Model building

    Introduction: My name is Rob Wisoky, I am a smiling, helpful, encouraging, zealous, energetic, faithful, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.