This old-fashioned brown gravy is a simple homemade gravy made using the classic pan gravy method. You can make it with roast drippings or with butter and broth if you don't have drippings saved. 👇👇
It's one of the easiest ways to add incredible flavor to garlic mashed potatoes, roast beef, roasted turkey, or any easy weeknight dinner. Because it uses simple pantry staples, this gravy is also a budget-friendly way to stretch family meals.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Simple pantry ingredients - you just need fat (drippings or butter), flour, and liquid (extra drippings or broth).
- Budget friendly - homemade gravy costs just pennies to make using basic ingredients you likely already have.
- Classic old-fashioned method - the same technique used in vintage cookbooks. And if our grandmas made it, you know it's good!
- Adjust the thickness - make it thick for mashed potatoes or thinner for meats.
- Works with many dinners - so versatile for all your chicken, beef and turkey recipes
Recipe Ingredients 👇👇
- 4 Tbsp roast drippings - or 4 Tbsp salted butter
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup liquid from roasting pan (water mixed with the browned bits) or 1 cup broth
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
How To Make Brown Gravy 👇👇
STEP 1: Cook The Fat And Flour
In a pot over medium heat, add 4 Tbsp roast drippings (or 4 Tbsp salted butter).
Stir in 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour, mixing until smooth. Cook while stirring constantly until the flour turns light brown, about 2 minutes.
STEP 2: Add The Liquid
Slowly whisk in 1 cup of pan liquid or broth while stirring constantly. Adding the liquid slowly helps prevent lumps from forming. Remove and lower the heat if it starts bubbling too much.
STEP 3: Season And Simmer
Add 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper.
Continue cooking gently until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency. If it becomes too thick, add a splash of broth or water.
STEP 4: Serve
Remove from heat and spoon the gravy over mashed potatoes, round steak, roast beef, pork, chicken, or biscuits.
How To Prepare The Drippings
If you are using drippings from a roast, here is the easiest way to prepare them.
- Pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a measuring cup.
- Let them rest for about 1 minute so the fat rises to the top and the darker juices settle underneath.
- Spoon off 4 Tbsp of the fat and use that to cook the flour in the gravy. If you don't have 4 Tbsp of fat, you can add enough salted butter to equal this amount.
- Measure 1 cup of the remaining juices to use as the gravy liquid.
- Add water or broth if needed until you reach 1 cup total liquid.
How To Make Brown Gravy Without Drippings
If you don't have drippings from a roast, you can easily make this gravy using butter and broth.
- Use 4 tbps salted butter in place of the drippings.
- Use 1 cup beef broth or water for the liquid.
Using broth instead of water will give the gravy a deeper flavor, but either option works well for everyday dinners.
Note From Andi:
I originally found this gravy recipe in a vintage cookbook, and it instantly reminded me of the gravy my grandmother used to make when I was growing up.
There's something about these old-fashioned recipes that makes them taste even better.
Traditionally, this gravy is made using the drippings from whatever meat you're cooking. But when drippings aren't available, butter and broth make an easy substitute that still creates smooth, flavorful gravy.
Once you know this simple method, you can make homemade gravy anytime you cook beef, pork, chicken, or turkey.
If you're planning a homemade dinner, this gravy pairs perfectly with many of my easy dinner recipes and family favorites.
Recipe Tips
- Use a small saucepan or skillet so the gravy heats evenly while whisking.
- Cook the flour and fat together for about 1-2 minutes until the mixture turns lightly golden. This removes the raw flour taste and gives the gravy a better flavor.
- Whisk slowly when adding liquid to keep the gravy smooth.
- Adjust thickness easily by adding more broth if the gravy becomes too thick.
- Use broth for deeper flavor when making gravy without drippings.
- If the gravy becomes lumpy, whisk vigorously or strain through a fine mesh sieve.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftover gravy in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm gently in a saucepan and add a splash of broth or water if needed to thin the gravy.
What To Serve With Brown Gravy:
This homemade brown gravy pairs well with many classic comfort food dinners.
It tastes wonderful with juicy baked pork tenderloin, or ladled over a tender slow cooker pot roast for a comforting Sunday meal.
For casserole nights, this gravy works great with classic meatball casserole, and it's also delicious served with sirloin tip roast or crispy oven-fried chicken fresh from the oven.
If you love bread with gravy, try drizzling it over warm baking powder biscuits or soft homemade dinner rolls straight from the oven.
This gravy also pairs beautifully with a juicy pan seared ribeye steak or a traditional roast turkey dinner.
Try spooning it over my onion soup chicken rice skillet for an easy skillet meal, or serve it alongside meatloaf with brown gravy for a cozy family dinner.
FAQs
Yes. Simply substitute butter for the drippings and use beef broth or water for the liquid.
Whisk the gravy vigorously or strain it through a fine mesh strainer to remove lumps.
Let it simmer longer so more liquid evaporates. You can also whisk a small amount of flour with water and stir it in.
Add small splashes of broth or water until the gravy reaches your desired consistency.
If you're looking for more dinner inspiration, browse my full collections of easy dinner recipes, budget-friendly, cheap meal ideas, simple one-pot dinners, and family favorite chicken recipes.
You can also explore more flavor ideas in my collection of homemade sauce recipes, including creamy garlic parmesan sauce or savory mushroom gravy sauce.
Once you learn this simple brown gravy method, it becomes one of those reliable kitchen skills you can use for countless family dinners. It's a classic homemade recipe that turns simple ingredients into rich, comforting flavor.
Old-Fashioned Brown Gravy (With or Without Drippings)
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Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp roast drippings - or 4 Tbsp salted butter
- 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of liquid from the roasting pan - or beef broth
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add 4 Tbsp roast drippings (or 4 Tbsp salted butter) to a saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Stir in 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour and cook while stirring constantly until the mixture turns lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in 1 cup of pan liquid or beef broth, adding it gradually while stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
- Stir in 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Continue cooking gently while stirring until the gravy thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve the gravy over mashed potatoes, roast beef, pork, chicken, biscuits, or other comfort food dinners.
Notes
- Use 4 Tbsp salted butter if you do not have roast drippings.
- Slowly whisk the liquid into the flour mixture to prevent lumps.
- Add extra broth or water if the gravy becomes too thick.
- Scrape browned bits from the roasting pan for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
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