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Easy Beef Gravy Recipe (From Broth or Drippings)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

June 2, 2025

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4.34 from 3 votes

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BEEF GRAVY PINTEREST IMAGE.
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Learn how to make beef gravy with beef drippings or beef broth! With only 10 minutes of hands-on work, it’s surprisingly simple and yields rich and beefy brown gravy every time. Perfect for french fries, meat, potatoes, and more!

Ladle pouring beef gravy onto bowl of mashed potatoes.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to make beef gravy
  • Tips and tricks
  • Serving suggestions
  • Storing and freezing
  • Full Recipe

The best way to finish a plate of meat and potatoes is with a generous pour of this easy beef gravy on top. It’s rich, beefy, and perfectly seasoned!

Beef gravy in saucepan with ladle.

If you love making homemade gravy as much as I do, you’ll want to try my Chicken Gravy and Onion Gravy recipes, too!

Why you’ll love it

This beef gravy recipe is one you should have in your repertoire at all times. Not only is it a fantastic condiment that takes weeknight dinners over the top, but it’s a must-have on any holiday menu. 

It’s a breeze to make from scratch using beef broth OR beef drippings and a handful of pantry-staple ingredients. I like to make it with store-bought beef broth when I need gravy in a pinch but when I have a little more time, a base of homemade beef bone broth or the drippings from a rib roast is where it’s at. Talk about restaurant-quality flavors!

Once it’s ready, pour the well-seasoned brown gravy over these Smoked Beef Short Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Classic Steak Diane, roasted turkey, and so much more. The ways to use it are endless!

Ingredients

Ingredients for beef gravy labeled on counter.
  • Beef broth – The most convenient way to make homemade beef gravy is with store-bought beef broth. When you’re ready to revamp the flavors, try this recipe with homemade beef stock. It’s just as easy to use but will add more depth and an intense beefy flavor. 
  • Garlic and onion powder
  • Beef bouillon base – An optional ingredient but one that will give the gravy a boost of well-seasoned flavor.
  • Water and cornstarch – When mixed together, these two will help thicken the gravy.
  • Salt and pepper 

How to make beef gravy

Add the broth, garlic and onion powder, and beef bouillon to a saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until it starts to boil.

In a separate bowl, whisk the cold water and cornstarch together to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the boiling beef broth, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Continue to stir the gravy until it thickens. Afterward, season it with salt and pepper, then enjoy.

Cornstarch slurry in small bowl.
Beef gravy in saucepan with ladle.

How to make beef gravy with beef drippings

It’s just as easy to make beef gravy with drippings as it is broth. You can save the leftover meat juices or drippings from a pot roast or prime rib roast by straining them into an airtight glass container. Store them in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. 

Tips and tricks

  • If the gravy isn’t thickening to your liking, stir in a small splash of extra cornstarch slurry at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • The best way to avoid lumpy gravy is to continuously whisk it while it’s simmering on the stove.
  • Give the gravy an herbaceous twist with a bouquet of thyme, parsley, sage, oregano, rosemary, and/or bay leaves simmered in the pot.
  • For a smooth, rich, and luxurious mouthfeel, whisk a little melted butter into the gravy when you add the broth.
  • If you’re making the gravy from beef drippings, keep in mind that they’re already seasoned and/or salted. It’s important to always taste the gravy before seasoning it with more salt and pepper.
  • I also recommend straining the drippings through a fine mesh strainer ahead of time. This way, you avoid lumps in your gravy.
Beef gravy in small gravy boat.

Serving suggestions

In my opinion, a plate of short ribs and mashed potatoes just isn’t complete without beef gravy drizzled over top. But that’s just one of the endless ways to use it! This long list of serving suggestions is sure to make your mouth water:

  • Drizzled over beef – It’s a give-in – beef and gravy are a match made in heaven! Drizzle the gravy over classic pot roast, meatloaf, roast beef, and any other beef dish you love to take it from good to great.
  • With potatoes – Jazz up a plate of roasted, baked, smashed, or mashed potatoes with some gravy on top! It’s also the perfect dipping sauce to serve with a plate of french fries and is a must-have with homemade poutine.
  • Holiday meals – Put this gravy on the table to pour over your mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower, roasted turkey, and stuffing during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday dinner.
  • With chicken – Beef gravy pairs really well with poultry dishes, like spatchcock chicken, sous vide chicken breasts, air fryer chicken thighs, roasted chicken, and more. 

Storing and freezing

Save yourself some time and stress by making the gravy up to 3 days ahead of serving. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge until it’s time to reheat and serve.

The cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

The gravy will thicken as it cools, so give it a good stir as you reheat it in a saucepan on the stove. You can also microwave it in 30-second increments, being sure to stir it each time.

Bowl of mashed potatoes topped with beef gravy.

More sauces to serve with beef

  • Red Wine Sauce
  • Bearnaise Sauce
  • Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Homemade Barbecue Sauce
  • Gremolata Sauce
  • Easy Chimichurri Sauce
  • MORE → 22+ Sauces for Beef

More beef recipes

  • Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
  • Smoked Corned Beef Brisket
  • French Dip Burger
  • Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
  • Grilled Flank Steak
  • Filet Mignon Bites

​​​​Did you make this beef gravy recipe?

If you loved this homemade beef gravy, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

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Ladle pouring beef gravy onto bowl of mashed potatoes.

Full Recipe

Easy Beef Gravy

Learn how to make beef gravy with beef drippings or beef broth! With only 10 minutes of hands-on work, it’s surprisingly simple and yields rich and beefy brown gravy every time. Perfect for french fries, meat, potatoes, and more!
4.34 from 3 votes
Print Pin
Serves 6 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Small Bowl

Ingredients

  • 3 cups beef broth (you can also use beef dripping from a roast)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon base (optional)
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Add broth, garlic powder, onion powder, and beef base (if using) to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • In a small bowl whisk together cold water and cornstarch until dissolved. Pour this mixture into the boiling beef broth and reduce heat to a simmer. Stir until thickened.
  • Season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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4.34 from 3 votes

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6 responses

  1. Sabrina
    October 17, 2023

    5 stars
    as you write, a great recipe to have on hand, thank you, a beef gravy is something I don’t make often enough to remember off hand

    Reply
  2. Piet Groot
    November 10, 2023

    4 stars
    Would this also be a good gravy to go with brisket? I’m planning on a sous vide brisket for Christmas. I know there will be a lot of liquid after it’s done. Could I use that to make the gravy as you describe here?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 13, 2023

      Yes, that would work great!

      Reply
  3. Mature cook
    December 25, 2023

    4 stars
    I made this with commercial beef broth as I wasn’t cooking beef for what I used this for. I was quite surprised at how tasteless it was until I looked at the broth I used and saw that it was fat free. Hadn’t realized that, so added butter (beef fat would have been best) and it improved quite a bit. Recipe is good! Just be careful what you use. Fat is good! It’s what our brains are made of.

    Reply
  4. M
    February 27, 2024

    Can I freeze this gravy?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 4, 2024

      Hi! You sure can freeze it. It will last for about 3 months.

      Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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