Beef Gravy Recipe Without Drippings

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Beef Gravy Without Drippings is full of flavor and perfect over air fryer turkey drumsticks, mashed potatoes, beef roast, french fries, or your favorite dinner rolls.

Forget those gravy packets! This simple recipe is so mouthwatering and will seriously elevate your Thanksgiving dinner, or even just Sunday dinners.

Pouring gravy over mashed potatoes in a bowl.

Gravy is the ultimate addition to just about any comfort food! It goes well with literally any dish and there’s nothing like an easy homemade brown gravy, so I knew I had to come up with an easy gravy recipe for myself.

This delicious gravy makes the perfect Thanksgiving gravy for holidays. No need to stress over making it last minute on the day of, but you can make it ahead of time to be prepared for your holiday dinner. 

Crazy about gravy? Check out my Mushroom Bacon Gravy Recipe.

Easy Beef Gravy Recipe

This easy homemade gravy doesnโ€™t require beef drippings like traditional beef gravy or giblet gravy. You’ll only need broth and seasonings for this easy beef gravy recipe. What does that really mean? You donโ€™t have to wait for the meat to finish cooking to make it. 

Beef gravy is so creamy, aromatic, and full of flavor. It really is the most perfect gravy without drippings recipe. Pour it over your roast beef, mashed potatoes, oven baked chicken tenders, french fries, or your Thanksgiving turkey!

Broth, flour, butter, salt, and pepper portioned out into dishes on a countertop.

Beef Gravy Ingredients

This flavorful beef gravy has such simple ingredients! I guarantee you already have them all at home:

  • Broth: instead of drippings, I used beef broth. You can use chicken broth too if you like, but the key is to use a good quality broth!
  • Unsalted butter: Adding cold unsalted butter, adds a silky, velvety finish.
  • Flour: we use a few tablespoons of flour to make a roux. This is how the gravy becomes thick!
How to make beef gravy without drippings.

How to make Gravy Without Drippings

Beef gravy without drippings is the perfect homemade gravy to make if it’s your first time hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas because it’s so easy to make and only requires three ingredients!

It’s the best way to make gravy from scratch if you don’t have any meat drippings.

1. Heat the broth. Bring the beef stock to a boil over medium-high heat and keep at a steady boil for about 30 minutes, or until it’s reduced by about 1/3.

2. Melt the butter. While the stock is reducing, in a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Then whisk in the flour and mix well. Let this mixture cook for about two minutes, whisking constantly.

Tip!

Make sure to keep the heat on low as roux can burn quickly!

3. Make the gravy. Once the stock has reduced by a third, add in the flour butter mixture (roux) and bring to a boil to thicken. Once boiling, reduce temperature to medium/ medium low to a continuous simmer.

4. Serve. Transfer your gravy to a gravy boat and serve immediately with roasted turkey, pot roast, fresh mushrooms or mashed potatoes.

French fries on a white plate covered in beef gravy without drippings.

Tips For Making Better Tasting Homemade Beef Gravy

  • Add a beef bouillon cube to enhance flavor.
  • Use fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary.
  • Add seasonings like onion powder and garlic powder.
  • Try adding a tablespoon of cold, unsalted butter after removing from the stove for a silky, velvety finish.
  • Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
  • You can also use this recipe with turkey stock, chicken stock or vegetable broth.

How to Thicken Easy Beef Gravy

If you prefer your gravy to be a little thicker, try adding a corn starch slurry. To make a slurry, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, then slowly mix it into the gravy until it’s reached your desired thickness. Just be sure to pour slow, because it really does make it thick and you might not end up needing all of it.

How to Store Easy Beef Gravy

Gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or in the freezer for about one month.

FAQs About Gravy Without Drippings

Is there a difference between brown gravy and beef gravy?

Brown gravy is a general term for a rich, brown-colored gravy that can be made with various broths or stocks and is versatile in its use.
Beef gravy, on the other hand, is a specific type of brown gravy that is made with beef stock, giving it a distinct beefy flavor, and is best paired with beef dishes.

What is the secret to good gravy?

The secret to good gravy is achieving a smooth consistency without lumps. Youโ€™ll want to gradually add the liquid to the flour or fat while constantly whisking.
Also, using flavorful broth or stock and properly seasoning the gravy with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices is key to great flavor.

Is it better to make beef gravy with cornstarch or flour?

Both cornstarch and flour can be used to make beef gravy, but the choice depends on your dietary preferences and desired consistency.
Cornstarch creates a clear, glossy gravy and is a good choice for those who are gluten-free. Flour creates a thicker, more opaque gravy and is a traditional choice for beef gravy.
It’s a matter of personal preference and dietary needs, but personally, I prefer flour.

More easy recipes to try

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5 from 6 votes

Easy Beef Gravy Without Drippings Recipe

Beef Gravy Without Drippings is full of flavor and perfect over mashed potatoes, beef roast, french fries, or your favorite dinner rolls.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 48
Author: Jordan

Ingredients

  • 6 cups beef stock or broth
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour

Instructions

  • Heat beef stock in a medium / large pot on medium-high heat to boiling (about 10 minutes) to reduce by about โ…“ volume, for approximately an additional 30 minutes at a steady boil.
  • While the stock is reducing, in a small saucepan, melt butter on low heat, then add the flour and mix well. Let this mixture cook for about 2 minutes, whisking constantly.
    Note: make sure to keep the heat on low as roux can burn quickly!
  • Once the stock has reduced by 1/3 mix in the flour butter (roux) and bring to a boil to thicken.
  • Once boiling, reduce temperature to medium/ medium low to a continuous simmer to thicken the gravy (about 45-60 minutes).
  • Serve immediately with roasted turkey, pot roast, or mashed potatoes.
If you tried this recipe, please leave a review letting me know how it was!

Notes

It is normal if some foam/bubbles form at the top of the gravy after adding the roux, it will stir in with the gravy as it thickens.

Nutrition

Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!

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5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So handy to have a beef gravy recipe that doesn’t need the dripping. Adding the butter made it lovely and smooth!

  2. Sara Welch says:

    5 stars
    What a smooth and creamy gravy! Enjoyed this with dinner last night and it was the perfect touch of flavor; hands down delicious!

  3. Gina Abernathy says:

    I needed a snack last night while watching a good movie. I was craving fries and gravy. Yep, one of my favorites! This gravy was super easy to make and tasted great on top of my fries!

  4. 5 stars
    Such a life saver when you need gravy but you burnt the drippings beyond use! โ€โ™€๏ธ And so easy and delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    This is a perfect gravy recipe!! My whole family loved it!