What Is Gravy and How Can I Use It?

If gravy has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 47 recipes to try it in.

Nutrition

Where found

Gravy is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Gravy is a member of the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does gravy weigh?

Related

Soups, Sauces, and Gravies

Recipes using gravy

There are 47 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Citrus Glaze

Herb-roasted Thanksgiving turkey with fresh sage, marjoram, and thyme tucked right under the skin and a lemon-lime glaze brushed on at the end for a glossy, citrus-bright finish. The holiday centerpiece, done simply.

Turkey Roasted in Parchment Paper

Wrapping your turkey in parchment while roasting yields a bird that is moist and delicious.

Dad's Shepherd's Pie

Dad's shepherd's pie: ground beef with mushrooms, tomato and brown gravy, topped with fluffy mashed potatoes and baked until the crust turns golden brown. Sunday-supper comfort food.

Turkey Breast'N Gravy

Turkey breast roasted in an oven bag with turkey gravy mix and quartered onions that baste the meat as it cooks. This foolproof method produces juicy, slice-ready turkey with homemade-tasting gravy in about 2 hours.

Robin's Vegetarian Pot Pie

Vegetarian pot pie with seasoned tofu, sauteed vegetables, and chickenless gravy baked in a double-crust pie shell. All the comfort of classic pot pie, completely meat-free.

Breast of Chicken Aloha

Coconut-crusted chicken breasts fried golden in clarified butter, topped with a rich mushroom sour cream sauce and glazed pineapple rings. A retro Hawaiian-inspired showstopper served over wild rice.

Provencal Beef Bacon Stew with Potato & Carrot

Provencal Beef Bacon Stew with Potato and Carrot recipe

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Cubed turkey and broccoli in savory gravy with marjoram, topped with fluffy mashed potatoes studded with pimento and baked until golden. A comforting shepherd's pie that puts leftover turkey to brilliant use.

Lamb & Lentils

Roast leg of lamb served with braised lentils finished with pan gravy, green onions, and parsley. A classic pairing where the lamb's drippings enrich the earthy lentil side dish.

BBQ Shrimp

BBQ shrimp marinated 24 hours in a spicy sauce of chili sauce, Worcestershire, hot sauce, garlic, and lemon, then skewered and broiled. Bold New Orleans-style flavor.

C.S.Beef Stew

Oven-baked beef stew with a creamy mushroom soup and onion soup mix gravy. Cornstarch-dredged beef sears at high heat, then slow-bakes with potatoes, carrots, and celery until fork-tender.

Crispy Cracker-Coated Chicken Breasts with Gravy

Pounded chicken breasts get an extra-crispy cracker coating that stays crunchy even under a blanket of smooth, savory gravy. This quick weeknight version skips the fuss while delivering satisfying texture and rich, comforting flavors.

Laksa Lemak

Laksa lemak with thick rice noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, and cucumber in a rich coconut curry broth. A classic Malaysian noodle soup where the shrimp poaching liquid becomes the base of the laksa gravy.

Ranch Style Beef

Ranch-style slow cooker beef braises stewing beef and whole small onions in a brown gravy spiked with red wine vinegar, cloves, bay, and thyme. Set it and forget it for fork-tender results.

Three Bean Chili

Three bean chili with chickpeas, pinto beans, and spicy chili beans simmered in tomato and gravy with green chilies. A quick meatless chili ready in under 30 minutes.

Tequila-Orange Chicken

Grilled chicken glazed with a sticky tequila-orange sauce spiked with jalapeño and fresh orange zest. A sweet, smoky, spicy showpiece that's equal parts backyard cookout and fiesta.

Family Casserole

Vegan shepherd's pie style casserole with a mashed potato crust, savory tofu filling, mushrooms, corn and spinach, smothered in homemade brown gravy. Hearty plant-based comfort food.

Sri Lanka Bola Curry Beef Balls with Curry Grav

Crispy deep-fried beef meatballs spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and curry powder swim in a rich coconut milk gravy with fenugreek and lemongrass. A bold Sri Lankan main dish.

Easy Leftover Shepherd's Pie

Easy leftover shepherd's pie turns Sunday's roast beef, gravy, peas, and carrots into a golden-topped weeknight casserole. The smartest way to repurpose Sunday dinner.

Loaded Shepherd's Pie

Loaded shepherd's pie packs ground beef, mushrooms, peas and tomatoes into a rich brown gravy under a crispy mashed potato crust. A hearty, all-in-one casserole baked until golden on top.

Crostini with Chicken Livers

Crostini with chicken livers sauteed in butter and white wine, finished with cream and brown gravy, spread on thin toasted French bread. A rich Tuscan-style appetizer ready in 35 minutes.

Breakfast Chicken Hash

Breakfast chicken hash baked with leftover chicken, gravy or cream, tarragon, and pimiento. A fast way to turn last night's roast chicken into a savory weekend brunch. Serve with corn cakes or waffles.

Lamb Shepherd's Pie

Classic lamb shepherd's pie with diced cooked lamb, peas, and gravy under a buttery mashed potato crust. A straightforward British comfort dish that uses leftover roast lamb.

Spinach Ball Curry

Spinach and potato koftas spiced with garam masala, turmeric, and amchoor, rolled in coconut and deep-fried until golden, then simmered in curry gravy. A classic Indian vegetarian dish.

Apple Juice Roast

Apple juice pot roast braises beef chuck low and slow with caramelized onions, sweet potatoes, and a tangy ketchup-thyme gravy. Old-school Dutch oven Sunday supper that fills the house with sweet-savory aroma.

All 47 recipes