Easy Chicken Gravy Recipe (With or Without Drippings)
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Have you ever wanted to make delicious homemade chicken gravy but didn’t have any drippings? Or maybe you’re making chicken breasts for dinner and want that restaurant-quality gravy to go with your mashed potatoes? Good news! You can make incredible chicken gravy anytime with just four simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
The Best Homemade Chicken Gravy You’ll Ever Make
This easy chicken gravy recipe takes only 15 minutes from start to finish and works beautifully whether you’re making it with drippings or without. It’s smooth, rich, and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Perfect for weeknight dinners, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or anytime you want to make an ordinary meal feel special.
Making homemade chicken gravy is easier than you think, and once you learn this simple method, you’ll never go back to the jarred stuff again! We’ve got beef gravy with broth too!
Ingredient Notes and Tips
Let’s talk about what you’ll need for this quick chicken gravy:
Butter: Use salted butter for the best flavor. The butter creates what’s called a “roux” when mixed with flour, which is the secret to thick, silky gravy. If you only have unsalted butter, just add a little extra salt at the end.
All-Purpose Flour: This is what thickens your gravy. Regular all-purpose flour works perfectly. Make sure it’s fresh and not lumpy.
Chicken Bouillon or Broth: You can use store-bought chicken broth, homemade chicken stock, or chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in water. Room temperature or warm bouillon is the secret to lump-free gravy! If you’re using bouillon cubes, use about 3 cubes dissolved in 3 cups of hot water.
Salt and Pepper: Season to taste at the end. Remember that bouillon can be salty, so taste before adding more salt.
Pro Tip: The temperature of your liquid matters! Cold bouillon hitting hot butter and flour can create lumps. Take a few seconds to warm your bouillon in the microwave, and you’ll have perfectly smooth gravy every time.
How to Make Easy Chicken Gravy
Making this simple chicken gravy is as easy as 1-2-3:
Melt butter- Add flour
- Thickened roux
Make Your Roux Start by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s completely melted and bubbling, add the flour all at once. Grab your whisk and stir quickly until you have a thick, paste-like mixture. This is your roux, and it should look smooth and golden. Keep stirring for about 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
Add the Liquid Slowly Here’s the most important part: add your chicken broth slowly while whisking constantly. Start with just a little splash, whisk it in completely, then add a bit more. You don’t want to dump it all in at once or you’ll get lumps. As you keep whisking and adding liquid, you’ll see the mixture get thinner and smoother.
Thicken and Season Keep the gravy cooking and stirring over medium heat. It will start to thicken up in about 5-7 minutes. You’re looking for that perfect gravy consistency – thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but still pourable. Once it reaches your desired thickness, taste it and add salt and pepper as needed.
Making Gravy WITH Drippings: If you have drippings from roasting chicken, here’s how to use them: Pour the drippings into a measuring cup and let the fat rise to the top. Scoop out ¼ cup of that fat and use it instead of butter. Then use the remaining drippings as part of your 3 cups of liquid, adding chicken broth or bouillon to make up the difference. This gives you extra rich, flavorful gravy with that authentic roasted taste!
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Delicious Variations
This homemade gravy recipe is so versatile! Here are some fun ways to switch it up:
Spicy Chicken Gravy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes at the end for a kick. Start with just a little – you can always add more!
Herb Chicken Gravy: Stir in some Italian seasoning, fresh thyme, or rosemary for an herb-infused gravy that’s perfect for Sunday dinners.
Creamy Chicken Gravy: Replace ½ cup of the bouillon with heavy cream or milk for an extra rich and creamy version.
Garlic Chicken Gravy: Add 1-2 cloves of minced garlic when you’re cooking the roux for amazing flavor.
Mushroom Chicken Gravy: Sauté sliced mushrooms in the butter before adding the flour for a hearty mushroom gravy.
How to Store Chicken Gravy
Refrigerator Storage: Let your gravy cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The gravy will thicken as it cools, which is totally normal!
Reheating: Put the gravy in a saucepan over low heat and add a splash of chicken broth or water to thin it back out. Whisk while heating until it’s smooth and warm.
Freezer Storage: This gravy freezes beautifully! Pour cooled gravy into freezer-safe containers or even ice cube trays for small portions. It will keep frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat as directed above.
Make-Ahead Tip: Planning for a big holiday meal? Make this gravy a day ahead and store it in the fridge. On the big day, just reheat it with a little extra broth to get it back to the perfect consistency. This is a real time-saver when you’re juggling multiple dishes!
How to Serve Chicken Gravy
This versatile chicken dinner gravy goes with so many dishes! Here are some delicious ways to serve it:
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes – because every good gravy needs the perfect base
- Roasted Chicken – make the chicken to go with your gravy
- Homemade Sourdough Biscuits – fluffy biscuits and gravy for breakfast or dinner
- Creamy Chicken and Biscuits – combine this gravy with tender chicken
- Chicken or Turkey Sandwiches – for a diner-style treat
- Top chicken fried steak or country fried chicken with it
- Serve alongside stuffing or dressing for holiday meals
The possibilities are endless! Anywhere you want rich, savory flavor, this gravy delivers.
Ready to Make the Best Chicken Gravy?
Now you know the secret to making perfect chicken gravy from scratch anytime you want – no drippings required! This foolproof recipe works every single time and tastes so much better than anything from a jar or packet.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Please leave a comment below and rate the recipe with 5 stars if you loved it. Your feedback helps other home cooks know what to expect, and it always makes my day to hear about your cooking adventures. Don’t forget to share your favorite way to use this gravy – I’m always looking for new ideas!
Easy Chicken Gravy With or without Drippings
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup salted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth room temperature
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the butter and melt completely over medium heat.
- Once the butter is melted, add the flour.
- Quickly whisk until you have a paste-like mixture.
- Slowly add the chicken bouillon while whisking.
- Keep mixing and cooking until you have reached the desired thickness.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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