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This Easy Chicken Gravy Recipe can be made with or without drippings. It’s quick and easy to make whether you’re using pan drippings or starting from scratch. Perfect for pouring over mashed potatoes, roasted chicken, turkey, or even biscuits! This gravy is comforting and delicious!
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Pin It NowEasy Chicken Gravy: With or Without Drippings
Looking for a rich, flavorful chicken gravy that is also quick and easy to make? I’ve got you! This homemade chicken gravy is made with either the flavorful juices leftover after roasting a chicken (this is known as chicken drippings) or from chicken broth.
Why you’ll love this chicken gravy recipe:
- Quick and easy: ready in under 10 minutes!
- Can be made with or without drippings.
- Versatile: add any fresh herbs or seasonings you’d like to make this chicken gravy recipe your own. I offer variations below.
Whether you are making this to serve with mashed potatoes, roasted chicken, or even with your Thanksgiving Turkey (although I have a perfect turkey gravy recipe for that!), this is a fool-proof recipe that you will turn to over and over again.
Life is short. Eat good food!
❤️ Ashley
ingredients for easy chicken gravy
Making homemade chicken gravy at home is quick and easy and requires just 4 ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups *chicken drippings or 2 cups chicken stock – store-bought or homemade
- Seasonings to taste: salt, garlic powder, onion powder
about chicken drippings
Chicken drippings are the flavorful juices that are leftover after roasting a chicken. After roasting a chicken, pour the drippings into a measuring cup and let them settle for a few minutes. Skim off most of the fat.
If you do not have a full 2 cups of chicken drippings, add enough chicken stock so that you have 2 cups total.
Tips for the best gravy!
- Chicken drippings are best if you have a freshly roasted chicken.
- Consistency: if your gravy is too thick, whisk in a little more broth or a splash or milk. If too thin, allow it to simmer a bit longer to reduce and thicken.
how to make chicken gravy
This gravy comes together quickly
- Collect the drippings if you have them. Otherwise use chicken broth.
- Make a roux: in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour and whisk until it is smooth and golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. This the the roux and the base of chicken gravy.
- Add liquid: add in chicken drippings or chicken broth slowly, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Season and simmer: add coarse black pepper and salt to taste. If using chicken broth instead of drippings, you may want to add about ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder. Chicken broth from the store tends to be less flavorful that drippings from a freshly roasted chicken.
- Serve: once the gravy is thickened, pour into a gravy boat or bowl and serve.
chicken gravy variations
Make this gravy your own and adjust seasonings to taste. Here are a few variations you can try.
- Creamy chicken gravy: add a splash of heavy cream or milk to make it creamy.
- Mushroom chicken gravy: sauté 6 ounces sliced mushrooms and add to the gravy.
- Onion or shallot chicken gravy: sauté ¼ cup finely diced onion or shallots and add to the gravy.
Serve
I like to make this gravy to go alongside roasted chicken and the best mashed potatoes but it is versatile and can be used with a variety of chicken recipes! Additionally, you can even try serving it over homemade biscuits in place of breakfast gravy.
Enjoy!
Easy Chicken Gravy
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken drippings or chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
- ½ teaspoon onion powder optional
Instructions
- Collect chicken drippings (if using): after roasting a chicken, pour the drippings into a measuring cup and let them settle. Skim off most of the fat. If you do not have chicken drippings, use chicken broth — store bought or homemade. You need 2 cups of chicken drippings or broth.
- Make a roux: heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons butter. When melted, slowly add in ¼ cup all-purpose flour and whisk constantly. Allow the roux to cook for 2-3 minutes, until it's lightly golden brown.
- Add 2 cups chicken drippings or chicken broth. Slowly whisk in the chicken drippings or broth, a little at a time to prevent lumps. Whisk until smooth.
- Simmer and thicken: bring the chicken gravy to a gentle simmer. As it simmers, it will thicken. If it gets too thick, add in a splash more of chicken broth, milk, or heavy cream.
- Season: add in ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper and salt to taste. Optionally, add in ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder. Taste, then adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve: pour gravy into a gravy boat or bowl and serve warm with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, or even biscuits.
