BEST Hamburger Gravy

For a quick and easy weeknight dinner solution, it’s hard to beat this delicious, old-fashioned, BEST Hamburger Gravy recipe!  This American classic is the perfect comfort food to whip up after a long day – it’s ready to serve in 25 minutes! 

This old staple of the midwest has been passed down for generations. Traditionally it was a great way to make a filling meal using an inexpensive meat that was given a flavor boost with the drippings or fat from a previous meal.   Serve it over mashed potatoes, biscuits, or noodles and you’ve got an old school stick-to-your-ribs kind of mouthwatering dinner. These types of comfort dishes are among my favorites. Quick to prepare and absolutely delicious, it’s easy to see why this dish has remained an American classic.

Hamburger gravy is made with basic ingredients you likely already have in your fridge and pantry.  The smell of onions and garlic sautéing will bring that warm and inviting feeling into your kitchen and have your mouth watering. Flavors of paprika, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce kick up the flavor profile. Heavy cream is used to make this recipe indulgently thick and creamy.  And while they’re probably not a pantry staple, for the ultimate umami boost we highly recommend adding the dried ground porcini mushrooms.  Don’t worry if you don’t like mushrooms, you won’t be able to taste the mushrooms but they will give your sauce an incredible depth of flavor!

The mix of these flavors creates a winning combination and this old fashioned hamburger gravy is sure to became a favorite in your home.   And it’s easy to include it in your regular rotation by simply switching up the carbs (see below).  It’s regularly requested in my home!  

What Can I Serve With Hamburger Gravy?

Everything! No really, this gravy works on any kind of starchy side, coming together to make a satisfying entree. Mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or biscuits, even the pickiest eaters will find some way to indulge themselves.

And if you’d like a quick and easy Midwestern take on beef stroganoff, you can add some mushrooms to the gravy and pour everything over wide egg noodles. 

It’s also perfect if you have any leftover biscuits from last night’s dinner or breakfast.  And if you’re on the hunt for perfectly fluffy, flakey, buttermilk biscuits, these are simply the BEST!

For veggies, take your pick.  Steamed broccoli, carrots, beans, corn, sauteed zucchini, a leafy green salad…pretty much any vegetable will go nicely with this dish.

Can I Make this Recipe Low Calorie, Low Carb or Gluten Free?

You sure can!  Try switching out the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken. Replace the heavy cream with low fat milk, or skip the dairy all together and substitute with more broth. For a gluten free variation, replace the flour with a slurry of water and cornstarch at the end of the cooking time. Simmer for a minute or two until thickened.  You can serve this gravy or gluten free pasta or, for a low carb option, serve it over spiralized zucchini or cauliflower rice.  

How Can I Store My Gravy to Use For Leftovers?

Hamburger gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days.  This gravy also does excellent in the freezer and reheats wonderfully in the microwave.

Hamburger Gravy Recipe

Let’s get started!

Heat a skillet with about 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic and cook until there is no pink remaining. Stir in the flour and butter and cook for another 3 minutes (this will also cook off the “raw” flavor of the flour).

Stir in the thyme, sage, onion powder, salt, pepper, ground porcini mushrooms (if using), bouillon base, and Worcestershire sauce. 

Add the beef broth and heavy cream and bring it to a simmer, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.

Cover and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over mashed potatoes (or pasta, rice or biscuits) sprinkled with some parsley.

Enjoy!

For more delicious gravy and sauce recipes be sure to try our:

• Sausage Gravy (and Biscuits)
• Mushroom Gravy
• Onion Gravy
• Turkey Gravy
• Bolognese
• Beef Ragu
• Lamb Ragu