This hearty hamburger gravy recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight dinners. A comforting blend of seasoned ground beef and rich, creamy sauce delivers restaurant-quality taste with simple pantry ingredients. At just 346 calories per serving with 29g of protein, it’s a satisfying meal that pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, rice, or biscuits. The ultimate stick-to-your-ribs comfort food doesn’t get easier than this family favorite.
Ingredients Section
- Ground Beef: 1 pound lean meat, well-trimmed
- Aromatics: 1/3 cup chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic (or 1/2 tsp powder)
- Base: 1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Liquid: 2 1/2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste
- Seasonings: Ground sage, dried thyme, salt, pepper, optional red pepper flakes
- Serving Options: Mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, biscuits, or toast
Instructions Section
- Prepare the Meat: Brown ground beef in a deep skillet over medium-high heat, breaking into small pieces. Remove most grease but leave a little for flavor
- Sauté Aromatics: Add onions to the meat and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes
- Create Base: Sprinkle flour and add butter, stirring to coat the meat evenly
- Make Gravy: Pour in milk and add seasonings. Stir continuously until gravy thickens, about 5-10 minutes
- Season and Serve: Adjust seasonings to taste and serve hot over your chosen base
Cooking Tips for Perfect Gravy
Making gravy is super simple once you know a few basics! Keep your heat at medium-high when browning the meat – this helps create those tasty browned bits that add amazing flavor. When you add the flour and butter, give it a good minute to cook together with the meat. This prevents any flour taste in your final gravy. For the smoothest gravy, pour your milk in slowly while stirring constantly. If you see any lumps, just keep stirring – they’ll smooth out as the gravy thickens!
Easy Variations
Want to switch things up? Try using half beef broth and half milk for extra meaty flavor. You can also add mushrooms with the onions for an earthier taste. For a kicked-up version, double the garlic and add extra red pepper flakes. If you prefer turkey, ground turkey works great in place of beef – just add an extra tablespoon of butter since turkey is leaner.
Serving Ideas
This gravy is so versatile! Pour it hot over fluffy mashed potatoes for classic comfort food. It’s amazing on buttery biscuits for breakfast or dinner. For a hearty meal, serve it over egg noodles or rice with a side of green beans. Want something different? Try it over crispy breakfast potatoes with a fried egg on top. Your family will love it!
Storage and Reheating
Keep leftover gravy in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of milk and warm it slowly on the stove, stirring often. The gravy might look thick at first, but it’ll smooth out as it warms up. If it’s still too thick, just add a little more milk until you get the perfect consistency.
Hamburger Gravy
Equipment
- Deep Skillet
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced, or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste or 2 beef bullion cubes
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1/8 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
Serving Suggestions
- Mashed potatoes, Pasta, Rice, Biscuits, Bread or toast, Breakfast potatoes
- Green beans or roasted vegetables
Instructions
- Add ground beef to a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, crumbling into small pieces, until browned. Remove most (but not all) of the grease. Add onions to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add flour and butter and stir to coat the meat. Add milk and seasonings. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy is thickened, 5-10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasonings, as needed.
- Serve warm over mashed potatoes, biscuits, bread, noodles, rice, or breakfast potatoes.
