This chicken gravy recipe is easy to make without drippings! Take your recipes to the next level with my secret ingredient for the best chicken gravy of all time, combined with simple seasonings that add the perfect balance of flavors!
If you happen to have drippings at home, even better. This recipe can be easily adapted to incorporate them in.
Chicken Gravy
Knowing how to make chicken gravy that tastes this good, in a matter of minutes, is a dangerous skill for me to have. The seasoning combination is perfect and tastes great with creamy mashed potatoes, roast chicken, poutine, or even mashed potato casserole with crispy chicken.
The ingredient list is short and simple, and that’s all you really need for a good chicken gravy recipe. Don’t miss my secret ingredient below, you might be surprised by what it is, but I’m sure you have some at home!
PS- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 241!
How to Make It
See recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full written instructions
Add chicken broth to a saucepan. Add the soy sauce. You’ll never know it’s in there, except that it enhances the flavor of the gravy and adds umami.
Add the seasonings and stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
Add the cornstarch + COLD water Mixture. The cold water helps prevent lumps from forming when added to liquid. Whisk continuously as you add it. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened.
Remove from heat. Swirl in a Tablespoon of COLD unsalted butter for a smooth, velvety finish. This is a technique that chefs use called “monter au beurre”.
Pro Tip: If a darker color is preferred, add 1-2 drops of Kitchen Bouquet browning and seasoning sauce.
Making Gravy with a Roux vs. a Slurry
This recipe uses a slurry to thicken the gravy by combining Cornstarch + Cold Water and pouring it into the boiling liquid while whisking continuously. This thickens the gravy.
If we were to use a roux, we would be combining flour and butter in the pan at the beginning of the cooking process.
I chose to use a slurry for this recipe because we add cold butter to the gravy at the end for a smooth finish and I wanted to avoid having too much butter flavor by starting with a roux at the beginning.
How to Make it With Drippings
If you make anything that results in having meat drippings at the end, whether it’s pork, chicken, or beef, be sure to save them for this gravy. You can always freeze the drippings until you’re ready to use them.
If you have drippings, simply add them in along with the chicken broth, which will give you even more gravy. You can also measure out your drippings and top it off with enough broth to make 2 cups total. Bouillon may not be needed if drippings are being used—taste first and add if necessary.
Adding Soy Sauce to Gravy
Soy Sauce is a great ingredient to add to gravy because it enhances the other flavors and adds umami. You won’t be able to detect it, it will just make the gravy taste great. You can also use Worcestershire Sauce if needed.
Storage
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Chicken Gravy
More Recipes From Scratch
- Brown Gravy
- Chicken Stock
- Cream of Chicken Soup
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Marinara Sauce
- Breadcrumbs
- Caesar Dressing
Get My Free Meal Plan
I’ve got a Free Meal Plan with 7 of my super popular recipes (complete with grocery list)! Sign up for my email list and I’ll send it over now along with weekly dinner recipes!
And follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chicken Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 tsp better than bouillon
- 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce, you can’t taste it, but it enhances the flavors
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried sage
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 Tablespoon cold unsalted butter
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, bouillon, and seasonings to a medium pot.
- Combine the cold water and corn starch in a small Tupperware with a lid. Shake to combine.
- Bring gravy to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to medium low. Continue to whisk to ensure that it blends in smoothly.
- Let it gently simmer until its of desired thickness. The longer it simmers, the more concentrated the flavor will be.
- Remove from heat. Swirl in one tablespoon COLD butter just before serving. This adds a silky, velvety finish.
- Pro Tip: If a darker color is preferred, add 1-2 drops of Kitchen Bouquet browning and seasoning sauce.
Notes
- If you have drippings: simply add them in along with the chicken broth, which will give you even more gravy. You can also measure out your drippings and top it off with enough broth to make 2 cups total. Bouillon may not be needed if drippings are being used—taste first and add if necessary.
- Sodium Preference You may want to consider using reduced sodium chicken broth/bouillon if preferred.
- Optional Ingredient Additions: Sautéed onions, shallots, and/or mushrooms make a great addition to gravy.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 241!
My new go-to gravy recipe.
Yayyy! I love hearing that Bunnie! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!❤️
I needed a gravy to go with my Pork Schnitzel and Kartoffel, but I don’t like packaged gravy mixes. I had all of the ingredients in my pantry and my refrigerator and this was a simple, quick recipe to make. The flavor was fantastic and my family loved it. Thank you for sharing,
I’m so happy the family loved it Sandy!❤️ Homemade gravy makes such a difference, and it’s great to have a no drippings recipe on hand. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and review!
Altered this by omitting the butter and bouillon cube. I watch my fat and salt intake. Even though I omitted those two ingredients it was still very flavorful. In fact between the low sodium broth and the small amount of low sodium soy sauce the salt taste was just right. So I advise to omit the bouillon cube.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying the flavor of the gravy! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and review!❤️
This was very good gravy. It had great flavor!
I’m so happy you liked it Dawn! Great to have a no drippings gravy recipe on hand. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
You did it once again! As my son once said, “Mmm deliciousness!”
Yayyyyy, thanks so much Jena! Isn’t it the best feeling when your kids acknowledge how yummy something is that you made! Great work and thanks so much for leaving a comment!😍
I use vegan chicken broth so I can make vegan chicken gravy and OMG this recipe is amazing!! I love the flavor I could eat it on anything lol
That’s so great you were able to make it vegan, thanks for sharing!😃 I pretty much do put this on anything lol!
Worked this up last night and it was fantastic! Kids said it tasted like Thanksgiving Turkey Gravy!
I’m so happy to hear that Debbie!😃 It’s so great having a no drippings gravy recipe on hand. It’s helped me out so many times!
So Good! I was out of sage, so threw in some rosemary.
GREAT Mollie, I’m so happy to hear that, and rosemary is such a great addition! 🙂 Thank you for the review!
Amazing recipe! I tried it with and without soy sauce, and my goodness did the soy sauce make a difference!
-Adriana
Hi Adriana! I’m happy to hear you liked the Chicken Gravy! Thanks so much for the review!😃
Easy and delicious!
Thanks for sharing
Sherry
Excellent! So happy to hear that Sherry, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! 🙂 -Stephanie