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Cornstarch gravy is an easy recipe when you want to make a gluten free gravy or do not have flour on hand. You can also make cornstarch gravy without drippings so it is an easy, no fuss gravy to whip up in a flash.

ladle pouring turkey gravy into gravy boat

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What are the differences in flour or cornstarch gravy?

In a flour-based gravy you start by making a roux. A roux is simply one part flour to one part fat. For instance, in our recipe for how to make gravy without drippings we use butter as the fat in the roux. If you are using drippings, the fat separated from the drippings would be the fat base of the roux and be combined with flour.

In a cornstarch gravy you start with a liquid, usually broth, and thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. A cornstarch slurry is simply a small amount of cornstarch and liquid mixed together then added to the larger amount of liquid to thicken it.

Both types of gravy can taste great but cornstarch gravies tend to be a bit more translucent than flour thickened gravies.

Why I love this recipe

I like how flexible this recipe is. I can make beef gravy with beef broth, chicken gravy with chicken broth, whatever I have on hand. (Because almost every meal is better with gravy!)

I will add that they are great for holidays if you want to make the gravy ahead of time to save some of the “rush” during big meals like Thanksgiving. You can always add some of the liquid from any drippings to the pre-made gravy to add more flavor if you like.

Having a good cornstarch gravy recipe on hand is helpful if you are gluten free or have gluten-free friends and family.

Ingredients

broth, stock, or pan drippings – beef, chicken, turkey, or vegetable
butter
corn starch
seasonings of choice: poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, garlic powder

Step by step

Add broth and butter to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
Remove the saucepan from heat.
In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons of broth or white wine (room temperature or cool not hot) and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Whisk until smooth.
Stir the cornstarch slurry into the hot liquid. Return to medium heat and continue to stir.
Bring to a simmer. Add spices (not salt) and cook until the desired thickness is reached.
Salt to taste before serving.

Tips for Best Results

always wait until your gravy is at the desired thickness before salting to taste, the flavor can change dramatically as it becomes more concentrated
experiment with seasonings to make this recipe your own: onion powder or dried or fresh herbs like sage and thyme are all great options
you can also add white wine to the broth for additional flavor

Serving suggestions

Cornstarch gravies are fast and easy to make so they aren’t just for the holidays. You can serve them with pork chops, roast pork tenderloin, turkey breast, herb stuffing, leftover stuffing muffins, or mashed potatoes.

Storage

Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. You can also freeze it. I like to freeze it in an ice cube tray, then transfer the gravy cubes to a freezer bag for single servings!

If you have extra gravy, check out these 15+ uses for leftover gravy as well!

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!