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.
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.
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 drippings
- butter
- cornstarch
- seasonings of choice: poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, garlic powder
You can also add white wine for additional flavor.
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. Mix until smooth.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry into the hot liquid. Return to heat and continue to stir.
- Bring to a simmer. Add spices 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, sage, and thyme are all great options
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, pork tenderloin, turkey breast, or mashed potatoes.
If you have extra gravy, check out these 15+ uses for leftover gravy as well!
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.
If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
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Cornstarch Gravy
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: sauce
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
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.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken or turkey broth, stock, or drippings + 2 tablespoons additional (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups broth or stock to a boil over medium high heat.
- Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons room temperature broth with cornstarch and stir until smooth.
- Add cornstarch slurry to the hot broth and stir to mix.
- Return saucepan to heat and bring to a simmer, continuing to stir.
- Add seasonings and simmer until the desired thickness is reached.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- white wine can be used in place of broth in the cornstarch slurry for extra flavor
- always wait until gravy is the desired thickness before adding salt and pepper to taste
Keywords: cornstarch gravy
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