Chicken Gravy
on Nov 21, 2023, Updated Mar 19, 2024
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Making Chicken Gravy is like turning ordinary ingredients into a super tasty sauce that can make your favorite dishes even better. Imagine the delicious smell of butter, the exciting sizzle of flour, and the awesome moment when everything comes together.
Chicken gravy has a special place in our hearts because of its comforting, savory, and versatile nature. This gravy brings a rich and savory flavor to your dishes that’s hard to resist. It’s the perfect accompaniment for roast chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and so much more.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Is made with everyday, pantry staples.
- Velvety-smooth texture that coats your food with lusciousness.
- You can tweak it to suit your preferences by adding various herbs and spices.
Recipe Ingredients
- Salted Butter: This creamy and slightly salty ingredient forms the base of the gravy, lending a rich, buttery flavor and a smooth texture.
- All-Purpose Flour : Flour is the magic thickening agent in our recipe. It transforms into a thick paste when mixed with butter, creating the perfect consistency for our gravy.
- Chicken Broth : This savory liquid, made from simmering chicken and spices, infuses the gravy with a delicious poultry flavor, making it the star of the show.
- Garlic Powder: Adding a hint of garlic powder enhances the gravy’s taste with a subtle garlic kick, making it even more irresistible.
- Dry Chives: Chives bring a delicate onion-like flavor to the gravy. While optional, they can add a delightful hint of freshness to your sauce.
- Dry Basil : If you’re looking for a herbal twist, dry basil can provide a pleasant hint of earthiness to your chicken gravy. This, too, is an optional flavor boost.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Popular Variations and Substitutions
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like chives and basil, as mentioned in the recipe, or experiment with others like thyme, rosemary, or sage. These herbs can take your gravy to a whole new level of deliciousness.
- For an earthy twist, consider sautéing some mushrooms and adding them to the gravy. The umami flavor will leave you craving more.
- Swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth to create a vegetarian version of this classic sauce. It’s equally scrumptious and inclusive.
How To Make Chicken Gravy
Step #1. Gather all the necessary ingredients for making chicken gravy. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Step #2. Once the butter is fully melted, add the flour and whisk it together until you have a thick paste. Cook for a few minutes until the mixture turns a light brown color.
Step #3. While whisking steadily, slowly pour in the chicken broth. Keep the heat at medium and continue to stir until the mixture begins to simmer. Let it simmer for 4-5 minutes until it thickens.
Step #4. desired, add the garlic powder and, optionally, the dry chives and basil. Mix everything together well. Then, pour your delicious chicken gravy into a serving dish.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You can prepare the gravy in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a little extra broth or water to maintain the desired consistency.
You can use alternatives like olive oil, margarine, or even bacon fat for a unique flavor twist. Just make sure it’s fat, and you’re good to go.
Don’t fret! If you encounter lumps, simply strain the gravy through a fine mesh sieve or whisk vigorously to smooth it out.
Expert Tips
- If you have pan drippings from cooking a chicken you can use them in this recipe. Just pour them into a measuring cup (like a 2-cup glass Pyrex) and add enough additional chicken broth to make 2 cups. It’s delicious with some of the juice from roasting a chicken.
- I add chives, basil, and garlic powder for a more flavorful gravy. If you want to go for a simple gravy you can substitute the spices with salt and pepper.
- I enjoyed it with baked chicken thighs, but it can also be served over mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, or even rotisserie chicken.
How Should I Store Leftover Chicken Gravy
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Can I freeze chicken gravy?
Indeed, you can freeze chicken gravy for up to three months. Just ensure it’s stored in an airtight container, leaving some room for expansion, and thaw it in the fridge before reheating.
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Chicken Gravy
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry chives, optional
- ½ teaspoon dry basil, optional
Instructions
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Once the butter is melted, add the flour and whisk until you get a thick paste. Cook a few minutes until it is light brown in color.
- Slow stir in the chicken broth while whisking it steadily into the flour mixture.
- On medium heat, keep stirring until the mixture starts to simmer. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until thickened.
- Add garlic powder and chives and basil if using. Mix well.
- Pour into the serving dish.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- If you have pan drippings from cooking a chicken you can use them in this recipe. Just pour them into a measuring cup (like a 2-cup glass Pyrex) and add enough additional chicken broth to make 2 cups. It’s delicious with some of the juice from roasting a chicken.
- You can substitute the butter with oil. However, when testing both, I noticed when made with butter, the gravy is smoother and has a silkier finish.
- I add chives, basil, and garlic powder for a more flavorful gravy. If you want to go for a simple gravy you can substitute the spices with salt and pepper.
- I enjoyed it with baked chicken thighs, but it can also be served over mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, or even rotisserie chicken.
- Storage: Store the leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
