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This simple, 3-ingredient ham gravy is unbelievably rich and ridiculously creamy, the perfect accompaniment to any holiday ham or bowl of mashed potatoes. Next time you’ve got ham on the menu, save those delicious drippings and turn them into a savory ham gravy!
Before You Get Started
- The roux can burn easily, so you’ll need to whisk it constantly. Be mindful of the temperature on your stovetop, too. If your stove runs hot, keep the heat on the lower side of medium-low.
How to Make This Recipe
See recipe card below for full list of measurements, ingredients, and instructions.
Make a Roux
If you’ve tried our gumbo roux then you’re a roux pro at this point! Ham gravy starts the same way, but you’ll only need to cook the butter & flour mixture a few minutes, long enough to get a light golden color.
Cheryl’s Tip: Make sure to whisk away any lumps or clumps of flour! Your roux should be completely smooth.
Add the Drippings
Slowly add the drippings from your cooked ham to the saucepan with your golden roux. I like to add it in ½-cup increments, that way I can make sure the drippings and the roux are completely incorporated as I go.
Simmer
Raise the heat under your saucepan a little, then let the gravy mixture simmer for about 10 minutes or until the gravy’s as thick as you like it. You may not need the full 10 minutes if your stove runs hot or if you like your ham gravy on the thinner side. However long it takes, stir the gravy well and often!
Cheryl’s Tip: Don’t increase the heat too much! You don’t want to burn the gravy and waste those delicious ham drippings.
What I Love About This Recipe
- Ham gravy only takes three ingredients! And one of them is technically a leftover ingredient, a byproduct of cooking a ham.
- It’s just as rich and creamy as any other gravy, but with it has a slightly smoky, deeply savory flavor that really sets it apart from the others.
- It’s a fun twist on traditional turkey or chicken gravy. If you’re someone who feels like turkey gravy is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving or Christmas, then you will FLIP for this ham gravy! It’s the perfect addition to your Easter dinner or any holiday ham. And just wait ’til you try it on mashed potatoes!
Recipe Variations
- Sweeten It Up: Hear me out! A touch of brown sugar in the gravy goes nicely with a honey ham or maple-glazed ham.
- Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour, or make a cornstarch slurry by combining a little cornstarch with a small amount of ham drippings.
- Make it Dairy Free: Use a dairy-free butter.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions or variations listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
Ham Gravy
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- whisk
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups ham drippings reserved after cooking ham
Instructions
- Place large saucepan on stovetop over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to saucepan and let butter melt completely.
- Once butter has melted, add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour to saucepan. Whisk ingredients together until flour is fully incorporated into butter, creating roux.
- Cook roux over medium-low heat approximately 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until roux is lightly golden.
- Slowly add 2 cups ham drippings to saucepan in small increments, whisking constantly. Incorporate ham drippings fully before adding more drippings to pan.
- When entire 2 cups have been incorporated into roux, increase heat under saucepan to medium. Simmer mixture over medium heat 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning.
- Once gravy has thickened, transfer gravy to serving container or ladle gravy directly onto food. Serve immediately with ham or sides of choice.
- Ham Drippings: Ham drippings are the juices released by a ham while it bakes. You’ll find the drippings at the bottom of the pan you used to cook your ham. If you don’t have a full 2 cups, you can make up the difference with chicken broth.
- Consistency: If the gravy thickens too quickly or too much, whisk in a little more of the drippings or a small amount of milk or chicken broth to thin it out. For thicker gravy, simmer the mixture a little longer, stirring often. Be careful not to burn it!
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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I grew up on this gravy and nobody I talk to knows about it. Our family always poured in 1 can of evaporated milk. This is good stuff!! Thanks for the recipe
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Dana!
I ended up using bacon grease as suggested. My vivid imagination led me to use white Lily flour because to me that makes a lighter gravy. (I can eat more!) some cream and admittedly a very small amount of cheddar cheese. Heavily peppered.. I just love this gravy. Thank you.
That sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing those swaps with us!
This sounds really good! I am making spiral ham tonight and purchased pork gravy against my better judgment. I’m going to make this gravy instead. It’s beautiful looking.
I hope you enjoyed it, Linda! 😊
I’m not an expert cook and needed a gravy I could master to go with my Easter ham and mashed potatoes. This recipe was DELICIOUS and best of all within the skill set of this novice gravy maker! Thank you.
So glad you loved the gravy! Thanks for sharing, Kathy 😊
So easy and so good! I felt like a gravy pro with this simply recipe. Thank you!
So glad you loved it! It’s such a great go-to!
I love ham gravy. It’s so rich & tasty & easy make. This is a great recipe & it’s my family’s favourite gravy!
It’s such a great go-to! So glad you and your family love it. Thanks for sharing, Kathy! 😊
Just made this gravy and LOVE it! Perfect balance of the ham saltiness and sweetness!
So glad, Cally! Thanks so much for the review!