This is a really easy recipe for how to make gravy using just water. The secret is to use both chicken AND beef stock cubes for the best flavour and a nice deep brown colour. Takes 4 minutes flat, tastes like KFC gravy – but so much better. No pan drippings required.
Made a turkey and want a gravy? Use my Gravy for Turkey recipe!
Gravy
This gravy recipe tastes like what you get in those tubs of KFC Potato and Gravy. Those of you who abstain from all forms of fast food may not know what it tastes like. But all you need to know is that it’s everything that you’d expect from KFC – reliably tasty, well seasoned, can make anything delicious!
The secret ingredient that makes this gravy better is to use both chicken AND beef stock cubes (bouillon cubes).
What you need for gravy
Here’s all you need to make a really great gravy from scratch: chicken and beef stock cubes, butter and flour.
Chicken AND beef stock cubes (aka bouillon cubes) – for flavour and colour. Chicken is the base flavour, beef gives it oomph and gives it a nice deep brown colour rather than an unappetising pale brown. Using both also makes this gravy suitable to use for any protein – white meats (chicken, pork), red meats (beef, lamb, game), potato and vegetables. Can substitute with powder;
Hot water – to dissolve the cubes;
Flour – to thicken the gravy (gluten free cornflour/cornstarch sub in the recipe notes);
Onion or garlic powder – optional, for hint of extra flavour.
Why stock cubes instead of liquid stock/broth?
Great question! 🙂 Stock cubes and powder have a more intense flavour than liquid stock (broth), so they make a tastier gravy when you make gravy from scratch like in this recipe.
Liquid broth is more appropriate to use when you’re making gravy starting with pan drippings from roasts – because the pan drippings add extra flavour into the gravy.
How to make gravy in 4 minutes flat
Dissolve stock cubes or powder in boiling water;
Melt butter in saucepan and mix in flour;
Pour in stock water while whisking and cook 1.5 minutes until thickened. DONE!
PS The reason this is faster than most gravy recipes is because the water is already HOT and the flavour is already concentrated so there’s no need to cook down for flavour.
Now, douse everything and anything with it.
Oh, and here’s the photo that started it all – Fried Chicken. Upon spying this, there were many (many) (MANY!) requests for the potato and gravy recipe.
All the possibilities….!!!
Here’s some suggestions for dishes to serve with gravy. Some obvious ones, some not so obvious ones, all good!
Potato and gravy – KFC style! Dunk in Fried Chicken, warm bread rolls or bread (try this No Yeast Irish Soda Bread!), hot chips, wedges, serve on the side of sausages, as part of a Southern Dinner with BBQ Pulled Pork, any roast;
Roasts – any and all!
Rotisserie chicken dinner – make a meal out of a store bought roast chicken. Steam some veg, make some mash, douse everything with this gravy!
Steamed vegetables – guaranteed way to make bland, boring steamed veg completely scoff worthy;
Pan seared chops, steaks or anything – chicken, lamb, pork, beef! Sprinkle with salt and pepper, pan fry in butter or oil, douse with gravy;
Meatballs – Make these Beef meatballs or these Chicken Meatballs, skip the sauce and serve with this gravy instead;
Poured over an omelette;
Chicken Rolls – shred chicken, toss with gravy, pile generously onto hot rolls;
As a Sauce for any of these:
Use gravy as a sauce for these dishes
I need to stop. There’s too many possibilities!
But enough about my ideas. Tell me what YOU douse with gravy!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Gravy recipe (tastes like KFC – but a million times better!)
Ingredients
- 1 chicken stock cube / bouillon cube (sub 2 tsp powder) (Note 1)
- 1 beef stock cube / bouillon cube (sub 2 tsp powder) (Note 1)
- 2 1/4 cups (565ml) boiling water
- 60g/ 4 tbsp butter , unsalted
- 4 tbsp flour , plain / all purpose
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (ok to omit or sub garlic powder)
- 1/4 tsp finely ground black pepper
- Salt , if needed
Instructions
- Crumble cubes into boiling water, mix to dissolve.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add flour, onion powder and pepper. Mix into butter with a wooden spoon or whisk.
- While stirring, slowly pour in half the liquid. Once incorporated into the flour butter roux (it will thicken quickly), add remaining liquid and mix.
- Stir for 1.5 – 2 minutes until it thickens to a gravy consistency (it's quick as water is already hot). Taste, add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve over chops, steak, sausages, veggies, roast chicken, pork, beef, lamb. Pictured – KFC Potato and Gravy copycat!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Even at the vet, all he can think about is FOOD. Just like his owner 😂
PS Nothing major, just getting an old-man wart removed that had grown quite large and was bothering him. He was, of course, a total sook once he realised he was there for more than just pats and treats. Quivering and pressing up against me for protection!
This recipe is the easiest, most flavorful gravy that I’ve had in such a long time. The only thing I added was salt because I used no salt butter and no salt bouillon. In addition I added a 1/4 tsp of poultry seasonings
Tastes just like advertised and had everything on hand. I only added a splash of Worcestershire sauce and used 1/4 teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder.
What are the measurements for each item
I needed gravy for thanksgiving leftovers and this really did the trick. I was skeptical but everyone loved it. I thought it would be too salty, but it wasn’t!
I have been making this gravy recipe for about 2 years now and let me tell you it is phenomenal!!! Literally every time I need a gravy this is my go to. I even make this for my thanksgiving gravy! And everyone always asks for the recipe. I am so glad I found this because I can not live with out it and it’s so simple to make! If you are on the fence about what gravy to make, just make this one, you won’t be disappointed.
I would double the seasonings on here, I found these amounts to be very faint.
Recipe was great! I used different bullion cube brand and added some garlic powder, a touch of salt, and thyme and it was perfect. Thanks!
This recipe is definitely a keeper.
I rarely roast a big enough chicken to make a decent amount of gravy so this recipe will more than satisfy my occasional fries and gravy cravings. Thanks!
Hi, how long can you store this in the fridge?
I made this with your oven-baked chicken & Rice recipe.
This was the absolute hit on my side of the pond!
Thank you for this recipe.
First time making gravy from scratch! I added mushrooms and it was to die for 😍😍😍
OMG, I can’t believe how easy this was with such few ingredients I always have on hand. Delicious! Definitely a keeper recipe to be used time and time again. Unbelievable.
Can I use rice flour or potato starch instead of flour?
I made this tonight and my husband gave it the highest compliment- he didn’t add ketchup! Lol He adds ketchup to everything.
I used liquid bullion because it’s all I had so I added a bit more than you called for. I also added both onion powder and garlic powder along with the splash of soy sauce you suggested. I’ll definitely be making this again. So easy and delicious!
Forgot to add the stars ✨ ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Holy crap
How can I stop myself from just drinking this tasty elixir of the gods before dinner is even made….
Soooooooooo damn good….!!
I’m making creamy mash , then sorted leek & onions gently stirred through, lashing of gravy
Makes a wonderful chicken & gravy roll 🙂
My 6 year old kid is a picky eater, and i have tried making mashed potato for him on multiple occasions without much success, he took a taste of this gravy and declared “its the same taste like the one at the restaurant (hilton orchard SG), finally a gravy that meets his standards. Thank u!
omg! This is the first time I have ever made gravy this way and I am gobsmacked as to how yummy it is!!! won’t ever be buying a gravy mix ever again!!!!!!
Only wanting small amount of gravy at any one time. Can this be made and then frozen?
Can I make this with chicken stock instead of water?
That’s what you need to use with the hot water, chicken stock cube and a beef stock cube. Adds all the flavour.