Old fashioned hamburger gravy is a classic recipe that’s tasty, versatile and so satisfying! Crumbled ground beef in a thick and creamy gravy made from milk and broth.
This is the perfect topping for turning any starch side dish into a mouth-watering entrée.
Ingredients and Variations
There are so many easy changes that can be to this recipe with equally delicious results!
- Meat: I use lean ground beef (of course) but you can sub any kind of ground meat. Turkey/chicken don’t have as much flavor so you might want to add some extra bouillon cubes. Sausage works to turn this into a sausage gravy recipe.
- Broth: Hamburger gravy can be made without milk by substituting broth for the same quantity; the gravy will be brown instead of white. Beef bouillon cubes dissolved in water can substitute for broth. Just be sure to adjust added salt accordingly. Low sodium broth is not as flavorful, I don’t recommend it.
- Diary: I use milk however a little bit of cream or even sour cream can be substituted to add even more richness and body to the sauce.
- Veggies: Make it with mushrooms, and you’ll have a delicious downscale version of beef stroganoff! Or add in some onions for a creamy deconstructed hamburger steak, especially when using broth!
Short on Time? Ground beef is super forgiving and can go straight from the freezer into the frying pan for making hamburger gravy in minutes. To do so, add a little water or beef broth to the pan and cover, turning the block of ground beef often and cutting into smaller pieces as it thaws.
How to Make Hamburger Gravy
Here’s all it takes to prepare this easy homemade dish.
- Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in a pan, and do not drain.
- Stir in remaining ingredients (per recipe below), and cook until the sauce thickens.
When thickened, serve hot over a favorite starch. That’s all there is to it! Mashed potatoes, pasta, rice or even toast all work.
What to Serve with Hamburger Gravy
This yummy, chunky sauce is a quick and easy way to make dinner into a stick-to-your-ribs meal. These are some starch sides perfect for pairing with hamburger gravy.
Savory Sides: garlic mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, baked rice
Biscuits & Bread: garlic cheese biscuits, toast points, or toasted english muffins
To round this recipe out don’t forget to add a side of your favorite vegetables like roasted asparagus, green beans, or classic mixed veggies!
Can You Freeze Hamburger Gravy?
Hamburger gravy is great as a leftover. Whether refrigerated or frozen make sure to store in an airtight container or zippered bag and write the date on the top!
- Refrigerated it will last up to four days.
- Frozen: Dairy doesn’t freeze well so I don’t reccomend freezing this with milk added.
Easy Hamburger Recipes
- Ground Beef Stroganoff – packed with flavor!
- Hamburger Casserole – quick & easy weeknight meal
- Easy Hamburger Soup – loaded with veggies!
- Quick Hot Dog Chili – a zesty beanless chili
- Easy Ground Beef Tacos – ready in 30 mins!
Hamburger Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 bouillon cube
Instructions
- Brown ground beef, onion and garlic until no pink remains. Do not drain.
- You should have some fat in the bottom of the skillet, if not, add 1 tablespoon butter or oil. Stir in Worcestershire.
- Stir in flour and allow to cook 2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir. Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Serve over biscuits or mashed potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Main Course
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This was so delicious, and so easy! Love being able to follow a recipe exactly as posted and trust it will come out right! My husband and I both loved it – will definitely make again. Thanks :)
You’re so welcome! So glad you love the gravy Jennifer!
Wanting to try some of your recipes
Think I’ll make this soon! My sister says it’s great. I have regular ground beef (it was on sale) so I definitely want to drain some fat. How much should I put back into the pan for the gravy? Thanks!
You’ll want about 1-2 tablespoons of fat. Let us know how it goes!
This was so easy to make and very delicious! I served it over homemade mashed potatoes and garlic toast! Thank you for creating easy, home cooked comfort meals that we get to try and know will taste amazing!
Great recipes
Love your recipes
My mom made this back in 50s when I was little before microwave to thaw meats. Don’t remember what she called it but us kids called it “Gravy Train” after a popular dry dog food that made its own gravy when water was added. You’d have to ask my little sister which actually tasted better as she was dog food expert! PS try this with mushrooms…
LOL! That’s a funny memory, I’d stick with the ground beef version ;)
Great hamburger gravy !
I made this and everyone loved it! Thanks for the share!
Love recipes, and trying new dishes. Thank you
Cheap…tasty…easy… All my favorite things. :) can’t wait to try the hamb. Gravy.
Yummy
Please send the recipe for your 30 minute dinner rolls. Thank you.
You can find the recipe for the 30 Minute Dinner Rolls here.
Delicious and too easy! Needs no improvement. Thank you!! I’m subscribing to get more of your recipes.
So happy you loved it Kathleen!
My 13 year old grandson said 3 times, “This is really good Grandpa”
Thanks for the recipe, used some sour cream as suggested.
I was trying to decide what to do with the pound of ground beef I took out of the freezer and all of the sudden the words “hamburger gravy” popped into my head. I was born in 1973 and this is the type of meal my mom would have made when I was a kid. I haven’t eaten hamburger gravy in probably 35 years and it was delicious over rice. Fast, simple, and hearty. I’m going to add this to my secret stash of comfort food recipes. Thanks so much!
Sorry, a bit confused. It says 1 cup beef broth and 1 bullion cube. is that I just a beef cube to the gravy?
Hi Kathy, in step 4 you will add the beef broth as well as a bouillon cube! It gives this gravy great flavor.
What can be used if you don’t have a beef boulion pkg
I think you could try a little bit of onion soup mix or gravy mix for extra flavor Penny!
Good Golly Miss Holly!!! The Hamburger Gravy is amazing!!! Very filling and very easy to make. I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight since I was thawing some Ground Beef in the fridge, so I decided to make this dish. I served the Hamburger Gravy on top of some rice. Will be making this dish again in the very near future. My sister would also like to make this dish for her lunch. Thank you so much for sharing this very delicious recipe Miss Holly!!!
P.S. You are the bomb dot com
LOL! Yay, so glad you loved it Shawnae, so yummy over rice! Hope your sister loves it just as much!
Had to take over the shopping and cooking chores and always looking for simple meal ideas
and this one the hamburger gravy was great.
Told my wife I’m not a cook I’m a warmer upper, but every once in a while i’ll try one of these.
So glad you enjoyed it Ken!
A quick way that we’ve always done it, is brown ground chuck, add a can of cream of chicken and a can of cream of mushroom. Little milk or water if it needs thinned.