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!
The best gravy ever!!!! Thank you for this amazing recipe.
My husband scooped this up by the spoonfuls!
Perfect! I wanted something for the roast pork and this recipe delivered. I only had chicken stock cubes and the soy sauce tip worked a treat. Thanks Nagi.
I’m sorry my spelling above was terrible!!! I mean, I’d love to try this gravy, not gravity…
Hi Nagi, I’m obsessed with your recipes and if love to try this gravity next. Do you use 15ml tbsp or 20ml tbsp?
I made this gravy last night and it comes together so quickly and is absolutely delicious! It was a hit with my husband and son too. This is a keeper.
Easy to make, tasty, and author notes and tips were very helpful! Thank you, will make again!
This gravy is awesome! This will be my go to gravy from now on. I threw some shredded chicken and peas in at the end and served it with biscuits. I could have ate a bowl of gravy on it’s own though, I didn’t have bouillon cubes, so I used a teaspoon each of the Better Than Bouillon pastes (chicken and beef) and it was perfect. Can’t wait to have this again! Thanks for the tasty recipe!
Should this be done with the hard stock cubes or the jelly ones, please?
I use powdered stock cubes Rich! N x
This gravy is unbelievable , forget the K F C stuff make this you wont be disappointed
It taste great love it will make it serveral times .
That’s great Cindy! I am glad you liked it!! N x
This is my new gravy from scratch! I’m no stranger to making gravy from a roux and stock but this really is a next level recipe. Yet another epic recipe from your kitchen to mine, thanks so much!
Woo hoo!! That’s great Allison! N x
Mine definitely didn’t turn out this color, it was much lighter, but it was SO GOOD!! I know my kids are going to be begging for me to make it again soon.
Hi Maggie – you can always add a small touch of soy for more colour if it’s too light! Enjoy!! N x
Please i Réal l’y like your recipes
This recipe was delicious and easy! My family loved it and said it was the best gravy they ever had! 😍
Woo hoo!! That’s amazing Katie! N x
I wanted a 1 cup of gravy for some leftovers
OK I didn’t have any chicken bullion OR beef bullion.but….I did have chicken ramen and onion soup mix,basically beef bullion powder with chopped onion.
1 ramen packet and 1tsp of onion soup powder
2tbs butter and flour
1+ cup water
Pepper to taste
And Bob’s your uncle
WOW THANKS
Thank you so much for this recipe! This satisfied my pregnancy cravings and a big plus for being so easy to make!!
So was the craving just for gravy by itself or did you dip??? LOL!! N x
My new (and from now on) ONLY gravy recipe. Made it tonight – PERFECT. Thank you Nagi
Woo hoo I am glad you liked it JoAnn!! N x
Amazing😍 My family and I loved it!!!
I am happy they enjoyed it Dominic! N x
This was so easy, no need to buy KFC gravy ever again. Ten minutes and done. It was a little pale in colour and so I added a bit of Marmite. Take a bow, Nagi, you’ve done it again 👏
Thanks Sam! I am happy that you enjoyed it!! N x