Transform Store-Bought Gravy With This Simple Brown Butter Trick
- Adding brown butter to store-bought gravy can elevate the flavor and make it taste homemade.
I love making gravy from scratch
, as it's unbeatable over freshly baked potatoes or fluffy mashed potatoes
. But sometimes, store-bought gravy
is the way to go, especially when you don't have turkey
or chicken drippings handy. With store-bought gravy
, all you have to do is pour the sauce out from its packaging, heat it in a saucepan over the stovetop or the microwave and serve it with your Thanksgiving dinner
.
The only issue? You might not always love the flavor of the gravy you purchased. It might be too salty or it might be too thin, flat and/or not rich enough for you or your guests. Luckily, I've got a pro tip that will help make almost any store-bought gravy taste better instantly: add brown butter.Here's everything you need to know.
Related: How To Make Gravy From Scratch—Plus, Common Homemade Gravy Mistakes and How To Fix Them
Why You Should Add Brown Butter to Store-Bought Gravy
You can quote me here: brown butter can make anything taste better, including mashed potatoes
, oatmeal
, cakes
, chocolate chip cookies
and store-bought gravy. I'm a gravy and brown butter fiend, and now I'm a brown butter gravy fiend, too.
Brown butter is a magical ingredient because of its nutty, caramelized flavor. It can elevate even the most boring gravy, turning it into a rich, velvety sauce that tastes homemade. Your dinner guests will think you've been simmering gravy all day—and you don't have to tell them otherwise.
Related: How To Make 'The Best Gravy in the World,' According to Sandra Lee
How To Add Brown Butter to Store-Bought Gravy
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Elevating your store-bought gravy with brown butter is a relatively straightforward process. First, you'll need a packet or jar of store-bought gravy. We've tried 17 different types of store-bought gravy in the past, and my personal favorite is Kinder's Bone Broth Gravy, which is number two on the list. While the gravy is a bit on the thin side, the flavor is great.
To make brown butter gravy, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until the butter is foamy and brown bits start to form.
Once the butter has browned, immediately lower the heat to prevent burning. Add the store-bought gravy into the browned butter, mixing until fully incorporated over medium heat. If the gravy is too thin, thicken it with a slurry made from cornstarch or flour dissolved in broth that matches the gravy's flavor.
Related: The Genius Make-Ahead Gravy Trick You Need To Know About
More Store-Bought Thanksgiving Food Upgrades
As Ina says, "store-bought is fine." Here's how she levels up her canned cranberry sauce, plus a few more expert upgrades that you can work into your Thanksgiving meal.
Related: How Much Gravy Do You Need for Your Thanksgiving Dinner?
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 26, 2024, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
