This quick and easy homemade vegan brown gravy recipe can be made in minutes with just a few simple ingredients!  All the savory, comforting flavors of classic gravy that you love made without meat or dairy!

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Why make this recipe

Brown gravy is traditionally made from beef drippings.  That is what gives it its brown color and meaty flavor; however, it’s easy to make it vegan by replicating the flavors with a beef-flavored vegan broth and adding soy sauce for an extra savory flavor.

I use these flavors in my vegan beef, vegan ground beef crumbles, and vegan beef stew recipes as well, and they work perfectly.

Best vegan gravy I have ever made and soooo easy.

—Jennifer

This plant-based brown gravy is perfect for serving at holiday meals, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s so easy to make, you can serve it with your savory weeknight meals, pour it over vegan biscuits, vegan meatloaf, or even French fries.

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Broth – beef-flavored vegan broth works best. Edward and Son’s not-beef bouillon cubes are a great choice, or you can use standard vegetable broth if you can’t find the beef-flavored variety. 
  • Soy Sauce – for more of a beefy, savory flavor.  You can also use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or Tamari to make it gluten-free.
  • Flour or starch – to thicken the gravy.  I prefer potato starch, but you can also use arrowroot or cornstarch, or simply plain white flour if you don’t need it to be gluten-free.
  • Nutritional Yeast – to give it a rich umami flavor. (optional)
  • Herbs – for flavor.  You can use fresh herbs like sage, oregano, and thyme if you would like.  An Italian herb mix also works well if you don’t have individual herbs.
  • Onion Powder – for flavor.  You can also use garlic powder.
  • Vegan Butter – (optional) for a more decadent gravy.  You can also use coconut oil or any other neutral-flavored oil, or omit it for oil-free gravy.
  • Salt and Pepper – to taste, but the soy sauce should make the gravy salty enough.
A white gravy boat filled with vegan brown gravy.

How to make vegan brown gravy

Step 1 – Place all the ingredients except the vegan butter into a saucepan.  (The broth should be cold, or add cold water and a bouillon cube.)

Step 2 – Whisk until the starch dissolves.

Step 3 – Turn the stovetop to medium heat and stir frequently until the mixture starts to boil.

Step 4 – Stir constantly for 30 seconds, then turn off the heat.

Step 5 – Add the vegan butter or oil if you choose and stir until it’s incorporated. 

How to make mushroom brown gravy

To turn this into a vegan mushroom gravy, sauté sliced mushrooms of your choice in a separate pan with a bit of olive oil. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until tender. Then, pour the vegan gravy mixture over the mushrooms and stir well.

Vegan brown gravy pouring off a gravy spoon into a white gravy boat.

How to thicken gravy

You can use many things to thicken your gravy.  All-purpose flour, cornstarch, potato starch, and arrowroot all work well.  White flour is easy if you don’t need it to be gluten-free. 

Personally, I prefer to use potato starch.  I believe it achieves the best flavor and texture, and it doesn’t become gloppy and thick when it begins to cool, unlike other methods.  I even prefer it over wheat flour for its great consistency and flavor!

See my post on vegan gravy for more gravy varieties, or try my vegan chicken a la king.

How to store gravy

The brown gravy will keep well in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge, or store leftovers for up to 3 months in the freezer.

A white bowl filled with mashed potatoes with brown gravy poured over top.

What to serve with brown gravy

Vegan brown gravy recipe

A close up of vegan brown gravy being poured over mashed potatoes.
Diet
Gluten Free Icon
Nut Free Icon
Vegan Icon
5 from 10 rating

Vegan Brown Gravy

Yield: 8
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 3 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Monica Davis
A quick easy way to make brown gravy without dairy or meat.
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups Not beef broth, or any other vegan broth
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce, (or Bragg's Liquid Aminos or Tamari)
  • 2 tablespoons potato starch, or 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, (optional but recommended for flavor)
  • 1 teaspoons herbs of choice, like oregano, thyme, sage, or Italian herbs
  • 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Put all of the ingredients except for the vegan butter into a saucepan.  (The broth should be cold or add cold water and a bouillon cube).
  • Stir until the starch dissolves.
  • Turn on the heat to medium and stir frequently until it starts to boil.
  • Stir constantly for 30 seconds, then turn off the heat.
  • Add the vegan butter or oil, if desired, and stir until well incorporated.

Notes

  • You can also use cornstarch, arrowroot in equal parts in place of the potato starch.
  • You can also thicken the gravy with 1/4 cup of flour instead of the 2 tablespoons of potato starch. 
Serving: 0.25cups, Calories: 37kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 149mg, Potassium: 44mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 134IU, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg
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