The Best Ham Gravy Recipe – Quick Facts
- What It Is: Classic ham gravy made from ham drippings (can also be made without drippings).
- Best Search Match For: “ham gravy,” “ham gravy from drippings,” “easy ham gravy,” “leftover ham gravy,” “gluten-free ham gravy.”
- Total Time: About 10 minutes
- Yield: ~2 cups of gravy (serves 6–8)
- Main Ingredients: Ham drippings, broth, flour (or gluten-free flour), butter (or plant based butter), black pepper
- Dietary Options: Easy to make gluten-free or dairy-free
Here at The Wooden Skillet we are no strangers to an easy homemade gravy recipe, we have perfected a turkey gravy, chicken gravy, pork gravy, and now the most amazing 5-minute ham gravy! There are so many ways to cook a whole ham for your next Easter dinner – baked ham, smoked ham, grilled ham, or the best crockpot ham. No matter how it is cooked, you are always left with the most flavorful ham drippings and they are perfect for making this flavorful gravy. Add it to your next holiday table and, trust us, your whole family is going to thank you!
What You Will Need
- butter – a traditional ingredient for making any classic gravy recipe!
- all-purpose flour – option to sub out for 1-to-1 gluten-free flour, if that’s your thing.
- pan drippings – no matter if you make a bone-in ham, boneless ham, spiral cut hams, or a classic glazed ham, you will have the most amazing drippings in the bottom of the roasting pan!
- Better than Bouillon Ham Broth: this can be used to sub in for the pan drippings if you don’t have enough for what the recipe calls.
How To Make Ham Gravy
Step 1: The first steps to making this easy homemade ham gravy recipe are to cook your holiday ham any way you want (pictured is our grilled ham).
Step 2: After removing the ham from the roasting pan, place ham on a cutting board or serving platter. Pour the leftover ham drippings into a measuring cup. Then gather the other two gravy ingredients.
Step 3: If you don’t have enough ham drippings, you can use Better Than Bouillon’s Ham Base for more liquid.
Step 4: Now bring a large skillet to a medium heat and add a little bit of butter to melt. Then whisk in the flour to create a paste or roux.
Step 5: Next, gradually whisk in the meat drippings or liquid made with the ham base. Add about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking continuously.
Step 6: Continue until all the drippings or liquid are incorporated. Drop the hot skillet to a medium-low heat to simmer until the gravy begins to thicken. Pour the delicious ham gravy in to a gravy boat and enjoy!
Erin’s Pro Tip
This recipe works best if you use it in tandem with our grilled ham recipe or our crockpot ham recipe – any ham recipe where you have liquid cooking along with your ham (see pictures in post). That liquid will absorb that ham flavor and create a broth of sorts (plus it will combine with any drippings that come from them ham). If you don’t have that cooking liquid/drippings then follow the directions on the Better Than Bouillon Ham Base to make some broth and use that to make the gravy (if you have any drippings/liquid use that first, then use the broth).
Best Way To Serve Ham Gravy
It might be obvious, but this easy ham gravy is best served over cooked ham slices. We love to serve a classic ham and gravy with slow cooker mashed potatoes, garlic green beans, delicata squash au gratin, or a Thanksgiving salad! This delicious gravy recipe can be poured over just about anything and is the best way to complete a delicious meal.
Love trying new ways to cook ham – try our Smoked Ham recipe!
Recipe FAQ
The best gravy ever! And we have it all broken down for you in the recipe card below.
The drippings! You can make gravy without pan drippings, but it is so much better with that added ham flavor. If you don’t have a ton of drippings, we recommend using Better Than Bouillon Ham Base.
Yes! After making this gravy recipe, let it cool to room temperature, place it in a freezer-safe container (leave room for expansion), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat when ready!
Using a roux like we use in this recipe is a great way to thicken ham gravy. Another popular way is to use cornstarch + cold water to create a slurry.
Yes! Simply use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour in this recipe – works perfectly!
Yes! Simply use a plant-base butter in this recipe.
Other Ham Recipes You Might Like
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Ham Gravy Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
Learn how to make the BEST ham gravy recipe! Perfect for any ham recipe – so easy to make and packed with flavor!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (sub 1-to-1 gluten free)
- 1 3/4 cup ham drippings/cooking liquid (sub Better than Bouillon ham base)*
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt Butter: Bring cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add butter and let melt.
- Make Roux with Flour: Add in flour and whisk together until it forms a paste (a.k.a. a roux).
- Add Liquid: Slowly add drippings/liquid approx. 1/4 cup at a time whisking constantly. Continue adding liquid until fully combined.
- Adjust: Let simmer to thicken or add additional splashes of liquid to thin. Taste and add any salt or a little pepper, as desired.
- Serve with your favorite ham recipe – we love this Crockpot Ham recipe or this Grilled Ham recipe!
Notes
- *Ham Drippings/Cooking Liquid: this recipe works best if you use it in tandem with our grilled ham recipe or our crockpot ham recipe – any ham recipe where you have liquid cooking along with your ham (see pictures in post). That liquid will absorb that ham flavor and create a broth of sorts (plus it will combine with any drippings that come from them ham). If you don’t have that cooking liquid/drippings then follow the directions on the Better Than Bouillon Ham Base to make some broth and use that to make the gravy (if you have any drippings/liquid use that first, then use the broth).
- Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Gluten-Free: use 1-to-1 gluten-free four to make this gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free: sub dairy-free butter to make this dairy-free.
Erin says
This is SO good!!