Mushroom Herb Gravy

$3.23 recipe / $0.54 serving
by Beth - Budget Bytes
5 from 16 votes
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What makes gravy? Well, its basically a liquid thickened by roux (flour particles coated with fat). You can use any liquid (broth, milk, cream) and you can use any fat (meat drippings, butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil). Meat drippings, as in what comes out of a turkey when it’s roasted, creates the most flavorful gravy but since I’m not making a turkey this year I decided to make a butter-based Mushroom Herb Gravy instead. Simply swap out the butter for cooking oil to make this insanely scrumptious and herb infused gravy vegan.

Originally posted 11/18/2010, updated 10/11/16

Top view of mushroom herb gravy in pan with wooden spoon
See this recipe in my Easy Thanksgiving Dinner for Beginners and Thanksgiving Dinner for Two meal plans.

There is always at least one vegetarian or vegan guest at Thanksgiving, so it’s nice to make this delicious gravy that can accommodate all your guests. This Mushroom Herb Gravy is so good (especially when made with butter) that I promise no one will even notice. You can make one gravy this year and all your guests will be happy.

What Makes Gravy Flavorful

Since the gravy does not use flavorful meat drippings, most of the flavor comes from vegetable broth, mushrooms, and herbs. You can use any of your favorite herbs, but I happened to have fresh thyme and I love sage with mushrooms. The combo turned out quite spectacular if I do say so myself. ;)

Make it Vegan

Simply swap out the butter for cooking oil to make this insanely scrumptious and herb infused gravy vegan.
gravy being poured onto mashed potatoes on plate
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Mushroom Herb Gravy

5 from 16 votes
This one quick, easy, and insanely flavorful Mushroom Herb Gravy will satisfy both meat eaters and vegetarians alike. 
Servings 6 (1/3 cup each)
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp butter or cooking oil ($0.33)
  • 2 cloves garlic ($0.16)
  • 8 oz mushrooms ($1.99)
  • 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour ($0.03)
  • 2 cups vegetable broth ($0.25)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme ($0.32)
  • 1 tsp dried sage ($0.10)
  • Salt and pepper to taste ($0.05)
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Instructions 

  • Rinse the mushrooms to remove any dirt or debris, then slice them thinly. Mince the garlic.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes or just until soft and fragrant. Add the sliced mushrooms and continue to sauté until they are soft, dark, and all of the moisture they release has evaporated (5 minutes).
  • Make sure that all of the moisture released by the mushrooms has evaporated and just the butter oil and mushrooms remain in the pan. Turn the heat down to medium-low, add the flour, and continue to sauté the flour with the mushrooms and butter. The flour will form a paste like mixture all over the mushrooms and eventually begin to coat the bottom of the skillet. Continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes, or just until the flour begins to turn golden brown on the bottom of the skillet. This will slightly toast the flour and give the gravy better flavor.
  • Slowly whisk in the vegetable broth. Whisk well to make sure that all of the flour has dissolved off the bottom of the skillet and no lumps remain. Add the sprigs of thyme, sage, and some freshly cracked pepper. Stir to combine.
  • Allow the mixture to come to a simmer. The gravy will begin to thicken as soon as it simmers. Allow the gravy to simmer for 7-10 minutes, whisking often, until it is the desired thickness. Remember that the gravy will continue to thicken as it cools. Taste the gravy and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.

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Nutrition

Serving: 0.33cupCalories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSodium: 462mgFiber: 1g
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close up of gravy in pan with wooden spoon

How to Make Mushroom Herb Gravy – Step By Step Photos

Sliced Mushrooms on paper towel


Rinse and thinly slice 8oz. mushrooms. Mince two cloves of garlic.

Prepared Vegetable Broth in measuring cup


I use Better Than Bouillon to make my broth, so I dissolved the concentrate in water before beginning the recipe. That way it’s ready to go when I need it. You’ll need 2 cups of vegetable broth for this recipe.

Sauté Garlic in Butter

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for just 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and fragrant, but not brown.

Sauté Mushrooms Until Dry

Add the mushrooms to the skillet and continue to sauté over medium heat. Sauté the mushrooms until they release all their water and the water has completely evaporated. The skillet should just have mushrooms and some residual oil from the butter and it will sound a little like it’s frying.

flour added to mushroom mix to thicken


Turn the heat down to medium-low and add 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour. Stir the flour into the mushrooms and butter. The flour will form a paste over the mushrooms. Just continue to stir and cook. The flour will eventually begin to coat the bottom of the skillet. Keep stirring and cooking until the flour starts to turn golden brown (but be careful to not let it burn). This toasts the flour and gives the gravy a much better flavor.

Vegetable Broth being added to mushroom mixture in pan


Whisk the vegetable broth into the skillet, using the whisk to help dissolve the flour off the bottom. Keep whisking until all the flour is dissolved into the broth.

top view of herbs added to gravy in pan


Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, 1 tsp dried sage, and some freshly cracked pepper. Stir to combine. Allow the gravy to come up to a simmer, at which point it will begin to thicken (turn the heat up to medium to help it come to a simmer, if needed).

gravy in pan finished cooking with wooden spoon


Let the gravy simmer for 7-10 minutes, whisking often, until it has reached the desired thickness. Just remember, the gravy will thicken a bit once taken off the heat.

close up of spoonful of Thickened Mushroom Herb Gravy

Taste the gravy and adjust the salt or pepper if needed. The amount of salt needed will depend greatly on the type of broth you use. Better Than Bouillon tends to be on the saltier side, so I did not need to add any. Remove the thyme stems, if desired, or leave them in for visual effect.

Gravy on top of plate of mashed potatoes

Oh Mushroom Herb Gravy, how I wish I could drink you with a spoon! 

Close up of fork with mashed potatoes and gravy
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Comments

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  1. Nice gravy, and open to customization. I used some shitty bouillon for broth so I added some soy and worcestershire, it was nice. We will be eating the leftovers as pasta sauce.

  2. This is wonderful gravy, when you want delicious gravy without making the big roast turkey.  (I made it for the v good ground turkey and stuffing meatballs.) I think it will make v good “make ahead gravy”, when i do roast a turkey. Just add the drippings. Thanks to Beth for the gravy hack!

  3. Full disclosure, I haven’t yet made this recipe, but I read a ton of raving comments so I know I can trust it. I love mushrooms, and I’m going to make this gravy to serve over mashed potatoes for a comfort food dinner this week.
    I don’t have shrooms in the house now, otherwise I would have made it for today… I love your website and 98% of all the recipes I’ve tried, so I’m a fan. Thank you!