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Rich, robust pot roast gravy is savory and flavorful. It’s simple to make and comes together in only 15 minutes!

Pot roast gravy made with pan drippings is perfect on your favorite Mashed Potatoes or crispy Oven Roasted Red Potatoes. It’s the “gravy on top” of any special dinner!

White gravy boat filled with Pot Roast Gravy.
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Potatoes Best Friend

What better than a delicious Pot Roast Recipe made in the slow cooker to bring the warmth of a home-cooked meal?

We love a big Sunday dinner, and this is one of our favorites. Of course, we must have a side of potatoes, whether mashed or baked. Gravy is our topping of choice on both the roast and the sides!

Using the drippings is a sure way to infuse pot roast gravy with tons of flavor. It just requires a few extra steps, like straining to make it smooth, but it is quite worth the effort.

Some pot roasts are cooked by themselves or along with potatoes, onions, and carrots. The drippings from either can be used to make gravy. This gravy made from pot roast is sure to become a family favorite!

Straining broth through a mesh strainer.

How to Make Gravy From a Pot Roast

This gravy is very simple and requires just a few ingredients (AND simple instructions).

STRAIN. Pour the beef broth (drippings from your cooked pot roast) through a strainer to remove any solids. Pour the broth into a skillet.

SLURRY. Remove 3 tablespoons of the broth and add to a small bowl, then whisk together with the cornstarch until well blended. This slurry will act as a thickener for the gravy.

SIMMER + SERVE! Bring the broth in the skillet to a simmer, then whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Cook until thickened.

Taste and adjust salt and pepper according to taste. For a little extra flavor, we like to use garlic salt with parsley flakes.

Corn starch slurry mixed in a white bowl.

Recipe Tips

This pot roast gravy recipe is very simple, but here are a few troubleshooting tips just in case!

Browning the chuck roast. Some recipes specifically call for browning the roast before cooking it. Though you can skip this step, searing the roast helps add a delicious layer of flavor to the dish including the drippings that will be made into the gravy. 

Need more liquid. If after you strain the drippings from the pot roast you find that you don’t have enough liquid for 2-3 cups, then simply add some beef broth. If you don’t have a carton of beef broth on hand, use a beef bouillon cube and water. 

  • Using a bouillon cube: Place a bouillon cube in 1-2 cups of water. Heat it in the microwave and stir until the cube has disintegrated. Add the bullion broth to the roast drippings.   

Thicken the gravy. If your gravy isn’t quite thick enough, simply add a bit more cornstarch. In a separate bowl mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water. Once smooth add it, a little at a time, into the gravy.

Serving suggestions. Mashed Potatoes and Roast Beef are two of the most common dishes that are delicious with a coating of gravy. Some other delicious recipes include Meatballs and Buttermilk Biscuits

Ladle full of gravy being poured into a pot.

Storing Gravy

STORE beef gravy from drippings in an airtight, freezer safe if applicable, container. Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If needed, thaw in the fridge. 

To reheat. Reheat the gravy slowly on the stovetop. You may need to add more liquid if it is too thick (we use beef broth).

Pot roast gravy drizzled over pot roast and veggies on a white plate.

Recipe FAQ

How do I thicken pot roast gravy?

You can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken pot roast gravy. In a separate bowl mix 1-2 tablespoons of cold water with an equal amount of cornstarch. Once it is smooth stir it in the gravy and let it simmer.

Can I make pot roast gravy without drippings?

Using the juices from a pot roast can give a unique flavor. If you didn’t make pot roast but still want gravy use 2-3 cups of beef stock.

For more gravy recipes, try:

5 from 80 votes

Pot Roast Gravy

By: Lil’ Luna
Rich, robust pot roast gravy is savory and flavorful. It's simple to make and comes together in only 15 minutes!
Servings: 10
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2-3 cups roast drippings, from cooked pot roast
  • 2ยฝ tablespoons corn starch
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Pour the beef broth through a strainer to remove any solids. Pour the broth into a skillet.
  • Remove 3 tablespoons of the broth and add to a small bowl, then whisk together with the cornstarch until well blended.
  • Bring the broth in the skillet to a simmer, then whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Cook until thickened.
  • Taste and adjust salt and pepper according to taste.

Notes

Make without drippings. Use 2-3 cups beef broth or beef stock.
How to thicken. Allow time for the gravy to simmer and thicken. If needed add a cornstarch slurry: In a separate bowl combine 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. Stir it into the gravy and simmer.
Store leftover gravy in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat the gravy slowly on the stovetop. You may need to add more liquid if it is too thick (we use beef broth).

Nutrition

Serving: 10g, Calories: 11kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 179mg, Potassium: 26mg, Fiber: 1g, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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5 from 80 votes (73 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. Cynthia Tolman says:

    What if I only have about a cup of drippings?

  2. Joel says:

    5 stars
    I have found that “Better Than Bullion” the Roast Beef version is so much better than regular beef broth or bullion. I always use beef broth in my roast dish but I find it lacks enough beefy flavor. Adding a small amount of better than bullion will take the gravy to a whole new level. I am not a spokesperson for this product but I have been cooking for over 50 years and when I finally tried it instead of regular bullion cubes I was hooked.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for sharing!! That is definitely a great, flavorful option!

  3. Kristina says:

    5 stars
    I never knew how easy gravy was to make. Using the pot roast drippings was delicious !

  4. Andrea Thueson says:

    5 stars
    This gravy was perfection! The perfect sauce for topping our potatoes and roast with!

  5. Cara Stokes says:

    5 stars
    This was amazing! I can’t believe there are no leftovers, my kids devoured it!

  6. Toni says:

    5 stars
    This is incredibly delicious! And so quick and easy to make! Thanks for the recipe!

  7. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    This is my husbands favorite gravy. You cant have pot roast without gravy!

  8. Joy says:

    5 stars
    Best gravy out there!! I can’t eat roast or potatoes without gravy! Simple, creamy, & yummy!