5 Simple Tricks To Make Your Gravy Taste Amazing (No Matter What You’re Cooking)

how to fix bland gravy

Gravy is a staple of our Thanksgiving meal, but sometimes it’s just not that great.

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And it is disappointing if your gravy is tasteless.

How do you fix bland gravy?

You’re in the right place.

Here are some easy ways to make your gravy taste better with just some simple tips.

What are some problems with gravy?

Gravy is a great way to add flavor to a dish, and it’s also an opportunity for you to show off your kitchen skills.

But it can be tricky.

You must ensure that the roux (the mixture of butter and flour) is cooked long enough to get browned but not so much that it burns.

It’s also important to stir constantly while making the roux to avoid burning or lumping.

Sometimes, your gravy might end up unexpected, with the common problems listed below:

  • Bland: Gravy is supposed to be rich and flavorful, but if yours has no taste, it will not be useful to you.
  • Thin: If your gravy is too thin, it is nothing different from water and is definitely not appealing to try.
  • Gravy should be thick enough to drizzle or be served on the side of the main course.
  • Fatty: A greasy gravy will ruin any dish it touches and make people lose their appetite! To fix this problem, skim off any excess fat from the top of the gravy, or cut down any fatty ingredients in the recipe.

What can you add to gravy to make it taste better?

Several reasons can cause bland gravy, but most of the time, it is because you haven’t seasoned it enough or have used too much water.

Don’t worry!

Here are some ways that help you fix your flat gravy and add some robust flavor to it:

Adding bouillon cubes

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To add some flavor and saltiness to your bland gravy, you can add one bouillon cube per cup of the watery liquid.

The best part is that they are easy to find at any grocery store!

Bouillon cubes are also a great way to make your chicken broth taste more like actual meaty chicken, so it’s worth keeping them on hand for future recipes—just don’t use too many, or else your dish will end up tasting too salty!

Add more spices and herbs

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Adding more spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, and nutmeg can save your bland gravy.

Spices like these have a warming effect that can help balance out some of the other flavors in your gravy while adding some kick to it as well—plus, they’re just plain delicious!

Fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary pack a more potent punch than dried ones because they contain volatile oils that release their aromas when cooked with a hot liquid such as stock or gravy.

The rosemary’s delicate but strong flavor makes them one of my favorite ways to fix lackluster sauces without starting from scratch with new ingredients all over again (and getting something wrong along the way).

Add wine

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Wine is an excellent way to add flavor to the gravy.

A dry red wine is my favorite because it has a rich flavor and doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.

You can also use a dry white wine, but it won’t add as much flavor.

If you don’t have wine on hand, you can substitute chicken broth or beef broth in its place.

Add bacon drippings

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When it comes to ensuring your gravy has a fantastic taste, bacon drippings are an excellent option! If you’re dealing with a bland gravy, adding bacon drippings is one of the best ways to give it some flavor.

If you don’t have bacon drippings on hand, butter or olive oil are also good options.

To add the bacon drippings to your gravy, simply whisk them into your simmering liquid while it’s still hot (but not boiling).

Reduce it

To fix bland gravy, you’ll want to reduce it.

This means simmering the gravy for a few minutes on low heat and stirring regularly.

The longer you simmer it, the thicker it will get because some of the water in the mixture evaporates as you cook it.

As a result, the flavor will develop once your gravy is thickened.

Reducing is the simplest and most cost-saving way to fix a bland gravy.

However, keep your eyes on the pot or pan of gravy to prevent it from burning.

Conclusion

If you have problems with your gravy and want to fix it, there are many ways you can do so.

A flavorful gravy will elevate your dish to a new level; therefore, never serve a bland one.

You can also test different spices and herbs to see what works best! Add some wine or bacon drippings to the mix if all else fails!