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Our easy Hamburger Gravy recipe is the ultimate budget-friendly comfort food and it's ready in just 20 minutes. We like it served over mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or bread for a hearty weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Old-Fashioned Hamburger Gravy Dinner That Feeds Everyone
Classic, old-fashioned American recipes like this easy Hamburger Gravy recipe never go out of style. It's the kind of meal my grandma made when she needed to feed a crowd without spending a fortune, and there's something really special about passing that down. All you need is Ground beef, and a handful of pantry staples, and 20 minutes is genuinely all it takes to prep and cook.
Our family serves it over mashed potatoes, but my grandma always served it over a thick slice of white bread. You could also use rice or pasta. And for a leaner hamburger gravy you could substitute ground turkey or chicken.
Try more of my 30-minute meals, like Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Avocado Wrap, Sloppy Joes, Mongolian Noodles, and Lemon Chicken Pasta!
How to make Hamburger Gravy:
Brown Meat: Cook ground beef in a large skillet, breaking it up with a meat chopper or wooden spoon as it cooks over medium-high heat. Dump in onion and sauté for a few minutes until soft.
Finish Gravy: Stir in butter and flour then add milk and seasonings. Stir the gravy as it cooks until it is thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. Serve this homemade hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans or roasted vegetables. Enjoy!
Hamburger Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef*
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, , minced, or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste , , or 2 beef bullion cubes
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1/8 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
- salt and pepper, , to taste
- crushed red pepper flakes, , to taste, optional
Serving ideas:
- Over Mashed potatoes, Pasta, Rice, Biscuits. Bread or toast, Breakfast potatoes
- Green beans or roasted vegetables.
Instructions
- Cook meat: Add ground beef to a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, crumbling into small pieces, until browned. Remove most (but not all) of the grease. Add onions and garlic to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.1 pound lean ground beef*, ⅓ cup chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Gravy: Add flour and butter and stir to coat the meat. Add milk and seasonings. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy is thickened, 5-10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasonings, as needed.1 tablespoon butter, 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste , 2 ½ cups milk, ⅛ teaspoon ground sage, ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme, salt and pepper, crushed red pepper flakes
- Serve warm over mashed potatoes, biscuits, bread, noodles, rice, or breakfast potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe December 2020. Updated September 2024 and June 2026.
Loved this for man pleasing weeknight supper. I did notice the garlic wasn’t included in the directions. I added it with the onions.
Better than childhood memories of this ubiquitous dish. And still great for people with braces.
Yup I tried it, certainly took me back to what my mom used to make. I think hers was a little more bland. I sliced potatoes very thinly and cooked them on top of the gravy. then skimmed them off when tender and plated them smothered with the gravy. Great meal froze a little for use later this month
Dairy free butter and full fat oat milk made this sooooo good. So comforting. Mmmm
This was so easy to make and it was delicious! I used half and half in place of the milk and added mushrooms and peas and served on mashed potatoes. Next time, I think I’ll serve it on egg noodles so it isn’t quite so heavy. This is a great comfort food recipe!
I made this according to the recipe and it was delicious. Thank you!
Yes, I tried it using the powder substitute for the Onion and Garlic and it seemed perfect. I think it tasted like the Hamburger Gravy my mom used to make back in the 70’s. It seems like it was the first homemade tasting meal I’ve had since then. Thank You!
My mother used to make a variation of this recipe when I was growing up. Swap in Ground turkey to make it more lean. Milk can be substituted with water. Goes well over rice and pairs well with steamed veggies. Super quick, easy and cheap to make.
Easy and good.
I was in a serious dinner rut and saw this and was encouraged by the 20 minute total time (plus I had all of the ingredients). This is a total winner! My whole family loved it (even my picky toddler). Thanks for a great recipe!