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Easy Creamed Hamburger Gravy is an old fashioned classic dish made of ground beef, creamy milk, a few staple pantry items, and lots of love. This is a stick to your ribs kind of meal that is sure to fill you up and bring comfort to your soul.
Nikki’s Recipe Rundown
- Taste: Rich, savory, and perfectly seasoned to highlight the beef. The butter and milk bring that creamy comfort we love over potatoes or toast.
- Texture: Smooth and velvety, thick enough to cling but not too heavy.
- Ease: Quick and straightforward—all in one skillet and done in under 20 minutes.
- Pros: Simple ingredients, budget-friendly, and delicious comfort food.
- Considerations: Adjust the thickness as it cooks. If it thickens too much, just add a splash of milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Recipe Repeatability: Absolutely! This is one you’ll come back to anytime you want cozy, homemade comfort in a pinch.
You’ll love this Simple Hamburger Gravy Recipe
This is the kind of meal I can imagine my granny making on one of those busy days when she needed to get something on the table to feed all her 7 kids on a budget. And hey we still have those days nowadays too. We also have days we just want this one because it tastes amazing and is ready in 20 minutes. I realized when I made this last night I had never put this recipe on the blog.
I was talking with my daughter who is in college last night. She called me for an easy, budget friendly recipe and it just so happened I was making one. So here it is Bri – up on the blog to share with you and all my friends!
It’s comfort food and tastes really great too. Although we wouldn’t eat this every day, because honestly it is a bit of an indulgence, but so worth it once in a while.
Hamburger Gravy Recipe Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef: Using lean ground beef keeps this gravy flavorful without excess grease, letting the richness of the dish shine through without being too heavy.
- Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, and Dried Minced Onion: These pantry staples build a base of flavor, giving the gravy a savory boost. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste, especially if you’re serving over salty sides like buttered noodles or toast.
- Salted Butter: Adds richness and a touch of salty, buttery flavor. If using unsalted butter, just adjust the salt to your preference.
- All-Purpose Flour: Essential for thickening, the flour combines with the butter to create a roux, making the gravy smooth and velvety.
- Whole Milk: Whole milk gives the gravy a richness that can’t be beat. A splash of creaminess goes a long way in making this dish comforting and satisfying.
How to Make Hamburger Gravy
Step 1. Grab your cast iron or favorite skillet. Season the lean ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic salt, and dried minced onion, and cook until done, about 7 to 10 minutes.
TIP: If you are not using lean ground beef, only season with salt. Then drain the beef and add in the other seasoning. You don’t want to lose those flavors, but adding the salt while cooking makes all the difference in taste; in my book.
Step 2. Now melt in your butter. I slice mine into 4 slices from a stick of butter and reserve the rest for the mashed potatoes, rice or noodles. Sprinkle the flour over the top of the beef and melted butter. Mix with a whisk or spatula.
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Step 3. Slowly pour in the milk and mix until incorporated. Stir occasionally, while gravy thickens and flavors come together. Reduce to medium to medium-low, depending on your stove. I like to let mine cook for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 4. Serve over mashed potatoes.
How to Serve This Recipe for Hamburger Gravy
This hamburger gravy is perfect for pouring over all kinds of comforting sides. Serve it over creamy mashed potatoes for a classic combo (if you are in a big hurry Baby Red Instant Potatoes), or ladle it onto warm buttered noodles for a simple but satisfying meal. It’s also delicious over rice, grits, biscuits, or a slice of toast for a quick, cozy bite.
Storing Leftover Hamburger Gravy
Refrigerate Leftovers: Allow the hamburger gravy to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat: To reheat, warm it gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk if it needs to loosen up. You can also microwave it in short intervals, stirring in between until heated through.
Southern Comfort Recipes You will Love
- Southern Fried Pork Chops
- Collard Greens
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- The Best Pimento Cheese
- Coconut Cream Poke Cake
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Hamburger Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tsp salt, (or to taste)
- 1 tsp black pepper, (or to taste)
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, (I use whole milk)
Instructions
- In a skillet, over medium high heat, season lean ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic salt and dried minced onion and cook until done, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add butter into ground beef and melt. Sprinkle the flour over the top of the ground beef and stir. Cooking the flour in for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the milk and whisk or stir to incorporate into the flour and beef. Stir occasionally let cook until it thickens. About 5 or so minutes.
- Serve immediately over mashed potatoes, toast, buttered noodles or rice.
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Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Delicious. Made with almond milk and I Can’t believe it’s Not Butter as my Gil’s are lactose intolerant. It was delicious.
Thank you, Renee! I am so glad you enjoyed it and it is easily adaptable using any milk or butter.
Delicious and easy recipe. I added a can of drained French style green beans and 4 medium size potatoes to the finished gravy (I cooked the potatoes in the microwave, left the skins on, and cut each potato into 8 pieces). I used unsalted butter and 1/2 tsp. salt and it was very good. Both my husband and I loved it and I will definitely be making it again and again.
Thank you, Jen! I love that this will be on your table again and again.
My mother made this when I was growing up. It was a favorite over toast on a winter Sunday evenings.
Sweet memeories! It is the perfect winter comfort meal!
Very good. Made with mashed potatoes no left overs tells it all.
Thank you for sharing, Marlene! I agree when it’s all gone that is the perfect sign everyone loves it!
My Aunt made this recipe about 75 years ago, is still a favorite of ours.
Over mashed potatoes with a dash of catsup. Yummy
It definitely is a tried and true recipe! I agree with the yummy!
I give you 5 stars because I have not made ” creamy ” ground beef and gravy its usually just regular. I loved it . I would like to say me personally, I cut the salt in half and it still was plenty . Maybe that’s just me though . I did really enjoy it.
Thank you so much, Brian! So glad you enjoyed it!
We love hamburger gravy but I use mushroom soup for the gravy adding additional mushrooms if I have them
Thank you, Susan! I like the idea of using mushroom super! An extra layer of flavor! Yum!
Very good.?
I leave out the garlic and add cream of mushroom soup and it makes a great sandwich too ????❤️
Thank you, Susan! I love it over toast so I am sure a sandwich is delicious too!
put a can of green french style cut beans with the juice in the gravy mixture, makes it a whole meal and the beans are good with the hamburger
I bet that is delicious! I will have to try it!
Adding canned corn to the recipe makes it taste even better. Also,
a little gravy master to give it a richer color.
I bet corn tastes delicious cooked in with this. I often serve it with corn because my husband loves it that way! So a terrific one-dish solution.
I’ve made hamburger gravy for years, but something about doing it in this order, rather than the way I always did it, made the sauce feel more rich and creamy. Delicious! Felt like someone who knew how to cook made dinner.
That is awesome Beth! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your recipe success!
I made this for dinner and my it was a hit. Everyone loved it. Thank you for the idea.
You are welcome, Missy! So nice to hear your family enjoyed it!
My husband rarely asks for anything for dinner and eats whatever I make. So when he said mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy I jumped on it. It was great! Thank you for sharing!
I just love that! Thank you so much for sharing!
George Young made this May 12 2020 and I added my noodles in while it was cooking and I also added some browning sauce and it was amazing.
Thank you so much George! I love your addition right into the pan for a one skillet meal!
I made this for supper for my husband and I. I added some Worcester sauce to it and we both loved it!!
Thanks Heather! I am glad he enjoyed it. I love simple recipes like this. Truly comfort food!
We make this with onions and bell pepper cooked down with the meat and ad a can of tomatoes sauce also. Both ways are good.
That sounds delicious Heather! Perfect additions to a simple creamed hamburger to change it up a bit!
Very good I added Worcestershire.
sauce
Great recipe, I only had cashew cream In my fridge so I substituted it for the milk. Super yummy as well!
Thank you so much Melanie! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
I renamed your recipe “Mud Pie”. My kids loved the name and your recipe.
What a fun name for getting the kiddos to eat this! I am so glad you all enjoyed it! Thank you so much!
Didn’t think my husband and son would like it but they did and so easy. This is on my keeper list♥️
That is wonderful. It’s truly not much to look at but simple and delicious.
I serve this gravy over baked potatoes. Yummy!
That sounds delicious! I like it on toast, french fries, noodles too! It’s good on just about anything!
Easy made true comfort food. Full of flavor and satisfaction.
Thank you so much Richard! It definitely is comfort food!
I am old lady but when I was in school the only day I bought lunch was hamburger gravy day. Are most hamburger gravy recipes the same? I would love that recipe. I went to Hamilton Township High School. that’s just outside of Columbus Ohio.
I think many of them are much the same. I am a Florida girl but this is the one I have always made. You can add a few shakes of worcestershire in too if you like.
My grandma use to make this when I was a kid . It was oh so good
It is such a tried and true recipe for sure! They are the best!