Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Comfort Food Classic: Rich and creamy gravy with savory ground beef is the ultimate hearty meal.
- Versatile Serving Options: Delicious over biscuits, mashed potatoes, rice, or fried potatoes.
- Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, affordable ingredients to create a satisfying dish.
- Easy and Quick: Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal prep.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 5 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Directions
- Crumble ground beef into a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until evenly browned. Drain most of the grease, leaving just enough to coat the pan. Add the chopped onions and cook for a few more minutes until softened.
- Pour 4 cups of the milk into the pan and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Add chicken bouillon granules, butter, ground sage, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, cooking and stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour into the remaining 1 cup of milk until smooth. Slowly pour this into the skillet, stirring constantly.
- Simmer for a few minutes until the gravy thickens. Adjust consistency by thinning with milk if too thick, or simmering longer or adding more flour if too thin.
- Taste and adjust seasonings before serving.
Servings and Timing
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Variations
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for a little heat.
- Vegetable Boost: Mix in sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra flavor and texture.
- Herb Twist: Swap sage for thyme or rosemary for a different herbaceous note.
- Dairy-Free: Use non-dairy milk and margarine substitutes to make it dairy-free.
Storage/Reheating
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stove or microwave, stirring occasionally to maintain creamy texture.
- Freeze in portions for up to 2 months and thaw overnight before reheating.
FAQs
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes, ground turkey works well as a leaner alternative.
What if I don’t have chicken bouillon granules?
Use beef bouillon or substitute with a bouillon cube or broth.
How do I prevent lumps in the gravy?
Mix the flour thoroughly with cold milk before adding to the hot mixture and stir constantly.
Can I make this recipe ahead?
Yes, prepare and store the gravy, then reheat when ready to serve.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
No, it contains all-purpose flour, but gluten-free flour can be substituted.
Can I add other spices?
Yes, feel free to experiment with garlic powder, onion powder, or black pepper.
How do I thicken the gravy more?
Add a slurry of flour and cold water or milk and simmer longer.
Can I serve this without biscuits or potatoes?
Yes, it’s also great over cooked rice or pasta.
How much sodium is in this recipe?
Sodium content depends on bouillon and added salt; adjust to taste.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, simply double all ingredients and use a larger skillet.
Conclusion
Dad’s Hamburger Gravy is a comforting, creamy, and satisfying meal that’s quick to prepare and budget-friendly. Its rich flavors and smooth texture make it a perfect dish to serve over your favorite sides for a hearty home-cooked meal that everyone will love.
Dad’s Hamburger Gravy
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Description
Dad’s Hamburger Gravy is a comforting, creamy, and flavorful Southern classic made with savory ground beef and rich gravy. Perfect for smothering biscuits, mashed potatoes, rice, or fried potatoes.
Ingredients
2 pounds lean ground beef
½ onion, finely chopped
5 cups milk
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon ground sage
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet over medium-high heat, crumble ground beef and cook until evenly browned. Drain most grease, leaving enough to coat pan. Add chopped onions and cook until softened.
- Pour 4 cups of milk into the pan, stirring to scrape up browned bits.
- Add chicken bouillon granules, butter, ground sage, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour into remaining 1 cup milk until smooth. Slowly pour into skillet, stirring constantly.
- Simmer until gravy thickens, adjusting consistency by adding milk or simmering longer if needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
Add cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for heat.
Mix in sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra flavor and texture.
Substitute sage with thyme or rosemary for different herbal notes.
Use non-dairy milk and margarine for dairy-free version.
Reheat gently, stirring occasionally to maintain creamy texture.
Freeze portions up to 2 months; thaw overnight before reheating.
Use ground turkey as a lean alternative.
Substitute chicken bouillon with beef bouillon, cube, or broth.
Mix flour thoroughly with cold milk before adding to prevent lumps.
Adjust thickness with flour slurry or simmering.
Serve over biscuits, potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Adjust salt to taste, considering bouillon sodium content.
Double recipe using larger skillet as needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
