Vegetarian Gravy
on Nov 22, 2022, Updated May 17, 2024
This is the most delicious vegetarian gravy recipe for Thanksgiving and the holidays! The whole family will love this flavorful mushroom gravy.
This is the best vegetarian gravy!
Several years ago, I created the most delicious vegetable gravy recipe that I have ever tasted. This veggie gravy is full of flavor and guaranteed to please an omnivore or vegetarian alike.
I’ve had people who rarely eat vegetarian say this is is the best gravy they have ever tasted. Trust me when I say this vegetarian gravy will be a hit with everyone!
It has become a must have Thanksgiving tradition in our home poured over vegan stuffing and mashed potatoes alongside a scoop of sweet potato casserole with marshmallows.
What is vegetarian gravy made of?
- butter
- onion
- garlic
- baby bella mushrooms
- tamari: or soy sauce
- vegetable broth
- all purpose flour
- salt and pepper
- ground sage
How to make vegetarian gravy
Step 1: Add the butter to a sauce pan and melt over medium heat.
Add the baby bella mushrooms, minced garlic and diced onion to the pot. Cook the mushroom mixture over medium heat until mushrooms cook down and onions are soft.
Step 2: Remove the cooked mushroom mixture from pan and place in blender with 1 cup of vegetable broth.
Blending up the mushrooms
Blend it all up until a thick sauce forms. This is going to make the gravy super smooth, while adding tons of flavor. Set aside and keep cooking.
Step 3: Melt the remaining butter in the sauce pan and make the roux.
Making a Roux
Melt the remaining butter in the sauce pan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute constantly.
Step 4: Pour in the remaining vegetable broth and the tamari and keep stirring.
Add the blended mushroom mixture and continue to stir the pan on medium heat. Continue whisking for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture thickens.
It will thicken up a lot in those ten minutes. Soon it will be able to coat the back of a spoon. That is a good way to tell if it has gotten thick enough yet! Add sage and salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Can I make this veggie gravy gluten free?
For a gluten free gravy, simply substitute the flour for cornstarch. The gravy will be thicker overall, but the taste will be practically the same!
Last year I made one batch of regular gravy and one batch gluten free for my gluten free guest.
Can I make this gravy vegan?
Yes! You can easily make this into a vegan gravy. Just substitute a non dairy butter (like earth balance) and the recipe will be vegan.
I did not like gravy growing up, and always found it bland and tasteless. This veggie gravy was life changing for me. Gravy is now one of my top favorite Thanksgiving foods to enjoy every year!
Last year was my first year hosting my own Thanksgiving and I look forward to many more years!
Storing & Reheating
- Store: This gravy will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This is a great recipe to make the day before Thanksgiving and reheat when it’s time to serve.
- Reheating: Reheat the gravy in a sauce pan over low to medium heat until heated through. If you are reheating a leftover Thanksgiving plate, you can simply add the gravy over your mashed potatoes or stuffing and microwave it until heated through.
Vegetarian Gravy FAQs
Yes! This gravy reheats beautifully, so I always make it the day before Thanksgiving then simply reheat it once dinner is almost ready to serve. This is a big time saver!
There’s no reason why you can’t eat gravy as a vegetarian. Unlike traditional gravy made with meat drippings, this vegetarian version is packed full of flavor without containing any meat.
Be sure to read our post on 17 best vegetarian thanksgiving recipes which includes all of our tips and tricks for making this the best vegetarian Thanksgiving yet!
More Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes
A good gravy is an absolute necessity at Thanksgiving, so don’t settle for anything less than amazing!
“This is absolutely delicious. The flavor is so rich. It is seriously my new favorite recipe. All my guests this year are vegetarian and I was searching for a suitable gravy option. Everyone loved it.“
Vegetarian Gravy
Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- ¾ cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 3 teaspoons tamari
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage
Instructions
- In a sauce pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter
- Add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms and sautee for 8-10 minutes, or until it cooks down and the mushrooms release their liquid
- Remove the mushroom mixture from the pan and place into blender or food processor
- Blend the mushroom mixture with 1 cup of vegetable broth until smooth, then set aside
- Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter in the sauce pan
- Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute
- Add 2 cups of the vegetable broth and the tamari, and continue stirring
- Add the blended mushroom mixture and continue to stir
- Continue whisking the vegetarian gravy for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon
- Add the sage and salt and pepper to taste before serving
Video
Notes
To make gluten free gravy
To make gluten free, substitute the flour for cornstarch. This will make the gravy thicker but otherwise the taste stays the same. Also be sure that your tamari is gluten free.To make vegan gravy
Substitute the salted butter for vegan butter (I like earth balance brand)Nutrition
I just made this gravy tonight and it was delicious! I added additional spices such as rosemary, thyme and all-purpose seasoning. I substituted coconut aminos for tamari. Overall, even my meat loving husband loved it.
I sub Earth Balance vegan butter, and reduce the flour to 1/8 cup (only b/c I make it the day before & found less flour prevents it from being too thick/chunky when serving the next day). Been making it several years & everyone comments how good it is…omnivores & vegans. Will always use this recipe for the holidays, it truly is the best!
So happy you and your family enjoyed it! Hope you have a wonderful holiday this year
This is absolutely delicious. The flavor is so rich. It is seriously my new favorite recipe. All my guests this year are vegetarian and I was searching for a suitable gravy option. Everyone loved it.
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving!
Just a question. Do you use regular or low sodium vegetable broth? Looking forward to making this on Thanksgiving.
I have used both. If you are worried about it being too salty you could use low sodium and salt to taste.
If i make this ahead and freeze it, will it have the same texture after it has thawed?
I have not tried it so I’m unable to say. If you try it please report back!
This gravy is absolutely delicious! I added a couple of drops of liquid smoke to the recipe to give it an even deeper flavour.
5+ stars!!