How to Make Homemade Ham Gravy

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Ham Gravy – Homemade ham gravy made with leftover ham drippings. Delicious side dish recipe with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!

Homemade ham gravy (like its counterpart turkey gravy) is a staple side dish whenever we cook a ham in the oven, which is mostly on holidays like Christmas or Easter. Dinner just wouldn’t be the same without gravy to smother over our sliced ham and mashed potatoes.

Now it's important to remember… The main flavoring for the gravy comes directly from the ham itself.

So if you glaze your ham, like with this pineapple honey glazed ham, the flavoring from that glaze will go into your homemade gravy. For example, if you’re using a sweet glaze, your gravy will be a little sweeter.

It's so easy to make homemade gravy, and it's super quick too. But it’s delicious and definitely worth the minimal effort.

Ham Gravy also makes a very tasty addition to your next baked potato bar or mashed potato bar, as well as a tasty dip for leftover ham crescent rolls. And you can use it in place of brown gravy or chicken gravy in a mashed potato bowl.

I’ve also added this recipe to my collections of favorite Christmas recipes and Easter dinner recipes, where you’ll find all the holiday inspiration you need in one place.

Need a gluten-free ham gravy alternative? Ham gravy with cornstarch is just the thing.

ham gravy on mashed potatoes served with ham and green beans on white plate

WHERE CAN I FIND THE HAM GRAVY RECIPE?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious ham gravy recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE HAM GRAVY

Making this easy gravy for ham is actually really simple, but there are a few tips and tricks that will ensure you make a really good gravy.

HOW TO AVOID LUMPY GRAVY

There are 2 steps to avoiding lumpy gravy…

  • It's important to start by mixing together the flour and heavy whipping cream in a small mixing bowl or glass measuring cup. Whisking this together in the beginning will help prevent lumps in your gravy.
  • Use a whisk to stir your gravy while it's cooking.

Take your time to avoid any lumps in your gravy. It’s pretty much a given that you may have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by whisking the gravy.

MAKING GRAVY…

Once you've got the flour and whipping cream mixed together, gradually whisk together the flour/cream mixture with the ham drippings in a large saucepan or skillet on medium heat.

making ham gravy with ham drippings in cast iron skillet

Then just add your seasoning, and continue whisking the gravy 'til it starts to thicken up.

whisking ham gravy in cast iron skillet

That's when it'll be ready to serve.

simmering ham gravy and whisking it until it thickens in cast iron skillet

Serve it with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixin's!

LOOKING FOR MORE SIDE DISH RECIPES TO GO WITH YOUR MEAL?

Whenever we make a ham dinner or turkey dinner, we usually serve it with sides like Instant Pot southern green beans, honey glazed carrots, or creamy bacon corn casserole. Of course, homemade cranberry sauce is a must at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If it's more gravy recipes you're looking for, Moscato Mom has a delicious recipe for slow cooker short ribs with gravy (also a keto recipe). And 918 Plate has a very yummy recipe for jumbo drop biscuits with brown butter gravy.

homemade ham gravy in white bowl, served with home cooked ham

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRAVY

Mixing Bowl – for mixing together the flour and heavy whipping cream.

Large Saucepan or Skillet – You’ll make the gravy in a saucepan on the stove. This recipe feeds a crowd, so you’ll need a larger pan.

Whisk – Helps to minimize lumps in your gravy.

Wooden Spoon – There’s nothing quite like a wooden spoon for stirring.

Heat Resistant Spatula – Works well for stirring and scraping the sides of the pan.

Gravy Boat – for serving.

HAM GRAVY RECIPE

If you love this ham gravy as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

how to make homemade ham gravy

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ham gravy being ladled out of a deep gray bowl with a silver spoon

Homemade Ham Gravy

Homemade Ham Gravy, made with leftover ham drippings. Delicious side dish with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!
4.41 from 205 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 441kcal
Author: Mel Lockcuff

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix together the flour and heavy whipping cream in a small mixing bowl or glass measuring cup.
  • Gradually whisk together the flour/cream mixture with the ham drippings in a large saucepan or skillet on medium heat.
  • Add in the water.
  • Continue whisking and stirring the gravy until it begins to thicken and is ready to serve.
  • Serve with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixin's!

Notes

*Take your time whisking in the flour mixture to avoid any lumps in your gravy. It’s pretty much a given that you may have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by whisking the gravy.

Nutrition

Serving: 12servings | Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 67mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @mellockcuff or tag #aomrecipes!
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62 thoughts on “How to Make Homemade Ham Gravy”

  1. 5 stars
    This did the trick and hit the spot. I started with about a Tbs of bacon drippins, 1 3/4 cup ham drippins (all we had) powdered milk and powered heavy cream, then followed the recipe. There is enough remaining for any leftovers and I’m thinkin’ even some for buttermilk biscuits n gravy. Thanks

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    I started making ham gravy years ago my family loves it
    Difference in mine i use pineapple slices for the last 30 minutes of cooking time and use the pineapple juice to cover the ham from this comes the gravy base I prefer cornstarch always add cold water to dissolve it the sweet from the pineapple makes the gravy gravy sooo good
    Honestly I didn’t know anyone actually made ham gravy obviously I don’t get out much
    Thanks for Sharing

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    I would inject Ham Gravy intravenously if I could. I’ve always went the corn starch route, but this seems like it might stretch it a bit.

    Reply
  4. I had been searching for a gravy recipe that had exact measurements of the ingredients. My mother makes amazing gravy but she doesn’t measure anything so I was having a hard time replicating it. I was searching on Pinterest and came across this recipe. At first I thought – Heavy Whipping Cream? But, then I thought what can it hurt to try it. If you can add more butter or heavy whipping cream to almost anything it makes it better! So, I made it and the only thing I did differently was that I used 3 cups of the ham drippings and I didn’t add the water (since I had it and wouldn’t want to waste that precious juice). It was amazing! I received lots of compliments. My gravy did turn out lighter in color than the pictures and video but it didn’t lack in the flavor department. I think part of that may have been due to the whipping cream and part due to the fact that my juices were lighter in color (possibly because we don’t bake our hams). I don’t know if anyone else does this, but we cook our hams on the stove top in a large covered pot. We add about 1/2 inch to 1 inch of water in the bottom. No seasonings whatsoever. A good ham doesn’t need anything else. We bring the water to a boil then turn down to low and simmer the ham on the stove for 3-4 hours. We buy a Frick’s brand butt portion ham – https://fricksqualitymeats.com/our-meats/bone-portion-ham/ If you can’t find this brand then I’m sure any pre-cooked, bone in, butt portion ham would work. Cooking the ham this way makes the most tender, juicy, fall off the bone ham you can imagine. Our family doesn’t like the spiral cut hams but I’m sure they could be cooked the same way. Thank you for posting this recipe – it takes a little stress off knowing that I have a recipe I can count on!

    Reply
    • Making a ham instead of turkey for the first time this Christmas. I’m going to try this method for cooking the ham. Hams can be quite dry when oven roasted, this sounds like a great idea!

      Reply
  5. Hey! Quick question I’m planning on making this for Easter and was wondering do you include the rendered fat in the drippings when measuring the 2 cups? Or do you skim the fat off? Thanks!

    Reply

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