The holidays—aka The Cooking Olympics—will be here before we know it. With the biggest hosting days of the year looming, why not think ahead about ways to make your to-do list a little shorter this Thanksgiving? For instance, lean on one of these store-bought gravies instead of making one from scratch (you know, since you already have a roast bird, pumpkin pie, biscuits and stuffing to worry about). Store-bought gravies are generally pretty affordable, and nowadays there are a ton of options for a variety of dietary needs and allergies. Even better, you can often make a store-bought gravy even tastier with the help of pan drippings on the big day. To narrow your search, here is the best store-bought gravy you can buy for every need, according to our taste test.
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The Best Store-Bought Gravy, at a Glance
Scroll down for in-depth reviews of each.
The Methodology
Each gravy was prepared according to package instructions for fair testing. Before we dive into our favorites, here’s how we determined the best store-bought gravy for every palate:
Read on for the eight best store-bought gravies, according to our taste test.
1. Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Use Turkey Gravy
Amazon/Background: amguy/Getty Images
Best overall store-bought gravy
Value: 20/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Quality: 19/20
Consistency: 19/20
Flavor: 18/20
TOTAL: 96/100
This ridiculously easy gravy from our grocery store boo tastes like Thanksgiving stuffing and chicken noodle soup combined. It’s perfectly creamy without solidifying after sitting for a few minutes, and its flavor is straight nostalgia. Turkey fat in the base gives it that signature poultry taste you seek for the main course, while onion powder and spices impart cozy autumn flavor and potato flakes and tapioca starch (not AP flour, gluten-free eaters) thicken it just right. If there isn’t a TJ’s by you, you can order these on Amazon, but it’ll cost you a lot more than if you buy it in the store.
2. Heinz Homestyle Roasted Turkey Gravy
Walmart/Background: amguy/Getty Images
Best store-bought gravy for turkey
Value: 19/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Quality: 18/20
Consistency: 18/20
Flavor: 17/20
TOTAL: 92/100
You can’t go wrong with a savory, mild pick, like this turkey gravy from Heinz, when it comes to dressing a holiday bird. It’s chicken broth-like in flavor, thick without being unappetizing and just salty enough to pair with poultry without overpowering the turkey (or chicken, if you’d prefer). Turkey broth and bits of turkey meat are in the gravy, along with chicken fat and wheat flour for thickening. It’s a tad bland, but just right for a roast bird.
3. Knorr Au Jus Gravy Mix
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Best store-bought gravy for beef
Value: 19/20
Ease of Use: 19/20
Quality: 18/20
Consistency: 17/20
Flavor: 18/20
TOTAL: 91/100
If you and yours aren’t a turkey family, you may be cooking roast beef or steak instead. That means you’ll need a darker gravy that’s designed for beef, not poultry. This pick from Knorr is like a cozier, more intensely seasoned brown gravy. Made with mushroom juice, onion and soy sauce for depth and mild umami, the au jus-inspired topper is a bit runny, but we don’t think that’s as big a con for roast beef or steak. (It mainly serves as a flavor booster, rather than as a source of decadence.)
4. Campbell’s Turkey Gravy
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Best store-bought gravy for mashed potatoes
Value: 17/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Quality: 18/20
Consistency: 18/20
Flavor: 17/20
TOTAL: 90/100
Saltier and more boldly seasoned than other turkey gravies on our list, this Campbell’s pick is prime for drizzling over mashed potatoes or stuffing. Its flavor is more intense than its competitors, so it can zhuzh up just about any plain side dish you can think of. (In our opinion, it might be a tad too salty to pour over your turkey, depending on how you prepare it.) Note: Don’t let its initial consistency turn you off. The gravy thins out once it’s heated and reduces to a just-thick-enough texture.
5. McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix
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Best packet store-bought gravy
Value: 20/20
Ease of Use: 19/20
Quality: 17/20
Consistency: 19/20
Flavor: 17/20
TOTAL: 92/100
Don’t judge a gravy by its packaging—this packet mix from McCormick is surprisingly tasty, sort of like stuffing, thanks to rosemary and sage extractives, turkey powder and onion. This bargain buy only needs water and a few minutes of stirring to thicken up, and it’s not gloopy in the least. If you’re really pressed for time on the big day, you can even prepare it in the microwave (don’t worry, we won’t tell your guests).
6. Southeastern Mills Classic Brown Gravy Mix
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Best store-bought brown gravy
Value: 19/20
Ease of Use: 19/20
Quality: 18/20
Consistency: 19/20
Flavor: 18/20
TOTAL: 93/100
If you’re going the meatloaf route (or just want something to take your mashed or roasted potatoes to the next level), look no further than this brown gravy mix from Southeastern Mills. It’s savory, beefy and delightfully oniony. Texture-wise, it’s creamy and rich without being jelly-like or gloppy. We think it’d also taste great on pork chops or roast beef.
7. Primal Kitchen No Dairy Mushroom Gravy
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Best store-bought mushroom gravy
Value: 17/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Quality: 20/20
Consistency: 18/20
Flavor: 18/20
TOTAL: 93/100
Nutty and sweet (thanks, cashew butter), this Primal Kitchen accompaniment is velvety and rich, despite being both gluten and dairy free. The vegan gravy is packed with wintry herbs, which shine through alongside onions and Portobella mushrooms. We wish it was a little thicker in consistency, but it’s not runny by any means either. If you have plant-based or wheat-sensitive guests at the table, look no further.
8. Williams Sonoma Caramelized Onion Gravy Base
Williams Sonoma/Background: amguy/Getty Images
Best store-bought vegetarian gravy
Value: 17/20
Ease of Use: 19/20
Quality: 20/20
Consistency: 19/20
Flavor: 19/20
TOTAL: 94/100
If it weren’t for the steep price tag, we’d be tempted to make this Williams Sonoma gravy base the best overall. It’s so sweet and deeply oniony, sort of like if you added cream to French onion soup. The prep instructions call for milk instead of water so it’s a little fussier and pricier to make, but so very worth it. The gravy base is made with caramelized onions, onion puree, butter, thyme, rosemary and natural maple flavor; in other words, it couldn’t be more autumnal. This one would taste especially great on mashed potatoes, green beans or stuffing, and you can bet we’d drag a biscuit or roll through whatever drippings are left.
The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend—and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.
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Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
