Complete your Christmas dinner with this easy ham gravy from drippings. There’s nothing better than serving your Easter ham with this quick homemade gravy. It really is the best gravy for ham!
Oh my goodness, if you’ve never had ham gravy before you seriously don’t know what you’re missing!
This old fashioned ham gravy is so easy to make, it uses only 4 ingredients, and it only takes about 5 minutes to make it. There’s really no reason not to have a gravy boat full of it with every ham dinner.
It’s creamy and it has a perfect consistency. I love that it’s thick enough to feel like it’s coating the ham, but thin enough that it runs into all the grooves.
This gravy for ham and mashed potatoes is definitely a must for every ham dinner, and it’s the best way to use your leftover ham juice.
If you use the drippings from a glazed ham, pineapple ham, or a brown sugar ham, you’ll naturally get a sweet gravy. So just keep that in mind when you’re planning out what you plan to serve this gravy with.
Butter: I like using butter as the base of my roux in gravies because it adds so much more depth of flavor than oil does. If you happen to have any bacon grease on hand, that would also work well here.
Flour: Flour is a great thickener for gravies. I especially love the flavor it takes on when you cook the roux for a couple of minutes and let it turn golden. If you’d rather make a ham gravy with cornstarch, you’ll only need to use half as much cornstarch as you would flour.
Ham Drippings: This is where all the flavor comes from. If you don’t have ham drippings, I recommend using ham broth instead.
Half and Half: Ham gravy typically has whole milk or cream added in. I personally like using half-and-half. If you like it be creamier, feel free to add more in.
Complete your Christmas dinner with this easy ham gravy from drippings. It really is the best gravy for ham that’s perfect for Easter dinner!
*If you’d rather use cornstarch instead of flour, you’ll only need to use 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch.
**If you don’t have 2 cups of ham drippings, you can top the drippings off with ham broth or water.
This recipe doubles perfectly! The amounts are based on cooking a small ham, but if you cook a large ham, you can definitely make a double or triple batch.
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate. Nutrition content for this recipe will vary widely based on the way you prepared your ham.
Liquid ham? Okay, scrap that—it may not be the best descriptor. But there’s no denying that ham is delectable, and now you can make the most of its yummy juices. Pour it on your holiday ham or biscuits, or use it any way you’d use Turkey Gravy.
Ham Gravy In The Pan
If you want to make the gravy in the pan you cooked the ham in, you can definitely save yourself a dirty dish and do that. Just shake the half and half and flour in a jar until it’s well combined, then mix it into the drippings. Bring that to a simmer, and let it simmer until it has thickened.
How To Make Ham Gravy
Start by melting the butter in a saucepan, then sprinkle the flour over the melted butter. Whisk the roux together until it’s smooth. Let that cook, while whisking constantly, until the roux is golden. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Continue whisking constantly while you slowly pour in the ham drippings. Be sure to pour it in slowly and fully whisk the liquid in before you add more, otherwise you’ll end up with lumpy gravy. Once there are no lumps, stir in the half-and-half.
Let the gravy simmer until it has thickened, then transfer it to a gravy boat and serve. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Don’t Waste That Holiday Ham Bone | Let’s Make & Can Delicious Ham Broth
FAQ
What can you do with ham water?
Can you freeze ham juice?
Do I drain the juice from the ham before cooking?
What does soaking a ham do?
How do you use ham juice?
The natural saltiness and umami flavors of the ham juice help to enhance the taste of the dish while also adding moisture to prevent it from drying out. To baste, simply brush or pour the ham juice over your meat or vegetables during the cooking process. Be sure to baste regularly for the best results.
Is honey baked ham as good as regular ham?
The addition of honey will affect the calorie content of the food. One tablespoon of honey contributes to approximately 64 calories. In addition, the use of heat when making baked ham will reduce the quality of the honey.
What is Ham juice good for?
It can also be used as a base for soups or stews. Some recipes suggest adding aromatics such as bay leaves, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, onion, and carrot to impart more flavor to the ham and its broth. Ham juice is also a good source of nutrients such as iron, zinc, potassium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin.
What can I do with leftover ham juice?
One of the best ways to use leftover ham juice is to incorporate it as a base for soups and sauces. The rich flavor of the ham adds depth and complexity to any dish, making it a versatile addition to many recipes. To make a soup, combine the ham juice with vegetables, stock, and other seasonings to taste.