Vegan gravy that everyone loves! This super simple and tasty recipe is perfect for everyone at the dinner table (and it’s ready in just 15 minutes).

Gravy on top of mashed potatoes and green beans.
save this recipe!
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Gravy is that one thing I absolutely need at the holiday dinner table. One big spoonful goes on everything! Mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, they all are just that much better with gravy on them (I’m a big sauce person, what can I say).

My family used to always make gravy with the packets and a little water. We never made it with the insides of a turkey, so it never dawned on me that gravy was not naturally a vegetarian gravy. Once I realized what traditional gravy was made out of, I figured we had to find a vegetarian route.

Thankfully, I was able to take the concept of my family’s packet and water gravy and amp it up a bit to make it totally vegan and taste like home. This vegan gravy recipe is packed with spices and is super easy to make!

Vegan gravy in a bowl being ladled.

Ingredients for Vegan Gravy

This gravy uses a semi-secret ingredient to add umami to it. Once you try it you’ll never make gravy any other way!

  • Soy Sauce: This is that super secret ingredient! Soy sauce adds great depth of flavor, saltiness, and umami to this gravy. You could also use marmite for a more intense savory flavor..
  • Fat: We use 1/4 of a cup of margarine, but you could use oil or vegan butter.
  • Flour: This is the thickening agent for gravy. Most gravy’s use some type of thickener. It could be corn starch, flour, arrowroot starch, or other.
  • Vegetable Broth: A traditional gravy would use turkey drippings for the gravy but this recipe uses vegetable broth. Alternatively, you could try our favorite vegan “chicken” broth for an even more spot on flavor!
  • Poultry Seasoning: Poultry seasoning is a great way to add spices and the flavor of turkey drippings without the turkey!
  • Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds tangs to this vegan white sauce gravy.

Soy Sauce Tip

Soy sauce adds umami to dishes. Umami is often described as a meaty or savory flavor which makes it perfect for vegan cooking. Soy sauce recipes often go back generations. Families will pass down their specific recipe for hundreds of years.

Mashed potatoes with green beans with vegan gravy on top.

How to make Vegan Gravy

Is vegan gravy easy? Yes! And I am about to show you just how easy!

Step 1: Roux
Heat the fat in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, until it smells a bit toasted and the color is golden brown.

A pan with margarine and flour in it.

Step 2: Broth
While whisking, slowly pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring often, until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

roux for gravy made of margarine and flour.
Liquid being added to gravy roux.

Step 3: Flavor
Stir in remaining seasonings. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm!

Gravy mixture with seasoning being added.
Vegan gravy being mixed in a pot.

Recipe tips

Storage: These leftovers store great. Simply press plastic wrap directly onto the gravy in a bowl and store it in the fridge. The plastic wrap prevents a skin from forming on the gravy.

Variations: Whether you are using this gravy for Thanksgiving or as vegan gravy for biscuits, here are a few ways to mix it up.

  • Cracked black pepper or red pepper flakes
  • Dried thyme and garlic
  • Sage with browned butter
Mashed potatoes with green beans and gravy on top.

How to use Your Gravy

Now that you have this tasty vegan gravy, you’ll need some recipes to try it on!

15 Minute Vegan Gravy

5 star rating
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Vegan gravy that everyone loves! This super simple and tasty recipe is perfect for everyone at the dinner table (and itโ€™s ready in just 15 minutes).

Ingredients 

  • ยผ cup fat, such as butter, margarine, or oil, 60 g
  • ยผ cup flour, can sub gluten-free, 30 g
  • 2 cups vegetable broth, 475 mL
  • 2 tsp soy sauce or marmite, 10 mL
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • ยฝ tsp dijon mustard
Save this recipe!
Enter your email & we’ll send it straight to your inbox.ย Plus youโ€™ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Instructions 

  • Roux: Heat the fat in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, until it smells a bit toasted and the color is golden brown.
  • Broth: While whisking, slowly pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring often, until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
  • Flavor: Stir in remaining seasonings. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm!

Notes

Store leftovers by placing plastic wrap directly onto the gravy in a bowl. This will prevent a skin from forming!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.5g | Protein: 1.7g | Fat: 6.8g | Saturated Fat: 2.7g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 269mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Calcium: 5mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what youโ€™ve made!
Eat vegetarian cookbook.

Give the gift of recipes!

My vegetarian cookbook makes a delicious holiday gift! It's packed with over 100 reader-favorite easy vegetarian recipes they'll love ๐ŸŽ

You May Also Like

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Question? Ask your question here! Sarah personally answers comments every weekday.

Rate this Recipe:




3 Comments

  1. paula says:

    I am so excited to try this. I am not vegan, but always have trouble making gravy. I love your posts, especially vegetarian dishes.

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Gravy can be so finicky! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes, Paula! ๐Ÿ˜€

  2. Walter says:

    5 stars
    This is a really nice compromise gravy recipe even for us non-vegans. We thought we would try it out and were not disappointed.