Theholidays—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 aroast bird,pumpkin pie,biscuitsandstuffingto 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.
The Best Store-Bought Gravy for Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Everything in Between
The Best Store-Bought Gravy, at a Glance
Scroll down for in-depth reviews of each.
- Best Overall Store-Bought Gravy:Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Use Turkey Gravy
- Best Store-Bought Gravy for Turkey:Heinz Homestyle Roasted Turkey Gravy
- Best Store-Bought Gravy for Beef:Knorr Au Jus Gravy Mix
- Best Store-Bought Gravy for Mashed Potatoes:Campbell’s Turkey Gravy
- Best Packet Store-Bought Gravy:McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix
- Best Store-Bought Brown Gravy:Southeastern Mills Classic Brown Gravy Mix
- Best Store-Bought Mushroom Gravy:Primal Kitchen No Dairy Mushroom Gravy
- Best Store-Bought Vegetarian Gravy:Williams Sonoma Caramelized Onion Gravy Base
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:
- Value:Is the gravy worth the money given how it tastes and what’s in it?
- Ease of Use:How simple is the gravy to prepare? Are there any fussy steps or extra ingredients required?
- Quality:Are the ingredients high quality? Does the gravy contain any weird preservatives or additives?
- Consistency:Is the gravy gloppy or gelatinous? Rich and creamy? Runny and thin?
- Flavor:Does the gravy taste good? Does it taste like its package claims it does?
Read on for the eight best store-bought gravies, according to our taste test.
1.Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Use Turkey Gravy
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 ourgrocery store bootastes like Thanksgiving stuffing andchicken noodle soupcombined. 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 (notAP flour, gluten-free eaters) thicken it just right. If there isn’t aTJ’sby you, you can order these onAmazon, but it’ll cost you a lot more than if you buy it in the store.
2.Heinz Homestyle Roasted Turkey Gravy
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 fromHeinz, 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 theturkey(orchicken, 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
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 aturkeyfamily, you may be cooking roast beef orsteak代替。这意味着你需要一个深色的tha肉汁t’s designed for beef, not poultry. This pick fromKnorris 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
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, thisCampbell’spick is prime for drizzling overmashed potatoesorstuffing. Its flavor is more intense than its competitors, so it can zhuzh up just about any plainside dishyou can think of. (In our opinion, it might be a tadtoosalty 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
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 fromMcCormickis surprisingly tasty, sort of likestuffing, 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
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 themeatloafroute (or just want something to take your mashed or roasted potatoes to the next level), look no further than this brown gravy mix fromSoutheastern 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 onpork chopsor roast beef.
7.Primal Kitchen No Dairy Mushroom Gravy
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), thisPrimal Kitchenaccompaniment is velvety and rich, despite being both gluten and dairy free. Thevegangravy is packed with wintry herbs, which shine through alongside onions and Portobellamushrooms. 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
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 thisWilliams Sonoma肉汁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或填料,你可以打赌我们会拖一个biscuitor 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.
Taryn Pireis 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.