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    Home ▸ Vegan Sauces and Toppings

    Easy Vegan Onion Gravy (Gluten Free)

    Last modified: November 17, 2022. Originally posted: October 31, 2022 By Sophia DeSantis

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    Collage of gravy in a small glass pitcher, being poured over mashed potatoes and a top view of it covering mashed potatoes with overlay text.
    Gravy being poured over a pile of mashed potatoes in a white plate.

    4 ingredients is all you need to make this easy vegan onion gravy! It's so simple, but packed with flavor and the perfect topping for any meal. Bonus, it's gluten free too!

    I use a secret ingredient that gives this vegan gravy the perfect texture without having to spend time at the stove stirring and stirring.

    Fork getting a bite from a white plate of mashed potatoes and gravy
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    This post was originally published on November 17, 2018.

    This easy vegan gravy is perfect smothered on top of my creamy vegan mashed potatoes. But it's amazing on so many other things! I love it over baked oven fries for a healthier poutine like treat!

    Ingredients

    I generally live in my kitchen, but when it comes to the holidays I may as well pull up a sleeping bag. So when I figured out a secret trick to making the perfect fool proof gravy without having to sit and stir until the darn thing thickened (or didn't depending on how I screwed it up), I was hooked.

    A few simple ingredients is all you need:

    • Sweet or yellow onion
    • Sea salt
    • Veggie broth 
    • Cooked potato
    Top view of a wooden surface with a cutting board, potatoes, onion, salt and broth in a bowl.

    How To Make Easy Vegan Gravy

    It really is the easiest! Not to mention so dang good, I can't even stand it!

    1. Caramelize onions in a pan.  
    2. Throw everything in a blender and blend.
    3. Serve over all the things! 
    Sliced onions on a wooden surface
    Onions being caramelized in a pan
    Top view of a blender with yellowish colored gravy inside
    Gravy being poured over a pile of mashed potatoes

    Ways to Use Gravy

    Try to resist slurping this gravy up with a spoon and serve it with one of these recipes instead:

    • Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes
    • Gluten Free Vegan Stuffing
    • Loaded Baked Potato
    • Oven Baked Fries (try poutine style!)
    • Homemade Hashbrowns or Breakfast Potatoes
    • Biscuits
    • Vegan Meatloaf
    • Vegan Meatballs
    • Rice - learn How to Cook the Perfect Rice!
    • As a dip for Vegan Sausage Balls, Onion Rings, or Eggplant Fries
    Glass pitcher filled with an onion grave on a white plate

    Preparation Tips

    Follow these suggestions for the best creamy vegan gravy:

    • Just grab the potatoes from the cooked batch you have going for those mashed potatoes, so no extra work needed!
    • I measured my sliced onions loosely packed.
    • To make this really hands off, try cooking the onions in a slow cooker on low for 10 hours. I did not try this but a reader did and said it worked great.
    • You can adjust the thickness of the gravy by using more or less potato.
    • Make this recipe oil free by using vegetable broth to sauté instead of oil.

    Storage Suggestions

    • You can make this ahead of time, just seal in an airtight container.
    • Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • You can also easily freeze this vegan gravy for 3 months.
    • Note that because potatoes are the base, this gravy will thicken as it cools.
    • When you are ready to eat, all you need to do is put it in a pan and reheat it so that it thins back out. You can also microwave to save time.

    Common Questions

    How do you thicken vegan gravy?

    Traditionally, you add a thickener, usually some sort of flour or starch, and you sit and stir and stir and stir. Until it gets thick. But I have another trick.

    Potatoes. Say what?! Yep, I mean we are all making mashed potatoes anyway right (see my new incredibly easy and creamy vegan mashed potatoes here)?

    I have used potatoes in my vegan cheese sauces for that perfectly thick texture, so it got me thinking.
    And I was right. No more flour. No more being mad that you have to stand there and stir until the darn gravy thickens or doesn't thicken right. Just throw it all into a blender and blend! This also makes this vegan gravy naturally gluten free.

    Can vegans eat gravy?

    Absolutely. As long as it isn't gravy made from meat drippings or broth, like the usual recipe, and as long as it doesn't use butter or dairy.
    In this gravy, I get the flavor from caramelized onions. No meat or butter needed.

    More Easy Vegan Recipes

    Whether you need a dip, topping, or pasta sauce I've got you covered with these simple plant based recipes!

    • Tahini Sauce
    • Gluten Free Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
    • Vegan Buffalo Sauce
    • The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
    • Healthy BBQ Sauce
    • Sharp White Cheese Sauce
    • Vegan Alfredo Sauce
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    Gravy over a pile of mashed potatoes on a white plate.

    Easy Vegan Onion Gravy (Gluten Free)

    Sophia DeSantis
    4 ingredients is all you need to make this easy vegan onion gravy! It's so simple, but packed with flavor and the perfect topping for any meal. Bonus, it's gluten free too!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Condiment, Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 25 kcal

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups thinly sliced sweet or yellow onion
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • more veggie broth to sauté or your favorite oil
    • 1 ½ cups veggie broth , low sodium if needed
    • ½ cup cooked potato , adjust for desired gravy thickness
    • Serve with Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes

    Instructions
     

    • Sauté the onions with the salt and broth or oil over medium low heat until brown, sticky and caramelized. This took me about 30 minutes for the perfect flavor, but taste and judge for yourself. My onions cooked down to about a ½ cup.
    • Put the onions along with the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth and thick. Add more broth for a less pronounced flavor if you prefer, and add more potatoes for a thicker gravy.
    • Serve with mashed potatoes or anything else you prefer!

    Notes

    • Use the cooked potatoes from the batch you are using to make mashed potatoes.
    • I measured my sliced onions loosely packed.
    • You can make this ahead of time, or even freeze.
    • To make this really hands off, try cooking the onions in a slow cooker on low for 10 hours. I did not try this but a reader did and said it worked great.
    • Makes about 2 cups, serving size is ¼ cup

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 291mgPotassium: 92mgFiber: 0gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 3.3mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.2mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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    « Easy Vegan Maple Roasted Carrots
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    1. Theresa Perry

      November 16, 2020 at 6:40 am

      I have made this several times now. I added poultry seasoning and some spicy brown mustard. It had always been delicious and so easy!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        November 16, 2020 at 11:50 am

        That sounds delicious Theresa! So happy you like it!

        Reply
    2. Chris Zachos

      July 16, 2020 at 4:50 pm

      Any suggestions of other spices to add to make it have a more “thanksgiving” flavor?

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        July 16, 2020 at 5:48 pm

        Hi Chris! You can add thyme, parsley, rosemary, sage or a bay leaf. Those are the more thanksgiving like flavors.

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      February 16, 2020 at 4:33 pm

      Truly wonderful!!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        February 17, 2020 at 8:07 pm

        Thank you Michelle!

        Reply
    4. Susan Harrie

      December 26, 2019 at 5:26 am

      Very good but a tad too sweet for my taste. To conteract the sweetness, I added a bit of porcini mushroom powder, which also made it a bit richer. It would depend on what I was using it for, however. It's great on its own.

      Nice, easy recipe and one I'll go back to again and again. Thanks!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        December 26, 2019 at 12:28 pm

        Hi Susan! Yes, caramelized onions can be a little sweet for sure. You can try not allowing them to fully caramelize next time, just sauté normally. But I love that you added the porcini mushroom powder! That sounds amazing.

        Reply
    5. Lue

      November 25, 2018 at 8:57 pm

      Blown away with this recipe! The taste is beyond amazing! I had a hard time not drinking it all right from the blender. My only change was to put the sliced onions in a slow cooker on low for 10 hours. This eliminated me having to stand over the stove to caramelize the onions since the crock pot did it for me. Simple combination of real ingredients, and yet packed with flavor and perfect texture. Thanks for another winner, Sophia!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        November 26, 2018 at 10:50 am

        Wow Lue! Thanks so much for the great review! I love that idea of slow cooking the onions. A perfect way to make it even easier. I’ll add it to my notes!

        Reply
    6. Julie Madsen

      November 19, 2018 at 8:04 am

      And just in the knick of time! I'll be making this tomorrow and eliminating stove-stirring time...thanks!

      Reply

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