Best Store Bought Gravy: Drench Dinner in the Best Gravy at the Grocery Store

The best store-bought gravy is savory, it actually tastes like meat—and it probably comes from a packet. We tasted some of the biggest gravy brands in a variety of flavors to find out which store-bought gravy should moisten your next big meal.

We’re so lucky to have gravy. It’s like salty meat you can drink. Seriously, don’t park the gravy boat next to me at a big family dinner or you’re liable to find a suspicious lipstick stain on the rim. George Costanza once said he would drape himself in velvet if it were socially acceptable—well, that’s how I feel about gravy.

Okay, so I was already a gravy admirer, but after this taste test I believe I can proudly call myself a gravy expert. Here’s some advice from a fledgling gravy expert: If you’re going with store-bought gravy rather than making gravy from scratch, a packet of powder is probably your best bet. Cans ain’t it. Jars ain’t it. Read on to learn which packets you should be picking up if you’re looking for the best store-bought gravy at the grocery.

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Best of the Best

Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix

Instacart

Amazon

You won’t believe it, but I said, “I’d drink this,” after I downed a spoonful of Knorr Roasted Turkey gravy. My colleague Danny Palumbo often praises products for their “alchemy of ingredients,” and that’s what’s going on here. Somehow, this turkey gravy doesn’t just taste like turkey, it tastes like roasted turkey. The meat flavor is deep and rich, making this an excellent blank slate. Toss in a bundle thyme and rosemary if you like an herbaceous gravy; add some pan drippings if you want just a little more of a fatty pop. That said, this gravy will do well all on its own—and all you need is water and a whisk. I’m confident this is the best store bought gravy out there.

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Chicken

Knorr Roasted Chicken Gravy Mix

Instacart

Amazon

A different powdered Knorr gravy for a different main course, but this Roasted Chicken variety is delicious all the same. I tasted this alongside Campbell’s canned chicken gravy as well as Heinz’s jarred gravy and it’s really stunning how much more chicken flavor this has. Again, I think you can zshush this up with some herbs, but it already has chicken fat in the ingredients list. If you’re looking for something you can whip up quickly to moisten a batch of instant mashed potatoes (surprise! I love powdered potatoes too) on a weeknight, this is an excellent option. As I said during our taste test, I would buy this on a regular basis (and threaten to drink it, obviously).

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best Brown

McCormick Brown Gravy Mix

Target

Amazon

Brown gravy is kind of funny, if a gravy can be funny. It’s kind of like when you ask a kid what flavor candy they want and they say “red.” Brown isn’t a meat and it isn’t a flavor, but “brown” also manages to perfectly encapsulate the rich taste of this gravy, used largely for things like meatloaves and roasts. McCormick was the best store-bought gravy in the brown department, much better than Knorr, in fact. It’s thick and beefy tasting. If you like the packet of seasoning that comes with beef ramen noodles, you’ll love this.

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Chicken (Runner-Up)

McCormick Chicken Gravy Mix

Target

Amazon

McCormick’s packet of chicken gravy didn’t quite live up to Knorr’s packet of chicken gravy, but it’s delicious: salty and umami and with all the chicken flavor that was missing from its canned and jarred counterparts. This tastes like straight-up chicken bullion, but with a wonderful silky texture. It doesn’t have the “roasty” quality that the Knorr has, but it would be great with a bunch of freshly cracked pepper, poured over a gorgeous roast chicken thigh.

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best with a Meatloaf

Knorr Classic Brown Gravy Mix

Instacart

Amazon

We’ve all choked down dry meatloaf. I know plenty of people are content to moisten it with ketchup (no shame!), but if you’re serving meatloaf, I really think you should consider having some gravy on the table. Knorr’s Classic Brown gravy is the best store-bought gravy for meatloaf night. It lacks a little in the beefy-flavor department, but while McCormick tastes like something to be enjoyed with rare roast beef, this would really compliment a mound of ground chuck.

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best for Mashed Potatoes

McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix

Walmart

Amazon

This wasn’t our top turkey gravy, but I can’t deny that it has all the appeal of hot meat juice all the same. If you want something a little more neutral to accompany a big bowl of mashed potatoes, something with less roasted turkey flavor, this packet hits the spot. If you’re making mashers from scratch, all that butter and cream you’re adding (please tell me you add lots of butter and cream to your mashed potatoes) can still shine through here. Not the best gravy we tried, but a totally solid option to have on hand in the pantry.

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Campbell’s Chicken Gravy, McCormick Chicken Gravy Mix, Heinz Homestyle Chicken Gravy, Heinz Roasted Turkey Gravy, Campbell’s Turkey Gravy, Primal Kitchen Classic Gravy, Campbell’s Beef Gravy

Sporked’s Guide to an Easy Thanksgiving

November 9, 2022

Here’s a secret: You don’t have to make Thanksgiving sides from scratch. The key is just knowing which store-bought sides are good enough to deserve a place on your holiday table.

Find the best store-bought gravy at home and share with us using #SporkedTasteTest for a chance to be featured on our social pages!