The best store bought gravy is savory, it actually tastes like meat—and it probably comes from a packet of gravy mix. Over the course of two taste tests, we tried some of the biggest brands of gravy mixes and premade gravy in a variety of flavors to find the best store bought gravy to buy for all of your gravy needs.
We’re so lucky to have gravy. It’s like salty meat you can drink. Seriously, don’t park the gravy boat next to us 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 we feel about gravy.
Here’s what we learned after tasting 22 different gravy mixes and premade gravies: If you’re going with store bought gravy rather than making gravy from scratch, a gravy packet is probably your best bet. Cans ain’t it. Jars ain’t it. (Although we did find one exception to the rule during our most recent taste test.) Read on to learn which gravy mixes you should be picking up if you’re looking for the best store bought gravy at the grocery, whether you want the best store bought turkey gravy, the best country gravy mix, or simply the best chicken gravy mix to drink straight from the boat.
- McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix
This wasn’t the best store bought 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 instant 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 this mild gravy. It’s not the best store bought gravy we tried, but a totally solid option to have on hand in the pantry. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Walmart
- Knorr Classic Brown Gravy Mix
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 brown gravy mix for meatloaf night. It lacks a little in the beefy-flavor department, but it would really complement a mound of ground chuck. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- McCormick Chicken Gravy
While we weren’t enamored with any of the canned gravy brands we tasted, this ready-to-pour, shelf-stable box of chicken gravy really wowed me. It tastes like thickened chicken broth, which is what chicken gravy should taste like. It would be great over potatoes, but where it truly shines is as a shortcut for pot pie. Buy a box or two of this chicken gravy before the holidays and you’ll be ready to turn leftover turkey into an incredible pot pie with very little effort. It’s the best premade gravy out there, no cooking required. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- McCormick Chicken Gravy Mix
McCormick’s chicken gravy mix didn’t quite live up to the best chicken gravy mix (see #2), 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 best chicken gravy mix has, but it would be great with a bunch of freshly cracked pepper, poured over a gorgeous roast chicken thigh. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- McCormick Brown Gravy Mix
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 brown gravy mix we tasted. It’s thick and beefy. If you like the packet of seasoning that comes with beef instant ramen, you’ll love this gravy powder. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Southeastern Mills Sausage Flavored Peppered Gravy Mix
We tried a couple of brands of country gravy mix in our follow-up taste test and this white gravy mix from Southeastern Mills was by far the best. This peppered gravy mix turns into the creamiest, most peppery, just plain yummy country gravy. There’s even hints of sage in the gravy. Gimme this white gravy on a biscuit with some grits, ASAP. It practically tastes like a bisque and, yes, I did enjoy a few spoonfuls well after I was finished with the taste test. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- McCormick Peppered Country Gravy
This vegetarian gravy mix took the top spot in our ranking of the best vegetarian gravy you can buy. As Jordan Myrick put it in their review, “This white gravy is actually perfect. I do not have a single note. It’s thick and rich and creamy.” And it’s also very, very peppery—which is important for a country gravy mix. Pour this vegetarian gravy on anything from biscuits to vegan breakfast sausage to vegan turkey and everything in between. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Pioneer Roasted Chicken Gravy
This. Gravy. Tastes. Like. Roast. Chicken. Skin. Incredible. And it’s so silky, which is truly impressive when you remember it started as a gravy powder. It’s extremely salty and savory in the best way—you do not need to pour a ton of it onto something in order to reap its flavor benefits. Keep it in your pantry to whip out whenever one of your culinary experiments ends up tasting bland. This gravy mix will come to the rescue. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Knorr Roasted Chicken Gravy Mix
This Roasted Chicken gravy powder is delicious. I tasted this gravy mix alongside Campbell’s canned chicken gravy as well as Heinz’s jarred gravy and it’s really stunning how much more chicken flavor this gravy mix has. 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 the best gravy packet for the job. As I said during our taste test, I would buy this on a regular basis. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix
You won’t believe it, but I said, “I’d drink this,” after I downed a spoonful of Knorr Roasted Turkey gravy. Somehow, this turkey gravy mix doesn’t just taste like turkey, it tastes like roasted turkey. The meat flavor is deep and rich, making this gravy packet 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 store bought 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. — Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
Best for Mashed Potatoes
Best with a Meatloaf
Best Premade Gravy
Best Chicken (Runner-Up)
Best Brown
Best Sausage Gravy
Best Vegetarian
Best Savior for Bland Food
Best Chicken
Best of the Best
Other instant gravies 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, Southeastern Mills Country Gravy Mix, McCormick Turkey Gravy, Pioneer Country Gravy Mix, Pioneer Gluten Free Country Gravy Mix, Pioneer Country Sausage Gravy
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I was very surprised to learn how popular and respected the Knorr brand is considering how cheap it is. My cupboard is literally FILLED with hundreds and hundreds of different Knorr items. They’re soooo good.
Personally I would flip 1 and 2. I always preferred the chicken over the turkey.
Shout out to Louisiana Cajun Brown gravy mix!
My husband was a chef and I was a mere country club sous chef. We both relied on an old Nestle’ product that was a powdered Demi-glace. It was a very good quality product for lunch service and of course could be enhanced with a few extra ingredients such as port, dry marsala, tarragon, etc..
It was fairly pricey, but so versatile. This was gravy on a higher level.
Thanks for the article.
We need worst of lists too
My favorite gravy mix seems to have been discontinued because I’ve not been able to find it in a couple of years. It was the Cracker Barrel turkey gravy mix. It was so delicious! I really wish they would bring it back.
Did this taste test include Bisto?
Sorry nothing beats Heinz Chicken Gravy for mashed potatoes and for turkey
I could write you a list of about 1000 things that beat it lol
No vegetarian or vegan gravy? I was expecting a mushroom gravy to be on this list. This year I’m trying Primal Kitchen Organic Mushroom Gravy with Cashew Butter because it was on sale at Thrive Market.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the word “Meatloves” before, but I like it.
And I’m planning on grabbing all the dry/non-perishable goods I can for Thanksgiving very soon, so many of these recent ones have been very helpful. Appreciated!
Hell yeah! I’m so glad these have been helpful!