Old-Fashioned Southern Tomato Gravy Recipe

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 06/07/19
Classic Southern Tomato Gravy

The Spruce

 
  • Total: 27 mins
  • Prep: 12 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yield: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
88 Calories
2g Fat
14g Carbs
3g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 88
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 436mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 3g
Calcium 42mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This Southern tomato gravy is incredibly delicious, and it is amazing on split, buttered biscuits. The tomato gravy is also an excellent way to use garden-fresh tomatoes.

Bacon drippings or butter and flour make the roux for this simple tomato gravy. Serve the gravy over freshly baked biscuits, mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta. The sauce would be delicious with cooked green beans or slices of meatloaf as well. It's also a versatile sauce with lots of possible flavor additions. See the tips and variations below the recipe.

A few tablespoons of tomato paste was included in the sauce (pictured), but if you are using garden-fresh tomatoes in season, the extra flavor boost might not be necessary. Some milk or cream makes for a creamy sauce, but stock or water may be used for a lighter sauce.

Ingredients

  • 2 large tomatoes (peeled, cored, and chopped)
  • 1 cup chicken stock (low sodium or unsalted)
  • 1/4 cup bacon drippings (or butter, or a combination of the two)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 to 1 cup milk (or cream, water, or more broth)
  • Optional: 2 to 3 tablespoons tomato paste (or to taste)
  • Dash Kosher salt
  • Dash freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Garnish: fresh parsley (chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Southern tomato gravy ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Put the chopped tomatoes in a saucepan with 1 cup of chicken stock. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

    Chopped tomatoes
     The Spruce

  3. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer the tomatoes while you prepare the roux.

    Simmering tomatoes
     The Spruce

  4. Put the butter or drippings in a medium saucepan and place it over medium-low heat.

  5. When the butter has melted and the foaming subsides, add the flour. 

    Melted butter and flour in sauce pan
     The Spruce

  6. Cook, whisking constantly until the roux is just light brown. It should be about the color of peanut butter. Don't let it burn.

    Gravy roux for southern tomato gravy
     The Spruce

  7. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually stir in the simmering tomato and broth mixture. 

    Tomato and broth mixture for southern gravy
     The Spruce

  8. Return the tomato mixture to the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of milk, cream, water, or chicken stock.

    Southern tomato gravy

  9. Whisk in tomato paste, to taste, along with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring until hot and bubbling.

  10. Serve the gravy over hot baked and buttered biscuits or use it as a sauce for pasta, rice, meatloaf, grits, or potatoes and garnish with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley and more pepper, if desired.

    Classic southern tomato gravy
     The Spruce

  11. Enjoy!

Tip

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute 1 can of good quality diced tomatoes or stewed tomatoes (finely chopped) for the fresh tomatoes.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder or a few tablespoons of finely chopped onion to the simmering tomatoes and chicken broth.
  • Add a few tablespoons of finely chopped bell pepper to the simmering tomatoes and chicken broth.
  • Add 1 small clove of finely minced garlic or 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder to the simmering tomatoes.
  • Chop a rib of celery and add it to the simmering tomatoes.

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