Southern Tomato Gravy

Prep time: PT5M

Cook time: PT15M

Total time: PT20M

Rating

4.94 stars (62 reviews)

easy, gravy, recipe, southern, tomato

3 tablespoons fat (vegetable oil, shortening, bacon grease, or rendered sausage fat)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups chicken broth/stock
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes (undrained)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

In a skillet over medium heat, whisk the flour into the warm fat.  Cook, stirring constantly, until the flour just starts to brown and smells nutty.  Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and stir until smooth.  Add the undrained tomatoes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cook until thickened - about 5 minutes, stirring very frequently.  Serve hot over biscuits, grits, etc.

Cathy V on 2026-07-16 (4 stars):
Add some diced onion to the bacon grease before the flour. Cook the roux then add tomatoes, broth etc. Beautiful simple dish. Southern heaven,
Carlene on 2026-07-09 (5 stars):
I remember Mama talking about making tomato gravy and rice. She made it all the time for one of her grandchildren but I was never there when she made it. This recipe gives me that chance. This will be made now and often! Thank you for this!!!!
Tam on 2026-07-09 (5 stars):
Yum good ol red gravy ! Great on meat !!
myra on 2026-06-17 (5 stars):
thank you
Trey on 2026-05-23 (5 stars):
My mom passed away in 2011, and tomato gravy and biscuits was something she used to make fairly frequently. Unfortunately, I didn't find any recipe cards, so a lot of her cooking was lost to me. This recipe, though, tastes exactly like my mom's, and I can't cook for anything xD. Thank you for sharing something so simple, as it's helped keep my mom's memory alive through taste.
Jean Coppenbarger on 2026-05-10 (5 stars):
Excellent!!! Wondering if there is any way to lighten up without loosing quality? Maybe 1 1/2 T. bacon fat & 1 1/2 T canola oil?
Stephanie Parker on 2026-05-06 (5 stars):
Fantastic! Tasted just like my mamaw's! Thank you for sharing