Vegan Onion Gravy

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You are going to love my easy 4-ingredient vegan onion gravy! It’s so simple to make, but packed with caramelized onion flavor and the perfect creamy texture. It’s the perfect substitute for regular gravy for anyone following a plant-based diet, and makes a great topping or dip for so many meals beyond classic mashed potatoes. Bonus, it’s gluten free too!

During the holidays, I practically live in my kitchen, so discovering a foolproof way to make gravy without constant stirring was a game-changer. My secret? Potatoes! Using mashed potatoes as a natural thickener eliminates the need for flour or starch, making it quick, easy, and perfect for the holiday rush, especially since mashed potatoes are already on most holiday menus.

I’ve used potatoes in my vegan cheese sauces for that perfectly thick texture, so I thought, why not try it in gravy? And I was right, no more flour, no more standing around stirring endlessly. Now, I just toss everything into a blender, and it’s done. Honestly, this is the BEST vegan onion gravy recipe I’ve ever made!

🥘 Ingredients

My vegan caramelized onion gravy recipe only calls for a few simple ingredients, which you likely already have on hand! Here is what I use:

Onion: I prefer to use sweet onion or yellow onion in this recipe since they caramelize really well and have a milder “spice” to them.

Sea Salt: A dash of salt helps to bring out the flavors of the onions as they caramelize. There is likely some salt in the veggie broth, so no need to go overboard! You can also try a little soy sauce or tamari instead of salt for an additional umami boost here.

Veggie Broth: I like to use a vegetable broth with no added sugar or natural flavors, to make this heart healthy caramelized onion gravy as nourishing as possible.

Potato: For my onion gravy no flour recipe the secret ingredient is cooked potato. With its mild flavor and creamy texture, it just makes sense! I know you will love this easy hack as much as I do!

🔪 How To Make

Making vegan onion gravy is a breeze! All I do is sauté the onions and blend everything up into a creamy sauce. Try to avoid eating it all up when taste testing, but it really is so dang good! Here are my easy steps:

Prep Onions: I start by slicing the onions nice and thin, it helps them caramelize evenly and cook faster.
A little tip: use a sharp knife or a mandoline for perfect, even slices without the tears.

Caramelize Onions: I sauté my 3 cups of sliced onions (measured loosely packed) with a sprinkle of salt 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.

Blend: Next, I 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 or to reach your desired consistency, and add more potatoes for a thicker gravy.

Serve: Finally, I pour over mashed potatoes but feel free to serve with anything else you prefer!

📖 Variations 

My vegan onion gravy is intentionally kept super simple so that you can make it with ease! It is already so flavorful, but it’s also a great base for adding in even more flavors! Here are some of my favorite variations for switching up the taste of the sauce and accommodating other diets: 

Garlic Gravy: Once the onions are nearly caramelized I add in some minced or chopped garlic, allowing it to saute for about 5 minutes. Then, I just follow the instructions and blend everything up!

Mushroom Gravy: If you love that mushroom gravy flavor as much as I do, feel free to saute some mushrooms to blend into the sauce. Alternatively, I’ve also tried this gravy with mushroom broth and it is very yummy!

Herbs & Spices: For more flavor in this quick onion gravy I like to add in different herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, sage, rosemary, and parsley.

Oil-Free: When I need to accommodate oil-free dietary preferences, I use a little vegetable broth to sauté instead of oil.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Try to resist slurping up this vegan onion gravy with a spoon and serve it with some of my favorite sides and main dishes instead:

Pour Over Top: Gravy has always been a must-have side dish in my kitchen, especially during the holidays. I love pouring it over my healthy mashed potatoes. It’s such a versatile addition that ties all the flavors of a meal together and makes everything taste even better. When I’m in the mood for something a little different, I’ll drizzle this gravy over my vegan shepherd’s pie.

Serve As A Dip: I love using this vegan gravy recipe in fun, unique ways! My family enjoys it as a dipping sauce for mashed potato fritters, air fryer jicama fries, mushroom fritters, or really any type of fry!

And while I LOVE gravy year round, be sure to include it in your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner spread alongside all of these tasty recipes: 

• Sweet Potato Casserole No Eggs
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Roasted Green Beans And Potatoes
• Vegan Dinner Rolls
• Roasted Pumpkin Salad

🫙 Storage Directions

Refrigeration:  Once cooled, I store leftover vegan gluten free gravy in an airtight container (I like to use a mason jar). This gravy will stay fresh for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Freezing: Since I love using gravy throughout the year for various recipes like poutine, I often make a batch to freeze! It can be stored frozen for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Since potatoes are the base, this veggie onion gravy will thicken as it cools. When I’m ready to eat, all I do is put it in a pan and reheat it so that it thins back out. Sometimes I’ll lightly whisk in some veggie broth as it heats if I need to thin it out further. You can also microwave to save time.

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