12 Powdered Gravy Mixes, Ranked From Worst To Best
Gravy can make or break a meal, turning ordinary dishes into comfort food heaven. When there’s no time to make it from scratch, powdered gravy mixes come to the rescue.
These convenient packets promise rich, flavorful gravy in minutes, but not all are created equal. We’ve ranked 12 popular powdered gravy mixes so you know which ones deserve a spot in your pantry.
1. Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix
Bottom of the barrel alert! Knorr’s turkey offering commits the cardinal sin of gravy: a bizarre artificial flavor that haunts your taste buds long after dinner ends. The powder dissolves reluctantly, leaving mysterious lumps that no amount of whisking seems to vanquish.
Salt dominates the flavor profile so aggressively that any hint of actual turkey gets completely bulldozed. The color? An unnatural orange-brown that bears little resemblance to homemade gravy.
2. McCormick Brown Gravy Mix
Widely available but wildly disappointing, McCormick’s standard brown gravy mix tastes like it was designed by someone who’s only read about gravy in books. The flavor screams ‘beef bouillon cube’ rather than genuine roasted meat drippings.
Mixing issues plague this powder too – follow the directions exactly and you’ll still end up with either soup or paste. The color at least looks somewhat natural, but that’s where the compliments end.
3. McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix
Thanksgiving rescue squad or flavor flop? McCormick’s turkey gravy lands squarely in mediocrity territory. The pale beige powder produces a similarly uninspired gravy that lacks the rich, roasted flavors that make turkey gravy special.
Texture-wise, it’s surprisingly decent – smooth and pourable without being watery. The saving grace is its mild nature, making it somewhat fixable with added herbs or a splash of wine. Not terrible enough to ruin dinner but certainly not good enough to elevate it. Emergency backup only!
4. McCormick Gluten-Free Brown Gravy Mix
Finally, a gluten-free option that doesn’t taste like punishment! McCormick deserves credit for creating a mix that actually resembles gravy, though it’s still miles from homemade. The texture tends toward slightly gritty, betraying its modified food starch foundation.
Flavor-wise, it leans heavily on salt and onion powder, with beef notes that taste more laboratory than farm. The color is pleasantly rich, giving your plate visual appeal at least. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this ranks as a serviceable option in a limited field.
5. Better Than Gravy Brown Gravy Mix
Bold name, middling performance! Better Than Gravy sets expectations sky-high but delivers a firmly average experience. The powder has a promising aroma that hints at real beef stock, which partially carries through to the finished product.
Consistency is this mix’s strong suit – it thickens reliably without turning gluey. The flavor profile includes noticeable garlic and onion notes that give it more dimension than lower-ranked contenders.
6. Watkins Chicken Gravy Powder Mix
Grandma’s secret weapon might just be hiding in this nostalgic tin! Watkins chicken gravy delivers a surprisingly complex flavor that suggests someone actually thought about chicken while creating it. The powder dissolves beautifully, creating a smooth, light-colored gravy.
What sets this mix apart is the subtle herb notes – hints of parsley and thyme that add dimension. The downside? It’s thinner than ideal, requiring some tweaking to reach that perfect consistency.
7. French’s Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix
Surprise contender! French’s – better known for mustard – delivers a turkey gravy that actually tastes like, well, turkey. The powder has visible herb specks that carry through to the finished product, giving it a homemade appearance that could fool casual observers.
Texture hits the sweet spot between too thick and too thin, coating a spoon properly without becoming gelatinous. The flavor profile includes subtle sage and thyme notes that complement turkey without overwhelming it.
8. Knorr Mushroom Gravy Mix
Mushroom lovers, rejoice! Knorr’s fungal creation actually contains visible mushroom bits that rehydrate into recognizable pieces. The earthy, umami-rich flavor profile delivers genuine mushroom character rather than just brown saltiness.
Consistency is spot-on – thick enough to cling to food without becoming paste-like. The color has that authentic mushroom gravy darkness that looks appropriate alongside a nice steak or roast.
9. Pioneer Roasted Chicken Gravy Mix
Hidden gem alert! Pioneer’s chicken offering tastes like someone actually roasted a chicken, made gravy from the drippings, then somehow dehydrated the result. The aroma alone signals you’re in for something special – savory and complex with genuine poultry notes.
Texture-wise, it achieves that silky mouthfeel that defines great gravy. The flavor balance hits all the right notes: savory chicken essence, subtle herbs, and just enough salt to enhance without overwhelming.
10. McCormick Sausage Country Gravy Mix
Biscuit lovers have met their match! McCormick’s country gravy mix delivers creamy, peppery perfection that transforms ordinary breakfast into diner-quality comfort food. Unlike other mixes that merely hint at their promised flavor, this one actually tastes like genuine sausage gravy.
The white pepper specks provide both visual appeal and authentic flavor. Texture is spot-on creamy – not too thick or too thin – and it clings beautifully to biscuits without turning them soggy.
11. Wyler’s Chicken Gravy Powder
Dark horse champion! Wyler’s chicken gravy powder defies all expectations with remarkable chicken flavor that tastes like it came from an actual bird. The golden-hued powder transforms into a smooth, velvety gravy that coats food perfectly.
Flavor-wise, it hits that elusive balance between savory chicken, subtle herbs, and balanced salt that many homemade gravies miss. There’s a richness that suggests real chicken fat, though it comes from vegetable oils.
12. Bisto Original Gravy Powder
Crown the champion! This British import reigns supreme with its deeply savory flavor and remarkable versatility. Bisto’s distinctive granules dissolve instantly, creating a perfectly smooth gravy without lumps or grittiness.
The flavor defies easy categorization – not strictly beef or chicken, but a complex umami bomb that enhances everything it touches. The color is a rich mahogany that looks like it simmered for hours instead of minutes. What truly sets Bisto apart is its homemade quality – it tastes like real food, not a lab experiment.
