Gluten Free Mushroom Gravy – Dairy Free!

This gluten free mushroom gravy is the stuff that dreams are made of! It is creamy, rich, deeply flavorful, and made without gluten or dairy. It’s also make-ahead friendly and an easy recipe that’s perfect for weeknight meals or holidays. It pairs beautifully with everything from mashed potatoes to pan-seared protein to biscuits and gravy. Versatile and a total crowd-pleaser!

The best gluten free mushroom gravy

Like many of the comfort food recipes I share here on NK, this gravy recipe reminds me so much of my grandma.

She was a 4’11” queen of the kitchen – particularly when it came to comfort foods like a delicious gravy, a tender roast, or a warm and filling stew.

She was my first teacher in the kitchen – patient, kind, and oh-so-good at making food taste absolutely DELICIOUS.

It’s where my love of living in the kitchen all began.

I’ve taken her mastery of depth of flavor and used it to create a recipe for a healthier, gluten free, vegan mushroom gravy that will give you all the best comfort food feels.

The base of this gravy starts with sautéed mushrooms and onions (hello, depth of flavor!) and is fortified with a few spices and herbs, mushroom broth, and cashew cream for that irresistible creamy texture.

It’s all made in one skillet and comes together quickly.

Unlike traditional gravy recipes, which can be a bit challenging to make ahead of time and reheat, this recipe can easily be prepped a day or two in advance and tucked away in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

As our Dressings & Sauces category here on NK reflects, we are BIG fans of a good sauce for taking a meal to the next level. And we also have several other make-ahead-friendly gravy recipes that you can check out if you’re on the hunt for your new favorite gravy – our Easy Make Ahead Gravy and Nut Free Gluten Free Gravy are both top-tier gravy goodness!

Recipe features

• Easy to make. This gravy comes together in one skillet with basic, fresh ingredients and pantry staples. It’s make-ahead friendly, and you can easily adjust the texture by simmering the gravy a little longer to thicken or thin it with a little bit of additional broth if needed.
• Special diet friendly. Made without gluten or dairy but still maintaining a robust dose of savory flavor, this gravy will satisfy everyone at your table!
• Versatile. We love serving this gluten free + dairy free mushroom gravy over the classic choice of mashed potatoes, but it also pairs well with pork chops, baked chicken breast, cast iron seared steak, or as a vegetarian gravy for biscuits and gravy. Yum!

Ingredients and substitutions

You can find the full list of ingredients, along with measurements, in the recipe card below. These are my ingredient notes and recommendations for easy swaps and substitutions!

This mushroom gravy is made with whole food ingredients like mushrooms, onions, garlic, nourishing broth, herbs, and spices and thickened with cashew cream.

Raw cashews

You’ll soak and then blend raw cashews with a little bit of broth to help create the creamy base of this gravy.

If you’ve been around NK for a while, you’ve probably gathered that Cashew Cream is my all-time favorite dairy free alternative for everything from sauces to soups to pastas. For a nut-free gravy recipe, be sure to check out our Nut Free Gluten Free Gravy!

Mushrooms

I chose to use thinly sliced crimini mushrooms for this gravy because they are easy to find and relatively inexpensive, but almost any type of mushroom can be used instead.

I have also made this gravy with a mix of shitake mushrooms, thinly sliced portobellos, oyster mushrooms, trumpet mushrooms, and beech mushrooms, and they all worked very well!

Finely diced onion and garlic

These two aromatics add a generous dose of savory flavor to the gravy. I suggest using yellow or sweet onion and dicing it small so that it melts into the texture of the gravy.

Olive oil

For sautéing the mushrooms, onions, garlic, and aromatics. Avocado oil, ghee, or coconut oil could all be used in its place.

Herbs and aromatics

Fresh or dried thyme, nutritional yeast, paprika, salt, and pepper elevate the flavor of the savory mushrooms.

Coconut aminos

Just a small amount brings a bit of crave-worthy umami flavor to the gravy. Gluten free tamari can be used instead.

Mushroom broth

Mushroom broth is the natural choice for mushroom gravy, but feel free to use another good-tasting broth you already have on hand or prefer.

Chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth would all work well. Use the best-tasting broth you can find – it will make a big difference in the overall flavor of the gravy.

This is the exact mushroom broth that I used for this recipe.

How to make gluten free mushroom gravy

This gravy is really simple to make. The magic is in developing some complex flavors by sautéing the mushrooms, onions, and herbs together until deeply caramelized and aromatic.

If you’re ready to start cooking the complete set of ingredients and instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog post.

Step 1: Soak cashews

Add raw cashews to a heat proof bowl and cover with just boiled water. Set aside to soak for 20-30 minutes.

Step 2: Sauté mushrooms and onions

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and onions, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are nicely browned and onions are caramelized.

Step 3: Add spices and aromatics

Add garlic, thyme, nutritional yeast, paprika, black pepper, and salt and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until spices are aromatic and start sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Step 4: Pour in broth and simmer

Add mushroom broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. While the broth is simmering with the mushroom mixture, make cashew cream.

Step 5: Make cashew cream

Drain cashews and add to a blender container with remaining mushroom broth and coconut aminos. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, with no pieces of cashew remaining. Pour cashew cream into the skillet and stir to combine. Bring back to a gentle simmer and cook until gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.

Step 6: Season and serve

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to re-heat and serve.

What if my gravy is too thick or too thin?

One of the amazing things about this gravy is that the texture can easily be adjusted based on your preference.

If your gravy is too thick: Add a little bit more broth at a time, stirring between additions.

If your gravy is too thin: Continue to cook on a bare simmer, stirring frequently, until gravy has thickened up. It will also continue to thicken a little bit after it comes off the heat.

Storage and reheating

Unlike a traditional gravy made with flour, this one reheats beautifully, so it’s super make-ahead friendly, which can be a big help during the holidays!

It might thicken up a bit when you store it in the fridge, but it should return to the same consistency once it’s been gently warmed on the stovetop.

If it still seems too thick after warming, you can whisk in a little extra broth or water until the consistency is just right.

To reheat

On the stovetop: Warm gravy over low heat in a small saucepan or skillet, stirring frequently, until heated through.

In the microwave: Warm gravy in a microwave-safe dish in 30-second increments, stirring between, until heated through.

How long will this gravy keep in the refrigerator?

This mushroom gravy should keep in the refrigerator for 5 days in a sealed container. Some liquid may start to separate from the cashew cream, but it will come back together once reheated and stirred.

What to serve with mushroom gravy

Besides making a show-stopping appearance on your holiday table, this gravy would be a good fit for so many tasty meals!

You could serve it:

• Over Mashed potatoes
• With Whipped Parsnips 
• Over pork chops
• With biscuits for some epic biscuits and gravy
• Alongside Gluten Free Meatloaf
• Over a cast iron steak

If you love this mushroom gravy recipe, be sure to check out these other sauce and condiment recipes, too!

• Easy Make Ahead Gravy
• Nut Free Gluten Free Gravy
• Fresh Pomegranate Relish
• 5 Minute Tahini Dressing
• Garlic Herb Aioli

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

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