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    Home » Recipes

    Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine

    October 13, 2020 *Updated* November 16, 2021 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 170 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure Policy.
    Jump To Recipe

    Once you make this easy Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine, it will soon become your favourite.

    Caramelized onions and wine combine to make a rich sauce. This gravy is made from scratch without meat drippings. Skip the store-bought canned and dry mixes. You don’t need Bisto either. Pair them with Gramma’s Drop Biscuits.

    Homemade Onion Gravy on a steak.

    Think steak with onion gravy. This recipe is a must-try. I promise YOU will LOVE it!

    Here is my fool-proof recipe for perfect gravy every time! I use it for all the holiday dinners. Super easy, even beginner cooks will master it the first time!

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    Hubby wanted steak for dinner. Let me rephrase that, hubby wanted barbecued steak for dinner. Pepper steak is his FAVOURITE. He also loves using a great meat marinade too.

    I was thrilled. He gets to stand out in the cold and grill the meat. I get to stand in the kitchen (with a glass of wine) and watch him LOL. I was nice, I opened the door and offered him a glass of wine too. This turned out to be THE MOST DELICIOUS steak dinner we have ever made.

    Since he was so nice to cook my dinner, I wanted to make it a little extra special with a great red wine gravy. You know Julia Child’s saying, “I love to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food”.

    RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this caramelized onion gravy with red wine can be found at the bottom of this post.

    Are you a gravy lover? I AM! Turkey, beef and mushroom. They are ALL delicious. I also love cranberry sauce (my version contains bourbon).

    So does my Bourbon Caramelized Onion Jam! The BEST onion jam for burgers, sausages, pulled pork, brisket and more!!

    Now, if you are a pierogi lover, I have you covered too. This Pierogi Sauce is the BEST pierogi topping EVER!

    Thinly sliced onions ready to caramelize.

    Since red wine and steak go hand in hand, I wanted to make the perfect steak topping. This is hands down the BEST ONION GRAVY recipe you will ever make. Hubby has been telling everyone about it. Maybe I should sell it?

    For Caramelized Onion Sauce You Will Need:

    • onions
    • beef broth
    • red wine
    • flour
    • mustard
    • olive oil
    • butter
    • pepper jelly
    • salt & pepper

    Homemade gravy is so much better than pre-made versions from cans, pouches, packages, or however else you can buy it. Some people are so intimidated when it comes to making gravy from scratch. After all, you can’t serve gravy with lumps at holiday dinners.

    You are in luck! This is meant to be lumpy!!

    I will say, the MOST IMPORTANT part of this onion sauce (besides a good quality wine) is caramelizing the onions. You cannot rush this part.

    How To Caramelize Onions

    I know you are probably thinking, is this REALLY necessary? YES!

    Caramelized onions ready to make onion gravy.

    Have you ever tried a French pissaladiere pizza? A wonderful pizza topped with caramelized onions and olives. Just might be my favourite pizza of all. Even french onion soup needs some great slow cooked onions.

    Caramelizing onions is time-consuming, but NOT difficult. I get this process started WELL before I need to use the onions in the recipe. Once they are cooked, you can just reheat them when you are ready.

    Step One: You start by thinly slicing the onions (while trying not to cry). Using a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook for about 10 minutes or so to get them soft and translucent (mixing often).

    Step Two: At this point, you can turn the heat down to low. Add the butter, mix, and place a lid on the skillet. Continue to cook (mixing a few times) until the onions are golden and soft. This can take anywhere from 40-60 minutes depending on the amount of onions.

    Overhead shot of homemad red wine  gravy in a pot.

    Believe me when I say caramelized onions are WORTH the effort, I promise. If you really don’t want to spend the time you can always check out Gordon Ramsay’s recipe for Shallot and Red Wine Sauce, or Nigella Lawson’s recipe , but my hubby thinks you will like my recipe better.

    Making Homemade Onion Gravy From Scratch

    It really is super easy and comes together quickly once the onions are cooked.

    I got this idea from a recipe for classic British Cumberland Sauce. Since we love our food on the spicy side, this worked fantastically. Any wine jelly (or hot jelly if you like the heat) will work. Alternatively, if jelly is not your thing, add tomato paste instead.

    A gravy boat full of onion gravy ready to serve.
    • To the cooked onions add the jelly, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until the jelly melts.
    • Add the flour and mix well.
    • Add the wine, then the broth. Stir well.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce and cook until it thickens.

    In a few minutes, you will have the best brown onion gravy ever!

    What Do I Put Onion Gravy On?

    Well, let me tell you there are LOTS of ways to use this thick and rich homemade onion sauce. The ultimate for comfort foods. Let’s start with biscuits and gravy. Don’t stop there, here are a few suggestions:

    • Mashed potatoes
    • Roast (beef, pork, or lamb)
    • Chicken
    • Steak
    • Pork Chops
    • Meatballs
    • Poutine
    • Bangers and Mash
    Red Wine Onion Gravy getting poured onto a steak.

    FAQ

    What is the best red wine to cook with?

    This is personal preference for sure. I always say if you won’t drink it, don’t cook with it. Great choices would be cabernet, merlot, pinot noir and zinfandel.

    What are the best onions to caramelize?

    You have lots of choices here. All will work well. Experiment and see which you like best. Yellow, sweet, red, and even leeks work great.

    Is there a difference between caramelized onions and sautéed?

    Caramelizing is a much slower process. It takes roughly an hour over medium-low heat. Sautéing is done in a matter of minutes over medium-high heat.

    Can you make onion gravy in advance?

    Yes it can. Warm it up in a saucepan when you are ready to eat. Store the cooled gravy in the refrigerator, in a covered, non-metallic container, for up to 3 days.

    Pepper steak has been kicked up at least 2 notches in our house with this Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine.

    Do you have a favourite homemade sauce recipe?

    Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get a FREE PRINTABLE and recipes! FOLLOW ME on social media too.

    Homemade Onion Gravy Pin


    Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine on top of steak.

    Red Wine Onion Gravy

    Red Wine Onion Gravy is going to be your MAGIC sauce from now on. Caramelized onion gravy from scratch. The perfect topping for steak (and lots of other things too).
    5 from 121 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Rate Save Saved!
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    Course: Gravy, side
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Keyword: homemade gravy from scratch, onion sauce
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 86kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

    Ingredients

    • 11 ounces white onions (thinly sliced)
    • 2 cups beef broth (sodium reduced)
    • ⅓ cup dry red wine
    • 1 tablespoons flour
    • 2 tablespoons hot pepper jelly (or to your taste)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoons butter
    • 1 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
    • salt & pepper (to taste)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Thinly slice the onions.
    • Warm the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat.
    • Adds the onions, stir and cook for about 8-10 minutes. Mix during the cooking process. Onions should be soft and translucent. Do not burn them.
    • Turn the heat to low. Add the butter, salt and pepper. Mix well, and place the lid on the pan.
    • Cook over low heat until the onions are nicely caramelized. Stir several times. It will take about 40-50 minutes for the onions to nicely brown and get very soft.
      **NOTE** You can cook the onions ahead of time, and just warm them when it is time to make the gravy.
    • When the onions are done, turn up the heat to medium.
    • Add the hot pepper jelly and mustard. Stir until everything has melted into the onions.
    • Add the flour and mix to combine well.
    • Add the wine and beef broth. Mix.
    • Turn the heat to high and bring mixture to a boil.
    • Reduce heat to low, and cook until the gravy thickens and reduces slightly. This should take about 15-20 minutes.
    • Pour gravy into a serving vessel.
    • ENJOY!

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 89mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Notes

    This recipe makes 2 cups of gravy.
    The onions can be cooked ahead of time, and heated before continuing to make the gravy.
     
    Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy
    Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

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    MEET THE AUTHOR

    Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suzy

      February 05, 2022 at 12:13 pm

      The perfect gravy for sausage and mash. This was the best I’ve made and one of the easiest. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 06, 2022 at 9:27 am

        We love the onion gravy….and it is so good on many things. So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

    2. Allyssa

      October 06, 2021 at 6:47 am

      This taste so delicious and really flavorful! So easy to make as well, thanks a lot for sharing this amazing onion gravy recipe! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 06, 2021 at 9:57 am

        This is such a great gravy for so many things. We love it on steak.

    3. Jennifer

      October 05, 2021 at 4:00 pm

      I love onion gravy on my swiss steaks but I also like to keep some for leftover pasta noodles 🙂

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 06, 2021 at 9:57 am

        I would for sure eat this on pasta too. ENJOY!

    4. Natalie

      September 16, 2021 at 3:44 pm

      The texture is just amazing. So are the flavors. I’m going to give your recipe a try. It will be the perfect addition to the beef I’m making for dinner tomorrow.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 17, 2021 at 9:19 am

        I can eat this onion gravy by the spoonful. ENJOY!

    5. Christine

      May 23, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      I don’t have pepper jelly. Can you suggest a substitution?

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        May 24, 2021 at 9:06 am

        The pepper jelly adds a bit of heat. You can always try just grape jelly and some cayenne?

    6. Natalie

      October 26, 2020 at 10:21 am

      This gravy looks amazing. I bet the red vine elevates the taste to another delicious level. SO good! I’m making a steak for dinner tomorrow. This gravy will be a perfect addition.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 28, 2020 at 10:48 am

        This is our go to gravy for so many recipes. I know you are going to love it.

    7. Sam

      October 26, 2020 at 12:50 am

      Wow this sounds pretty amazing! I have never had onion gravy but I have onions in everything so I already know what I want to put this on… everything! Excited to try it.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 28, 2020 at 10:48 am

        We love this gravy. Perfect for any meat dish or casserole.

    8. Tracy

      October 25, 2020 at 11:25 pm

      Now THIS is our kind of gravy – the onion loaded kind! We love it and make it to put on steak, chicken, and mashed potatoes! It’s our favorite!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 28, 2020 at 10:49 am

        OMG this is the ultimate gravy for mashed potatoes. ENJOY.

    9. Debra

      October 25, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      So much easier than I thought…and totally worth the effort. Such a nice build up of flavors…it was really delicious.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 28, 2020 at 10:50 am

        The onions take the most time….but so worth the effort.

    10. Tara

      October 25, 2020 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you so much for this onion gravy recipe! I love caramelized onions and am excited to give this a try. I know your step by step instructions will be super helpful!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        October 28, 2020 at 10:50 am

        This onion gravy is really easy to make. I know you will love the results.

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