Once you make this easy Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine, it will soon become your favourite.
Caramelized onions and red 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.
Elevate meals with this flavourful gravy with onions. This is the perfect onion and red wine sauce for everyday or holidays. Think steak with onion gravy. Perfect gravy for bangers and mash. 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!
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.
Pepper steak has been kicked up at least 2 notches in our house with this caramelized onion gravy. Rich and savory, a true touch of class to any meal.
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”.
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!
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?
Best Onion Gravy Recipe Ingredients
- 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, that 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!
Have you ever tried a French pissaladiere pizza? A wonderful pizza topped with caramelized onions and olives. It 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 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.
Believe me when I say caramelized onions are WORTH the effort, I promise. If you 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.
Homemade Onion Gravy From Scratch
It 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.
- 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 many 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
FAQ’s
This is a 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.
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.
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.
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.
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Red Wine Onion Gravy
Ingredients
- 11 ounces white onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 cups beef broth (sodium reduced)
- ⅓ cup dry red wine
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoons hot pepper jelly (or to your taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- salt & pepper (to taste)
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.
Amanda
I LOVE homemade gravy – whether it’s on a main dish, like meat, or ladled over my mashed potatoes. It’s the perfect finish to a cozy meal. I’ll have to try this caramelized onion gravy with red wine. What a fantastic pairing of flavors – this gravy must have such a perfectly rich flavor!
Homemade & Yummy
It is so rich and delicious…our MAGIC gravy…the we use of everything.
Liren | Kitchen Confidante
Such a luscious gravy! The onions make it especially rich!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes super rich and super delicious.
Jill
So true about not rushing caramelizing onions. And I never cook with a red wine that is not also delicious to drink. I need to make a recipe of this gravy soon!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this recipe a try. NEVER cook with wine you would not drink…and do enjoy a glass while these onions caramelize.
Natalie
WOW Gloria. This gravy sounds and looks absolutely amazing. What an amazing flavors and the texture. This is a must try this Holidays. I’m saving this.
Homemade & Yummy
Honestly this is the BEST gravy we have ever had. Our favourite by far.
Dana
This sounds oh-so-delish! I also think it’s great to stress the importance of caramelizing onions properly. It’s a bit of a process and adds some extra time, but it’s SO worth it. Browned onions are not the same at all! This gravy is A+.
Homemade & Yummy
It IS A+…and you can’t skimp on the caramelizing…KEY to this gravy.
Stef
That gravy would be going over the meat and the potatoes and directly on a spoon and into my mouth. It sounds so flavorful! And, yes, clearly some of the wine would get drunk before it all got used in the gravy!
Homemade & Yummy
I just had some on mashed potatoes yesterday. OMG so delicious….I could make a meal of potatoes and gravy alone.
Tina
This looks delicious and I bet the caramelized onions really give this sauce a deep complex flavor. I love French onion soup so this gravy really appeals to me. I love the suggestion of serving this with bangers and mash which is such a comfort food classic that is great in the Fall and Winter months.
Homemade & Yummy
I know…this really is gravy for the comfort food season. We just had the leftovers…still delicious on any meat!!
Tracy
Ha! I like your style – in the warm kitchen with a glass of wine while the hubby is out at the grill in the cold. I’m totally with you – I love when my husband suggests grilling something, even when it’s pouring rain out. I’ve never made gravy with red wine, but if it gives me an excuse to cook with wine (so I can have a glass, too!), sign me up!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHHA…yeah, glad he will do the “outside” cooking.
Catherine
This is such a fabulous and mouthwatering recipe. I have to make this one night for the family…it would be so good with steak…what a meal! XO
Homemade & Yummy
Steak and onions are in a league of their own with this recipe.
Debra
Looks awesome. I love how sweet caramelized onions make things taste. The combo of beed stock and red wine is just perfect for these onions. Winner of a recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…this is the BEST gravy EVER…like really!!
Courtney
Oh my gosh, why have I never thought to use red wine in my gravy?! This is such a game changer. I love the depth of flavor, won’t make any other way!
Homemade & Yummy
This gravy has so many levels of flavour…and really is easy to make. Best part, you don’t have to worry about the lumps.
Lauren Vavala
My fiance would be over the mood excited if I made him this onion gravy. The step-by-step instructions make it look so easy!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you decide to make this for him. I know he will love it. My hubby sure does.
Carmy
Your onion gravy looks amazing! I think I’m going to want this on everything! This gravy sounds like it is packed with flavour especially with the hot pepper jelly.
Homemade & Yummy
The hot pepper jelly really takes it to a new level of delicious.
Jenni LeBaron
The pepper jelly in this sounds amazing. I love the look of this recipe and am positive it would be a hit in my house!
Homemade & Yummy
This is our “go to” gravy of choice. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Melissa
I am with you, gravy time is any time!!! We do an onion gravy when we do prime rib but I haven’t added the red wine, I will be adjusting it next time and look forward to tasting the difference!
Homemade & Yummy
OMG this would be amazing with prime rib…we just had the leftovers on meatloaf.