Can You Buy Ham Gravy In A Jar? The Complete Guide

Complete your Christmas dinner with this easy ham gravy from drippings. There’s nothing better than serving your Easter ham with this quick homemade gravy. It really is the best gravy for ham!.

Oh my goodness, if you’ve never had ham gravy before you seriously don’t know what you’re missing!

There are only 4 things you need to make this old-fashioned ham gravy, and it only takes about 5 minutes. There’s really no reason not to have a gravy boat full of it with every ham dinner.

It’s creamy and it has a perfect consistency. I like how it’s thick enough to cover the ham but not so thick that it doesn’t run into any cracks.

This ham and mashed potato gravy is a must-have for any ham dinner, and it’s also the best way to use up any extra ham juice.

You will get a sweet gravy if you use the juices from a pineapple ham, a glazed ham, or a brown sugar ham. So just keep that in mind when you’re planning out what you plan to serve this gravy with.

Butter: I like putting butter in gravies instead of oil as the base of my roux because it gives the gravy a lot more flavor. If you happen to have any bacon grease on hand, that would also work well here.

Flour: Flour is a great thickener for gravies. The taste is especially great after cooking the roux for a few minutes and letting it turn golden. You only need half as much cornstarch as flour if you want to make ham gravy with it.

Ham Drippings: This is where all the flavor comes from. If you don’t have ham drippings, I recommend using ham broth instead.

Half and Half: Ham gravy typically has whole milk or cream added in. I personally like using half-and-half. If you like it be creamier, feel free to add more in.

Complete your Christmas dinner with this easy ham gravy from drippings. It really is the best gravy for ham that’s perfect for Easter dinner!.

*If you’d rather use cornstarch instead of flour, you’ll only need to use 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch.

**You can add ham broth or water to the drippings if you don’t have 2 cups.

This recipe works great for two or three times as much! The amounts are for cooking a small ham, but you can definitely make more if you cook a big ham.

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate. Nutrition content for this recipe will vary widely based on the way you prepared your ham.

Ham gravy is a delicious accompaniment to many dishes, especially during the holidays. Its rich, savory flavor pairs perfectly with baked ham, turkey, chicken, and more. But making ham gravy from scratch can be time-consuming. So can you just buy pre-made ham gravy in a jar instead?

In this complete guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying ham gravy in a jar. We’ll discuss

The convenience of pre-made ham gravy
Popular brands of jarred ham gravy
How the taste compares to homemade
Recipe ideas for using store-bought ham gravy
Tips for improving the flavor
A step-by-step guide to making ham gravy from scratch

The Availability of Jarred Ham Gravy

The good news is yes, you can absolutely buy pre-made ham gravy in a jar! It’s readily available at most major grocery stores and retailers like Walmart, Target, etc.

You’ll typically find it shelved near the canned broths and gravies. Popular brands like Heinz and McCormick sell jarred ham gravy seasoned and ready to heat and eat.

The main downside is that quality and taste can vary greatly between store-bought and homemade ham gravy. Preservatives and artificial flavors in some brands can affect flavor. But for convenience, jarred ham gravy can be a handy shortcut.

The Benefits of Pre-Made Ham Gravy

There are a few advantages to choosing store-bought ham gravy over homemade:

Saves time and effort – no simmering on the stovetop needed! Just open, heat, and serve
Handy shortcut – great for when you don’t have ham drippings or want to skip a complicated recipe.
Consistent results – you know exactly what you’re getting every time you buy a particular brand.

So if you’re short on time or ingredients, pre-made ham gravy can be a lifesaver for completing holiday meals or adding flavor to weeknight dinners.

Popular Brands of Jarred Ham Gravy

If you don’t have a go-to brand yet, here are some popular pre-made options to look for:

Heinz HomeStyle Pork Gravy – A favorite brand, Heinz makes a 12 oz jar of savory pork and ham gravy.
McCormick Brown Gravy Mix – While not ham-specific, their classic brown gravy works well. Just add ham drippings for flavor.
Gerber Ham Gravy Baby Food – A high-protein puree of ham in gravy, specially made for babies.
Trader Joe’s Turkey Gravy – Made with turkey and a hint of stuffing flavor, this unique gravy works for ham too.
Franco-American Gravy – Their classic pork or chicken gravy options can be used on ham.

Check the ingredients on any brand you buy to avoid low-quality fillers, preservatives, etc.

How Store-Bought Compares to Homemade Ham Gravy

When it comes to taste and texture, there are some clear differences between pre-made and homemade ham gravy:

Store-bought is more heavily processed – this leads to more artificial, “canned” flavors.
Homemade has a richer, deeper flavor – Thanks to control over ingredients like quality broth, herbs, and choice drippings.
Pre-made gravy tends to be saltier – Often packed with extra sodium as a preservative.
From-scratch gravy has better texture – Not as thick or pasty as some jarred versions. Easier to customize.

However, adding ham drippings or your own seasonings to store-bought can help imitate that homemade taste. It likely won’t match completely, but can get close for an easier option.

How to Use Jarred Ham Gravy

Ready to put that store-bought ham gravy to work? Here are some delicious ways to incorporate it into recipes:

Pour over sliced ham or ham steaks
Use as a sauce for chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, etc.
Make gravy biscuits or sausage gravy breakfast sandwiches
Add to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, etc.
Use as a dip for bread, rolls, or vegetables
Drizzle over a ham and cheese omelet or quiche
Mix into pasta, risotto, pot pies, or fried rice
Thin with broth for a quick ham soup base

With a little creativity, pre-made ham gravy can elevate both weeknight dinners and holiday feasts.

Tips for Improving Store-Bought Ham Gravy

To make that jarred gravy taste more homemade, try these easy tricks:

Whisk in ham drippings while heating to add meaty depth.
Simmer with fresh herbs like thyme, sage, or rosemary.
Add a splash of white wine or beer for brightness.
Dilute with unsalted broth if the gravy is too salty.
Thicken with a roux if the gravy is too thin.
Finish with cream or sour cream for richness and tang.
Season to taste with pepper, garlic, onions, or other flavor-boosting ingredients.

With a few tweaks as it heats, you can transform store-bought into a much more custom, robust ham gravy.

Step-By-Step Guide to Making Your Own Ham Gravy

For the absolute best from-scratch ham gravy, follow these simple steps:

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups ham drippings
1/4 cup half and half or milk

Directions:

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook 2 minutes until the roux is lightly golden.
Very slowly whisk in the ham drippings until thoroughly combined.
Pour in the half and half and whisk until smooth.
Allow the gravy to simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened as desired, about 5 minutes.
Taste and season with salt, pepper, and any other flavors as needed.
Transfer to a gravy boat and serve hot.

Making your own ham gravy is simple with just a few ingredients. Simmering ham drippings with a roux creates an incredibly rich, savory flavor that can’t be matched by store-bought.

But for convenience, jarred ham gravy is a handy option to keep stocked. With a few extra steps, you can significantly elevate the flavor of pre-made gravy. So experiment with different brands and tweak as needed to find your perfect shortcut ham gravy!