Step into the heart of Southern cuisine with this Red Eye Gravy recipe, a dish that epitomizes the soulful and robust flavors of the South. Red-eye gravy is steeped in tradition and simplicity. Transforming everyday ingredients into a mouthwatering infusion of drippings and butter.
Made with the drippings of a fried country ham and infused with the boldness of black coffee, you’ll need less than 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make this classic southern breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
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Southern Red Eye Gravy serves one purpose: it makes use of every last bit of the salty, sticky, sweet, and meaty glaze left behind by fried country ham. In the South, fried country ham is often served as a quick breakfast, so it isn’t a surprise that, at some point, someone figured out how to make use of the drippings.
The Heart & Soul Of Red Eye Gravy
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Dietary Info: Gluten Free
Key Flavor: Smoky, Robust
Skill Level: Easy
Sweet Spots
- Simple Southern Classic: Known as red ham gravy, bird-eye gravy, bottom sop, or poor man’s gravy, it’s a cherished Southern staple.
- Rich & Smoky: Combines country ham dropping with strong black coffee for a robust flavor.
- Served Traditionally: Ideal over country ham, warm biscuits, or creamy grits.
- Unique name origin: Red eye gravy gets its name from the “red-eye like” droplets that are formed when coffee mixes with ham fat. This occurs because the fat cannot properly emulsify into the liquid, so it sits on top instead.
- Gravy or Sauce?: While not thick like gravy, it’s similar to an au jus.
What Is Red Eye Gravy?
Also known as red ham gravy, poor man’s gravy, bird-eye gravy, or bottom sop, Red Eye Gravy is a simple Southern favorite made with country ham drippings and strong black coffee. It is by no means a thickened gravy- think more along the lines of an au jus. The smoky, robust gravy is poured over the ham it was made with and served with warm biscuits or creamy grits.
Origins Of Red Eye Gravy
Red eye gravy is super popular in the South, but little is known about the actual origin of the recipe. The curious name “red-eye gravy” can easily be explained. As the coffee is added to the pan, the ham drippings form numerous small droplets, which, some say, resemble little red eyes. This occurs because the fat cannot properly emulsify into the liquid, so it sits on top instead.
Ingredients For Red Eye Gravy
- Country Ham : Country ham is a ham that has been dry-cured with salt and preservatives over a long period of time. You can find shelf-stable country ham at just about any grocery store. A good-quality, well-cured country ham such as a Smithfield or a genuine Virginia ham is ideal. Choose the slice of uncooked ham that has the most fat so you can maximize its delicious drippings. I chose to use country ham slices because that was the best option at my local market. I also find that the slices render more fat and make for easier serving.
- Black Coffee: Coffee adds a lot of flavor to the red eye gravy. Use a freshly brewed, unflavored variety that you enjoy the taste of! You can use caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee grounds.
- Unsalted Butter: Butter helps to develop the sauce and add richness. Not all country ham steaks or slices will render a lot of fat, so adding some butter can make up for that. If you’ve got it on hand, you could also use bacon grease.
- Beef Broth: Some recipes only use ham drippings and coffee. I find, though, that the beef broth cuts some of the bitterness from the black coffee and makes the gravy a little smoother.
How To You Make Red Eye Gravy
- Render the Fat. I recommend using a heavy cast iron pan to sear the ham slices on each side. Adding a tablespoon of butter sort of gets the juices flowing and the flavors popping! Remove the ham from the pan once it’s nicely browned and warmed all the way through.
- Deglaze + Thicken. Slowly pour the coffee into the pan, while whisking, to deglaze. You want to make sure to get all those delicious crisp bits at the bottom. Add the broth, then allow the mixture to reduce for about 5 minutes. You’ll see the gravy start to darken and thicken. Use the last tablespoon of butter to smooth out the gravy.
3. Pour Over Ham and Serve. Immediately drizzle the gravy over the ham and serve while it’s piping hot!
Substitutions & Additions
- Strong Black Coffee: Black coffee is a must in my book for this recipe, but over the years southern cooks have made some tweaks. Some cooks have swapped their coffee for water, iced tea, espresso, or cola.
- Mild Coffee Flavor: For a milder flavor, substitute half of the coffee with water or use a decaffeinated coffee.
- Added Spice: Delicious as is, the addition of brown sugar, black pepper, or cayenne pepper gives this recipe a new twist.
- Ham Substitutes: If country ham isn’t available, use any cured ham; the flavor will vary but still be delicious.
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I recommend trying the recipe as is, then recreating it using your own preferences and creativity. Let me know what changes you made in the comments below!
What To Serve With Red Eye Gravy
The most delicious way to enjoy red eye gravy is served over ham and sopped up with buttermilk biscuits. I like to build a sandwich by slicing the biscuit in half, dipping the insides in gravy, and layering the ham in between. The fluffy, buttery biscuits and the salty-sweet, saucy ham make for the most incredible bite EVER!
Serve Red Eye Gravy with:
- Cheese Grits
- Cauliflower Grits
- Honey Cornbread
- Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
- Southern Smothered Potatoes
- Butter Swim Biscuits
How To Store & Reheat Red Eye Gravy
Country ham with red eye gravy is usually made in small batches consisting of about 2 servings. I wouldn’t anticipate having leftovers, but if you do they can be easily stored in an airtight container.
How long will red eye gravy keep in the fridge? Refrigerate the ham for 3-4 days. When stored properly red eye gravy should maintain its quality for 3-4 days in the fridge. Its flavor can even improve after a day or two as the ingredients continue to meld.
Can I freeze red eye gravy? Freezing the gravy is possible, but you likely won’t have much left to freeze. If by chance you do, store in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months.
Reheating Red Eye Gravy
Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the ham and gravy in an oven safe dish and add a splash of broth or water. Cover with aluminum foil and heat for 5 minutes, or until warmed through.
Stovetop: Preheat a nonstick skillet to medium-low heat. Add the leftover ham and gravy to the pan, then add a splash of broth or water. Cover the skillet and heat for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through.
NOTE: Country ham is a little dry to begin with, but you can really tell when you’ve overcooked it. The pieces will be really tough and chewy. Reheating might cause the ham to become overcooked, so keep a close eye on it and add liquid when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red Eye Gravy is traditionally thin, more like an au jus. If you prefer it slightly thicker, simmer it for a few extra minutes to reduce, or add a small amount of cornstarch slurry.
Coffee is a key ingredient in this 4 ingredient recipe. For a milder taste, omit the coffee and replace it with equal parts beef broth. The gravy will lack the traditional coffee flavor but will still be delicious.
The bitterness mainly comes from the strong roasted coffee. Use a milder roast, and balance the flavor with a small amount of sugar or beef broth as suggested in the recipe.
Grandbaby Cakes’ Best Gravy Recipes
What would Southern food be without gravy? If you loved this recipe, try out a few more of my smoothest, savoriest homemade gravies:
Red Eye Gravy
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Ingredients
- 6 ounces sliced country ham
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- ½ cup strong black coffee
- ¼ cup beef broth
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until warmed through and seared. Transfer the ham to a plate and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium and slowly pour in the coffee, a little at a time, and deglaze by scraping the bottom of the pan as you whisk. Then add the broth, continuing to whisk until the gravy is simmering.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until gravy is thickened. Add in remaining tablespoon butter and whisk until melted.
- Remove skillet from heat and serve gravy warm over or on the side of browned ham on biscuits.
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Such a great recipe! The ham drippings gave it such a rich flavor. I’ll definitely make this again with some holiday breakfasts coming up.
Its been awhile since I’ve had red eye gravy. Forgot how good this tasted with the ham. So delicious!
This was so good on ham steak thank you so much!
I haven’t had red eye gravy in a very long time. Yours sounds marvelous and I can’t wait to make this.