There is something wonderfully comforting about pouring warm, savory gravy over a plate of mashed potatoes during Christmas dinner. This vegan mushroom gravy delivers all the rich, cozy flavor you want from a holiday gravy—without butter, cream, or meat drippings.
Made with browned mushrooms, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, herbs, and a splash of soy sauce for extra depth, this gravy is flavorful enough to serve to everyone at the table, whether they follow a vegan diet or not. It is especially delicious alongside mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, vegan holiday roasts, and other Christmas favorites.
Best of all, it comes together in one skillet in about half an hour, making it an easy addition to a busy holiday menu.
🍄 Vegan Mushroom Gravy Recipe
| Recipe Details | |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 25 minutes |
| Total Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings | About 6 |
| Diet | Vegan |
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
- 16 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, optional
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, optional
- Fresh thyme or parsley for garnish, optional
🥄 How to Make Vegan Mushroom Gravy
1. Brown the Mushrooms
Heat the olive oil or vegan butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for about 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The mushrooms will first release quite a bit of moisture. Continue cooking until much of that liquid evaporates and the mushrooms begin to turn golden brown. Giving them time to brown is one of the secrets to developing a deeper, more savory gravy.
2. Add the Onion and Garlic
Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for another 4–5 minutes, until softened and translucent.
Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
At this point, your kitchen should already smell wonderfully savory.
3. Add the Flour
Sprinkle the flour evenly over the mushroom mixture. Stir well so the mushrooms and onions are coated.
Cook for about 1–2 minutes, stirring continuously. Cooking the flour briefly helps remove its raw taste and creates the thickening base for the gravy.
4. Slowly Add the Broth
Pour in the vegetable broth gradually, stirring or whisking constantly as you add it. Adding the liquid slowly helps keep the gravy smooth.
Stir in the soy sauce, nutritional yeast, thyme, sage, rosemary, and black pepper.
Bring everything to a gentle simmer.
5. Simmer Until Thickened
Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the gravy to simmer for approximately 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
As it cooks, the gravy will become thicker, silkier, and richer.
If you would like a little extra complexity, stir in a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar just before serving. Taste and add salt if necessary—the amount you need will depend largely on how salty your vegetable broth and soy sauce are.
🎄 Why This Gravy Is Perfect for Christmas Dinner
Gravy has an important job on a Christmas plate. It brings everything together, adding moisture and savory flavor to potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and the main course.
Traditional gravy frequently relies on meat drippings, butter, or dairy, but mushrooms provide plenty of savory character on their own. Soy sauce adds another layer of umami, while thyme, sage, and rosemary give the gravy the familiar herbal flavors associated with holiday cooking. Mushrooms and ingredients such as soy sauce and nutritional yeast are commonly used to build savory depth in plant-based gravies.
This makes mushroom gravy an especially useful recipe when you’re preparing a meal for guests with different dietary preferences.
Our Vegan Christmas Recipes collection has even more ideas if you’re planning an entirely plant-based Christmas feast.
🥔 What to Serve with Vegan Mushroom Gravy
This gravy belongs on far more than mashed potatoes. Try it with:
- Creamy vegan mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Christmas stuffing
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
- Green beans
- Roasted carrots and parsnips
- Vegan meatloaf or lentil loaf
- Seitan roast
- Vegan Wellington
- Biscuits
- Tofu steaks
- Cauliflower steaks
- Leftover Christmas dinner sandwiches
It can also turn a simple bowl of potatoes and roasted vegetables into an exceptionally cozy winter meal.
For more holiday menu inspiration, browse our Christmas Recipes collection.
✨ Tips for the Best Mushroom Gravy
Let the mushrooms brown. Don’t rush this stage. Mushrooms release water as they cook, and allowing that moisture to evaporate before they brown gives the gravy a deeper flavor.
Use a flavorful vegetable broth. Because broth makes up much of the liquid in the recipe, its flavor has a noticeable effect on the finished gravy.
Add the broth gradually. Whisking it in a little at a time makes it easier to create a smooth gravy without floury lumps.
Don’t overdo the salt at first. Vegetable broth and soy sauce can both contain substantial amounts of salt, so taste the finished gravy before adding more.
Adjust the consistency at the end. Gravy thickens as it cooks and will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
🌱 How to Make Gluten-Free Vegan Mushroom Gravy
This recipe is easy to adapt for a gluten-free Christmas dinner.
Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or use cornstarch as your thickener. If using cornstarch, don’t add it directly to the hot mushrooms. Instead, whisk approximately 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water and stir the slurry into the simmering gravy.
Also choose tamari labeled gluten-free instead of regular soy sauce if gluten must be avoided.
🥣 Smooth or Chunky Mushroom Gravy?
That depends entirely on your Christmas dinner.
Leaving the mushrooms sliced creates a rustic gravy with plenty of texture, and it looks particularly appetizing spooned over mashed potatoes.
For a smoother gravy, carefully transfer some or all of the finished mixture to a blender and blend until it reaches your preferred consistency. An immersion blender also works well.
You can even blend half and leave half untouched for a creamy gravy that still contains visible pieces of mushroom.
❄️ Can You Make Vegan Mushroom Gravy Ahead of Time?
Yes. In fact, gravy is an excellent candidate for advance Christmas cooking.
Prepare it a day or two before your celebration, allow it to cool, and store it covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, gently reheat it in a saucepan over low to medium-low heat.
It will probably thicken while refrigerated. Simply stir in a splash of vegetable broth or water while reheating until the gravy returns to the consistency you like.
🍄 Which Mushrooms Are Best?
Cremini mushrooms are particularly good for this recipe because they have a robust flavor while remaining readily available in most supermarkets.
White button mushrooms work perfectly well, too. For a deeper mushroom flavor, try combining several varieties, such as cremini and shiitake.
You don’t need expensive mushrooms to make wonderful gravy. Good browning and flavorful seasonings make a much bigger difference than choosing a fancy variety.
🎅 A Simple Addition That Makes Christmas Dinner Better
One of the nicest things about this vegan mushroom gravy is that it doesn’t feel like a substitute.
It is simply good gravy.
The mushrooms bring earthy richness, the herbs add classic holiday flavor, and the vegetable broth, garlic, onions, and soy sauce combine into a sauce that feels right at home beside all the traditional dishes on a Christmas dinner plate.
Make a generous batch, because even guests who aren’t vegan may find themselves reaching for another spoonful.
And if there happen to be leftovers, consider that a Christmas bonus—tomorrow’s mashed potatoes just got considerably more exciting.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is mushroom gravy vegan?
Mushroom gravy is not automatically vegan because some recipes contain meat stock, butter, milk, or cream. This version uses vegetable broth and plant-based fat, making it completely vegan.
Can I make vegan mushroom gravy without nutritional yeast?
Absolutely. Nutritional yeast adds an additional savory note, but the gravy will still be delicious without it.
Can I make mushroom gravy without soy sauce?
Yes. You can omit it or substitute a little vegan Worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos, or additional vegetable broth. Check labels carefully when cooking for specific dietary restrictions.
Why is my gravy too thick?
Simply whisk in additional vegetable broth, a tablespoon or two at a time, until it reaches the consistency you prefer.
Why isn’t my gravy thickening?
Give it several minutes at a gentle simmer. Flour needs time and heat to thicken the liquid. If it remains too thin, add a small cornstarch slurry and simmer briefly.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes. This mushroom gravy doubles easily, which makes it especially convenient for larger Christmas gatherings.
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