13 Best Store-Bought Gravy Mixes For Mashed Potatoes

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When you have a hankering for mashed potatoes and gravy, there are lots of great gravy mixes on the grocery store shelf that take very little effort to make. If you have the right mix and slightly more time than it takes to boil water, you can create gravy for your mashed potatoes that tastes (almost) like homemade.

We wanted to look for the best powdered gravy mixes that reviewers were choosing specifically to pair with their mashed potatoes. It turns out that there are a variety of gravy types people are turning to, including turkey, brown, country, herb, chicken, and beef gravies, as well as ones for special dietary needs. Sometimes, customers initially buy them to pair with a specific meat or to pour over a variety of items in a holiday meal, but then find they like the flavor and smooth texture of these gravy mixes over mashed potatoes that they end up keeping packets in their cupboard for everyday use. Our list includes the very best store-bought gravy mixes you can get for ladling atop your mashed potatoes for any meal.

Our list of best store-bought gravy mixes for mashed potatoes starts with a holiday classic: McCormick Turkey Gravy. People enjoy it so much on their mashed potatoes that they end up using it year-round, rather than waiting to have it with a rare turkey dinner. You can make it in the microwave in three minutes or on the stovetop in five minutes, which makes it easy to add to your meal at the last minute, especially if you already have some stashed in the pantry. In fact, some reviewers say it comes really close to tasting like real turkey gravy, rather than just one from a mix.

McCormick's turkey gravy comes together to make a very rich and savory mashed potato topping that some say tastes better than the best jarred or canned gravies they'd tried. It contains some spices and spice extracts, like celery seeds, rosemary, paprika, and sage, as well as flavor from real chicken and turkey. They like that it's thick and whisks smoothly. So, if you love a good turkey gravy, this is a solid option.

Just as many customers talk about loving McCormick Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy with their mashed potatoes as the original. So, if you need to follow a gluten-free diet and love turkey gravy on your mashed potatoes, you don't have to feel as if you're missing out on anything with this version. In fact, there's no reason you can't make it for everyone at the table to enjoy, because it's that good.

Reviewers like that it's flavorful, savory, and not overly heavy or salty. The ingredients for the gluten-free version of McCormick's turkey gravy are somewhat different from the classic (it uses corn starch instead of wheat flour), but you do get onion powder, yeast extract, celery seeds, black pepper, and some natural flavors. Plus, there's turkey powder in this one, as in the original. Customers say it's just as good with a heaping pile of spuds, regardless of whether or not there's a turkey served alongside it. Being quick to make, you can easily add it to any meal without much forethought. It's simple to prepare by stirring it into cold water and then boiling it on the stovetop or microwaving. Reviewers say that, even from the microwave, it still comes out smooth.

Fire & Smoke Society might be a lesser-known brand, but it makes an excellent gravy for mashed potatoes. The one you want to look for is the Fire & Smoke Society Big Sunday Brown Gravy Mix. Developed by a company that also makes spices, it's not surprising that it has a lot of spices and seasonings in it that set it apart from others you might have tried in the past, making any day feel like a special holiday meal.

From the moment you open up this gravy mix packet and smell the smokiness and chili peppers, you know you're getting something unique. Some of the more ordinary flavors you'll experience in this gravy mix come from soy, sugar, salt, beef stock, yeast, black pepper, onion, garlic, celery, and celery seeds. However, it also derives its flavor profile from chili peppers, cumin, oregano, beets, coffee, and non-fat dry milk. Reviewers rave about the fantastic flavor and texture, saying that it's meaty, robust, smoky, and smooth. They also say that the flavor difference is well worth the few cents of price difference between this and other brands. It's especially good at enhancing the flavor of even the plainest mashed potatoes. Plus, it's quick and easy to make, but it only has stovetop instructions. 

If you find yourself eyeing McCormick Original Country Gravy Mix to use with biscuits or over dishes like chicken fried steak, and are wondering if it's also good with mashed potatoes, the answer is absolutely. Whether you plan to pour this over everything on your plate or just want to use it with mashed potatoes, its simplicity and creaminess are just what you're looking for if you're a country gravy fan.

This is often a go-to choice for those who like white gravy on their mashed potatoes. It only requires heating it the stovetop or microwave to make. It's dependably creamy, luscious, smooth, and delicious. Many reviewers say that it tastes like it's made from scratch, rather than from a mix. The spices used are fairly simple, with black pepper and salt providing flavor. Meanwhile, ingredients like buttermilk and non-fat dry milk add creaminess. It's thick without being gelatinous, which is what you want from a good country gravy.

There are a lot of reasons to love Road's End Organics Savory Herb Quick Gravy for your mashed potatoes. First of all, it's the only mix on our list that's completely plant-based, organic, vegan, lactose-free, casein-free, and gluten-free. So, it will work for nearly anyone at your dinner table's dietary needs, while still tasting like regular gravy. Plus, it's a good vegan alternative to mushroom gravy for vegans and vegetarians.

The ingredient list is also one of the cleanest ones you'll see for a gravy mix, consisting of familiar ingredients, rather than chemicals. The base is made from brown rice and tapioca. Meanwhile, it has a delightful mix of flavors derived from tamari, salt, onions, garlic, and nutritional yeast. It also features three herbs: parsley, thyme, and rosemary.

It's extremely easy to make, but only has stovetop preparation instructions. If you'd like a creamier gravy for your mashed potatoes, one reviewer said they got good results making it with almond milk instead of water. Any non-sweetened milk should provide similar results.

Perhaps you've had a hunch that Pioneer Country Gravy Mix might taste good with mashed potatoes, and it turns out you're absolutely right — at least, based on what reviewers have to say about it. If you're looking for a creamy, white, peppery gravy, this one seems to be a real winner.

Reviewers say it's passably close in flavor to a homemade country gravy recipe. You make this one a little differently than others, starting by whisking the mix into cool water before whisking it in boiling water. It's done when it thickens. Unlike the other country gravy mix on our list, this one includes chicken, chicken fat, and bacon fat to give it a real down-home country flavor. Plus, it includes sugar, garlic, turmeric, and other spices to bolster its flavor profile. Reviewers seem to disagree about whether it has too much or not enough pepper. Additionally, the inclusion of non-fat milk helps make it rich and creamy.

Pioneer country gravy is one that people pour over everything from fried meats to biscuits and mashed potatoes. However, we also saw one person say that they use this to mix into their mashed potatoes to help thicken it, which sounds like an unconventional, yet genius, way to use it.

Turkey gravy is a popular option for mashed potatoes, and Amazon Grocery's Happy Belly Turkey Flavored Gravy Mix is one that stands out for lots of reviewers. It's thick and has a nice, real turkey flavor that goes well with mashed potatoes.

Interestingly enough, turkey doesn't show up on the ingredient list. Instead, it includes salt, onions, yeast extract, soy sauce, turmeric, various spices, and natural flavorings. Reviewers say it's smooth and not overly salty. However, some do add some extra herbs and spices to give it a flavor boost and make it taste more homemade.

While this gravy shows up often at the holiday dinner table with stuffing, turkey, and all the trimmings, plenty of people make it for mashed potatoes, even when they're not having turkey. Reviewers also say it's nice to use with a mashed-potato-laden shepherd's pie. It's not quite like from-scratch turkey gravy, but it certainly requires far less effort. After mixing it with water, it's easy to make by boiling it on the stovetop or in the microwave.

McCormick 30% Less Sodium Chicken Gravy mix gets a lot of love from people looking for a chicken gravy for their mashed potatoes. Surprisingly, it's the only chicken gravy on our list. Despite chicken and potatoes being common pairings, reviewers just don't seem to mention other highly-rated chicken gravies as often in conjunction with mashed potatoes.

The chicken flavor in this gravy comes from the fat, meat, and broth of real chicken. It also uses sugar, yeast extract, onions, paprika, white pepper, turmeric, celery, garlic, soy sauce, and natural flavors to enhance the overall experience. They also like that, despite the lower sodium, the resulting product doesn't taste bland. It has 210 milligrams of sodium compared to the 320 milligrams in the original version, which reviewers seem to appreciate. Much like the other gravies on this list, it's also easy to make and comes out smooth. You can make it quickly either on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Quite a lot of reviewers buy Kinder's Classic Beef Restaurant-Style Gravy specifically to ladle over their mashed potatoes. Since many feel it tastes homemade and is one of the best packaged gravy mixes they've tried, it ends up being a repeat purchase. Not only do reviewers like the way it tastes, but they say it has a nice smell, too, which will have you salivating before you even experience your first bite.

The ingredients for this gravy look a lot different than many of the others on our list. It's preservative-free and mainly contains things you might use to make homemade gravy in your own kitchen. Meaty elements include beef fat and beef broth, as well as gelatin. Other flavorings are yeast extract, garlic, mushrooms, onions, vinegar powder, sea salt, and some undisclosed spices. Reviewers describe the flavor as being rich, buttery, and not overly salty. In addition to having a deeper flavor than even some homemade beef gravies, it also has a great velvety texture. After mixing it with cold water, it has quick stovetop-only instructions.

Walmart's Great Value products keeps proving that they can stand against name brands, and that's probably because there are some popular brands hiding behind the name. We're not sure which one is behind Great Value Brown Gravy Mix, but it has a whole lot of Walmart customers buying it specifically for using with mashed potatoes. The fact that it's promoted as being simply "brown," rather than a specific meat, makes it something you can keep in your cupboard for any purpose.

What flavor is brown gravy anyway? Well, according to the ingredient list, it's the flavor of vegetable protein, chicken, garlic, onion, and a few unnamed natural flavors. Reviews say that it tastes like gravy made with meat drippings. The combination seems to complement and improve upon mashed potatoes in the best possible way. While customers like the extremely low price, some say they also like it better than the leading name-brand brown gravy. They describe it as being rich in flavor, as well as having a smooth texture and good thickness. This one also has stovetop-only instructions, starting with mixing it with cold water before boiling.

While it's nowhere near as cheap as Great Value's version, McCormick's Brown Gravy mix is so popular that you can buy it in a 7.62-ounce bottle, rather than just by the pack. It's a gravy lover's dream. People get this brown gravy mix for a variety of culinary purposes, but it seems more popular for mashed potatoes than anything else in particular.

Unlike the Great Value version, which is chicken-based, McCormick's uses beef fat as its meaty base. Other ingredients include white pepper, celery seed, paprika, garlic, onions, citric acid, and a variety of spices and natural flavors. While there's already beef flavor in it, one reviewer said they like to add more bouillon to make it even stronger. Some people find that it tastes a lot like a rich and thick au jus. The gravy has a creamy and smooth consistency. You can make this one quickly, either on the stovetop or microwave, making it easy to drench your mashed potatoes in delightful flavor in almost no time at all.

If you're looking for a good gravy that not only goes with your holiday turkey, but also works well with everyday mashed potatoes, a lot of people swear by Kinder's Roasted Turkey Restaurant-Style Gravy mix. Of all the mixes on our list from the U.S., none have more mentions from reviewers about loving it with mashed potatoes than this one does. In fact, more people talk about using this gravy with mashed potatoes than about pairing it with turkey.

Kinder's is known for having familiar, real ingredients. Not only does the meaty flavor here come from turkey, but it also comes from chicken fat and broth, as well as gelatin. The other ingredients that help make this gravy mix special are sugar, salt, garlic, vinegar powder, onions, yeast extract, paprika, citric acid, and natural flavors. Reviewers rave about its rich, savory, and herby flavor. Plus, they talk about how easy it is to make. This one has stovetop-only instructions. It thickens to the perfect consistency to pour over mashed potatoes to make them taste even better.

Bisto is a lesser-known gravy brand in the U.S., but some stores do carry it, as it's a British classic. Bisto For Beef Gravy Granules make a delicious multi-purpose gravy. Of all the gravy mixes we explored, this is the one where customers talked the most about enjoying it on their mashed potatoes, especially when served with a beef dish like roast beef or meatloaf. Although there are reviewers who say they enjoy it with turkey and mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, too.

It comes in a large 5.9-ounce canister with 34 servings, which allows you to make as much or as little gravy as you need, even for just one person. All you need to do is simply measure it out and blend it together with hot water — no stovetop or microwave required if you have a tea kettle.

It's a fairly simple gravy, containing sugar, beef extract, onion powder, herbs, and spices for flavor. Still, some people add in other ingredients to take the gravy to the next level. For example, they might choose add-ins like garlic powder, onion powder, dried minced onions, black pepper, or even bouillon. However, for some of those who grew up with it, they don't necessarily feel the need to add anything before using it to top their mashed potatoes.

While there are a wide variety of gravy mixes available with all sorts of bases and seasonings, some get more approval from mashed potato lovers than others. We not only wanted to make a list of gravy mixes that were highly-rated, but we also wanted to ensure that they were ones people were choosing over and over again to go with their mashed potatoes. So, we went straight to consumer reviews, looking for gravy mixes with at least 100 reviews and ratings of 4.5 stars or above. Most importantly, we chose gravies with the highest number of reviewers mentioning loving them with mashed potatoes.