This gluten-free au jus is easy to make and adds savory flavor to roast beef, French dip sandwiches, and more. Make it with or without pan drippings for a homemade alternative to packaged au jus seasoning or gravy mix.
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Katie's Recipe Notes
If you're learning to cook gluten-free, even familiar recipes can leave you wondering what to use instead. Maybe you usually add flour to your beef drippings, or your favorite recipe calls for an au jus seasoning packet. I'll walk you through both options so you can make whichever version you need.
- With pan drippings: Put those flavorful juices from your roast beef to use in a homemade au jus.
- Without pan drippings: Make a simple gluten free au jus gravy mix for sandwiches and other beef recipes.
- From scratch: You control the ingredients and can adjust the seasoning to suit your meal.
More Gluten-Free Sauces
Keep these recipes handy for other meals:
What Is Au Jus?
Au jus is French for "with juice" and describes meat served with its cooking juices. It's commonly associated with prime rib, roast beef, and the savory dipping sauce served alongside French dip sandwiches.
To make it, you deglaze the roasting pan to loosen the flavorful browned bits, then add beef stock and seasonings. The result is a thin, savory sauce rather than a thick gravy.
Packaged au jus mix offers a shortcut, using concentrated beef flavoring and dried seasonings mixed with water. This recipe gives you a homemade option with or without pan drippings, perfect for roast beef or Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches.
Gluten-Free Au Jus Gravy Mix Ingredients
An au jus seasoning packet is mainly cornstarch and beef bouillon. In this recipe we've added a few extra seasonings to amp up the flavor!
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the thickener for this recipe. It's easy to use and convenient. Other starches, such as potato starch or arrowroot powder, may work as well, but I have not tested them.
- Beef Bouillon: Be sure to check if your beef bouillon is gluten-free because not all bouillons are gluten-free. I use Orrington Farms brand.
- Dried Seasonings: onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, celery salt, and black pepper add a ton of flavor to the au jus! I tested the recipe with and without the extra seasonings and the version with them was so much better! It had the perfect balance of flavor. But if you really just want a plain beef au jus, feel free to omit the dried seasonings and use just the cornstarch and beef bouillon instead.
The ingredients in this recipe are equivalent to one Au Jus Gravy mix packet. So if you have a recipe that calls for one packet, you can substitute this mixture right in your recipe!
How To Make Gluten-Free Au Jus Gravy Mix
To make a gluten-free au jus mix, stir together 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon gluten-free beef bouillon, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, and ¼ teaspoon each of garlic powder, black pepper, and celery salt. Whisk the mix into 3 cups of cold water and cook it on the stovetop, adding butter or pan drippings and Worcestershire sauce if you like. It's ready in 15 minutes, makes 4 servings, and is a cheaper, gluten-free swap for store-bought au jus gravy packets.
Making Gluten-Free Au Jus from Pan Drippings
If you've prepared a prime rib or roast beef, you can use the pan drippings and juices to make an Au Jus as well. To do this:
- Prepare the au jus mix (or just use plain cornstarch!)
- Make a slurry by whisking the au jus mix or 2 Tablespoons corn starch with ¼ cup cold water.
- Whisk the slurry into the pan drippings and juices. Add more water if needed to equal about 3 cups of drippings.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently. Reduce the temperature to low heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from heat and serve.
If you have more/less drippings than 3 cups, you'll want to adjust the amount of cornstarch accordingly.
Pro-Tip: You can make an even simpler au jus by just reducing the pan juices from a beef roast to your desired thickness.
Variations
These variations can add another layer of flavor to your Au Jus sauce.
- Add a splash of red wine and/or 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to the pan. This will add a depth of flavor and richness.
- For a thicker Au Jus or beef gravy, use only 1 ½ - 2 cups of water or add another tablespoon of cornstarch to the original measurements. This will make a delicious brown gravy to serve with your tender beef.
- Omit the bouillon and water and use 3 cups of gluten-free beef broth instead.
- Swap the beef bouillon with chicken bouillon for a light sauce to serve with roast chicken.
Storage
Leftover au jus can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can even freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray to add to soups later on.
How to Serve Au Jus
Serve au jus with roasted meats, like prime rib, roast beef, or chuck roast. Au jus is a flavorful thin gravy that is delicious when served over instant pot mashed potatoes as well as the roasted meats.
You can also serve au jus on the side for dipping Italian beef or roast beef sandwiches served on gluten-free hoagie rolls. Gluten-free hash brown potato casserole, gluten-free corn casserole, and gluten-free pasta salad are great sides for these dishes!
Gluten-Free Au Jus FAQs
Is McCormick Au Jus Gluten-Free?
No, the ingredients in McCormick Au Jus contain gluten. The ingredients listed are: Salt, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten, Soy Protein and Wheat Gluten, Beef Fat, Caramel Color, Onion, Corn Syrup Solids, Garlic, Spices (Including Black Pepper), Celery, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Thickener), Sodium Caseinate (Milk) & Natural Flavor.
Is Lawry's Au Jus Mix gluten-free?
No, Lawry's Au Jus mix is not gluten-free. It contains wheat proteins and wheat starch. The ingredients are as follows: Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Lactose (Milk), Corn Syrup Solids, Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy and Wheat Proteins, Onion, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor (Beef and Pork), Caramel Color, Corn Maltodextrin, Sunflower Oil, Disodium Inosinate and Guanylate (Flavor Enhancers), Molasses, Wheat Starch, Soy Flour, and Soy Lecithin.
What is the difference between Au Jus and brown gravy?
Au jus is a simple meat broth, while brown gravy is a hearty sauce made with flour or cornstarch, broth, and seasonings. Au jus is thin, while brown gravy is thick.
Are there any gluten-free ready-made au jus options available in stores?
Yes, there are some available but they may be harder to find. Knorr, Watkin's, and Mom's Place Gluten-Free make pre-made au jus mix packets that are gluten-free. When shopping for ready-made au jus, be sure to check the labels for any gluten-containing ingredients and look for a gluten-free claim.
More Beef Recipes You'll Love
Recipe
Gluten Free Au Jus Recipe
Ingredients
Gluten-Free Au Jus Mix
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon gluten-free beef bouillon
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
To Make Au Jus
- 3 cups cold water
- 2 Tablespoons butter or pan drippings (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
To Make Au Jus Mix
- Whisk the dry au jus mix ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
To Make Au Jus
- Place the dry au jus mix in a medium saucepan. Slowly add 3 cups of cold water and whisk until combined. Add butter or pan drippings and/or Worcestershire sauce, if desired.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Notes
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Estimated Nutrition
* Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should be used as an estimate only. See the nutrition policy for more information.
Bridget McGinnis says
I saw a recipe that called for putting au jus mix in the crockpot with the meat and a couple other ingredients. Could I put this mixture of ingredients into the crock pot in place of regular au jus mix?
Katie Olesen says
Yes! That’s partly what the recipe was designed for!
Tink says
Worcestershire sauce is not gluten free!
Katie Olesen says
Are you in the UK? Here in the U.S. there are plenty of Worcestershire sauces that are gluten-free! I use Lea & Perrins; it is labeled gluten-free and does not contain wheat or barley.
Diana says
Loved this recipe it was so good and easy to make.