Creamy Tomato Gravy
by Sommer Collier — on Mar 10, 2025 
How to Make Tomato Gravy – This classic creamy tomato gravy recipe is a vibrant and cozy southern staple! Its rich creaminess and bold tomato flavor is perfect to pair with biscuits, savory baked goods, and your favorite proteins.
Why We Love This Traditional Tomato Gravy Recipe
We know a thing or two (or three!) about making not just a good gravy… But how to make GREAT gravies for any occasion! These Best Turkey Gravy, Beef Gravy, and Mushroom Gravy recipes are dinnertime classics. And our no-fail Sausage Gravy is a must-have brunch and breakfast staple.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
This Creamy Tomato Gravy recipe is a southern classic that has a deep, savory flavor balanced with a creamy, velvety texture. It’s thick and rich, yet it has the bright, perky flavor of tomato. The simple gravy brings a bit of intrigue to any of your classic, standard, homestyle dishes.
It’s delicious to serve over hot buttermilk biscuits or toast, or to serve over main dish proteins with potatoes and veggies. And because it is easy to whip up in about 10 minutes, this gravy is perfect to keep in your back pocket anytime you need to add some pizazz to a meal!
Ingredients You Need
- Whole milk – for the richest and creamiest gravy
- Butter – or an equal amount of bacon fat (bacon grease)
- All-purpose flour – to thicken the gravy
- Tomato paste – in a can or concentrate in a tube
- Spices – sea salt, smoked paprika, ground nutmeg
How to Make Tomato Gravy
Get the FULL Recipe with Ingredient Proportions, Detailed Instructions, and Video Tutorial in the Recipe Card at the bottom of the post!
Serving Suggestions
Serve the creamy tomato gravy warm on hot biscuits, toast, or any savory baked goods you like… Here are a few recipes you’ll love!
- Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
- Cathead Biscuits
- Air Fryer Biscuits
- Puff Pastry Pull Apart Bread
- Irish Cheese Toasties
Pair the rich tomato gravy with fluffy Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits or Cheese Grits for a scrumptious play on grilled cheese and tomato soup!
Or serve over main dish proteins like baked or roasted chicken, smoked turkey, steaks, or country fried steak!
Frequently Asked Questions
A traditional tomato sauce is made with whole roasted canned or fresh tomatoes and spices, simmered low and slow. We make this classic tomato gravy with tomato concentrate plus the trinity of any good gravy: butter, flour, and milk. Tomato sauce is meant to flavor pasta, whereas tomato gravy is a topping for southern main dishes and sides.
Swap all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free substitute for a quick and easy GF-friendly southern tomato gravy recipe.
You can use heavy cream or half and half instead of milk, but it will make the gravy VERY thick and rich. If using cream, we suggest reducing it a little and adding in chicken broth or a little water to thin out the gravy to a pourable consistency.
We think this recipe is pretty perfect as-is, but feel free to add sautéed onions, garlic, chopped basil, or other spices.
Leftover tomato gravy will keep well for 3-4 days in an airtight container stored in the fridge.
You can reheat the gravy on the stovetop or in the microwave, but either way, you’ll likely want to stir in a tablespoon or two of milk to help loosen it back up as it heats.
Yes, you can! Let the gravy cool completely before transferring it to an airtight freezer-safe container. I suggest wrapping the container in a layer of aluminum for extra freezer burn protection.
Keep tomato gravy in the freezer for up to 3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Looking for More Southern Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
- Brisket Burnt Ends (Oven Recipe)
- Grilled Pork Chops and Carolina BBQ Sauce
- Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
- Southern Tomato Pie
- Broccoli Cornbread
- Orangeade Recipe
- Cornbread Muffins
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Homemade Tomato Jam
- Hot Honey Recipe
Creamy Tomato Gravy Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Place a sauté pan over medium heat, and add the butter and flour.
- As the butter melts, whisk the flour and butter to form a roux. Whisk and cook for 1-2 minutes until the roux is just golden brown.
- Add the tomato paste, salt, and spices. Then whisk vigorously as you slowly pour in the milk. Continue to whisk until smooth.
- Cook and whisk until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- Serve the gravy warm on hot biscuits or toast. Or serve over main dish proteins like baked chicken, turkey, steaks, or country fried steak!
This is hands down the BEST tomato gravy recipe I’ve tried! It’s smooth, tangy, and so versatile.
I love how easy this recipe is! The rich tomato flavor with the creamy texture makes it the perfect comfort food. It tastes just like what my grandma used to make!
This tomato gravy is absolutely amazing! So creamy and flavorful – perfect over biscuits. My family asks for it all the time now!