Perfect for prime rib, roast beef, and French dip is this simple au jus sauce. All you need for a light sauce or gravy that goes perfectly with any beef, lamb, or chicken recipe are common ingredients like beef broth, butter, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s a simple, flavorful sauce that can be made with or without drippings.
Our go-to sauce for prime rib, French dip, roast beef or chicken, and steak, this au jus recipe is simple to prepare and ready in just five minutes without the need for any drippings.
The main ingredients in this homemade au jus are beef broth, butter and/or drippings, and Worcestershire sauce, which results in a light, thin, and clear sauce.
We added an option to the recipe to add flour for a consistency more akin to thin gravy if you prefer a slightly thicker sauce. Try our Brown Gravy recipe for a heartier, more traditional gravy!Fork and knife icon
Homemade Beef Au Jus Ingredients and Tools:
- Beef Stock – I start with unsalted Beef cooking stock. In the absence of homemade stock, I substitute Swanson brand.
- I use the MSG-free Better Than Bouillon brand of beef paste. EDIT: Better-than-Bouillon has stopped claiming to be gluten-free on the labels of their packaging. If you are worried about gluten-free products, make sure to read the labels.
- I prefer the flavor of Lea and Perrins’ Worcestershire sauce, which is also gluten-free.
- After combining the sauce, add salt and pepper to taste, being careful not to oversalt the sauce.
How to Make Beef Au Jus From Scratch:
- In a medium saucepan bring Beef Stock to a boil. Stir in the beef base, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper as the heat is reduced to medium-low.
- If you are also preparing a roast, add the strained pan drippings without the fat.
- For gravy, thicken with cornstarch.
How to Serve Beef Au Jus:
Most frequently, we serve this beef au jus recipe as a side dish with our Prime Rib dinner. But this has many other purposes. like French Dip Sandwiches!.
The leftover prime rib or roast beef makes the best French dip sandwiches. This au jus is actually the foundation for many other beef gravies, and it tastes great when served this way with meatballs or mashed potatoes.
Beef Au Jus FAQs:
This recipe makes about 12 servings of prime rib from the three cups of au jus it produces. Because of this, the nutritional information on the recipe card is based on 12 servings.
How to store leftovers?
For up to four days, keep leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How to reheat leftovers?
Rehat leftovers in a saucepan over medium heat.
LOOKING FOR MORE GRAVY RECIPES?
Classic Beef Auf Jus Ingredients:
- 3 cups Beef Stock, unsalted
- 1 tbsp beef base Omit for GF, [See Note 1]
- 1/4 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce [Lea & Perrins is GF]
- Salt & Pepper [to taste]
- 1 tbsp Corn Starch [optional – for thicker gravy], GF
- 1/4 cup Water [Optional – if thickening into gravy
- In a medium saucepan bring Beef Stock to a boil. Stir in the beef base, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper as the heat is reduced to medium-low.
- Add in strained pan drippings without the fat.
- If desired. Add 1/4 cup of water and corn starch to make a slurry to thicken into a rich gravy. Pour into the boiling Beef Stock to thicken. To make corn starch into a thickening agent, it must be heated to a rolling boil.
- I use the Better Than Bouillon brand’s MSG-free, but it is no longer GF, beef base. EDIT: Better-than-Bouillon no longer makes any claims about their products being gluten-free on the packaging labels. To find a gluten-free product, make sure to read the labels. Although those with gluten sensitivity, intolerance, or celiac disease cannot use this because it is a flavor enhancer in general and should be avoided,
How to Make An Amazing Au Jus | Chef Jean-Pierre
FAQ
Can I use beef broth instead of au jus?
Another quick and tasty alternative to au jus is beef broth (canned or in a carton). Compared to beef stock or au jus, the beef broth on its own has a less savory and rich flavor. This is so because the flavorful drippings used to make au jus and the bone used to make stock are not used to make it.
What can I use in place of au jus mix?
There are a number of soup substitutes for au jus, and they include, among others, onion soup mix, brown gravy, bouillon cubes sauce, beef broth, and beef stock powder. They are a great substitute for Au jus.
What is beef au jus made of?
Beef au jus sauce is made from the drippings from a beef roast, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth or roast beef juices, and red wine.
Can I use beef gravy instead of au jus?
Yes, you can substitute a 1-ounce packet of brown gravy mix for the au jus mix. Because of the different sodium content and seasoning base, the flavor may differ slightly, but the recipe shouldn’t be greatly altered. It will still be delicious!