Red Eye Gravy is a classic Southern dish that has been enjoyed for generations. It is a simple yet delicious recipe that is perfect for breakfast or brunch.
This popular Cracker Barrel recipe is no longer on the menu. They often update their menu and sometimes, they need to remove menu items to make room for other new customer favorites.
Did you love their country ham? We have the details for the dish just for you. Make the recipe right at home. It just takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
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Why is it Called Red Eye Gravy?
The gravy gets its name from the reddish-brown color it takes on, as well as the fact that it contains coffee.
Yes, coffee. The coffee adds a unique flavor to the gravy that pairs perfectly with salty country ham.
This dish originated in the southern states of Alabama and Louisiana. They made this with rendered pork fat from the ham and the pan drippings deglazed with coffee. Sometimes, this recipe is also referred to as red ham gravy, cedar gravy, bottom sop, or bird-eye gravy.
How to Make Red Eye Gravy
While there are many variations of this recipe, the basic ingredients remain the same. Here is a simple recipe for making Red Eye Gravy that is sure to become a family favorite.
To make red-eye gravy, you will need to cook country ham in a skillet until browned on both sides.
Once the ham is cooked, remove it from the pan and add coffee to the drippings. Stir the coffee and drippings together, then cook until the mixture is reduced and slightly thickened. Serve the gravy over the ham.
Make This Recipe to Your Linking
The original recipe does not use any thickener for the gravy. Our family loves it with just a bit of thickener added. Mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with ½ cup of water. Pour this into the boiling coffee and whisk to combine.
If you do not have enough fat on your ham steak, you can add 2 tablespoons of butter or 2 tablespoons of bacon grease to the pan. To flavor the gravy.
If the coffee flavor is too bitter for you, replace with chicken broth. Alternatively, you can try adding a ½ teaspoon of granulated sugar or brown sugar to mellow out the strong coffee flavor.
Add more Flavor
We prefer a bit more flavor to our red eye gravy, so we add 2 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce. It really combines nicely with the coffee for a deep and rich flavor.
Some people like to add a little brown sugar, mustard, or ketchup.
What to Serve with This Recipe
A rustic loaf of bread or homemade biscuits will pair nicely with this recipe. Add a side of crispy homemade hashbrowns.
Learn how to make a loaded veggie omelet. If you like the omelet at Denny’s Restaurant, you will like this one too.
Red Eye Gravy Recipe Cracker Barrel Copycat
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 2 Slices Country Ham
- 1 Cup Black Coffee Strong
Instructions
- Warm a platter in the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Do this while you are frying the ham steaks. Fry the ham steaks in a skillet over medium heat until browned and caramelized on both sides. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer them to the warmed platter making sure to keep all the drippings in the skillet. Turn the oven off and place the platter back in the oven.
- While the ham is resting, add a cup of strong black coffee to the skillet and scrap the bottom to get all the stuck on bits and deglaze the bottom of the pan. This will take a minute or two.
- Once the gravy is ready, remove the ham steaks from the oven. You can pour the gravy over the meat or serve it on the side.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Make This Recipe to Your Linking
The original recipe does not use any thickener for the gravy. Our family loves it with just a bit of thickener added. Mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with ½ cup of water. Pour this into the boiling coffee and whisk to combine. If you do not have enough fat on your ham steak, you can add 2 tablespoons of butter or 2 tablespoons of bacon grease to the pan. To flavor the gravy. If the coffee flavor is too bitter for you, replace with chicken broth. Alternatively, you can try adding a ½ teaspoon of granulated sugar or brown sugar to mellow out the strong coffee flavor.Add more Flavor
We prefer a bit more flavor to our red eye gravy, so we add 2 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce. It really combines nicely with the coffee for a deep and rich flavor.Some people like to add a little brown sugar, mustard, or ketchup.
Nutrition
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You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.