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Red Eye Gravy Recipe Cracker Barrel Copycat

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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Red Eye Gravy Recipe Cracker Barrel Copycat

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.

Why is it Called Red Eye Gravy

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.

Ham Steak and Sauce

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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Red Eye Gravy Recipe Cracker Barrel Copycat

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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 30 minute meal, copycat, Sauce
Servings: 2 Servings
Calories: 68kcal

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Ingredients

  • 2 Slices Country Ham
  • 1 Cup Black Coffee Strong
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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

Calories: 68kcal | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 80mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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