Easy Au Jus (No Drippings Needed) (2024)

Published: Nov 3, 2022 by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

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This easy au jus sauce is perfect for prime rib, roast beef, and French dip. It's a simple, flavorful sauce that can be made with or without drippings! All you need are basic ingredients like beef broth, butter, and Worcestershire sauce for a light sauce or gravy that pairs perfectly with any beef, lamb, or chicken recipe.

This au jus recipe is easy to make and ready in just five minutes with simple ingredients that don't require any drippings! It's our go-to sauce for prime rib, French dip, and roast beef or chicken, and steak!

What is au jus?

Au jus is a thin sauce or gravy that typically accompanies beef, lamb, or chicken dishes. It's typically made from the natural drippings or juices that come from cooking meat, hence its origin from the French term "with juice".

This homemade au jus produces a light, thin, and clear sauce that is made primarily from beef broth, butter and/or drippings, and Worcestershire sauce.

If you'd prefer a slightly thicker sauce, we added an option to the recipe to add flour for a consistency similar to thin gravy. For a thicker, traditional gravy, try our Brown Gravy recipe!

Ingredients

Beef broth - Use a good quality beef broth. I find beef bone broth to have the best flavor.
Butter - This gives the au jus a rich, fatty flavor that replaces the drippings. If you happen to have drippings, you can use that as well and supplement it with butter if needed.
Worcestershire sauce - This adds a salty, slightly tangy, umami flavor to the au jus, adding the perfect balance of flavors.
Flour - Flour is optional if you'd prefer a thicker consistency, similar to that of a thin gravy. Use all-purpose flour and add it along with the butter or drippings.
Garlic powder - A pinch of garlic or onion powder adds the flavor you'd get from pan drippings.

How to Make Prime Rib Au Jus

Add the butter and/or drippings to a pan. If using flour and garlic powder, add that now and let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Next, add the beef broth and whisk everything together.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to taste until well seasoned.
Bring it to a boil and serve immediately. It should thicken slightly if you added flour.

Au Jus Serving Suggestions

Our favorite way to serve au jus is with prime rib. You can serve it piping hot on a side to dip or pour it over a slice or prime rib to let the meat soak up that delicious sauce.

Other ways to serve this light gravy include ladling over roast beef or chicken, with any cut of steak, or in a small bowl for dipping French dip sandwiches.

Tips

Use high-quality beef broth or beef bone broth for the best flavor.
Use drippings if available; otherwise use butter with a pinch of garlic and onion powder to add more flavor.
Add a tablespoon of flour for a slightly thicker version.

More recipes:

Prime Rib Roast (Standing Rib Roast) - Reverse Sear Method
Easy Brown Gravy (no drippings)
Easy Mushroom Gravy
Vegan Mushroom Gravy

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