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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:
Easy Au Jus (No Drippings Needed)
Ingredients
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons butter, and/or beef drippings
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce
- salt & pepper, to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic & onion powder, (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flour, (optional) for a thicker au jus
Instructions
- Add butter or drippings: Over medium heat, melt the butter and/or drippings in a saucepan. If using, add the flour and garlic & onion powder and stir together for 1 to 2 minutes.2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon flour, ⅛ teaspoon garlic & onion powder
- Add beef broth: Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, and whisk to combine. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Note: It should thicken slightly if using flour.2 cups beef broth, ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Season and serve: Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with prime rib, roast beef, or French dip.salt & pepper
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
This sauce was delicious with our Sunday Roast. I think we will make it quite often!
That’s great to hear Laura! Thank you!
What an easy way to make au jus. I’ve saved this recipe to keep on hand, as this was one of the best I’ve made – thanks!
Thank you Lauren! Thrilled to hear it’s the best!
This au jus was the real deal! I try to stay away from store bought, as it tastes very salty. But all of the other recipes I have tried, taste a little bland. This recipe was delicious!
Thank you Elizabeth! Agreed! Homemade au jus is so much better!
I made prime rib for my Easter meal, and your au jus was sensational. I got lots of compliments. Thank you my friend.
Thank you EL! Yes, this is fantastic with prime rib!
Such an easy and simple recipe, will be making this recipe today.
Followed the directions but omitted the flour. It was perfect with your prime rib recipe! Both recipes are keepers!
Thanks David! So happy to hear that you served this with my prime rib recipe!
This au jus sauce was so easy and good. It went perfectly with French dip sandwiches I made with leftover prime rib. This is handy recipe I will have on hand.
Very nice au jus for when you want something simple and easy to make. I sauteed fresh garlic and added extra black pepper. It was great with my sandwich.
Thank you Madelaine! Great idea adding fresh garlic!
I’ve made your au jus several times already and it always comes out perfect. It’s also SO easy to make. I’ve used it on French dip sandwiches and even steak.
Thank you Michele! So nice to hear that!
This was very easy to make and turned out fantastic! I was concerned it wouldn’t taste good without the drippings but I was really happy with the flavor. My husband loved it.
Yes it’s great even without the drippings. Thank you Karina!
Finally a delicious au jus without drippings! This tasted amazing and I am excited about all of the ways I am going to enjoy it. I poured it over steak and also used for French Dip sandwiches. So delicious! Thanks!
Thank Georgia! Yes, it’s so good with French Dip and steak!
Wow this au jus is so easy! I added flour and it was just the right amount of thickness. I can’t wait to make this again.
I’m so happy to hear that, thank you!
You have no idea this recipe saved pot roast dinner. It’s so good and perfect!!
Aww thank you Janna!
Can this be put in with the roast while cooking in oven or is it better to make it separate
Hi BakerJ! I don’t see why not. Let me know how it goes!
This sauce is really flavorful and easy to make and I can see it pairing well with a variety of different recipes.
I love this au just for sandwiches but it’s a really nice accompaniment to meat as well. It’s the perfect finishing touch. I’m going to be making this with my prime rib this Christmas!
Thanks Tammy! We always serve this au jus with prime rib for Christmas!
No way! I was looking for exactly this, so the timing was perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
This au jus looks so flavorful and makes me want to dip my sandwich in it. The broth is clear and tasty
I enjoyed this recipe for au jus without the drippings. – it was so easy to make. I often don’t get enough drippings to make enough au jus for everyone so this was a great alternative.
My family loved it! They are picky but they loved it over prime rib and mashed potatoes.