red eye country ham

Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy

Don’t let the name scare you away from this Southern delicacy. Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy is a savory, salty meal that is sure to make you ask for seconds.

The name “red eye gravy” comes from the appearance of the gravy. While the dark coffee and ham bits sink to the bottom, a layer of flavor, ok, grease… is usually visible on top.

Biscuits and/or grits are often served with this dish. It’s nice to have something to sop up all that gravy!

Eastern Shore Style Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy

This country ham and red-eye gravy recipe is an Eastern Shore classic, blending the bold flavors of salty ham with a rich, coffee-based gravy. You’ll love its simplicity and the way it transforms basic ingredients into a deeply satisfying dish. Pair it with buttery biscuits or creamy grits for a breakfast that’s full of tradition and flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients
  

  • 6 ounces country ham, sliced ¼ inch thick
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for ham if necessary
  • ½ cup strong black coffee
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
  • ½ tsp sugar

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high.
  • Cook ham, adding 1/2 Tbsp. butter if the ham is lean to help the browning process until browned and fat has rendered, 2–3 minutes per side.
  • Transfer ham to a platter.
  • Pour coffee into the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat, scraping the skillet with a wooden spoon to deglaze and loosen any browned bits.
  • Add broth and sugar; simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened and reduced to about 1/4 cup, 3–4 minutes.
  • Add 1 Tbsp. butter and whisk until emulsified, about 1 minute more.
  • Pour gravy into a small bowl or serving vessel and serve drizzled over or alongside ham.

Notes

This recipe is designed to serve one, but you can easily adjust the quantities to match the size of your gathering.
Keyword ham, country ham, gravy, red eye

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Country Ham

country ham and red eye gravy

Butter, unsalted

butter slices

Coffee

Chicken broth or water

water

Sugar

pile of sugar for baking

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 ounces country ham, sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus more for ham if necessary
  • 1/2 cup strong black coffee
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

DIRECTIONS

  • Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high.
  • Cook ham, adding 1/2 Tbsp. butter if the ham is lean to help the browning process until browned and fat has rendered, 2–3 minutes per side.
  • Transfer ham to a platter.
  • Pour coffee into the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat, scraping the skillet with a wooden spoon to deglaze and loosen any browned bits.
  • Add broth and sugar; simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened and reduced to about 1/4 cup, 3–4 minutes.
  • Add 1 Tbsp. butter and whisk until emulsified, about 1 minute more.
  • Pour gravy into a small bowl or serving vessel and serve drizzled over or alongside ham.

What to serve with Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy

This recipe produces an amazingly DELICIOUS meal! And it is so easy to prepare. I recommend serving this for dinner with stuffing and a vegetable, or for breakfast with buttermilk biscuits. As with many Southern recipes, this meal can be easily prepared from leftovers!

As always, don’t forget the sweet tea!

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5/5 (1 Review)