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Country Ham with Redeye Gravy

Salty country ham pan-fried and deglazed with black coffee for a simple, savory redeye gravy.

⏱ 5 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Appalachian KitchenCategory
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Country Ham with Redeye Gravy

Salty country ham pan-fried and deglazed with black coffee for a simple, savory redeye gravy.

The coffee pan sauce

Paper-thin country ham seared in its own fat, then a splash of strong coffee to make the famous redeye gravy — breakfast royalty.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Trim the ham and score the fat edges.
  2. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high; add the ham and cook 2-3 minutes per side until browned and the edges crisp.
  3. Remove the ham; pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
  4. Pour in the coffee, scraping up the browned bits; simmer 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Return the ham briefly, season with pepper (and brown sugar if you like it sweeter), and serve over biscuits.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Country ham is salty — no added salt needed. The gravy's 'redeye' look comes from the coffee meeting the ham fat.

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Recipe details

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Servings4
CategoryAppalachian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →