Big Batch Creamy Gravy For A Crowd - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts milk
1 cup half-and-half (optional)
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring (optional)

Preparation

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth, at least 2 minutes. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously until mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.
Stir half-and-half into the saucepan; season with salt and pepper. Add liquid smoke. Cook and stir until gravy is smooth and slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes more.