Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (2024)

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Our sausage gravy recipe is a classic that’s been handed down through generations of our family. With just five simple ingredients and 20 minutes, you’ll have our favorite Southern breakfast on your table. It’s full of flavor with a rich cream sauce, perfectly flavored sausage, and seasonings. Pour it over fresh, hot biscuits and you’ll have everyone asking for this recipe.

Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (1)

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This Homemade Sausage Gravy is an absolute southern comfort

This sausage gravy is one of my husband’s all-time favorite breakfasts to make. We serve it for special occasions (it’s great for a crowd) or just an everyday Sunday breakfast. Sausage gravy can be intimidating, but we’ve perfected this recipe for so long and rewritten it so that you can follow our step-by-step instructions to recreate it perfectly at home.

Within a matter of minutes, you’ll have piping hot sausage gravy that you can serve over hot open-faced biscuits.

What is Sausage and Gravy?

Sausage Gravy, better known as biscuits and gravy, is a staple southern classic breakfast dish. It is made up of an incredibly easy to make homemade sausage gravy with simple ingredients that you normally have on hand that is then poured over nice hot biscuits. It screams good old southern home cooking.

Typically this will be a dish that you eat when it is chilly outside, but honestly people eat this sausage gravy with biscuits all year long.

Homemade Sausage Gravy Recipe Ingredients

Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (2)

Sausage – For this sausage gravy I use a mild sausage to give it flavor, but not overpower the dish by using a spicy sausage.

Flour – In this recipe the flour is the thickening agent. When adding it to the sausage gravy recipe be sure that you do it slowly while stirring. If you just pour it in all at once you will have lumps in your gravy.

Milk – You are going to want to use whole milk with this recipe. This gives the gravy a thick creamy texture that you will love poured over your biscuits.

Seasoned Salt – Seasoned salt gives a nice variety of seasonings mixed with the salt. I use seasoned salt so often and it is a great staple to have on hand all the time.

Pepper – Pepper adds a little bit of pop and added flavor to the sausage gravy.

Biscuits – Grab some canned biscuits in the refrigerated section. I prefer Grands biscuits, but any will do.

How to make Homemade Sausage Gravy

Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (3)
  1. Cook biscuits according to the packaging.
  2. Brown sausage in a medium-large skillet over medium heat while the biscuits cook. Break up the sausage into small pieces. Once browned reduce heat to low.
  3. Add flour gradually to browned sausage while stirring to combine.
  4. Sir in milk.
  5. Cook over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens. This will take around 10 minutes.
  6. Add seasoned salt and pepper.
  7. Serve sausage gravy on top of warm, open-faced biscuits.

How to make this recipe for Sausage Gravy in advance

One of the best things about sausage gravy is that you can make it ahead of time. I will typically do this for a special occasion like Christmas morning or even on Thanksgiving when I don’t want a big mess to clean up afterward.

To do this, you will make the gravy as directed and then allow the sausage gravy to cool completely.

Once cooled, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days ahead of time. Typically I like to make it the night before. If you do make ahead of time you will not want to store it again after reheating.

To reheat the gravy, place it in a saucepan over medium heat to warm back up. Stir occasionally while reheating. If you find that the gravy is too thick go ahead and add some milk to it.

Sausage and Gravy Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Be sure to not omit the seasoned salt and the pepper. The seasonings gives this dish the flavor you are craving from biscuits and gravy.
  • Typically when browning sausage you would drain the fat, but when making sausage gravy you want to be sure to keep all the fat in the pan. This gives the recipes so much flavor!
  • Serve this dish over nice big open-faced biscuits, if you find yourself without biscuits potatoes will work well too!
  • If you like a thicker gravy, reduce the sauce down longer on the stove. If you prefer a thinner gravy, don’t cook it for as long.

What to serve with the Best Sausage Gravy Recipe

Sausage gravy is best when served with hot biscuits, but if you don’t have any biscuits on hand you can serve it over:

  • Fried potatoes
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Open-faced English Muffins
  • Grits
Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (4)

How to store Sausage and Gravy

To store your sausage gravy you will want to wait until it is completely cooled.

How long is Sausage Gravy good for in the fridge?

Once it is cooled you can store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

I would cook the biscuits the morning of because you want them to be hot and fresh.

CAN YOU FREEZE SAUSAGE GRAVY?

I don’t recommend freezing the sausage gravy. It is best if you make it and eat it.

With it being such a simple dish it is easy to whip up each time you are craving some good southern cooking.

LOOKING FOR OTHER AWESOME BREAKFAST RECIPES? TRY THESE!

Air Fryer Donuts

Sticky Buns with Biscuits

Hot chocolate donut holes

Sausage and Gravy Recipe FAQs

Can this recipe for sausage gravy be made without pork?

Pork sausage tends to be a little more on the fatty side, so people who are trying to eat healthier wonder if you can make sausage gravy without pork.
You can substitute the pork sausage for turkey sausage, but by doing this you are drastically changing the texture and the flavor of sausage gravy and biscuits.
I would say make biscuits and sausage gravy on your cheat day to really enjoy this dish how it is meant to be enjoyed.

Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (5)

Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (6)

Sausage and Gravy


Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. sausage mild
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 2-3 teaspoons pepper
  • Biscuits (such as Grands biscuits)

Instructions

  • Cook biscuits according to package instructions. While biscuits are in the oven, start the gravy.

  • Place sausage in medium-large skillet and brown sausage over medium-high heat, breaking sausage into small pieces. Cook until just brown. Reduce heat to low.

  • Gradually add flour to cooked sausage and stir until flour is combined with sausage.

  • Add milk and stir.

  • Continue to cook over low-medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. This will take up to 10 or more minutes.

  • Add in seasoned salt and pepper.

  • Serve sausage gravy on top of warm, open-faced biscuits.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 727mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 1mg

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Recipe for Sausage Gravy - Balancing Motherhood (2024)

FAQs

What makes sausage gravy taste better? ›

What makes sausage gravy taste better? Sometimes sausage gravy can taste under-seasoned. This recipe is packed with flavor thanks to the use of chicken broth rather than just milk, as well as thyme, black pepper, salt, garlic, and cayenne in the final gravy. Spend time carefully deepening the color of the roux.

How do you keep sausage gravy from separating? ›

Add Cornstarch or Arrowroot

Instead, make a slurry by mixing a tablespoon or two of the starch with just enough gravy to form a thin paste, stirring well to get the slurry smooth and lump-free before whisking it into the gravy.

Why does my sausage gravy have no flavor? ›

If the gravy lacks oomph, adjust seasoning as necessary with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. If you used canned stock instead of homemade, the gravy might not be as flavorful.

What's the difference between country gravy and sausage gravy? ›

The main difference is that country gravy does not have sausage. Country gravy uses butter to make its roux, while sausage gravy uses the rendered fat from the meat, cooked with flour, to thicken the gravy. Check out Ree Drummond's recipe for country gravy which she serves alongside chicken fried steak.

How to jazz up sausage gravy? ›

For an additional kick, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes along with the seasonings. Onions/Garlic can be sautéed with the sausage as well. If the gravy becomes too thick, add a splash of milk.

How do you stabilize gravy? ›

How to Fix Thin or Runny Gravy. Gravy is best when it has a medium body, so you don't want it to be too thin or watery. If you have time, Shannon recommends thickening it up by making a roux for gravy ( one tablespoon of butter cooked with one tablespoon of flour) in a fresh pan.

What to add to gravy to make it taste better? ›

Add an umami-rich condiment.

Just as you might add condiments like soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire sauce, or even a splash of sherry or cider vinegar to your favorite gravy recipe, incorporate them into store-bought gravy for a more complex flavor.

Why won t my sausage gravy get thick? ›

Cooking for too little time: As the gravy cooks, it slowly thickens, so if you don't allow it to cook long enough, it will be too thin. Set the stove on medium heat and bring your gravy to a boil before letting it simmer. Once the gravy has reached your desired consistency, turn off the stove and let the sauce cool.

What gives sausage its distinct flavor? ›

Spices: Various spices give a sausage its robust flavor. Commonly used sausage spices include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and paprika. Water: Water is typically added to replace the moisture lost during cooking or smoking.

What is gravy called in the South? ›

Sawmill Gravy

A creamy skillet gravy made with drippings, this staple—known by many now as just "sausage gravy" or "country gravy"—can be said to bolster up the entire Southern breakfast menu, and nobody makes it better than the old-fashioned, country-style breakfast joint in your hometown or your own grandma.

What was the original name for sausage gravy? ›

The dish consists of soft dough biscuits covered in white gravy (sawmill gravy), made from the drippings of cooked pork sausage, flour, milk, and often (but not always) bits of sausage, bacon, ground beef, or other meat.

Why is white gravy called sawmill gravy? ›

The term "sawmill gravy" comes from early logging camp food and old-time sawmills. It was originally made with cornmeal, bacon drippings, milk, and seasonings. This resulted in a somewhat gritty gravy; in fact, rumor has it that the loggers would accuse the cooks of putting sawdust in the recipe!

What can I add to gravy to make it taste better? ›

Add an umami-rich condiment.

Just as you might add condiments like soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire sauce, or even a splash of sherry or cider vinegar to your favorite gravy recipe, incorporate them into store-bought gravy for a more complex flavor.

How to doctor up canned sausage gravy? ›

Add Spices To Boost The Flavor

Onion powder and other seasoned salts (like celery salt or even truffle salt if you want to get fancy) will also give your canned gravy the flavor boost it needs. Another great way to elevate your canned sausage gravy is to pump up the spiciness.

How do you make sausages taste better? ›

Seasonings, spices and herbs are added to give the sausages extra flavour. Small pieces of cooked apple, caramelised onions or other ingredients that pair well with pork can also be added to create interesting varieties.

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