This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Never made or been successful with gravy before? With a few simple ingredients and my tried-and-true tips, you’ll have a hearty sausage gravy that turns out perfectly every time and pairs beautifully with fluffy biscuits. This Southern sausage gravy recipe is a foolproof way to bring comforting, Southern flavors to your breakfast table in just 20 minutes.
Homemade Sausage Gravy
When I first got married over 30 years ago, mastering sausage gravy was a must, especially with a husband who loved a hearty breakfast. Over the years, I’ve made this gravy countless times, tweaking and perfecting it into a no-fail recipe that’s as reliable as it is delicious.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, I’ve got you covered! So many of you have shared how you once struggled with making gravy, but now, you’re whipping up a perfect batch every time, thanks to these simple steps. It’s a recipe consistently delivers, turning even the most hesitant cooks into confident gravy-makers.
This sure is a go-to comfort food breakfast in our home, pleasing everyone from my kids to weekend guests. And whether you’re looking to make a cozy family breakfast, treating visitors to something special, or whipping up a quick and easy dish for Christmas morning, this sausage gravy is sure to hit the spot!
Why you’ll love this Sausage and Gravy Recipe!
- 3 Main Ingredients: Ground sausage, flour, and milk are the main ingredients. Add a few staple pantry items and you are all set.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together in 20 minutes. Now that is fast! It’s so good that you’d think it took all day to cook. And it isn’t complicated at all. It’s basically frying and stirring. Simple right!
- Delicious for any occasion: From a standard family breakfast to a brunch with friends. Serving this up will always impress!
Easy Sausage Gravy Ingredients
- Ground pork sausage – Typically labeled bulk or breakfast sausage. You can also find this in a spicy or hot variety which gives your gravy a little kick! Then you have Spicy Sausage Gravy = YUM!
- Butter – This adds a little extra richness and doesn’t butter make everything better!
- All-purpose flour – This is what binds and how to thicken the gravy.
- Whole milk – To get that extra rich and creamy texture and flavor, I really suggest using whole milk. You can use whatever milk you prefer, but I have found the best results with whole milk.
- Garlic powder – This enhances the flavor and you just need a little to give it that something extra you are looking to add in. It’s not overpowering, just subtly scrumptious!
- Salt and pepper – Of course you need a little S&P to round out the flavors. Specks of ground pepper all throughout the gravy are a give away for a great tasting gravy. Make sure to give it a taste before adding salt. Some ground pork may be a little saltier than others!
How to make Sausage Gravy
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!
- Brown the Sausage. Set a large skillet (I love cast iron) over medium heat and brown the sausage. With a wooden spatula “crumble” or break up with sausage into smaller pieces, while stirring. Cook until brown and fully done. I like a little crunch, so cook until some of the edges are well browned. It adds a ton of flavor!
- Roux for gravy: You need butter and flour to make the roux. This is the base and what thickens the gravy. Place butter in skillet and stir until melted. Sprinkle in flour, garlic, and pepper on top of the sausage and slowly stir until well coated. Continue stirring and let the flour cook.
- Add milk. While stirring, slow pour in the milk . Continue to stir and simmer until gravy thickens. Taste to see if salt is needed.
- Serve over warm fresh biscuits.
Best Sausage Gravy Recipe Tips
- Seasonings: Be sure your sausage is seasoned. If not you may need to add salt, pepper and maybe a little sage. Taste as you make and adjust as needed.
- Don’t drain the sausage drippings – The fat is where all the flavor is and you need it to make good sausage gravy.
- Keep flavors simple – This dish is packed full of flavor and isn’t meant to be complicated. It’s plain ol’ comfort food and just plain delicious. So you don’t need to add in tons of extras.
How to thicken Sausage Gravy
If your gravy isn’t thick enough simply stir 2 tablespoons of flour with 3 tablespoons on cold water and stir until combined. Then slowly stir mixture into gravy and stir until desired consistency.
Sausage Gravy Recipe FAQs
You have to be sure to cook your flour a few minutes before adding in the milk. Usually about 2 to 3 minutes is enough. You don’t want to let it get too brown, just long enough to cook out that flour taste.
Yes. Ground turkey or chicken can be used in place of the pork. You may need a little extra butter for less fat may be rendered while cooking.
Sometimes you just need to let it cook a little longer to thicken, but other times you added a little too much liquid or didn’t start with enough flour to begin with.
If your gravy turns out too thick, simply add in more milk in small amounts at a time, until gravy is the consistency you like.
Yes – you can make the gravy ahead of time. Cool and store in an airtight container and refrigerate it up to 4 day in advance.
To reheat, place in a saute pan and warm over medium heat. Add in a little extra milk to thin if needed.
Biscuits, in my opinion, on the other hand are better fresh! You can prepare the biscuit dough in advance and cut them out the day before. You can also freeze cut biscuit dough ahead of time and then cook them the day of.
Yes. You can freeze. It does change the consistency a little. It really is so quick to prepare that I like to make it fresh.
If you do need to freeze it, let the gravy cool completely and the store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
To thaw: Place in the refrigerator to thaw and reheat in a saucepan. You may need to add a little milk to thin it out a bit.
What to serve with sausage gravy?
The Best Sausage Gravy is most often served on fluffy biscuits! Buttermilk biscuits and gravy are always a win!
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
It’s also so good on toast, english muffins, over skillet potatoes, omelets, eggs, hash browns, and over creamy grits. This list could go on and on gravy is good on just about anything y’all!
It is heavenly on french fries! Oh yes! You heard me right french fries. You have to try it!
More Breakfast Recipes You Will Love
- Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy
- Easy Creamed Hamburger Gravy
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Blood Orange Sweet Rolls by my friend at Norine’s Nest.
Is there anything more southern than biscuits and gravy? Well, except maybe fried pork chops – which by the way goes deliciously with breakfast too!
A soulful southern breakfast isn’t complete without biscuits and a skillet of southern sausage gravy! So y’all make up a batch and enjoy!
More from Soulfully Made
Now let’s dig on into the best southern sausage gravy recipe ever!
Homemade Sausage Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk pork sausage
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 to 3 ½ cups milk
- ¼ tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Set a large skillet (I love cast iron) over medium heat. Add in the sausage and with a wooden spatula break up sausage into smaller pieces while stirring. Cook until brown and fully done (about 8 to 10 minutes).
- Place butter in skillet and stir until melted.
- Sprinkle flour, garlic, and pepper on top of the sausage and slowly stir until well coated and grease is full absorbed. Continue stirring and let the flour cook fully for about 2 minutes.
- While stirring, slowly pour in 3 cups of the milk. Continue to stir and simmer until gravy thickens (3 to 5 minutes). Add salt, if needed. If gravy is too thick, add the last 1/2 cup of milk.
- Serve over warm fresh biscuits.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
✱ Nikki’s Tips
- Seasonings: Be sure your sausage is seasoned. If not you may need to add salt, pepper and maybe a little sage. Taste as you make and adjust as needed.
- Don’t drain the sausage drippings – The fat is where all the flavor is and you need it to make good sausage gravy.
- Keep flavors simple – This dish is packed full of flavor and isn’t meant to be complicated. It’s plain ol’ comfort food and just plain delicious. So you don’t need to add in tons of extras.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
Hungry for more easy, home-cooked, delicious recipes?
Sign up for my free recipe club to get family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
It was very good, but I only used 1/2 lb of the sausage, simply because I don’t want it heavy with sausage. That’s me. I may add onions to it the next time, because I like Onions and that will add a little more to the mix.
Thank you, Murry! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. I love that you are trying new additions of your own as well!
I add a teaspoon of better than bullion chicken to it. Church people love it.
That is awesome, Don! We used to serve to our student group at church and they loved it too! Thank you for sharing!
This is the first time I’ve made homemade biscuit gravy and this gravy is delicious! Way better than store bought and packet gravy and super easy! This is a 5 star dish in our house. Thank you!
Thank you for that 5 star rating, Krystal! I do love how easy and tasty this one it too! We whip it up for a quick weeknight dinner often.
Came out perfect for breakfast! First snow today, love comfort food!
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Sally! You make this FL girl a little jealous with that snow!
For a great add, use a package for Knoor’s dry, French onion soup mix to the sauce. Lifts it to a whole new level.
Cheers
Sounds like a delicious twist.
Just Like Grandma Taught Me ?
I love that, Lisa!
I love your recipes!!!
Thank you so much, Kim! I am so glad you are here!
Thank you for leaving cooking directions on this one. I will surely make this one.
You are welcome, Tony!
Excellent gravy. Would make it a little thinner. Mine got pretty thick. No big problem though easy remedy. Lol
Thank you so much, Paulette. Yes, that can happen sometimes. Add a little more milk and all is well.
This is the same recipe I use except I add about 2 or 3 garlic cloves minced in while i’m browning the meat. Top 5 favorite foods to eat, anytime. Use only Jimmy Daen Sausage!!!
Thank you, Lisa! I love Jimmy Dean too and I have to say I am a fellow garlic lover too!
it was delicious but I cooked the biscuits a little too long.
Easy and delicious! Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much, Sunny!
Very good! Loved it and easy recipe
Thank you, Laura!
Big 10-4 Good reminds m of the decades I spent in the Southern States eating at the Diners as a transport driver.
Thank you, Dave! It’s southern comfort food for sure!
Best biscuits and gravy recipe!
Thank you so much, Lanie!
Delicious. Wouldn’t change a thing. I used whole milk, which I normally use skim milk. I’m sure that would of changed the richness of this recipe. Thank you
Thank you, Debbie! I do think it adds a creamy richness!
This is our go to sausage gravy recipe. Love it!!!
Thank you, Kristen! I am so glad to hear this recipe is enjoyed by your family!
Great recipe but I added 1/2 milk 1/2 whipping cream. Makes it so much better
Thank you! Cream does make this extra yummy!
I love this recipe I use it all of the time. Better than any sausage gravy I’ve ever had in any restaurant and love that it’s easy to make! Thank you!
Thank you, Marisa! You made my day!
Comes out perfect every time!
Thank you, Sherry! I appreciate that so much!
This recipe works for me but if you like a little richer gravy use canned milk instead. NOT SWEETENED, also you can add a little pork bullion or soup base for more flavor, but be careful of the extra salt. I never add salt till I have added the bullion and sausage. Very hard to remove. A little bullion is good but a little more is not. Wait till everything is in and cooked before adding any more salt. If too thick, regular milk is OK for thinning.
Thank you, Al! Yes, you can use evaporated milk for a richer gravy. It is delicious.