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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!
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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.
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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
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Super easy and very tasty! I make it often for my kids when they come home! Teaching my son how to make it In his own house right now!
Thank you, Judy! I love you are getting your son in the kitchen and learning. This is a great easy one to learn. I so appreciate you sharing this with us!
I made this yesterday for a Book Club brunch. Everyone loved it and said it was the best they had ever eaten. I kept it warm in a crockpot. I’ll definitely make it again. Thank you for the recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing, Cydney! I love to do the same when making for a crowd or event. Easy to put together and have something you don’t have to fuss with when entertaining.
This is now my go to recipe. Found you during the Covid lockdown when we all had more time to cook, and my family loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Sunny! I am glad you found this during a difficult time for all of us and that you have stuck around with us. You find plenty of easy dishes you can make anytime.
I’ve been making this recipe for years and everyone who tries it loves it! It’s super easy too..people can’t believe it when I tell them how simple it is to make your own sausage gravy!
Thank you, Marisa! I love that its a go to recipe for you and yours too!
We’ve made this recipe multiple times and the family loves it! I season the sausage as well as what’s asked
Thank you, Malik. I am so glad you loved it. Thank you for stopping by to let us know you enjoyed it. I appreciate it.
Delish!
Thank you!
Love this recipe!!! So quick and easy to make and my whole family loves it!
Thank you so much, Doris! I love that it’s a favorite for your family too!
Perfect!!
Thank you, Carlene!
I am from NYC and have never eaten or made Biscuits and Gravy. I decided to make it for my boyfriend. He loves this gravy. I use Jimmy Dean Hot sausage .
It’s a perfect recipe.
Thank you so much, Carol Ann! I am so happy to hear you loved the recipe. Have a wonderful day!
Hi. Can I use evaporated milk?
Yes. Evaporated milk works well in this recipe. Enjoy!
Thank you for this recipe. Was so easy to make and so delicious.
Thank you, Cynthia!
This turned out really good. Thanks for the recipe 😋
Thank you for making it, Penny! I am glad you enjoyed it!
I used this recipe on top of a cauliflower crust for breakfast pizza. It was so good!
That sounds delicious! I am going to have to give it a try!
Awesome recipe for biscuits and gravy! This is my go-to recipe when I make biscuits and gravy. Hubby absolutely loves these. The only difference is that I use turkey breakfast sausage instead of pork sausage to cut down on fat, but sooo good! Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome, Linda! I am so glad you and hubby enjoy it!
I add one or two tsps of better-than-bullion chicken paste along with the extra sage for a very flavorful gravy. The amount of chicken flavoring you add needs to be watched as it carries a lot of sodium and can make your gravy salty.
Great recipe! I’ve tried others that didn’t add the garlic and it truly made a difference in the taste. I didn’t have milk so used half and half instead with a little water and it came out super creamy. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed it Shannon. I appreciate you stopping by to share with us! Have a wonderful day!
Loved it. So easy and turns out the same every time!!
Thank you, Becky. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
The first time I made this, I used 2 1/2 cups of whole milk and one cup of heavy cream. It was the best sausage gravy I ever had. Since then, everyone that tastes agrees with me. Thank you for the recipe.
You are welcome, Becky! It’s a family favorite and glad you and yours are enjoying it also.
Can this gravy be made the day before and warmed in a crock pot the next morning?
Yes. You may want to add a little milk to thin. But take a look after it warms through.
Can I use garlic powder in this and Ill be serving 7 people(2 of them children 6 years old and 2) will this recipe feed everyone?
You can use garlic powder. As for serving, I would say it depends on if this is the main meal and if you have other things. You could double the recipe if you have big eaters. You can even double the gravy ingrendients and let the sausage stretch using the same amount if desired.