Enjoy the rich and comforting flavors of Sausage Gravy. A satisfying and hearty breakfast topping poured over warm homemade biscuits, grits, eggs, and more.
Sausage Gravy is a breakfast staple at our house and has been for as long as I can remember. As a kid, Mom would make it and pour it over warm buttermilk biscuits. And while that’s my favorite way to enjoy it, I’ve been known to pour it over grits and scrambled eggs as well. I might even have been known t pour a little over this Bacon and Pimento Cheese Quiche. 😉
It’s one of those hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kinda things that just gets you going in the morning. For me, it just tastes like home. And my super quick and easy method doesn’t require any draining, and it all cooks in one skillet – making this comfort food a cinch to whip up.
What is Sausage Gravy?
Traditional sausage gravy features crumbled breakfast sausage cooked in a skillet. In that same skillet with the sausage and grease still present, a roux is created by combining flour and milk that gradually thickens into a gravy. Typically sausage gravy is seasoned with salt, pepper, and the occasional herbs and spices. Although delicious all on its own, sausage gravy is usually poured over biscuits or grits as a hearty and delicious breakfast in the South.
Considerations and Substitutions:
- You can use either mild or hot sausage! This recipe uses a pound of bulk breakfast pork sausage. You know the kind in the plastic tube thing? We like to use the mild sausage since we never know who might show up at the breakfast table, but the hot sausage works just as well. In fact, it adds even more flavor to the gravy.
- Turkey sausage can be used as a substitute with one small modification! You can use bulk turkey sausage here, but it won’t render out enough fat to make a roux for the gravy. So, you’ll need to add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter or oil to the sausage as it cooks.
- Actually brown the sausage! As you are browning the sausage, you need to really get some brown color on it. Don’t just cook it through. Let it sit still in the pan some so it can get some of those browned bits on it. That adds tons of flavor!
How do you thicken sausage and gravy?
The way I like to make sure my gravy is nice and thick is to make a dense roux. And being that we’ve got all that fat rendered out of the sausage, we’ve got a great head start. Here is how to whip up the perfect roux for this mouthwatering recipe:
- With the sausage and grease still in the skillet, sprinkle the 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour right over the sausage and grease right in the pan.
- Stir, stir, stir. We need to cook the flour a bit without letting it brown. This usually takes 2 to 3 minutes.
- Next, you’ll gradually add in the milk, stirring well after each addition. Some folks like a thick gravy, so using about 2 cups of milk will be enough. Others like it thinner, so you can add up to 1/2 cup (or more) to the gravy to get it thinner. I like to use whole milk here, but 2% or skim milk will work in a pinch.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the gravy to thicken.
- The gravy will thicken even more as it sits, so feel free to stir in a little more milk to thin it out if it starts getting too thick for your liking.
There you have it! You just made the perfect thick sausage gravy! Grab the biscuits and enjoy!
Recipe Card
Easy Sausage Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk ground pork breakfast sausage (mild or hot)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups milk
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble and brown the sausage. Don't just cook it, but actually allow it to brown some. It adds flavor. Do not drain the grease away.
- Sprinkle the flour over the sausage and stir. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Gradually add the milk, stirring well after each addition. Reduce to a simmer and allow the gravy to thicken, stirring frequently. For thicker gravy, add about 2 cups total. For thinner gravy, add more milk. Add salt and lots of black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Michelle
Just made this and I am loving it!
It looks perfect, Michelle! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your picture!
Pat
Put a pinch of poultry seasoning in your gravy, it will taste more like the sausage.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Sue Pattison
Stacey, When my great grandson was 2, he finished the “gabey” with a spoon! Sweet memories with a family staple!
What a sweet memory!
Janelle
We just finished some biscuits and gravy, which is a family tradition when it snows. If it was up to me I’d crumble the sausage and use it in the gravy like you do (and my momma did as well), but my husband prefers the sausage patties browned and served separately with only the grease used to make the gravy. So, I’ve been making it his way for 30+ years because he’s the one who’s shoveling all that snow after breakfast.
What a sweet compromise—and after 30+ years, it sounds like y’all have that routine down pat! Honestly, I love both versions, so I totally get the struggle. And you’re right—anyone braving the snow deserves to have the gravy just the way they like it. I’m sure your sausage patties and gravy combo hits the spot every time. Now I’m craving biscuits and gravy, snow or not!
TonyB
Can this be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze gravy! Flour-based gravies like his freeze better than those thickened with cornstarch, which can get watery when thawed. Just cool it completely, store it in an airtight container, and use it within 3 months. When reheating, thaw in the fridge and warm it slowly on the stovetop, whisking in a little milk if it separates. It’ll be good as new!
Cynthia
Sounds so good; could I use bacon>
Absolutely! Bacon would be a delicious twist. Just cook the bacon first, then use the drippings to make your roux. You might need to adjust the fat amount a bit depending on how much bacon grease you have, but it’ll still be rich, flavorful, and oh-so-good. You should need 2 to 4 tablespoons of bacon grease. Let me know how it turns out with bacon — I bet it’ll be amazing!
Anthony
This is my go to recipe! I made it twice for my family and it dosen’t last. I use store brand hot sausage – no need for additional spices. Easy to follow instructions.
I’m so glad this recipe has become a go-to for your family! Using hot sausage is such a great idea—it’s amazing how much flavor it brings without needing extra spices.
Janet
Yummy!!!! My whole family loved this recipe. Thank You!
Awesome! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Charlene Thompson
I have been on your list before, but was having trouble watching videos and get the recipes to display correctly. I’m hoping that has improved.
Does it seem to be working for you now, Charlene?
Billie Olson
Yummy
Easy fun. Family-friendly even older kids can make this
Absolutely! Love getting kids in the kitchen!
Terry
Love your good ‘ol sausage gravy as that is how I have made it for 50+ years. My family REALLY loves it when I peel 2 tomatoes, dice, and add them with their juice to the pan just before I add the milk. May need a pinch more salt and pepper when adding tomatoes. Served over split hot biscuits – better have plenty! My Granny and my parents made it when I was a kid and a pan was hearty enough for our family of 6. I have made this for people from coast to coast and they all love it. They also say they have never heard of it! Maybe it’s just an Angelina County, Texas thing. We call it Tomato Gravy, but it is not at all like your Tomato Gravy which is also scrumptious!
That sounds absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing, Terry!
Gemma
Would this work if I substituted flour for almond flour & almond milk instead of regular milk? I’m diabetic so I am hoping to make this low carb because it looks so good!
Almond milk will work as a replacement for the milk without an issue. I don’t have much experience with almond flour, but I consulted a few other sites and it does appear others have had success using almond flour with these kinds of things.
Debra McConville
Exactly how I make it! Learned how to make sausage gravy from my Grandma and it is a favorite in our house. When my boy’s friends would come over for supper, they always wanted biscuits, sausage gravy and fried taters. Love Southern bite!!!
Thank you, Debra!!
Raven McLaughlin
Oh my!!! This is EXACTLY like the recipe my husband’s MaMa and his aunts have always used and it’s amazing! Lots of milk and browning the sausage are key! Can’t wait to try the pimento cheese and bacon quiche!!! I love Stacey’s recipes!!
Thank you, Raven!
Carty Rebecca Carty
We love sausage gravy with the addition of onions and red pepper flakes. We like it best over torn pieces of toast! Yours looks great!
Yum!
Sarah Mills
This was SO good and so easy to make! I always thought gravy was difficult to make but this recipe was easy peasy and delicious!!
Thank you so much Sarah!
eddie
Well, lemme jump on this bandwagon! My thing is I’ve recently got into cast iron cooking and learning how to season these skillets. Mom left me few I remember her using almost exclusively. I googled a couple other skillet gravy recipes that said to drain the fat? Well, knew that ain’t right. Low and behold, I landed on southerbite.com. This recipe is exquisite in its simplicity. I used spicy sausage, whole milk and as another suggested, just a dash of onion powder. It was creamy, spicy, sweet and my skillet loved it as well. Thank you for sharing this.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Patty riley
I always add about a teaspoon of onion powder and it takes it to the next level.
Sounds great!
eddmo
Such a sensible recipe.
I like using tube sausage with added sage. Brightens up the flavor for sure.
A pure white gravy is tasteless. You are spot on letting the roux develop before adding milk.
Outstanding read…
Thanks, Eddmo!
Christie Hurst
I want to make this for a group, can I put it in a crockpot to keep it warm? How will it effect it thickening? Should I make it thinner so when it’s ready to be served it’s not too thick? Or will keeping it with low heat keep it thin enough to spread?
As it stands, it will get thicker. I’d make it pretty thin to start, but also keep some milk on-hand to thin it out as needed.
Cindy Jordan
I made this today and it is the best sausage gravy I ever made! Thank you Stacey!
Awesome!! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!!
Larissa H.
I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not originally from the US and grew up in NYC, so traditional US country and southern fare is about as foreign to me as tarantula shish kebabs would be to a typical westerner (myself included). My hubby, on the other hand, was born and raised in the rural Midwest, and absolutely loves – LOVES – biscuits and gravy. In fact, he loves it so much that if ever we do go out for breakfast, this is what he gets from the menu 9 times out of 10 (the 10th being solely due to a subjective evaluation of the type of establishment we’re at or the time of day). I occasionally sample his whenever he orders it, but can’t say that I’ve ever found the dish appetizing enough to order one for myself.
So… on the account of it being Wednesday before Thanksgiving in COVID lockdown, I braved my first ever attempt at serving country gravy (using this recipe) over SugarSpunRun’s biscuits (https://sugarspunrun.com/easy-homemade-biscuits/). Of course, in keeping true to my style in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but doctor up the gravy just a smidge by adding about a tablespoon of bacon grease and about a teaspoon of rubbed sage (my breakfast sausage was already sage flavored, but the gravy just wasn’t quite sagey enough for my liking).
And oh boy, did this turn out mmmm-mmmm plate-licking good! Hubby declared me the designated deer camp cook, should women be allowed to join, LOL. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this mind-blowingly easy and delicious recipe!
As for all you folks balking at the use of Italian sausage or doctoring up the recipe with “non-traditional” ingredients (or am I thinking of a different blog?), I’ll tell you this:
Follow the same exact recipe steps as this gravy, except replace the sausage with a mixture of ground beef, diced onion, and sliced mushrooms all sautéed and browned together, strain out the grease, increase the liquid to 3 cups or decrease the flour to 2 Tbsp, add about 1.5 Tbsp of ketchup and 1 bay leaf, and simmer everything uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture gets to the consistency of slightly thick turkey gravy and no longer tastes like raw ketchup straight out of the bottle. I find that a combination of water and cream works better than straight milk if simmering everything together, or else simmer in some broth or water and add 1-2 Tbsp of plain yogurt or sour cream right after removing the pan from the heat. Salt and pepper to taste and serve over your favorite noodles, sprinkled with something green, like dill or parsley. I promise, it makes the most delicious, budget-friendly 30-minute weeknight beef stroganoff-esque dinner you’ll be making again and again.
Ha! I can’t love this comment enough, Larissa! So glad that y’all enjoyed it!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Melodie Miley Broderick
Made this morning with OGB. Oh my! Was absolutely delicious. We sure did enjoy..
Love the website..????
Thanks, Melodie! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed both of them!! 🙂
Yvonne Rager
What is OGB?
OGB is short for One Giant Biscuit: https://southernbite.com/ogb-one-giant-biscuit/
Margie Marcia Masih
I make sausage gravy the same way…I make the biscuits first so they will be done about same time.i love boiled pot…then sliced and fried in butter,scrambled eggs with cheese,and fried mush with sausage gravy poured over…all these things I named off is a great meal anytime of day.
Yum! That sounds amazing!
Carolyn P
This recipe is the way I’ve been making my sausage gravy for over 50 years. I have always get a nice brown crust on most of the sausage. I never drain, but occasionally there won’t be enough fat and I may need to add a bit of butter. Like this recipe states, stir the flour right in with the meat. When you’re ready to add the milk, one way to add extra richness to the gravy is to use evaporated milk, such as Carnation. If the gravy gets too thick, it can always be thinned down some by adding water or regular milk.
Like you stated, I like to spoon some over my scrambled eggs and, of course, homemade biscuits!
Thanks for sharing your tips, Carolyn!
D Gould
Breakfast or dinner once a month minimum, for last 25+ years! I sometimes crave it enough to have it 3-4 times! And make it this exact way, although I do merely cook it through, good either way. I also HAVE to have sausage from “down on the farm!” But it really is simple. And soooo delicious!
We sure love breakfast for dinner!
Cindy S
Love me some Biscuits and gravy, and we like all the kinds sausage, tomato, chocolate. We only ever got the chocolate on special occasions, like Christmas morning and such. I still make sausage gravy and biscuits for weekends or at harvest. It makes a wonderful breakfast or supper after a long days work, and it really hangs with you. Grandma would always make it to go along with the big breakfast she took to the field to feed everyone that came to help with harvest. Love all of your recipes and the memories they bring back!!
Thanks so much, Cindy!!
Vickie
We live in “Southern” Il which has a lot of great country, Southern cooks. My dear Mother made sausage gravy just as you describe above and you are right, it is home. Thank you for sharing your recipe and story with us and for the memories that came with it. Your photos look like you took pictures of the food she cooked, iron skillet and all!
That’s quite a compliment! Thanks, Vickie!
Winnie Mom
I’ve been making peppered sausage gravy with biscuits for what seems like ages. If I don’t use the hot sausage I will add some crushed pepper flakes for just a little kick. In winter months will fix this for supper with grits and or potatoes and eggs too. Didn’t grow up eating this but after moving to the deep south, I’ve enjoyed cooking and eating this a lot.
My late husband used to make a peppered gravy using dried beef to have with biscuits or sometimes just toast.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Anthony
This recipe turned out exactly as described in pictures & in taste. I used hot sausage, added some pepper & wow did the taste buds come alive. It was easy to follow directions and yes brown up the sausage for added crunch. Definitely thumbs up.
Awesome! So glad to hear it turned out great for you!
Sherrie Letto
I grew up on sausage gravy and biscuits, too. ???? Sometimes I make breakfast for dinner and this is always a quick, yummy go to. I just can’t understand why people would buy the jarred gravy when this is so easy and good. ????♀️
It is pretty easy, right?? We’re big fans of breakfast for supper at our house!
Ladina peikert
You should try it with evaporated milk. It adds a smooth richness. I only use evaperated milk in my white gravys.
And yes scrambled eggs are a yummy add in.
Hubby looks at me like i lost my mind when i do this on my plate. Dont knock it till you tried it.
Told that to my oldest when he was a kid about cornbread and milk, now he loves that stuff
Any time we have sausage gravy, I almost always put some over my scrambled eggs, so I’m right there with you. And I do love using evaporated milk. You’re right, it makes it so creamy and smooth.
Adna
Evaporated milk is all I use, and you’re right, the best flavor and richness.
Shirley Farish
Mercy me, this sounds so good to me. I will add the hot sausage to my grocery list. Thanks for sharing.