Sausage gravy is a classic Southern breakfast dish that requires four simple ingredients to prepare. Rich and comforting, it goes great with fresh biscuits for breakfast!
Cook sausage in a large skillet until no longer pink, then sprinkle flour over the grease to form a roux and gradually stir in milk.
Season with salt, ground sage, and pepper (plus red pepper flakes if desired). Serve immediately over biscuits.
Ingredients
Sausage gravy is an easy, comforting breakfast recipe using only four ingredients. A classic Southern recipe, it pairs beautifully with buttery biscuits, but it can also be served over eggs, scrambled eggs, toast, hash browns, or even chicken fried steak!
At its core, homemade sausage gravy requires milk, flour, black pepper, and salt – with whole milk being preferred, but non-dairy alternatives such as almond or soy milk will do just as well. I always add garlic powder for extra flavor enhancement; adding thyme adds another significant element. Finally, white pepper provides an elegant spice without giving your tongue too much of a workout!
Cook the sausage until it has reached a deep golden brown and is no longer pink in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently to achieve maximum browning and avoid any pink hues. Doing this adds delicious flavors from its cooking juices; don’t drain off any fat that collects during this process – keep that to make a simple roux later. After this process has concluded, sprinkle flour over the sausage and grease and stir/cook together for at least 2 minutes more until the flour has fully integrated into this simple roux recipe before mixing to achieve maximum browning!
Pour in the milk slowly while stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming in your sausage gravy. Whisk until your sauce is smooth and thick before mixing in thyme leaves and season with additional black pepper to taste.
Now, your sausage gravy is ready to enjoy. Spoon over hot, fluffy biscuits and enjoy. If there are leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, reheating gently on either a stovetop or microwave using low power settings the next day.
Sausage gravy complements fried eggs, scrambled eggs, oatmeal grits, toast baked potatoes, hashbrowns, or even polenta for breakfast burritos and sandwiches.
Prep Time
Sausage gravy is one of those classic Southern breakfast recipes that all must know how to prepare. Its classic taste and comforting texture pair well with homemade biscuits or as an addition to other breakfast foods such as eggs, hashbrowns, or chicken fried steak.
Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat and adding sausage. Cook until crumbled and browned, approximately 10-12 minutes; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, sprinkle in flour to thoroughly coat the rendered fat, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes with constant stirring to eliminate the raw flour taste and create a smooth gravy. Drizzle milk while whisking or stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming in your gravy. Once it simmers and thickens up, add seasonings such as salt, pepper, and paprika, herbs such as salt and pepper paprika, and add extra flavors such as nutmeg to give your gravy an additional dimension of flavor!
Simmer the gravy for several minutes until it reaches your preferred thickness, tasting and adjusting seasonings as necessary – more salt or black pepper as needed. To enhance this gravy further, switch out some of the black pepper for some white pepper for an added hint of spice without as much punch!
Homemade sausage gravy can be prepared and stored for up to one day in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then heat on low or medium heat in a skillet until bubbling is apparent, warm, and toasty.
This classic sausage gravy pairs beautifully with my homemade buttermilk drop biscuits or Bisquick biscuits. However, you could also serve it over pancakes, polenta, creamy grits, mashed potatoes, or as an easy breakfast option!
Make this gravy the night before for a leisurely breakfast on the go; cover and refrigerate, reheating as directed in the morning. Additionally, it makes an incredible addition to any breakfast burrito! Enjoy!
Cook Time
Sausage gravy should be prepared on the stove for 10-12 minutes before adding milk. To ensure an authentic-tasting gravy experience, it’s best to cook and crumble your sausage before incorporating it with milk. If making enough for an entire party or event, consider prepping ahead; stored in the fridge, this dish can last up to three days before being reheated as necessary.
Once the sausage has been thoroughly cooked, remove from heat. Stir in flour with a whisk, allowing it to absorb some excess fat from the link before slowly whisking in milk a little at a time until all has been added – otherwise, your gravy may clump and thicken during its journey through cooking!
For a thinner gravy, add milk gradually until the desired thickness is reached – this will prevent it from becoming too thick and ensure a smooth sauce without lumps or debris.
If desired, chicken broth can also be substituted for milk – the taste will remain delicious! But to achieve proper white gravy flavoring, it’s recommended that milk be used.
Assuming you have homemade biscuits, sausage gravy should be served over hot biscuits for maximum enjoyment! Or use a packaged mix like Bisquick to save time. For an exciting breakfast twist, turn your biscuits into sausage waffles using your waffle maker!
This sausage gravy recipe is one of the easiest ones to prepare. Only taking minutes to prep, this delicious meal can be ready and waiting for you and your family within minutes! Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience together in no time at all!
Serve
Sausage gravy is the ideal breakfast staple to start any weekend or holiday morning off right! Not only is it simple and flavorful, but you’ll love serving it over warm drop biscuits or topping them off with poached eggs to create the ultimate brunch! Additionally, sausage gravy makes an impressive crowd-pleasing brunch casserole, which always delights family gatherings!
When making this dish, the key is browning the sausage crumbles thoroughly before adding butter, flour, salt, and pepper. This gives the gravy an intensely rich flavor while thickening it further – keep stirring to avoid burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan!
Once your sausage has been thoroughly cooked and browned, add milk gradually while stirring to avoid lumps and create a roux. Your gravy should thicken as it cooks and become smooth upon completion; feel free to add crushed red pepper for some added heat if desired!
Stir the gravy together and taste for seasoning before stirring in salt and pepper to your desired flavor and herbs such as sage. Allowing it to cool before refreezing over medium heat, if necessary, is also helpful in creating maximum flavor!
Once the gravy has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for several days before refrigerating. Reheating is simple: Place in skillet over medium/low heat and stir. If it is too thick during reheating, a splash of milk should do just the trick! This homemade sausage gravy recipe is easy and makes a satisfying breakfast that gives you energy for whatever comes your way! Enjoy it!
