Are you ready to experience the comforting flavors of the South? Picture waking up on a lazy Sunday morning to the smell of homemade biscuits and warm, country gravy. If you love Southern cuisine, then this easy recipe for How to Make a Perfect Southern White Sausage Gravy is a must-try! In this post, we will walk you through the steps to create this delicious Southern comfort food.
Southern White Sausage Gravy is a classic staple in Southern cuisine. This rich and creamy gravy is made with a simple roux, flavorful sausage, and a few key ingredients that create a comforting and satisfying dish. It is traditionally served over warm biscuits, making it the perfect addition to any breakfast or brunch spread. This recipe is loved for its simplicity, flavor, and ability to bring back memories of family gatherings and lazy Sunday mornings.
Why we love this recipe:
- It's quick: Whip up this delicious gravy in no time, perfect for busy mornings.
- It's addictive: The rich and creamy texture combined with savory sausage makes it hard to resist. It is one of our favorite comfort foods!
- It's easy: With a handful of ingredients and simple steps, anyone can master this simple recipe.
- It's versatile: Enjoy this gravy as a delicious addition to pork chops, fried chicken, or even vegetables.
If you like this homemade country gravy recipe, you may also love our Chicken Tenders or Chicken-Fried Steak with homemade white country gravy. Southern Fried Chicken or Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. Both dishes pair perfectly with this easy white sausage gravy recipe.
Jump to:
- What Ingredients Will You Need?
- Instructions
- What Are Some Good Substitutions?
- How Can You Change This Recipe Up?
- What Kitchen Equipment Is Best?
- How Should You Store This?
- What Are Some Expert Tips?
- More Recipes You'll Love ♥️
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 📖 Recipe
- Important Food Safety Tips
- 💬 Share Your Thoughts
What Ingredients Will You Need?
- Sausage: Seasoned ground sausage adds delicious flavor to the gravy.
- Bacon Grease: Rendered fat from cooked bacon, provides a delicious smoky flavor to this dish.
- Flour: All-purpose flour thickens the gravy and creates a smooth texture.
- Milk: Creamy and rich whole milk makes a great base for the gravy.
- Black Pepper: Adds a mild spiciness and depth of flavor to the gravy.
- White Pepper: Enhances the overall taste of the gravy.
- Salt: Helps to balance out the other seasonings in the gravy.
Note: Refer to the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Instructions
How to Make a Perfect Southern White Sausage Gravy
STEP ONE: Prepare the Ingredients
Gather the sausage, bacon grease, all-purpose flour, whole milk, black pepper, white pepper, and salt.
STEP TWO: Cook the Sausage
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until it is browned and cooked through. Break it up into small crumbles as it cooks.
STEP THREE: Make the Roux
Push the cooked sausage to one side of the skillet and add the bacon grease to one tablespoon of meat drippings on the other side. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the bacon grease and stir continuously until it forms a paste-like consistency. Cook the roux for about a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
STEP FOUR: Add the Milk and Seasonings
Gradually pour in the milk while stirring continuously to combine it with the roux. Add the black pepper, white pepper, and salt to taste. For best results, continue stirring until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
What Are Some Good Substitutions?
- Sausage: You can use any type of sausage you prefer, such as breakfast sausage, spicy sausage, or even vegetarian sausage.
- Bacon grease: If you don't have bacon grease on hand, you can substitute it with butter or vegetable oil.
- All-purpose flour: If you want a gluten-free version, you can use a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch as a thickening agent.
- Whole milk: If you prefer a lighter version, you can use low-fat milk or a milk alternative like almond milk.
How Can You Change This Recipe Up?
- Flavor: Replace the sausage with finely chopped bacon to make a sawmill gravy for a smoky flavor. For a brown gravy, you could also substitute the sausage with ground beef by browning the meat in the skillet before adding the flour and continuing with the recipe as usual.
- Diet: Replace the sausage with crumbled vegetarian sausage or diced mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms until they release their moisture before adding the flour. This option is ideal for vegetarians or those looking for a meat-free alternative.
What Kitchen Equipment Is Best?
This post shows some of our kitchen essentials. Please visit our shop if you would like to see more of our favorites. These are Amazon affiliate links and we earn commission from qualifying purchases.
- Cast iron skillet
- Wooden spoon
- Whisk or fork
- Measuring cups and spoons
How Should You Store This?
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
This dish is freezer-friendly.
Note: Refer to Top Tips below for more storage and reheating tips.
What Are Some Expert Tips?
- Use a medium heat setting when cooking the sausage to ensure it browns evenly without burning.
- Be patient when making the roux. Stir continuously and cook it for at least a minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Gradually add the milk to the roux while stirring continuously with a small whisk. This will help prevent lumps from forming.
- Reheat sausage gravy on the stovetop or in the microwave until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Stir it occasionally during reheating to ensure even heating.
More Recipes You'll Love ♥️
Have Leftover Ingredients?
- You can use leftover cooked sausage in various dishes such as omelets, breakfast burritos, or pasta dishes. Simply chop or crumble the sausage and incorporate it into your favorite recipes.
- Bacon grease can add a delicious smoky flavor to many dishes. You can use it for many Southern recipes. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future use.
- Leftover gravy can be served on breakfast burritos or in a scrambled egg skillet.
In The Mood For a Similar Dish?
- Transform the classic biscuits and gravy into a comforting Biscuit and Gravy Casserole.
- Cook up some sausage, and scrambled eggs, then add your favorite vegetables to create a Sausage and Egg Breakfast Skillet. Top it off with a ladle of white sausage gravy for extra flavor.
Need Something To Pair This With?
- Whip up a batch of hot biscuits. The combination of flaky biscuits and savory gravy is simply irresistible.
- This gravy pairs wonderfully with crispy fried chicken or chicken fried steak.
- Mashed potatoes make a fantastic side dish for the rich gravy.
- For a true Southern breakfast experience, serve the gravy over a bowl of creamy, buttery grits.
More breakfast and brunch recipes you will love:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze the gravy?
Can I use skim milk instead of whole milk?
Can I make the gravy without meat?
📖 Recipe
How to Make a Perfect Southern White Sausage Gravy
Ingredients
- ½ lb sausage
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and cooked through. Break it up into small crumbles while cooking.
- Push the cooked sausage to one side of the skillet and add the bacon grease to 1 tablespoon of meat drippings on the other side. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the bacon grease and stir continuously until it forms a paste-like consistency. Cook the roux for about a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Gradually pour in the milk while stirring continuously to combine it with the roux. Add the black pepper, white pepper, and salt to taste. For best results, continue stirring until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- Once the gravy reaches the desired thickness, remove it from the heat. Serve the Southern White Sausage Gravy over warm biscuits, fried chicken, pork chops, or any other dish of your choice.
Notes
- When reheating sausage gravy, ensure it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to kill any potential bacteria.
- Reheat only the portion you plan to consume.
-
- Sausage: You can use any type of sausage you prefer, such as breakfast sausage, spicy sausage, or even vegetarian sausage.
-
- Bacon grease: If you don't have bacon grease on hand, you can substitute it with butter or vegetable oil.
-
- All-purpose flour: If you want a gluten-free version, you can use a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch as a thickening agent.
-
- Whole milk: If you prefer a lighter version, you can use low-fat milk or a milk alternative like almond milk.
Nutrition
Important Food Safety Tips
Cook sausage to a minimum internal temperature of 160 °F (71.1 °C)
- Create a clean work area.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat or seafood.
- Rinse fresh produce thoroughly.
- Do not use the same cutting board or utensils on cooked food or produce, that previously touched raw meat or seafood.
- Do not leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Brett
So for true Southern Sausage gravy, you need to switch up ingredients. I always save my bacon grease, and adding a table spoon to start the roux with the sausage drippins is perfect, but substitute self rising flour for all purpose, and add the salt and fresh crack pepper to the roux while it's cooking, and let the roux brown a little bit, you want a tan to caramel color to the roux, then add the secret to the whole thing is to use evaporated milk. Use two 12 oz cans of evaporated milk, add the first can and whisk it in smoothing out the lumps, then incorporate the sausage into the mix. As the roux starts to thicken stir in the second can. I don't use white pepper, but try the substitution and you will think that you've stopped at a roadside diner off I-77 in the middle of Tennessee.
Jami Powell
Thanks for the tips, Brett! Will have to try this!