Sausage Gravy (2024)

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by Stephanie on March 7, 2021 (Updated April 9, 2024)36*This post may contain affiliate links. Read more »

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Learn how to make the BEST Sausage Gravy from scratch with just a few simple ingredients! Serve this with my homemade buttermilk biscuits for the ultimate comfort food!

Be sure to try my Chicken Pot Pie recipe for your next comfort food endeavor!

Sausage Gravy (1)

I’m pretty excited to be adding this to my (delicious) collection of gravy recipes. If you’ve ever had sausage gravy before, you’re probably doing backflips in your head at the idea of making this at home. And if you haven’t tried it yet…. get excited.

When I first started making this, every part of me wanted to experiment by adding different things to it. But I decided to keep it old fashioned and simple instead. And now, I don’t think I can possibly make it any other way. Let’s get to it.

How to Make Sausage Gravy From Scratch

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Cook and crumble the sausage.Sprinkle flour over it and stir to incorporate. Cook for 2 minutes, until you can no longer smell flour.

Sausage Gravy (2)

Gradually add the half and half and milk, a little bit at a time. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pan.

Add the seasonings. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Sausage Gravy (3)

Gently stir and loosen any remnants on the bottom of the pan as it simmers. It will continue to thicken more and more. Once your desired thickness is obtained, remove from heat.

Taste, and add any additional salt/pepper if desired.

Optional: Melt 2 Tablespoons cold butter at the end for a silky, velvety finish. This is a technique that chefs use called “monter au beurre”.

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The Spices

The spices for sausage gravy are simple and compliment the other ingredients perfectly. We’ll use: Garlic Salt, Seasoned Salt, Ground Sage, and Black Pepper.

Red Pepper Flakes make a nice (optional) addition as well.

Make-Ahead Method

  • This recipe can be prepared 1-2 days in advance. Let it cool and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Reheat it in a skillet on the stove top and be prepared to add a splash or two of milk if you need to thin it out.

Pro Tips

  • Any kind of sausage can be used for this recipe, I like using sweet breakfast sausage.
  • For an additional kick, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes along with the seasonings.
  • Onions/Garlic can be sautéed with the sausage as well.
  • If the gravy becomes too thick, add a splash of milk. This may be particularly helpful if reheating from a cold state.

What To Serve with Sausage Gravy

Storage

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.As with most gravies, this doesn’t reheat quite as well from a frozen state.

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Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

  • Cast Iron Skillet– Conducts heat really well and is what I love using for this recipe.
  • Silicone Spatula– Used to ‘clean’ the bottom of the pot and work any meat remnants into the gravy for extra flavor. I use these every time I cook.
  • Gravy Boat- I have this handy one which keeps the gravy warm with a candle on the bottom!
  • Pinch bowls. I always like to measure out my seasonings and other ingredients ahead of time.
  • Measuring spoons.I love that these are magnetic. They keep my drawer neat.

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Sausage Gravy (12)

Sausage Gravy

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 36 oz.

Tap or hover to scale

Learn how to make the BEST Sausage Gravy from scratch with just a few simple ingredients! Serve this with my homemade biscuits for the ultimate comfort food!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground sausage, see note 1
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 ½ cups half and half, see note 2
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons cold butter, optional

Instructions

  • Cook and crumble the sausage over medium-high heat until there is just a small amount of pink left. Decrease heat to low and let it finish cooking, (this gives us a little bit more drippings).

  • Sprinkle the flour over the sausage and stir to incorporate. Increase heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes, until you can no longer smell flour.

  • Gradually add the half and half and milk, a little bit at a time. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pan.

  • Add the seasonings. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil for one minute, then reduce to a simmer.

  • Gently stir and loosen any remnants on the bottom of the pan as it simmers. It will continue to thicken more and more. Once your desired thickness is obtained, remove from heat.

  • Taste, and add any additional salt/pepper if desired.

  • Optional: Melt 2 Tablespoons cold butter at the end for a silky, velvety finish. This is a technique that chefs use called “monter au beurre”.

Notes

  • Note 1- I love using sweet breakfast sausage, but any variety will work well!
  • Note 2- All whole milk or all half and half can be used if needed.

More PRO Tips:

  • Onions/Garlic can be sautéed with the sausage as well.
  • If the gravy becomes too thick, add a splash of milk. This may be particularly helpful if reheating from a cold state.
  • This recipe makes approximately 36 ounces, which is equal to about 4 1/2 cups. The nutrition information is per ounce and includes the optional addition of butter at the end.

Make-Ahead Method

  • This recipe can be prepared 1-2 days in advance. Let it cool and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Reheat it in a skillet on the stove top and be prepared to add a splash or two of milk if you need to thin it out.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 143mg, Potassium: 60mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 81IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Stephanie

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Sausage Gravy (13)

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Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe

36 comments on “Sausage Gravy”

  1. This was so easy!! And came out absolutely delicious. My husband said it was better than any he has had at a restaurant. Made your buttermilk biscuits too – they were heavenly.
    What a great recipe, thank you so much Stephanie ❤️

    • I’m soooo happy to hear that Jenny! That sausage gravy (and the biscuits!!) are my weakness!! Thank you so much for the review, as usual! I can’t thank you enough! ❤️❤️❤️

  2. If you are debating between this or a different sausage gravy recipe, trust me, go with this one!! Amazing!!

    • AWWWWW!!! I am sooo happy that you love it Norma, I would agree with this recommendation, haha!! This recipe is the best! Thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie 🙂

  3. What the heck! I never knew it was so easy to make sausage gravy. This was way better than any restaurant biscuits and gravy I’ve had. I used fat free milk and fat free half and half and the gravy still got nice and thick. I was a little worried about that, but wow this turned out amazing! I seasoned it up generously and swapped out the sage for parsley(it’s all I had) and added some onion powder too. Next time I’ll go the extra mile and add some chopped onion and minced garlic to the pork. Wonderful recipe! First time for me and it came out perfectly.

    • Nice work Felecia, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I love pouring this over biscuits when I want to spoil myself and have a comforting brunch. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review!💖

  4. This recipe is so easy and so delicious!! Grateful to have a resource for reliable yummy recipes-thank you!

    • HEY Miranda! I am sooo happy that you love this recipe! It’s one of my FAVS!!! Thank you so much for the review, I appreciate it so much! ❤️

  5. Really good! I’m not a very confident cook, but this was easy and turned out great. I’ll never crave restaurant sausage gravy again because this is so much better.

  6. Was a total hit at our house and we have a bunch of picky eaters!!!!

  7. I always use package gravy mix. I assumed homemade gravy was difficult to make. This morning my family wanted sausage gravy and biscuits but I was out of package gravy. I searched Cozy Cook sausage gravy because she has never steered me wrong before! This gravy was SO delicious and easy to make! I just deleted the package gravy from my grocery order! Another great recipe! Thank you!

    • Hey Danielle!! I am SOOOOO happy that you turned to me when you needed a Sausage Gravy recipe! I am obsessed with this recipe and I feel like it’s a hidden gem on my blog! Thank you sooo much for the review, you made my day!! -Stephanie

  8. Hi, I made this tonight, and it was a big hit. Lee said it was the best SOS he ever ate, even better than the Air Force. Theirs is watered down. I used whole milk, carnation milk in the can (it’s what I had), garlic powder, ground sage, S & P only and served over homemade biscuits. It was my first time making this, Fantastic.

    • I’m so happy it was such a success Kay! My Dad was in the Air Force!💗💗💗 Thanks so much for the great comments and review!

Sausage Gravy (2024)

FAQs

What makes sausage gravy taste better? ›

What makes sausage gravy taste better? Sometimes sausage gravy can taste under-seasoned. This recipe is packed with flavor thanks to the use of chicken broth rather than just milk, as well as thyme, black pepper, salt, garlic, and cayenne in the final gravy. Spend time carefully deepening the color of the roux.

What's the difference between country gravy and sausage gravy? ›

The main difference is that country gravy does not have sausage. Country gravy uses butter to make its roux, while sausage gravy uses the rendered fat from the meat, cooked with flour, to thicken the gravy. Check out Ree Drummond's recipe for country gravy which she serves alongside chicken fried steak.

What is sausage gravy made of? ›

Sausage: You'll need a package of pork sausage. Flour: All-purpose flour acts as a thickening agent. Milk: Milk adds richness and works with the flour to create the perfect texture. Seasonings: The gravy is simply seasoned with salt and pepper.

Why does my sausage gravy have no flavor? ›

If the gravy lacks oomph, adjust seasoning as necessary with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. If you used canned stock instead of homemade, the gravy might not be as flavorful.

How do you make gravy more flavorful? ›

Fortunately, Shannon has several suggestions for fixing bland gravy, starting by adding a bouillon cube, herbs or a splash of wine or cognac. But if you have time to spare, add pan drippings from turkey, bacon or bacon drippings, caramelized vegetables (like onions, leeks, carrots and celery), herbs or garlic.

What is gravy called in the South? ›

Sawmill Gravy

A creamy skillet gravy made with drippings, this staple—known by many now as just "sausage gravy" or "country gravy"—can be said to bolster up the entire Southern breakfast menu, and nobody makes it better than the old-fashioned, country-style breakfast joint in your hometown or your own grandma.

What gravy is KFC? ›

What is the gravy at KFC made of? The restaurant uses a simple combination of gravy powder, water, and – their secret ingredient – chicken crackling. This is a collection of the browned bits and pieces leftover from frying their world famous chicken.

What is the most popular type of gravy? ›

One of the most popular forms is onion gravy, which is eaten with sausages, Yorkshire pudding and roast meat. Throughout the United States, gravy is commonly eaten with Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. One Southern United States variation is sausage gravy eaten with American biscuits.

What can I use to thicken my sausage gravy? ›

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

What is another name for sausage gravy? ›

This is my classic, old-fashioned homemade sausage gravy recipe (also often known as “sawmill gravy”)!

What was the original name for sausage gravy? ›

The history of the dish is debated, with some believing that it originated during the Revolutionary War while others trace the dish to Southern Appalachian lumber mills in the 1800s, hence the name sawmill gravy.

Is it better to make gravy with flour or cornstarch? ›

Browning adds more flavor to the gravy and gets rid of the raw flour taste. You're basically making a roux. We find that a flour-based gravy holds up better and reheats better later, which is why we tend to prefer using flour over cornstarch to make gravy unless we have a guest who is eating gluten-free.

How do you add depth to gravy? ›

If your gravy is too pale, a splash of soy sauce will darken it and add plenty of flavour. Scrape up the flavour-filled crusty bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. It really intensifies the gravy. For turkey gravy, make sure you get the giblets from the butcher.

What thickener is best for gravy? ›

Similar to flour, cornstarch is another ingredient that can be used to make gravy thicker. With cornstarch, making a slurry is also an option, but with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked into cold water. Again, you'll want to add the slurry in increments so you don't over-thicken the gravy.

How to jazz up sausage gravy? ›

14 Ways To Upgrade A Classic Sausage Gravy
  1. Make your own sausage. Mironov Vladimir/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Cook the sausage first, then remove it. From_my_point_of_view/Getty Images. ...
  3. Add a little alcohol. ...
  4. Add flavorful fat. ...
  5. Add aromatics. ...
  6. Perfect your roux. ...
  7. Use fresh, high-quality, full-fat dairy milk. ...
  8. Add a pinch of nutmeg.
Feb 8, 2023

How to doctor up canned sausage gravy? ›

Add Spices To Boost The Flavor

Onion powder and other seasoned salts (like celery salt or even truffle salt if you want to get fancy) will also give your canned gravy the flavor boost it needs. Another great way to elevate your canned sausage gravy is to pump up the spiciness.

How do you make sausages taste better? ›

Seasonings, spices and herbs are added to give the sausages extra flavour. Small pieces of cooked apple, caramelised onions or other ingredients that pair well with pork can also be added to create interesting varieties.

What gives sausage its distinct flavor? ›

Spices: Various spices give a sausage its robust flavor. Commonly used sausage spices include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and paprika. Water: Water is typically added to replace the moisture lost during cooking or smoking.

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