Description
Sausage Gravy and Biscuits is a classic Southern breakfast dish featuring fluffy biscuits smothered in a creamy, peppery sausage gravy. This hearty and comforting meal uses simple pantry staples and an easy stovetop method to create a rich, savory gravy made from browned breakfast sausage, flour, and milk. Perfect for weekend breakfasts, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner, it is customizable with mild or hot sausage, fresh black pepper, and choice of homemade or store-bought biscuits.
Ingredients
Sausage Gravy
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild or hot, or turkey sausage for a leaner option)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk (or 2% milk for a lighter version)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional, if sausage is lean)
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: pinch of garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes
Biscuits
- 4 to 6 biscuits, homemade, refrigerated, or frozen (buttermilk biscuits recommended)
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the breakfast sausage. Break it into small crumbles with a spatula as it cooks. Brown the sausage completely, cooking through thoroughly.
- Prepare the drippings: Leave enough rendered fat in the skillet to make the gravy. If the sausage is very lean and lacks fat, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet.
- Add the flour: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour evenly over the cooked sausage. Stir continuously to coat the sausage and absorb the fat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste, stirring frequently.
- Whisk in the milk: Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps and maintain a smooth mixture.
- Simmer and thicken: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often, until the gravy thickens to a creamy consistency. If the gravy is too thick, whisk in more milk gradually to reach the desired texture.
- Season: Add freshly cracked black pepper generously and season with salt to taste. Optionally, stir in a pinch of garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes to enhance flavor.
- Prepare biscuits: While the gravy simmers, bake or warm your choice of biscuits until they are fluffy and golden brown.
- Serve: Split warm biscuits open and spoon generous amounts of hot sausage gravy over them. Finish with additional cracked black pepper if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- For a leaner gravy, use turkey sausage but add butter to compensate for the lower fat content.
- Adjust black pepper and optional seasonings like garlic powder or red pepper flakes to suit your taste preferences.
- Store leftover gravy in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently with milk added.
- Freeze gravy for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container; thaw overnight before reheating.
- Keep biscuits and gravy stored separately to prevent sogginess.
- Use refrigerated or frozen biscuits for quick and convenient preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
