I have some lovely memories of my grandma making old fashioned sausage gravy during my childhood. We usually had it on biscuits, but sometimes on plain white bread. Either way, sausage gravy is such a yummy choice for breakfast or even breakfast at dinner!
What Is Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy?
So, if you’ve never had sausage gravy, you’re missing out! It’s made with sausage, flour, milk, salt, pepper, and sometimes oil, depending on how lean your sausage is. Don’t confuse it with country gravy – that one doesn’t have any sausage in it. Old-fashioned sausage gravy is the real deal, with yummy bits of sausage mixed in.
Apparently, ‘legend’ says that back in the 1800s, sawmills in Southern Appalachia came up with a type of gravy that we now know as sausage gravy. Some people still call it sawmill gravy as well.
What Are The Ingredients In Sausage Gravy?
A convenient printable recipe card is below with quantities and instructions.
- Sausage – Of course, sausage gravy needs sausage. We grind our sausage with seasoning (I will get that recipe posted soon), but any ground breakfast sausage will work.
- Flour – All-purpose flour provides the thickener that creates the creamy goodness of the old fashioned sausage gravy.
- Milk – Whole milk is best, but you can use 2%. For even extra creaminess, half and half can be substituted for some of the milk.
- Salt and Pepper – This is very subjective, and there is no “right” amount. You can absolutely adjust to your and your family’s taste buds.
- Oil/Bacon Grease – Depending on how lean your sausage is, extra fat may be needed. Our homemade sausage is very lean, so I have to add some extra fat to it. I prefer using bacon grease (I save all of mine when cooking, which makes everything so good), but you can use oil.
How To Make Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy?
- Start by browning the pork sausage in a large skillet and crumbling it as it cooks. Once the pork is thoroughly cooked additional oil may be needed depending on how lean the pork sausage is.
- Add in the flour and whisk around for about a minute until the flour is just slightly browned.
- Slowly add in the milk, whisking constantly until the gravy thickens.
- Salt and pepper to your taste. Add a few red pepper flaskes if desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
What To Serve With Biscuits And Sausage Gravy?
- Bacon or sausage
- Eggs
- Roasted Potatoes With Onions
- Hashbrowns
- Fruit
How To Store Sausage Gravy?
- Old fashioned sausage gravy can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezing is not recommended.
Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Old fashioned sausage gravy is a breakfast classic when served with warm biscuits. Not only can sausage gravy be served with biscuits but also with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pork sausage
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 3/4 cups milk
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Oil or bacon grease
Instructions
- Place the sausage in a skillet, cook on low-medium heat, and crumble it as it browns.
- Once the sausage is thoroughly cooked, make sure you have 3 tablespoons of grease in the skillet. Depending on the fat content of the sausage, some grease may need to be drained or oil (or bacon grease) added.
- On low-medium heat, add the flour to the skillet with the sausage and whisk around for 1 minute.
- Add the milk, whisking constantly until the gravy comes to a boil and thickens.
- Salt and pepper to taste!
Notes
- If additional grease is needed, bacon grease adds more flavor than oil. I save all my bacon grease in a mason jar in the fridge.
- If the gravy becomes too thick, stir in additional milk, 1/4 cup at a time.
- For my family, I used 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American