By Becky Hardin
Updated Feb 18, 2025
I love making Homemade Sausage Gravy—It is creamy, rich and savory. It’s my go-to recipe for the classic biscuits and sausage gravy breakfast that everyone enjoys. Let me share how I make the best sausage gravy for breakfast!
Classic Sausage Gravy Recipe
Sausage gravy is a traditional Southern breakfast dish, often served with biscuits as biscuits and sausage gravy. This is my mom’s classic recipe (which goes perfectly with homemade biscuits or refrigerated biscuits). It’s the perfect consistency, the perfect creaminess, and the perfect flavor!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ pound regular pork sausage cooked & crumbled
- ▢ ½ pound hot pork sausage cooked and crumbled
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ▢ ¼ smoky paprika
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes not needed if using hot sausage
- ▢ 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 3-4 cups whole milk
Video
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain all except 2 tablespoons fat from the sausage. ½ pound regular pork sausage, ½ pound hot pork sausage
- Add the black pepper, seasoned salt, paprika and crushed red pepper (optional). Stir well. 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt, ¼ smoky paprika, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sprinkle the flour over the sausage, and cook one minute, stirring constantly. Note: Make sure that flour is combined very well and cooked through. You should not smell raw flour. 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- Continue stirring the sausage while adding three cups of milk. 3-4 cups whole milk
- Bring gravy to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer until gravy thickens.
Becky’s Tips
- Bacon, chicken, turkey sausage are other alternatives for pork.
- If you like heat, feel free to add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne pepper.
- You can also try mild sausage.
- 2% or half and half are milk alternatives you can use.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Sausage Gravy for Biscuits
Cook the sausage and season: In a large skillet, cook ½ pound regular pork sausage and ½ pound hot pork sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain all except 2 tablespoons fat from the sausage.
Drain the sausage, but keep a couple tablespoons of fat.
Stir in 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt, ¼ smoky paprika and 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Combine well.
Add flour and combine well: Sprinkle the 1/3 cup all-purpose flour over the sausage, and cook one minute, stirring constantly. Note: Make sure that flour is combined very well and cooked through. You should not smell raw flour.
Add milk and simmer: Continue stirring the sausage while adding three cups of milk.If the gravy gets too thick, add up to one more cup of milk until desired consistency is achieved.
Bring the gravy to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until it thickens up.
Now serve it up with some fresh biscuits and you’ve got an awesome breakfast!
Whether you need a tasty breakfast for guests, weekend mornings with the family, or something delicious (and easy) for Christmas morning, biscuits and sausage gravy is the way to go!
How do you thicken sausage gravy?
Give the gravy time to simmer as it will thicken as it cooks. The best way to thicken the gravy is to slowly add in more flour (just a little bit at a time) and stir. And if gravy is too thick, start adding in more milk (again, a little bit at a time) until you reach the desired consistency.
How to Store and Reheat
You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can reheat in a pan, stirring in extra milk or flour as needed.
I don’t recommend freezing it. Thawing will change the consistency.
Serving Suggestions
Sausage gravy makes a comforting and rich breakfast especially during holidays ! Warm gravy poured over buttermilk biscuits , grits , home fries , bacon , or over a simple egg scramble makes a wonderful breakfast.
More classicbreakfast recipesto try
Bacon Pancakes
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Baked Steak and Eggs Tacos (Breakfast Tacos Recipe)
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Meat Lovers Breakfast Pizza (Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza)
Breakfast Sliders
One Pan Cheesy Beef Breakfast Scramble (Skillet Breakfast Casserole)
Croissant Breakfast Sandwich
Homemade Sausage Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound regular pork sausage cooked & crumbled
- ½ pound hot pork sausage cooked and crumbled
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ¼ smoky paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes not needed if using hot sausage
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3-4 cups whole milk
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain all except 2 tablespoons fat from the sausage. ½ pound regular pork sausage, ½ pound hot pork sausage
- Add the black pepper, seasoned salt, paprika and crushed red pepper (optional). Stir well. 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, ¾ teaspoon seasoned salt, ¼ smoky paprika, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sprinkle the flour over the sausage, and cook one minute, stirring constantly. Note: Make sure that flour is combined very well and cooked through. You should not smell raw flour. 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- Continue stirring the sausage while adding three cups of milk. 3-4 cups whole milk
- Bring gravy to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer until gravy thickens.
Video
Notes
- Bacon, chicken, turkey sausage are other alternatives for pork.
- If you like heat, feel free to add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne pepper.
- You can also try mild sausage.
- 2% or half and half are milk alternatives you can use.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
