Best Sausage Gravy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes sausage gravy taste better? ›

Sausage gravy can be as simple or "fancy" as you'd like to make it. Substitute any kind of sausage—hot, mild, sweetened with apple or maple, or even try it with chorizo for a spicy twist. Chopped fresh onion or garlic add more savory notes, while dried or fresh herbs give the gravy hints of freshness.

Country gravy uses the same ingredients as sausage gravy, but leaves out the sausage — however, this doesn't mean country gravy is vegetarian or vegan. Country gravy is often made with the fat of whichever meat the gravy will be served with, such as ham or fried chicken.

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. Homemade stock, even made with chicken stock rather than turkey, will produce a superior gravy—so it's worth the effort.

Smooth out your gravy thickener by mixing it with water to make a slurry before adding it to pan drippings and other ingredients. To make a slurry: Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 cup of cool liquid (water or stock). If you want to use flour, mix 2 tablespoons of flour per 1 cup of cool liquid.

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.

It turns out, the biggest difference between the two is brown gravy is broth-based, while white gravy typically has a milk or cream base. Garcia said both types usually have flour or cornstarch for thickening and they both contain some sort of “fat or meat drippings.”

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.

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 add to bland sausage gravy? ›

Salt: Salt enhances flavor and acts as a preservative. Sugar: Sugar can be used to balance the saltiness in sausage and add a slight, tasty sweetness. Spices: Various spices give a sausage its robust flavor. Commonly used sausage spices include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and paprika.

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.

Add Cornstarch or Arrowroot

Instead, make a slurry by mixing a tablespoon or two of the starch with just enough gravy to form a thin paste, stirring well to get the slurry smooth and lump-free before whisking it into the gravy.

The longer you simmer gravy, the thicker it will become, and it's easy to end up with a thick, gloppy gravy. The fix here is super simple: whisk in a little more broth or water until it's thinned to the desired consistency.

Cook and crumble at least 1/4 as much sausage as the volume of the canned gravy and add the gravy to that. I would also add a bit of thyme, marjoram, and sage.

You could also just add some dried chili flakes directly to your seasoning blend of salt, herbs, and spices if you choose to make your own breakfast sausage for this dish. Another option is just adding a few splashes of your favorite hot sauce to the gravy.

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.