Weekend breakfasts are incomplete without comfort food and delicious edibles. If you ask a Southerner the name of one food without which their winters and Sundays are incomplete, the most likely answer of 99 out of 100 of them would be sausage gravy. Contrary to what you may have been told, homemade sausage gravy is one of the easiest to make in a very short prep time and tastes better than most cafes and restaurants!
Sounds unbelievable? Then, you try it out yourself as we present you with the best homemade sausage gravy recipe. Don’t worry; even if you are juggling work, home, and kids, we assure you it will be a hassle-free outing that will require just about 15 to 20 minutes! And your kids will love this!
The “Ready-In-20-Minutes” Comfort Food
Homemade sausage gravy is one of the few recipes you can prepare with limited ingredients (read, from scratch) and is sure to make you drool over once you’ve tasted it. We wouldn’t classify it as “healthy food,” but soul food for people of all ages. If you are unsure what to use sausage gravy for, here’s the answer.
It is a great food accompaniment for homemade fluffy buttermilk biscuits, hash browns, grits, omelets, and other breakfast casseroles; you will surely make it often when feeling down or during the chilly weather. Bring back the nostalgia of the warmth and care of your nana’s fare every time you visit her, either during the holidays or because you were feeling low.
Requirements for Preparing Homemade Sausage Gravy
Before we tell you how sausage gravy is made, here is a list of ingredients and cooking tools you must arrange for beforehand. The list is not elaborate, so you will probably find them in your kitchen already without having to order or go out for groceries or other items.
1. Ingredients
Items Required | Quantity |
½ pound | |
Two tablespoons | |
½ teaspoon | |
¼ cup | |
2 cups | |
Seasonings:
|
|
2. Tools
How to Make Homemade Sausage Gravy
Here, you have the most-awaited recipe for homemade sausage gravy. Read on to learn how to make a new delicacy that will uplift your mood and be a great addition to your cooking skills.
There are three main steps to making your sausage gravy at home: preparing the sausage, preparing the roux, and preparing the gravy.
Step 1: Prepare the Sausage
Sausage gravy is most commonly prepared with ground pork sausage. You may use ground pork for the purpose, but the flavor is not as mouth-watering as homemade sausage gravy is supposed to be. You can also use mild Italian sausages for a dash of a slightly spicy taste.
What you have to do now is thaw the ground sausage (if it was frozen earlier), mash it using a spatula, and heat it in the skillet. Heat it over a medium-hot flame until it is brownish and there is no trace of pink. However, ensure you do not overheat it by turning it dark brown. That way, it’ll taste burnt, and you will not get the wholesome crunchiness of the dish.
Cooking Tip: Mash the ground sausage well so it does not stick. Frisk once or twice during the heating process to prevent uneven heating.
Step 2: Prepare the Roux
Add two tablespoons of unsalted butter to the skillet once the ground sausage is heated to a medium-brown color. Pork sausage is greasy, so if you are health-conscious, you may omit this step. But ensure a moderate level of fat is present, or else the creamy consistency of the sausage gravy won’t hold up.
Once the butter melts, prepare the roux by adding ¼ cup of all-purpose flour, a little at a time. Keep stirring so the flour evenly distributes within the skillet around the sausage. Ensure that the sausage is evenly coated with flour. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings (garlic powder or finely minced garlic cloves, jalapenos, thyme, parsley, or oregano) per your taste.
Cooking Tip: Whisk the flour before adding it to the skillet so that it is smoothed out and you and your guests do not have to encounter those sudden and unwanted coarse textures on your palate.
Step 3: Prepare the Sausage Gravy
Now that you have completed the second step, it’s time for the third and final one. Now, you have to be cautious because this step can either make or break the dish. Add 2 cups of whole milk you had kept aside before preparing homemade sausage gravy. Do not add it all at a time. Instead, keep pouring the milk like you would pour water into a glass from the bottle, slowly and steadily, over a minute or less.
Keep stirring with the spoon while you do so. This enhances the absorption of the milk over the coated sausage, giving a uniform creamy coating. Keep the stove on low to medium flame and allow the milk to infuse slowly. Close the skillet lid and let it simmer for around 5 minutes. The longer it simmers, the better the taste. Occasionally, open the lid and stir the sausage gravy.
Cooking Tip: If you are in a hurry, prepare the gravy on medium flame (but not more than that). Stir occasionally, and let the smell itself announce the glory of your dish!
Important Points to Consider While Preparing Sausage Gravy
We bet you’re wondering how a succulent rich in flavors could be made in such a short time, so easily, and with such basic ingredients almost always available in the kitchen. That’s what we have been telling you since the beginning! But wait. You may have already started taking out your pans, dishes, and frozen ingredients.
While you do so, read this section so that your high hopes live up to the taste of the best sausage gravy. These are just a few (VERY VERY IMPORTANT) points you absolutely cannot miss out on if you want to prepare the most flavorful and delicious sausage gravy that remains etched in your taste buds and every other person you serve the dish.
- DO NOT strain the sausage grease. This gives the dish the reason for all the hype it deserves. It helps the sausage absorb all the flavors and textures that you add.
- DO NOT undercook the flour. That is, cook the flour during the second step until it turns a very light brownish hue, and you cannot differentiate it from the sausage. Or else, the flour will hit up with a slight raw taste you won’t relish while savoring the dish.
- Cook the sausage gravy on a medium flame throughout. You can switch from low to medium or vice-versa during the process, but never make it high. You will risk burning it, even when you keep it on high flame for a few minutes.
- Thaw the ground sausage before heating it to retain the taste.
- Some cooks may tell you that you can add seasoning after adding milk. But we would not recommend it because the spices must be infused into the sausage gravy to achieve the heavenly taste. When you add it in the third step, it does not get as much time for the same.
Alternatives to Ingredients for Preparing Homemade Sausage Gravy
Not every ingredient is palatable or readily available for everyone. So what, miss out on sausage gravy? Not at all. Here is a list of alternatives you can use if you don’t have the ingredients at home right now or don’t prefer any of the above items.
- Pork Sausage: If you don’t like pork, you can prepare the sausage gravy using chicken or turkey sausage. And, if you are a vegetarian, prepare it using vegetarian sausage.
- All-purpose Flour: If you don’t have it stocked up, cornstarch is the closest to flour as a gravy thickener. Remember that cornstarch is much heavier, and only using half a quantity compared to the amount of flour will do the job. Also, cornstarch makes the sausage gravy gluten-free, so it’s a win-win!
- Whole Milk: Whole milk imparts a creamy texture to the dish, so you can’t substitute it with anything other than a milk substitute if you are lactose-intolerant.
Serving Pattern
The sausage mentioned above dish ingredients make it sufficient to serve six people, so you can add or subtract accordingly if the number of mouths increases or decreases. Remember to increase the proportions of flour and seasonings accordingly, or else you will not get the flavor you ought to. Serve each guest ¼ cup of homemade sausage gravy as a standard measure. But of course, if you can follow the instructions diligently, stock up on it because everyone will want extra!
Calorie Count
½ cup of homemade sausage gravy roughly adds up to 187 calories per serving. It is rich in fats, carbs, and sodium, with low quantities of vitamins and minerals. The nutritional value of homemade sausage gravy may not be very high, but it is fulfilling for a holiday get-together!
Takeaway
Homemade sausage gravy is a great addition to your recipe book as it is a delicious and wholesome meal for the family and guests who come on surprise visits! Whether formal occasion, family brunch, or dinner, this dish is useful for all events and almost a must-have for Southerners.
Of course, there is an extravaganza in the dish, but it is very simple and easy to make and even easier to source the ingredients, making it an incredible adjunct to major dishes.
Now that you have the recipe, have fun cooking it! Let us know in the comments section how much you and your guests loved it and if you made any other modifications during the process. Would you love to prepare it again?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Sausage Gravy Go With?
Gravy and biscuits are a classic combination that satiates the stomach and enriches the palate. However, you can use homemade sausage gravy as a side dish with crispy potato fries, hash browns, fish fingers, chicken popcorn, omelet, and other starters before your main course.
Can Sausage Gravy Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes. You can prepare sausage gravy at least a day or two before your important event or family reunion. If stored properly and well, sausage gravy stays fresh and lasts up to 4 days in the refrigerator!
Will Sausage Gravy Thicken as it Cools?
Yes. Due to animal fat, sausage gravy will thicken as it cools. So, when you reheat it, allow it to sit at room temperature after taking it out of the freezer before heating it. If it still feels thick, add warm milk in respective proportions to even it out.
