Pioneer Woman Sausage Gravy
Rich, warm sausage gravy is excellent for breakfast or brunch. The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, makes hearty, delicious sausage gravy. Creamy gravy with spicy sausage is served over warm biscuits. This recipe is perfect for breakfast parties or leisurely mornings with the family. Easy to make, filling, and delicious.
Prepare: 5 minutes
Cook: 15-20 minutes
Duration: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
1 pound breakfast sausage (spicy or mild, your choice)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk (2% milk works, but whole milk is creamier)
Salt and pepper to taste
optional 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional: 1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional heat)
Equipment:
Big skillet or sauté pan
Whisk
Wooden spoon/spatula
Measurements spoons, cups
Dish for biscuits and gravy
Instructions:
Brown sausage
Time: 5-7 minutes
Get the pan hot:
Heat a big skillet on medium. Add breakfast sausage to skillet. While cooking, break it up with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Frying until brown:
Stir the sausage occasionally for 5-7 minutes to brown and cook it. The gravy will be made from sausage fat. Brown the sausage, then lower the heat to medium-low.
Roux
Time: 3-5 minutes
Add butter:
After browning and cooking the sausage, add unsalted butter to the pan. Let it melt fully. The “roux” is your gravy basis.
Add flour:
Sprinkle flour over sausage-butter mixture. Mix with a whisk. Cook flour for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. This eliminates raw flour taste and thickens gravy as it cooks.
Third: Add Milk
Time: 5 minutes
Slowly add milk:
Whisking continually, slowly add the full milk to avoid lumps. A nice and creamy gravy base will result.
Simmer gravy:
Whisk until the gravy thickens on medium heat. This should take 3-5 minutes. Stir occasionally to thicken evenly. If the gravy is too thick, add milk to thin it. If it’s too thin, cook longer to thicken.
Season Gravy
Time: 2 minutes
Sprinkle salt & pepper:
Taste the gravy and add salt and black pepper to taste. Try a pinch of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, then taste.
Optional seasonings:
Add garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes to flavor the gravy. The garlic and onion powders lend subtle flavor, while the red pepper flakes bring spice.
Serve sausage gravy
Time: 2 minutes
Serve hot:
Stop cooking the gravy when it thickens and is well-seasoned. Use it generously on fresh biscuits for a classic serving. You may also put this gravy on toast or hash browns.
Optional :garnish
Add chopped parsley or chives for a final touch. While optional, this adds color and fresh flavor to the gravy’s richness.
Serving Ideas:
Biscuits:
Best served over fresh biscuits, sausage gravy is traditional. Make homemade biscuits or buy them for convenience. Soft, fluffy biscuits soak up rich gravy.
Toast:
If biscuits aren’t available, sausage gravy goes well on buttered toast.
Home fries or hash browns:
For a heartier breakfast, put sausage gravy over crispy hash browns or home fries.
Eggs:
Add scrambled or fried eggs for a heartier breakfast or brunch.
Notes:
Adjust thickness:
A tablespoon of milk at a time will thin your gravy if it’s too thick. Keep swirling over low heat until it thickens to your liking if it’s too thin.
Spice Level:
Use spicy breakfast sausage or red pepper flakes to make sausage gravy hotter. If you like a lighter gravy, use mild sausage and omit the seasonings.
Freezing/storing:
The gravy can be refrigerated for 3–4 days in an airtight container. Heat it in a pan over medium heat with milk to loosen the gravy to reheat. Let the gravy cool fully before freezing it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Ready to use, reheat on the stove.
Protein alternatives:
You can substitute ground turkey or chicken sausage for pork sausage. These options make gravy lighter but still tasty.
Vegan Version:
Veganize by using plant-based sausage, vegan butter, and plant-based milk like almond, soy, or oat. Add some nutritional yeast for a cheesy, delicious taste.
Reasons to Love This Recipe:
Comforting and Hearty:
When you want a full breakfast, sausage gravy is a staple.
Easy to Make:
This quick and easy dish uses common household products. It’s ideal for busy mornings or weekend brunches.
Rich and tasty:
Spicy sausage, creamy milk, and savory seasonings make a thick, delicious gravy that goes well with flaky biscuits or crunchy toast.
Versatile:
Sausage gravy goes well with biscuits, but it can also be served over hash browns, toast, or mashed potatoes for a full supper.
Pioneer Woman Sausage Gravy embodies coziness. When served over fluffy biscuits, it’s creamy, flavorful, and delightful. Make this sausage gravy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and it will become a family favorite. Taste this Southern-inspired cuisine with your family and enjoy its warmth and richness.