Biscuits and gravy is a classic Southern dish that’s beloved for its creamy, savory gravy smothering warm, fluffy biscuits. This hearty and comforting meal is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner. If you’ve ever wondered How To Make Biscuits And Gravy that rivals your favorite diner, you’re in the right place. This recipe will guide you through each step, ensuring you create a truly memorable homemade biscuits and gravy experience.
This biscuits and gravy recipe isn’t just any recipe; it’s a family treasure, perfected over time and guaranteed to become a staple in your kitchen. Forget about ordering biscuits and gravy at restaurants – once you taste this homemade version, you’ll understand why nothing else compares. The secret lies in the combination of a rich, flavorful sausage gravy and light, flaky biscuits. Luckily, making this comforting dish at home is surprisingly easy and rewarding.
For the best results, we highly recommend pairing this sausage gravy with homemade buttermilk biscuits. The combination is simply heavenly! If you are short on time, you might want to explore a quicker option like a biscuits and gravy casserole, but for the authentic experience, let’s dive into making biscuits and gravy from scratch.
Ingredients for Sausage Gravy
The heart of biscuits and gravy is undoubtedly the creamy, savory sausage gravy. Here’s what you’ll need to make a truly exceptional gravy:
- Pork sausage: The star of the gravy. You can use any type of pork sausage you prefer – mild, hot, or even maple flavored. For a richer flavor, opt for a breakfast sausage. While pork sausage is traditional, you can experiment with bacon or other ground meats for a variation.
- All-purpose flour: This is crucial for thickening the gravy to the perfect creamy consistency.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and flavor to the gravy base, creating a smooth and velvety texture.
- Half-and-half: This creamy dairy product provides the body of the gravy. You can substitute whole milk or 2% milk if you don’t have half-and-half, but the gravy will be slightly less rich.
- Seasonings: A blend of herbs and spices elevates the flavor profile. We recommend dried thyme, dried rosemary, crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle kick, and black pepper to taste. Salt is also essential to balance the flavors, but often the sausage provides enough salt, so taste before adding more.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Biscuits and Gravy
Making biscuits and gravy involves two main components: baking the biscuits and preparing the sausage gravy. For the full experience, start with homemade biscuits. You can find a fantastic recipe for flaky buttermilk biscuits here. However, if you are pressed for time, you can use store-bought biscuits.
Once your biscuits are ready or in the oven, it’s time to focus on the sausage gravy. Here’s how to make it:
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet or saucepan, crumble and brown the pork sausage over medium heat. As the sausage cooks, break it apart with a spoon. Cook until it’s fully browned and no longer pink.
- Drain Excess Grease: Once the sausage is cooked, carefully drain off most of the grease from the pan. Leaving a tablespoon or two of rendered fat in the pan will add flavor to the gravy. You can use a paper towel to blot up any extra grease if needed.
- Create the Gravy Base: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt completely. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the melted butter and sausage. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. This cooks out the raw flour taste and creates a roux, which is essential for a smooth gravy.
- Add Half-and-Half: Gradually pour in the half-and-half, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Continue to stir and cook the mixture over medium-low heat.
- Thicken the Gravy: Keep stirring the gravy as it cooks. It will gradually thicken as it simmers. This process usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Be patient and maintain a gentle simmer to avoid scorching the gravy.
- Season the Gravy: Once the gravy has reached your desired thickness (it should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon), stir in the dried thyme, dried rosemary, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You might want to add a pinch of salt if necessary, but remember the sausage is already seasoned.
Serving Suggestions for Biscuits and Gravy
The classic way to serve biscuits and gravy is, of course, spooned generously over warm, freshly baked biscuits. But biscuits and gravy is incredibly versatile and can be served with other dishes as well. Here are a few ideas:
- Over Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits: The quintessential pairing! The light and airy biscuits are the perfect vessel for the rich and creamy gravy.
- Alongside Eggs: Add a side of scrambled, fried, or poached eggs for an even more substantial breakfast or brunch.
- With Roasted Potatoes: For a heartier meal, serve biscuits and gravy with roasted breakfast potatoes.
- In Breakfast Burritos: Get creative and incorporate sausage gravy into breakfast burritos for a flavorful twist.
- Over a Breakfast Skillet: Pour sausage gravy over a breakfast skillet filled with eggs, potatoes, and vegetables for a deconstructed biscuits and gravy experience.
Make Ahead and Freezing Tips
Make Ahead: You can prepare the sausage gravy ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or half-and-half to thin it out if it becomes too thick. Taste and adjust seasonings before serving.
Freezing: For longer storage, sausage gravy can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. It’s recommended to use whole milk when making gravy intended for freezing, as half-and-half may have a slightly altered texture after thawing. Thaw the gravy overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove, thinning with milk or half-and-half as needed.
Conclusion
Learning how to make biscuits and gravy opens up a world of comforting and delicious breakfast and brunch possibilities. This recipe provides a straightforward and easy-to-follow guide to creating a truly exceptional version of this Southern classic. With its creamy, flavorful gravy and fluffy biscuits, homemade biscuits and gravy is sure to become a family favorite. So gather your ingredients, follow these steps, and enjoy the delightful taste of homemade comfort food!
