Biscuits and Gravy: A Classic Southern Breakfast Recipe for Sausage Lovers

Biscuits and gravy is a classic American breakfast dish, loved across the United States and linked closely with the southern states. This easy biscuits and gravy recipe uses soft baking powder biscuits topped with rich sausage gravy. It serves about four people and takes around thirty minutes.

Biscuits and gravy is a warm breakfast plate found in many US diners. The usual serving is two biscuits, each cut in half and placed open side up on the plate. Hot sausage gravy is spooned over the biscuits. Common side dishes are bacon, hash browns, or grits.

This biscuits and gravy recipe has two parts. First you prepare baking powder biscuits. Then you cook a creamy sausage gravy. The amounts below give enough food for about four servings of a hearty breakfast or brunch.

For the biscuits

• Baking powder biscuit dough for about 8 medium biscuits (made using your usual baking powder biscuit recipe)

  For the sausage gravy

  • 500 g (1 lb) ground breakfast sausage

  • 45 mL (3 tablespoons) bacon grease

  • 60 mL (¼ cup) plain flour

  • 720 mL (3 cups) milk

  • 2.5 mL (½ teaspoon) salt, or to taste

  • 4 mL (about ¾ teaspoon) ground black pepper, or to taste

    Equipment needed

    This biscuits and gravy recipe uses simple kitchen tools. Most home kitchens will already have this basic equipment. Make sure everything is ready before you start cooking so the biscuits and gravy are ready at the same time.

    • Oven for baking the biscuits

    • Large frying pan or skillet for the gravy

    • Mixing bowl to hold the cooked sausage

    • Heatproof spoon or spatula for stirring

    • Measuring cups and spoons

    • Knife for cutting the biscuits before serving

      Step-by-step method

      Work through these steps in order for the best biscuits and gravy. The biscuits bake while you cook the sausage gravy. This helps you serve everything hot and fresh at the table.

      Step 1: Make the biscuit dough

      Prepare a batch of "cut" baking powder biscuit dough using your regular recipe. Shape the dough into biscuits of even size. Place the biscuits on a baking tray, ready to go into the oven. Do not bake them yet, as they should cook while you start the gravy.

      Step 2: Start cooking the sausage

      Place a large skillet on the hob over medium heat. Add the ground breakfast sausage to the dry pan. Break up the sausage with a spoon. Cook until it is browned all over and no pink parts remain. This also creates tasty drippings in the pan.

      Step 3: Set aside the sausage

      Once the sausage is browned, transfer it to a mixing bowl. Leave as much fat and drippings in the skillet as you can. These drippings help to flavour the sausage gravy. Keep the cooked sausage near the hob, as you will add it back later.

      Step 4: Bake the biscuits

      Heat the oven according to your biscuit recipe. When you add the bacon grease to the skillet for the gravy, place the tray of biscuits into the oven. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until cooked and lightly golden. The biscuits should be warm when served.

      Step 5: Add bacon grease and flour

      Add the bacon grease to the hot drippings in the skillet. Set the heat to low or medium low. When the fat is warm, sprinkle in the flour. Stir well so the flour soaks up the fat and forms a smooth paste. This paste will thicken the gravy.

      Step 6: Pour in the milk

      Slowly pour the milk into the skillet while stirring all the time. Add the milk in stages, not all at once. Stir as you pour so the flour mixture blends well with the milk. Scrape the bottom and sides of the pan to stop any sticking.

      Step 7: Simmer the gravy

      Bring the milk mixture to a gentle boil while stirring. Keep the heat on low to avoid burning. Stir constantly and keep scraping the edges of the skillet. This stops lumps forming and gives a smooth sausage gravy. Cook like this for about ten minutes.

      Step 8: Season and add sausage

      When the gravy is close to your desired thickness, add the salt and black pepper. Stir, then tip the browned sausage and its juices back into the skillet. Mix well so the meat spreads through the gravy. Turn off the heat and let the gravy sit for one minute.

      Step 9: Serve the biscuits and gravy

      Take the hot biscuits from the oven. Split each biscuit in half and place the pieces open side up on plates, two biscuits per person. Spoon the hot sausage gravy generously over the biscuits. Serve at once while both biscuits and gravy are still hot.

      Serving style and meal ideas

      Biscuits and gravy is usually served on a flat plate rather than in a bowl. Two halved biscuits covered in gravy make a full breakfast serving. Many diners also add strips of bacon, a side of hash browns, or a small bowl of grits to complete the meal.

      Nutritional values

      The exact nutritional values for this biscuits and gravy recipe depend on the biscuit recipe, type of sausage, and size of each serving. The table below shows that detailed figures are not available for this version of the dish.

      Nutrient	Amount
      Energy	Data not available for this recipe
      Protein	Data not available for this recipe
      Total fat	Data not available for this recipe
      Carbohydrates	Data not available for this recipe
      Sodium	Data not available for this recipe

      This biscuits and gravy recipe offers a simple way to enjoy a popular southern-style breakfast at home, using baking powder biscuits topped with creamy sausage gravy made in one skillet.