White Gravy Recipe

This cream gravy is perfect for a quick and easy breakfast recipe. These steps will have you enjoying this delicious gravy any day of the week. White gravy is a favorite Southern dishes called Béchamel sauce with nutmeg and onion. Milk Gravy is the ultimate comfort food.

If you love this easy white gravy recipe, check out this biscuits and sausage casserole recipe.

Why This Recipe Works 

You only need 5 ingredients to make this delicious and easy homemade white gravy and they are all pantry basics so I bet you already have them in your cabinets.

That means this homemade white gravy is much more frugal than the packets at the store.  So you can enjoy a delicious white gravy and save money too. Plus you know exactly the ingredients you are using.

It really does take less than 10 minutes to make, more like 6 minutes to be honest. Next time you are in the mood for some good ‘ol country white gravy save money by making your own.

Ingredients

• All Purpose Flour and Unsalted Butter – The combination of the two make the roux. Feel free to substitute with gluten free flour.
• Whole Milk – We like the flavor of whole milk but you can also use 2% milk

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

Here are a few substitutions that you can use in case you’re missing an ingredient for this recipe.

• Butter – Bacon grease is a great option if you’re all out of butter.  I love using bacon grease to make delicious sawmill gravy.
• Pan Drippings – If you are making fried chicken or any other recipe with drippings, you can use those meat drippings instead of butter to make a southern gravy. Especially when making fried chicken or chicken friend steak.
• Milk – You can used heavy whipping cream or half and half.  Also, chicken stock is a good substitution if you need a diary free option.
• Sausage Gravy – If we cook sausage, I will crumble up a few pieces to use to mix in with white gravy. This is my family’s prefer way of eating biscuits and gravy.  
• Seasoning – You can easily add in seasoning to this homemade sausage gravy recipe. For an extra kick of flavor, add in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. You can even add in garlic powder or a seasoning or your choice.

How to Make Gravy from Scratch

Step 1 – First heat the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat until the butter melts. 

Step 2 – Then add in flour and whisk it into the melted butter and the flour turns a light brown which makes the roux and you no longer have the raw flour taste. You may need to use a wooden spoon to break up any lumps.

Step 3 – Once the butter and flour are combined, slowly stir in milk until smooth and creamy over medium-low heat.

Step 4 – Continue adding milk and whisk to make sure that there are no lumps in the flour mixture.  Heat while stirring constantly. Add in your salt and Pepper.

• Step 5 – Then allow the gravy to simmer for approximately 3-5 minutes or until the gravy thickens to your desire consistency.
• Step 6 – Once finished, you will want to test your white sauce gravy and add more salt if needed. I personally like more sauce than others. You may also want to add more black pepper.

Recipe Tip

• Serving – Serve the gravy immediately while it’s still warm and enjoy.
• Thicker Consistency – If the gravy becomes too thick, add ½ tablespoon of milk at a time. You may need add up to another cup of milk depending on how you prefer your gravy.
• Thin Consistency – If the gravy is too thin, allow it to simmer longer until it thickens more. 
• Skillet – Feel free to use any type of large skillet to make this recipe. We love to make it in a cast iron skillet for the best homemade white country gravy recipe.

How to Use White Gravy

There are different types of gravy that you can serve. It all depends on what your main dish is. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use White Gravy:

• Chicken Fried Steak
• Serve over Homemade Hot Biscuits (Try Biscuits and Gravy)
• Instant Pot Mash Potatoes
• Pork Chops
• Fried Chicken
• Dipping sauce for your French Fries or Chicken Tenders
• Hashbrowns

As you can see the options are endless. Try it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We know that you will find that this recipe and the ingredients are so easy that you can probably make it right now.