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This White Gravy Recipe brings back memories of growing up having delicious gravy. I cannot resist delicious white gravy served over mashed potatoes or biscuits for breakfast. It is the top of my list as my favorite comfort food.

White Gravy topped mashed potatoes on a black pepper with a bite on a fork
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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.

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

White Gravy Ingredients - flour, whole milk, butter, salt and pepper
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Whole Milk
  • Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

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 drippings instead of butter. 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

Melting butter and flour in a cast iron skillet

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

Melted butter in a skillet with flour

Step 2 – Then add in flour and whisk it into the melted butter and the flour turns a light brown which makes the roux.

Whisking in the milk to the flour mixture

Step 3 – Once the butter and flour are combined, slowly stir in milk until smooth and creamy.

Adding in salt and pepper in white gravy mixture

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 more milk. 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.
White gravy topped with mashed potatoes on a black plate

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:

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.

Close up image of white gravy on a wooden spoon

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

This white pepper gravy is great heated up as leftovers as well.  I store any that is left in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 5-7 days.  There is nothing better than left over biscuits and homemade white gravy to enjoy throughout the week or as a late night snack.
You can even toast some bread, so an easy snack.

Can you Make White Gravy Ahead of Time?

Did you know that you can make homemade gravy ahead of time? I love to save time in the kitchen, so when I am meal prepping for the week and gravy is on the menu, it is very easy to make a batch.
Once you have the gravy made, refrigerate the gravy in a airtight container. The gravy will get extra think. Poor the gravy in a saucepan and place on the stovetop. Add in a little milk to your desire consistency and now it is ready to serve.
Now your family can have gravy anytime of the week.  

Can I Freeze Gravy?

Yes, this white gravy can be placed in the freezer once it has cooled to room temperature. Place in a freezer safe container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw and reheat to enjoy gravy again.

What to Serve with Gravy

More Gravy Recipes

We love hearing from you. If you make this white gravy from scratch, please leave us a comment or a star review.

White Gravy Recipe

4.95 from 68 votes
Learn how to make this White Gravy Recipe in just a few minutes and with pantry ingredients. Save money by making your own white gravy!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Mixes and Seasonings, Side Dish
Calories 137

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan, combine butter and flour.
  • Heat over medium heat until butter melts.
  • Once butter and flour is cooked, pour in milk.
  • Continue to pour in milk and whisk to make sure there are no lumps.
  • Allow the gravy to simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until thick.
  • If it is too thick, add more milk. You may need up to another cup of milk.
  • If it is to thin, allow it to simmer longer.
  • Taste and add more salt if needed.
  • Serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can store in a covered container in the fridge and reheat.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 137kcal, Carbohydrates 8g, Protein 3g, Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 6g, Cholesterol 28mg, Sodium 296mg, Potassium 107mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 4g, Vitamin A 368IU, Calcium 94mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

4.95 from 68 votes (63 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Carrie Barnard says:

    Chris – Yes, I have a delicious recipe for Chocolate Gravy. It is similar to this recipe and made with cocoa powder. I hope you try it out and let me know what you think!

  2. Chris Preissler says:

    Have you ever made white gravy like this with Coco Powder? I have a friend who said his Aunt made biscuits and chocolate gravy like this and no one has ever duplicated it from his family so I love a challenge. My thought is to use your recipe with Coco Powder, but not sure how much to use. Ever heard of this or recommend how much Coco powder to use? Thank you!

  3. Tammy Cornwell says:

    5 stars
    I made this exactly as it says to go over biscuits. It’s so quick and easy and tastes great.

  4. Carrie Barnard says:

    Normally condensed milk is sweetened so I wouldn’t use that in this recipe. Evaporated milk would work though.

  5. Tabitha says:

    This sounds like a wonderful recipe ! Just wondering if I could use condensed milk instead?

  6. Sherry Fugate says:

    5 stars
    Sounds simple enough and sounds amazing going to try it tonight

  7. Carrie says:

    I believe they are the same just a different names for it. Thank you!

  8. Jackie says:

    Whatโ€™s the difference between this and just plain white sauce?

  9. Carrie says:

    That sounds delicious!

  10. Karhryn says:

    Oh my lord, I have made this since I was a wee kid, however, never new the name or that you can have it plain! We added onion for onion sauce (perfect with silverside) or cheese for an easy Mac and cheese! Awesome recipes!

  11. Carrie says:

    That sounds delicious! Thanks for the tip!

  12. tana says:

    For best Southern Biscuits and Gravy – use bacon grease or sausage grease in place of butter. Make per the above instructions – if using sausage grease add crumbled sausage back in once gravy starts to thicken. YUM and truly a bit of the south.

  13. Carrie says:

    The entire recipe serves 6 so 1 serving is 1/6 of the entire amount. It’s hard to put an exact measurement on the serving as each batch is different. Thank you!

  14. Ishmael says:

    How big is a serving?

  15. Randy says:

    5 stars
    This is how it was passed down from my grandmother. Fry bacon in the pan first, then tomato slices dredged in flour with salt and pepper using bacon drippings; then make your white gravy in the same pan. It will pick up the flavor of the bacon and tomatoes. Put the tomato slices over hot biscuits and pour the white sauce over top of that. Eat the slices of bacon as a side. It was known in my family as โ€œfried tow-mats and rabbit gravyโ€. Very southern and one of my favorites!

  16. Teresa says:

    5 stars
    Made for the first time tonight. It was super easy and delicious. I often buy packaged gravy. My husband said no more packaged stuff, please. Make it like this always.

  17. Kristen says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe. I used Earth Balance and almond milk. It turned out perfectly. Best white gravy I have had in a very long time

  18. Laura says:

    By far the easiest, least messy an tastiest!!

  19. Kimberly Guinn says:

    Thank you I’m trying this in the morning!!