• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Katie's Cucina
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • FAQS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Asian
    • Breakfast
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Dairy Free
    • Dessert
      • Cookies
      • Ice Cream
    • Drinks
      • Smoothie
    • gluten free
    • Greek
    • Grilling
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Halloween
    • Instant Pot
    • Italian
    • Katie Original
    • Main Dish
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Sausage
      • turkey
      • Pizza
    • Mexican
    • One Pot Meal
    • Polish
    • Salad
      • Dressing
    • Sandwich
    • Seafood
      • Shrimp
    • Side Dish
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetarian
  • Travel
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
×

Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Breakfast

Homemade White Gravy

Published: Apr 19, 2021 · Modified: Oct 4, 2022 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

Sharing is caring!

371 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Two photos split by text. Top of a green bowl with a wooden spoon drizzling gravy, bottom of biscuits and gravy.
Two photos split by text. Top of a green bowl filled with white gravy and bottom of a plate of biscuits and gravy.
Top view of a green bowl filled with white gravy with a logo on the bottom right corner.
Top view of a green bowl filled with white gravy with text on image.
Wooden spoon drizzling white gravy into a green bowl full of white gravy with text on image for Pinterest.
Top view of a white plate filled with biscuits and gravy with text on image for Pinterest.

Make my vegetarian 4-ingredient Homemade White Gravy recipe in about 10 minutes time. This white gravy recipes is perfect to pour on top of biscuits, mashed potatoes, or even chicken fried steak. This gravy recipe is perfect for an easy breakfast, brunch, or even breakfast for dinner.

Green bowl filled with white gravy and a tray of biscuits next to the gravy bowl.

My husband LOVES biscuits and gravy. I created my Homemade White Gravy recipe back in 2010 when I learned on the Food Network how easy it was to make your own white gravy. Back then I didn’t know how to make homemade buttermilk biscuits. Instead, I opted for the refrigerated canned Pillsbury biscuits. The first time I made my husband the white gravy for biscuits he was so happy. A lot has changed since then, and I’ve significantly upped my biscuits and gravy game. Since then, I also perfected my sausage gravy recipe, too!

I love that my kids now ask for biscuits and gravy on the weekend. You will find me making them at least once a month. And when I’m not making white gravy for biscuits I’m making this same white country gravy to slather on mashed potatoes and chicken!

Table of contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to Make White Gravy
  • FAQs
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Breakfast Recipes

Ingredients

Ingredients on counter: milk, flour, black pepper, salt, and butter.
  • Butter – I like to use salted, but you can also use unsalted butter. Whatever you have on hand!
  • Flour – I use plain old All Purpose Flour for my white gravy.
  • Milk – 2% or Whole Milk works best. I’ve never tried using 1% or Skim milk or other milk alternatives.
  • Black Pepper – I like to use a mix of ground black pepper and cracked black pepper corns.

How to Make White Gravy

Four photos showing the process of how to make white gravy on the stovetop in a saucepan.

Melt butter in sauce pan on medium-low. Add half of the pepper to the butter. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until butter is melted.

Once butter is melted create a roux whisking in the flour to the butter. Making sure there are no clumps. It will look like paste and no butter should be present.

Once roux has been created slowly whisk in milk. Keep your flame on medium-low.

Two photos of stirring white gravy on the stove top in a sauce pan.

Slowly, you’ll notice that the mix will start to thicken up as you whisk the sauce. Continue the whisking mixing process for about 5 minutes until thick. The gravy should stick to your whisk or wooden spoon.

Before the gravy is done add in the remaining black pepper to taste and a little salt if desired. Serve immediately.

Wooden spoon drizzling white gravy on top of a biscuit.

Drizzle the white pepper gravy on top of fluffy homemade (or store bought) biscuits, and enjoy!

FAQs

Wooden spoon drizzling white gravy into a green bowl full of white gravy.

Here are all the frequently asked questions readers have asked when making my white gravy for biscuits.

How many people will this white gravy feed?

This white pepper gravy makes a little over a cup of gravy. So depending on how hungry or how you are serving this gravy will depend on how many it can feed. I have calculated the recipe to feed 4 adults a single ¼ cup serving. Because let’s get real, who only uses 1 tablespoon of gravy?

What is white gravy made of?

My white gravy recipe consists of just four ingredients. White gravy is made of a roux of butter and flour mixed together to form a paste. Then, you whisk in the milk, and season with black pepper.

What are the different names of white gravy?

Depending on the area you live will depend on what people call white gravy. Some may call it cream or sawmill gravy, other popular and common names include country gravy, white gravy, milk gravy, white pepper or simply pepper gravy, and sausage gravy.

Tips & Tricks

Top view of a green bowl filled with white gravy, and a tray of biscuits and a plate of biscuits and gravy next to it.

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve learned when making this easy white gravy recipe.

  • Spicy – If you like your white gravy on the spicier side you can add in a whole teaspoon of black pepper. I also like to add additional freshly cracked black pepper on top.
  • Gluten Free – You can make this gluten free by using either a gluten free flour or making a cornstarch slurry using 3-4 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed into the cold milk. Instead of making a roux with the butter and flour, you would simply melt the butter then pour in the cornstarch slurry milk into the sauce pan and whisk until thick.
  • Vegan – You can adapt this recipe to make it vegan. However, I have never tried to switch out the dairy products for non-dairy alternatives. I would like to guess that it would come out similar but with a slightly different not as rich and creamy taste. If you are vegan and try my white gravy recipe with substitutes, please feel free to leave a comment and tell me exactly what you did and of course, how it turned out!
  • Leftover Storage – Store any leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat leftover white gravy – To reheat the leftover gravy you can either microwave in 30 second increments until hot or reheat on the stove top in a sauce pan until hot.

Breakfast Recipes

Top view of a white plate filled with biscuits and gravy with gravy and a tray of biscuits next to it.
  • Southern Breakfast Potatoes
  • Kielbasa Breakfast Skillet with Eggs
  • Southern Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches
  • Baked French Toast Casserole
  • Fried Breakfast Potatoes

If you make this white gravy recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!

Top view of a green bowl filled with white gravy, and a tray of biscuits and a plate of biscuits and gravy next to it.

Homemade White Gravy

Make this meat-free vegetarian 4-ingredient Homemade White Gravy recipe in about 10 minutes time. This white gravy recipes is perfect to pour on top of biscuits, mashed potatoes, or even chicken fried steak. This gravy recipe is perfect for an easy breakfast, brunch, or even breakfast for dinner.
5 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 153kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • Stove Top

Ingredients

  • ½ stick salted butter
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Melt butter in sauce pan on medium-low. Add half of the pepper to the butter. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until butter is melted.
  • Once butter is melted create a roux whisking in the flour to the butter. Making sure there are no clumps. It will look like paste and no butter should be present.
  • Once roux has been created slowly whisk in milk. Keep your flame on medium-low. Slowly, you'll notice that the mix will start to thicken up as you whisk the sauce. Continue the whisking mixing process for about 5 minutes until thick.
  • Before the gravy is done add in the remaining black pepper to taste and a little salt if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Spicy – If you like your white gravy on the spicier side you can add in a whole teaspoon of black pepper. I also like to add additional freshly cracked black pepper on top.
  • Gluten Free – You can make this gluten free by using either a gluten free flour or making a cornstarch slurry using 3-4 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed into the cold milk. Instead of making a roux with the butter and flour, you would simply melt the butter then pour in the cornstarch slurry milk into the sauce pan and whisk until thick.
  • Vegan – You can adapt this recipe to make it vegan. However, I have never tried to switch out the dairy products for non-dairy alternatives. I would like to guess that it would come out similar but with a slightly different not as rich and creamy taste. If you are vegan and try my white gravy recipe with substitutes, please feel free to leave a comment and tell me exactly what you did and of course, how it turned out!
  • Leftover Storage – Store any leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat leftover white gravy – To reheat the leftover gravy you can either microwave in 30 second increments until hot or reheat on the stove top in a sauce pan until hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25c | Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 453IU | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!

Disclosure: There are affiliate links present in this post. That means if you click on a link and purchase something. I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continuous support of Katie’s Cucina!

« Southern Breakfast Potatoes
Dairy Free Chocolate Mug Cake »

About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 10 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brianna

    January 08, 2023 at 8:30 pm

    5 stars
    I used vanilla almond milk since I can’t have dairy and it came out so good obviously it was sweet but I loved it and it did thicken up. Obsessed with this recipe I love it

    Reply
    • Katie

      January 08, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      Brianna, glad you were able to alter the recipe to fit your needs. Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star comment.

  2. Kalli

    April 20, 2022 at 11:06 am

    5 stars
    So so delicious! I’ve been looking for a homemade gravy to use a top by breakfast bowls! This was amazing! I did add a little onion and garlic powder after wards, no more than a teaspoon or so of each and it came out perfect!

    Reply
    • Katie

      April 21, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      Hi Kalli, thank you for leaving a 5 star comment. So happy you love this recipe as much as I do!

  3. TAMMY

    April 05, 2022 at 7:51 pm

    5 stars
    I LOVE YOUR WHITE GRAVEY RECIPE THANKS

    Reply
    • Katie

      April 06, 2022 at 10:38 am

      Hi Tammy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5 star review. It means a lot to me to hear you love it!

  4. Nancy Gordon

    November 21, 2021 at 5:36 am

    5 stars
    Great basic gravy recipe! I am vegan so I ‘veganize’ it using Earth Balance or Country Crock vegan plant based butter and any plant based milk such as almond or oat. I’m using a lot of oat milk these days; more comparable to reg milk due to its thick nature! If one wants meat in their gravy, just add a small handful of TVP ( textured vegetable protein). Great healthy protein source and it also thickens!
    It really does taste fantastic!!

    Reply
    • Katie

      November 22, 2021 at 9:41 am

      Hi Nancy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5-star review! I love that you shared how you made this recipe vegan! So happy you enjoyed it.

  5. Troy Collins

    November 06, 2021 at 4:45 am

    5 stars
    Being from South Louisiana this is soooo good, everybody should try this. It’s that great… thanks…

    Reply
    • Katie

      November 07, 2021 at 10:06 pm

      Troy, your 5-star review MADE MY DAY! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so happy you love this recipe as much as I do!

  6. Ana

    September 05, 2021 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    Very easy and yummy, just made a vegan version with oat milk, I added a tiny tiny dash of apple cider vinegar just to act as the acid that dairy has and it works great. You wouldn’t know its vegan!
    Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
    • Katie

      September 07, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      Ana, thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star comment and for sharing how to make this recipe vegan! So happy you enjoyed it.

  7. Lisa Brown

    August 30, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    Can you replace unsalted butter for salted butter

    Reply
    • Katie

      August 30, 2021 at 8:45 pm

      Hi Lisa, yes, absolutely you can replace unsalted butter for salted just know you will need to add a pinch of salt (about 1/8-1/4 teaspoon) salt to the mix to cut the “flour” taste! Hope that helps.

  8. Virginia Coulter

    August 17, 2021 at 2:45 pm

    5 stars
    Hello, my name is Virginia and I made your white gravy. It was very good. My family does like heat though so I actually added another 1-1/2 teaspoons pepper. It came out perfect! I now have a new recipe for my recipe box on my kitchen counter

    Reply
    • Katie

      August 17, 2021 at 4:50 pm

      Hi Virginia, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5 star review! I’m so happy your family loved this recipe! I love the heat too and typically add a ton of fresh cracked pepper to my white gravy after I have served my family! 😉 If your family loves sausage gravy, make sure you check out my recipe for that, too!

  9. Sandra haller

    May 19, 2021 at 10:48 pm

    What you have made is white sauce. It can be thin, medium or thick. I learned to make this in cooking class, my freshman year in high school. We made a breakfast dish eggs a la goldenrod. I still make it at least a couple times a month. Everyone loves it.

    Reply
    • Katie

      May 19, 2021 at 11:00 pm

      Hi Sandra, Yes, another name for white gravy is white sauce. It’s so delicious and versatile!

  10. Katie

    January 22, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    so easy, and my husband loves it!!!

    Reply
  11. Simply Life

    January 15, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    oooh this looks great!

    Reply

Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

Featured On

brand logos in collaage; food network, MSN, kitchenaid, country living, world market, etc

Most Popular Recipes

  • Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers
  • Homemade White Gravy
  • Mashed Potato Soup
  • KitchenAid Pasta Recipe

Healthy Dinner Recipes

  • Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli
  • Turkey and Black Bean Chili
  • Slow Cooker Steakhouse Pork Tenderloin Dinner
  • 50 Healthy Family Meals

Smoothie Recipes

  • 50+ Creative Smoothie Recipes
  • Mixed Berry Smoothie
  • Pineapple Peach Smoothie
  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Footer

logos of places Katie's Cucina has been featured on; food network, KitchenAid, Stonyfield, Country LIving, Women's Health, etc.

COPYRIGHT © KATIE'S CUCINA 2009-2022
AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.
PRIVACY POLICY Â· ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT Â· DESIGN BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS

371 shares