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Home » Recipes » Southern Recipes

Southern White Gravy Recipe

Overhead shot of southern white gravy poured over a pork chop.
A deliciously creamy, homestyle southern white gravy recipe that is old-fashioned but has stood the test of time.
Prep Time :5 minutes mins
Cook Time :10 minutes mins
Total Time :15 minutes mins
Servings :3 Cups
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Two images of southern white gravy, the top image is of it in the pot, the bottom image is of it over a pork chop.

Published: Mar 19, 2024 · Modified: Sep 19, 2024 by Melanie Cagle · Leave a Comment

This southern white gravy recipe is a classic that I think most people in the south should know how to make. Creamy, simple and delicious with so many different foods.

Southern white gravy poured over biscuits.
Southern White Gravy Recipe

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As you can see from the image above it's a classic on some homemade biscuits, sometimes you can add sausage meat to the gravy for great flavor - but this would then be known as sausage gravy.

Jump to:
  • What makes this recipe so yummy
  • Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
  • Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
  • Recipe variations and substitute ideas
  • Necessary gear: Equipment
  • What To Serve With Southern White Gravy
  • Related Recipes
  • How to store leftovers
  • Mel's kitchen notes
  • Frequently asked questions: FAQs
  • Southern White Gravy Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

What makes this recipe so yummy

  • This southern white gravy recipe can be whipped up in literally minutes. It's an easy recipe.
  • It's quite versatile in that you can season it how you like.
  • It's the best kind and favorite comfort food you can get.
  • Try pouring thise delicious southern country gravy over some homemade buttermilk biscuits.
  • Making a simple roux like this is the basis for any creamy sauce - e.g. add cheese and you can make mac and cheese!
  • Simple ingredients - you should have all of this in your kitchen already.

Groceries you'll need: Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make a southern white gravy.
  • Bacon grease (or melted butter)
  • All purpose flour
  • Garlic
  • Whole Milk
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

  • Step 1: Add the bacon grease to a heavy bottom medium saucepan. Apply medium heat and add the flour.
  • Step 2: Stir continuously for a few minutes with a small whisk, until the flour cooks a little and becomes pasty. This is so you don't get that flour taste.
  • Step 3: Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
  • Step 4: Slowly start to add the heated milk, little at a time, continuously whisking.
  • Step 5: Once you have used all the milk you should have a nice creamy white gravy.
  • Step 6: Season this homemade gravy with salt and pepper to taste.

Hint: Don't try to rush adding the milk. You will end up with lumps in your gravy. Slowly, slowly, add the milk in batches of about ¼ cup at a time, then stir stir stir.

Recipe variations and substitute ideas

  • Butter - instead of bacon drippings
  • Cooked Sausage - although this will make it a sausage gravy, not a white country gravy.
  • Cayenne Pepper - for a little heat.
  • Garlic Powder - you can swap out the real garlic for this.
  • Heavy Cream - just a dash, could add a little more depth.
Southern white gravy in a pot with a whisk.

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Necessary gear: Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I have some links to the equipment I used to make this recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

What To Serve With Southern White Gravy

  • Fried Pork Chops
  • Chicken-fried Steak
  • Chicken Tenders
  • Hot Biscuits
  • Fried Chicken
  • Hash Browns
  • A Pie Crust
  • French Fries
  • Mashed Potatoes

Related Recipes

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  • A bowl of seafood sauce with some boiled crabs in the background
  • Cajun Butter Sauce
  • Seafood Sauce Recipe

How to store leftovers

Once cooled you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you heat it back up again you may need to add more milk.

Mel's kitchen notes

For best results use heated milk - it will help avoid lumps in your white gravy. If you use cold milk it will cool the roux back down and can cause lumps.

close up of a southern white gravy recipe that is poured over a fried pork chop.

Frequently asked questions: FAQs

Is white gravy a southern thing?

Definitely is. It's a southern classic and in every restaurant here - I travel up north and struggle to find it.

Doesn't white gravy have sausage in it?

That would be a country sausage gravy, or Sawmill gravy. This is a different one, albeit similar.


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Overhead shot of southern white gravy poured over a pork chop.
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Southern White Gravy Recipe

A deliciously creamy, homestyle southern white gravy recipe that is old-fashioned but has stood the test of time.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Servings: 3 Cups
Cuisine: Southern Food
Author: Melanie Cagle
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Equipment

  • OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk,Black
  • Small Sauce Pan

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Bacon Drippings or butter
  • ⅓ Cup All Purpose Flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic
  • 3 Cups Whole Milk warmed
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Add the bacon fat to a small heavy-bottomed pot.
    2 Tablespoons Bacon Drippings
  • Add medium-high heat then add the flour. Stir for a few minutes, while the flour cooks a little and smooths out, then add the garlic and cook a further 2 minutes.
    ⅓ Cup All Purpose Flour, ¼ teaspoon Garlic
  • Slowly start to add the heated milk, stirring constantly. A little at a time, stir stir stir, a little more, stir. This takes time, if you rush it you will end up with lumps in your gravy.
    3 Cups Whole Milk
  • Once you have added all the milk you should have a nice smooth gravy. Season with salt and pepper.
    1 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Notes

Depending on if you used bacon or butter to make your roux, will determine how much salt you need to add. I would definitely taste the white gravy before adding the salt so you know how much to add.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 412mg | Sugar: 6g

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Filed Under: Breakfast Recipes, Cajun Recipes, Side Recipes, Southern Recipes

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