Easy Homemade White Gravy - Sprinkles And Sprouts

Maybe your like

×Home > Meal Type > Spices and Sauces 41075 shares Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe 4.18 from 79 votes

Crispy chicken and white gravy with text at the top and bottom

Crispy chicken and white gravy with text at the top

Crispy chicken and white gravy pictures with text in the middle

Learn how to make Homemade White Gravy from scratch. This simple recipe is so easy and uses just 3 staple ingredients - 5 if you count salt and pepper!

This is the perfect gravy for serving with your chicken fried steak, crispy coated chicken breasts, biscuits or over mashed potato. White gravy is a southern classic sometimes called country gravy or pepper gravy.

Forget the packet mixes! Your family is going to love this homemade gravy!

close up on a gravy boat with white gravy in it garnished with pepper

What is white gravy?

White gravy is the classic gravy that you would serve with a chicken fried steak. It is thick and creamy with a nice hit of pepper.

It is made with butter, flour, milk, salt, and pepper. That is all you need for a rich thick creamy white gravy!

We love it served it with fried chicken and mashed potato or my personal favorite is as a dipping sauce for a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. (honestly, it is amazing!)

White gravy is also known as, cream gravy, country gravy or pepper gravy.

white gravy being poured over a chicken fried chicken piece

How to make white gravy from scratch

Melt the butter in a saucepan, until it is just starting to brown but isn't burnt.
Add the all-purpose flour and cook for 2 minutes over low heat making sure not to burn the mixture. Your mixture will look like wet sand.
Add in half a cup of milk and whisk as it will start to thicken drastically.
Add another half cup and whisk until the mixture starts to thin.
Slowly whisk in the remainder of the milk.
Simmer the white gravy for 5-6 minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
As an optional extra add in a splash of heavy cream.
Check your seasonings again and serve.

mashed potato, green beans and fried chicken covered in white gravy

Help my white gravy is lumpy!

Firstly did you use the pan drippings or butter. If you used the pan drippings then the lumps could well be little bits of yummy goodness from your cooked meat of choice. Use a spoon and carefully crush one of the lumps against the side of the pan, if it is flour it should squash easily if so you can try and fix it as detailed below. If it doesn't squash then chances are it will be bits from your pan and is adding flavor to your white gravy.

If your white gravy has flour lumps in it, don't worry. Whisk the gravy as fast as you can to try and break down any lumps, using a wooden spoon and squashing the lumps as you go can help.

If this doesn't work, try adding a tablespoon of iced water and whisking again as fast as you can.

Pro Tip: If you got lumps it is usually because the liquid was added to the flour mixture too quickly. Next time add just a little milk at a time and whisk well between additions. This should help to give you lump-free country gravy.

Can you make white gravy with cornstarch?

If you need to make a gluten-free white gravy then you can use cornstarch instead of flour to thicken your gravy.

To do, melt the butter on the stove and then add the milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Whilst this is simmering mix the cornstarch with some cold water to make a slurry. This can then be whisked into your milk mixture and it will thicken up nicely. Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes to ensure the cornstarch has been cooked out.

If you find the gravy isn't thick enough you can repeat the addition of the cornstarch slurry. Just remember to simmer it for a further 2 minutes to make sure you can't taste raw cornstarch.

a gravy boat of white gravy with chicken fried chicken in the background

Can you freeze white gravy?

Yes, you can freeze white gravy. I like to freeze it in individual portions (either using ziplock bags or small Tupperware containers) This makes it easy to defrost just one portion when the need for comfort food hits.

When you defrost the gravy, it may look a little runny, or too thick or even like it as split/separated. This is all good. The defrosting process will be dependent on the milk and butter you used in the original recipe. Whatever your defrosted gravy looks it is easy to fix on the stove.

Once the gravy has defrosted, add the gravy into a pan and whisk it gently over medium heat. This should bring a split gravy back. It will also help to thicken up a runny gravy. If the gravy is too thick, thin the mixture with a little milk until the desired consistency is reached.

What to serve with White Gravy

White gravy is so creamy and delicious it is the perfect addition to so many different meals.

Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken Fried Chicken
Crispy Southern Fried Chicken Breasts
Biscuits
Dipping sauce for grilled ham and cheese sandwich
Mashed Potato and Grilled Chicken
Grilled Pork Chops
Creamy Meatballs and Mash
Use as a sauce for pasta (with shredded chicken or fried steak)
Pour over vegetables (we love it over carrots and broccoli)
As a sauce for a grilled salmon fillet

close up on a crispy chicken breast coated in white gravy

If you love gravy then you I am sure you will love my Homemade Brown Gravy.

Enjoy x

Red pinterest box that says to pin the recipe for later

If you try this White Gravy, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I really appreciate it, and it helps others to know that the recipe is trustworthy. Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.

Get the Recipe

close up on the white gravy in a gravy boat on a wooden board

Easy Homemade White Gravy Recipe

Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts Learn how to make Homemade White Gravy from scratch. This simple recipe is so easy and uses just 3 staple ingredients (5 if you count salt and pepper!) This is the perfect gravy for serving with your chicken fried steak, crispy coated chicken breasts, biscuits or over mashed potato. White gravy is a southern classic sometimes called country gravy or pepper gravy. Forget the packet mixes your family is going to love this homemade gravy! 4.18 from 79 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 2 minutes Cook Time 8 minutes Course SauceCuisine American Servings 4Calories 156 kcal

Ingredients US CustomaryGrams 1x2x3x

2 tablespoon butter - or fat from cooking your meat
2 tablespoon AP flour
1 ½ cup milk
1 teaspoon black pepper - see note 1
½ teaspoon salt - see note 1
2 tablespoon heavy cream
additional salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir in the flour and cook for 3-4 minutes until well combined and a good golden brown.
Whisk in ¼ cup of the milk, the mixture will become a very thick paste. Gradually whisk in ¼ cup more milk. Once the mixture has thinned slightly you can gradually whisk in the remaining 1 cup of milk. (see note 2)
Add the salt and pepper.
Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened and glossy.
Add the heavy cream, taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

Depending on your butter you might need to add additional salt (and pepper) to the recipe. Finish the gravy and then taste, add extra salt and pepper until the taste sparks on your tongue.
This makes a thick gravy, if you like your white gravy thinner, then add ¼-1/2 cup more milk.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 384mgPotassium: 132mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 436IUCalcium: 116mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition is per serving

For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout

More Spices and Sauces

Homemade Pizza Seasoning
Garlic and Herb Seasoning
Chicken Taco Seasoning
Spanish Seasoning Blend

41075 shares

Comments

How do you store the leftovers?
Reply
- Hi Jannice,
  
  You can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or in the freezer for 3 months. To reheat I like to do it in a small saucepan, whisking occasionally so the sauce doesn't split. Hope that helps Cx
  Reply
This was a very easy and super delicious homemade gravy with ingredients that I approved of. Thank you!
Reply
This recipe is phenomenal! Best homemade gravy I have made! Thank you!
Reply
- You are welcome 🙂 So happy you enjoyed it! Cx
  Reply
For a little bit of a spicy kick add cayenne pepper
Reply
My man kept telling me it looked like milk, asking if I remembered to add the flour. I assured him I did, and he was super doubtful, lol. Well, one bite and he exclaimed how delicious it is!! Thanks for helping me surpass this man’s high standards for white gravy!
Reply
I made this for supper tonight 1/13/21. It was very good. It was easy, to make and was quick. It was just a little more pepper than I like so I will use a little less next time but I still enjoyed it. I will be making this many more times!! Thanks for posting it. Brenda
Reply
- Hi Brenda, I am so pleased you enjoyed the gravy 🙂 Definitely a good recipe for adapting to taste with pepper. I find that depending on how courtly the pepper is ground can really affect the punch it gives! Glad you will be making it again. Cx
  Reply
Very easy and great recipe! I did add another Tbsp of bacon grease and at the end added 2 Tbsp on half and half . Be Cautious with the pepper I’m glad I caught it before adding the entire 1 tsp. I only added about 3/4 of a tsp and that was more than enough. In fact for the future I will only use 1/2 a tsp.(I will be recreating this for years to come thank you for the recipe ) awesome !
Reply
- So pleased you enjoyed it Sheena. I find depending on whether you grind/crack your own pepper or buy it in a container, the volume of 1 tsp can vary so much. Glad you adapted the pepper to suit your tastes. Cx
  Reply
Made it once to put over chicken fried steak and my boyfriend LOVED IT! Hes having a thanksgiving potluck at work and requested I make it again, we live in Arizona so know one out here knows southern cooking but we’re from Florida so I’m excited for his buddies to try it, thanks so much for sharing the recipe !
Reply
- Oh that is awesome Kelly 🙂 So pleased he enjoyed it, I hope his work colleagues love it too! Cx
  Reply
This is a nice simple recipe. I don't make gravy due to past lumpy disaster, so I'm a novice and it turned out great in spite of me! It was exactly what my husband remembers from his childhood (native Texan), a nice smooth and rich white gravy without drippings or sausage, like his mom served over chicken fried steak. Thankyou, your instructions were great.
Reply
Fixed this gravy this morning and it tastes like I remember my mom’s gravy! A great taste and memory for Memorial Day Sunday Breakfast! Thank you!
Reply
- Oh I am so pleased you enjoyed it 🙂 Cx
  Reply
Can I Almond Milk?
Reply
- Hi Denise, I have never tried it so I can't say for sure. But I don't see why it wouldn't work. It may change the flavor a little but it will still thicken up. Sorry I can't be more help Cx
  Reply
  - Hello, how much servings is this?
    Reply
    - Hi Shannon, This is 4-6 serves. If you need more or less you can scale the recipe by using the arrows near the serving size box. Hope that helps Cx
      Reply
- Denise....I have used unsweetened almond milk. It gives an overall sweeter flavor, which requires more salt. I prefer using soy milk as it isn't as sweet as unsweetened almond milk
  Reply
I just made your gravy... Oh my goodness so delicious and rich. Thank you so much for sharing and taken the time to write your recipe. My husband ate the whole thing on one sitting!! I hope you are staying healthy and safe. Thank you!! Noemi Murphy
Reply
- You are so welcome Noemi, thank you for trying it and for taking the time to come back and comment. So happy you enjoyed it! (It is one of my kids favorites too!) Stay safe out there. Cx
  Reply