This smooth and creamy peppered homemade white country gravy is the perfect addition to so many southern main courses. Savor the comfort and smother your mashed potatoes, green beans, hot biscuits, fried chicken, chicken tenders, and pan-fried pork chops. In less than fifteen minutes, you, too, can have the ultimate Southern gravy.
My family just loves this tasty recipe. We absolutely devour this made-from-scratch homemade gravy like scrape-the-skillet clean kind of love. I enjoy serving it with all my favorite southern dishes like Southern Green Beans, Homemade Biscuits, and Pan Fried Chicken.
How to make White Gravy
Start by melting the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the flour to the melted butter, whisking continuously to remove any lumps. Cook for about 3 minutes or until lightly browned. This process is known as making a roux. Next, slowly whisk in the milk until smooth and creamy. This is known as a béchamel sauce. Then, whisk in the cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Continue to cook and stir frequently until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- For even more flavor, use meat drippings like bacon grease. Substitute 1 tablespoon for every 1 tablespoon of butter.
- When cooking the butter and flour, whisk it constantly over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes. The mixture will brown just a touch and cook that raw flour taste off.
- If gravy becomes too thick, thin it out with a few tablespoons of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season with cayenne pepper (remember just a couple of pinches to start), salt, and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- This pepper gravy can be made up to 2 days in advance. Reheat in a saucepan adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
What to serve with white Country Gravy
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Biscuits
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pork Chops
- Fried Chicken
- Roasted Turkey
- Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions
- Bacon and Eggs
- Hash Browns
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Easy White Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter can sub bacon fat
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2-2 1/2 cups whole milk or 2% milk see notes
- 1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper
- salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the flour, whisking continuously for about 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth and creamy. Whisk in the cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- Continue cooking while whisking frequently until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.
Notes
- For even more flavor, use meat drippings like bacon grease. Substitute 1 tablespoon for every 1 tablespoon of butter.
- When cooking the butter and flour, whisk it constantly over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes. The mixture will brown just a touch and cook that raw flour taste off.
- If gravy becomes too thick, thin it out with a few tablespoons of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season with cayenne pepper (remember just a couple of pinches to start), salt, and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- This pepper gravy can be made up to 2 days in advance. Reheat in a saucepan adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Nutrition
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Allison
Easy and really tasty! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Allison!
Kathy
Just made this with some sausage for biscuits and gravy. My son loved it!!! Said it’s much better than our usual go to package mix. And it’s so easy!!!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kathy!
Lisa
I just made your gravy recipe with North Carolina smoke ham and drippings with butter wow wow wow!! This will forever be in rotation. You are a God!! Ty so grateful! Easy and delicious!
Beth Pierce
That is so sweet! Thank you!
Patrick
Excellent you just have to add salt and pepper to your desired taste and I made mine spicy with the cayenne pepper so good
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Patrick! I am so happy that you liked the gravy! I like a few pinches of cayenne, myself!
Lisa
I agree so good! With the cayenne pepper
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lisa! I am glad that you liked it.
Fransic
My grandma used to make a similiar white gravy. I did not know it was this easy to make. It was delicious served over some pan fried chicken. Thanks for reminding me of my grandmas delicious cooking.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Fransic!
Ned
Hhhhmmmm….pork chops it is, for me. I will give it a try with my chicken, over the weekend. Thanks for this recipe.
Ebony
I tried this recipe today with some fried pork chops and it was amazing! It’s so creamy, savory and easy to make. Saving this recipe as another keeper! Thank for sharing awesome recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Ebony!
Sammie
This gravy is great on so many things. Have you tried it on toasted English muffins? I also use it as a base for my sausage gravy and biscuits. Delicious and easy!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sammi! So glad that you liked the gravy!
Olga
We love this white gravy recipe. It is so so good over chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken or even toast. I have made it many times and it is pretty much foolproof, easy, and delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Olga! So glad that you like the gravy!
Stephanie
I make a very similar gravy and it’s so good with so many things! I love to smother it on fried meat like this and a side of mashed potatoes with the gravy, too.
Debbie
My husbands favorite dish is country fried steak. I’ve never made it but inspired to try with the right smooth and creamy peppered homemade white country gravy to add on top.
Brianne
I had white gravy a few years ago when I was visiting a friend in the south, and I fell in love with it. It’s just perfect for anything from breakfast to dinner. I really love it with fried chicken and biscuits.
Beth Pierce
Me too!
Bill Kuiper
I stopped buying the mix, this recipe is every bit as good.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Bill! So glad that you like it!
Linda
I love the taste of sausage gravy but I don’t like sausage. It’s a texture thing. I’m definitely going to make this this weekend !! Thank you for an alternative !!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Fransic verso
Wow, this was so yummy. It’s easy to make and doesn’t take so much time.
Patricia Chamberlain
I love white gravy, but I honestly had no idea how to make it! Thank you for this super easy to follow recipe. I can’t wait to make it again.