• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe

Mindy's Cooking Obsession

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Sauces & Dressings

    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy Recipe

    Published: Jul 23, 2023 · Updated: Jul 23, 2023 by Mindy Boyd

    Pin24
    Share
    Share37
    Tweet
    61Shares
    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy Recipe teaches you how simple it is to successfully make gravy, it is easier than you think!  via @mindyscookingobsession
    Jump to Recipe

    Our Homemade Southern White Country Gravy recipe is so easy and you only need 5 simple ingredients, including salt and pepper! In this post I will give you tips so you don’t have to struggle to make gravy like I did. Watch the video below to see exactly how to make it.

    Gravy is one of those dishes that I struggled for many years to make. Lee’s buddy gave me a helpful tip and the next time I made it after that it wasn’t awful. It took another try and that time it actually tasted good!

    A skillet full of Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy with the recipe title in text above it.

    So what he told me was that you have to let the flour cook for a good minute or two in whatever fat you are using. This allows the flour to develop nice flavor so it doesn’t have that raw flour taste. That is the single most helpful thing he told me. Once I got this down it was easy peasy. 

    Southern White Country Gravy is one of those southern dishes that has several variations known by other names such as sawmill gravy (made from meat drippings), white pepper gravy, milk gravy, southern gravy, or country-style gravy. All of these versions are made from a simple roux (a mixture of flour and fat cooked together) and are pure comfort food. 

    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy over a biscuit on a white plate.

    Table of contents

    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make Simple White Gravy
      • How thick should homemade white country gravy be?
      • Tips
      • How to make southern country gravy using meat drippings
      • Watch the video to see how I make bacon gravy
      • Storage & Reheating
    • What we love about this homemade gravy recipe
    • Biscuit Recipes
    • Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy Recipe ↓

    Ingredients

    See recipe card for exact amounts. 

    The milk, butter, flour, salt and pepper measured out and sitting on a table.

    Ingredient Notes

    Butter – I like unsalted butter for this, if using salted butter then you will not need as much salt as the recipe calls for. 

    Flour – regular ol’ all purpose flour works best in this homemade country gravy. 

    Milk – I have used whole milk, 2% milk and even skim milk for this and still end up with delicious gravy. 

    Salt & Black Pepper – we keep it simple, you can add a little cayenne pepper for extra flavor. 

    How to Make Simple White Gravy

    1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the flour, salt and pepper to the melted butter; cook whisking constantly for about 1-2 minutes. You want the butter and flour mixture to get nice and bubbly. 
    2. Slowly add the milk and continue to cook over medium to medium-high heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens to the desired consistency, about 5 minutes.  
    3. Serve over hot biscuits, mashed potatoes, or cooked meat. 

    Check out this video of how I make Bacon Gravy (also embedded below)for a visual of how to make this gravy recipe. Just start when I add the bacon grease to the pan. Also keep in mind that this video is not in real time, it is sped up quite a bit. 

    Half of a skillet of Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy is visible in this shot.

    How thick should homemade white country gravy be?

    This is personal preference, really. We like our gravy to be stick to your ribs thick. For this easy white gravy recipe we use 2 cups of milk. You can use a bit more milk for thinner gravy if you want, maybe an additional half cup. 

    Tips

    The longer the flour and butter cook the less it will thicken the gravy.  

    I almost always make this in a nonstick skillet and use a silicone covered whisk. 

    For best results whisk constantly over high enough heat that the flour and butter mixture will still get nice and bubbly. Then again after you add the milk. 

    Gravy will thicken more as it cool downs. 

    If gravy becomes too thick add a splash of milk to thin it down a bit. 

    This recipe can easily be cut in half or doubled. If doubling it is helpful to know that 4 tablespoons is equal to 1/4 cup. 

    A gravy boat full of Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy sitting on a grey and white striped tea towel.

    How to make southern country gravy using meat drippings

    This creamy gravy can be made using bacon grease, breakfast sausage grease, or the pan drippings after making chicken-fried steak, fried chicken tenders or pan fried pork chops (basically any pan-fried meat). You just need the same amounts as specified in the recipe card below. If I make chicken fried steak or chicken fingers then I measure out the fat after the meat is cooked, if I don’t quite have 4 tablespoons of fat leftover then I just add enough canola oil to it to equal 4 tablespoons.

    Watch the video to see how I make bacon gravy

    Storage & Reheating

    Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. According the USDA you can freeze it for 4-6 months. 

    What we love about this homemade gravy recipe

    • We always have everything on hand to make this. 
    • It is an easy recipe that only takes about 8 minutes to whip, that’s quick! 
    • This gravy is versatile and can be served over biscuits, potatoes, or meat. 
    • It has a creamy texture that is so comforting. 
    Close up view of southern white gravy on a biscuit with the recipe title on the top so it can be pinned.

    Biscuit Recipes

    Easy Buttermilk Biscuits

    Canned Biscuits in the Air Fryer

    Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

    Follow us on social media!

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Bookmark this page so you can find it easily when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy Recipe ↓

    overhead view of white gravy on a biscuit on a white plate.

    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy

    Mindy Boyd
    Easy Homemade Southern White Country Gravy Recipe only requires 5 ingredients that you probably have on hand. It is classic comfort food and is great to serve over biscuits, potatoes or meat.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share by Text Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Gravy, Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 4 tablespoons flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
    • 2 cups milk

    I earn a small commission from Instacart for qualifying purchases.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the flour, salt and pepper to the melted butter; cook whisking constantly for about 1-2 minutes until bubbly. 
    • Slowly add the milk and continue to cook over medium to medium-high heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens to the desired consistency, about 5 minutes.
    • Serve over hot biscuits, mashed potatoes, or cooked meat. 

    Notes

    Nutritional information is approximate. 
    See tips, notes, suggestions and other valuable information in the post above. 

    Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 427mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 549IU | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Keyword how to make gravy, southern country gravy
    Did you make this?Please leave a comment on the blog or tag us on Instagram @mindyscookingobsession
    Pin24
    Share
    Share37
    Tweet
    61Shares

    More Sauces & Dressings

    • A small cream colored bowl of homemade chili sauce made with ketchup.
      How to Make Homemade Chili Sauce with Ketchup
    • A jar of syrup and a small bowl with pumpkin puree and a small bowl of brown sugar on a burlap background.
      Easy Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup Recipe
    • A mason jar about half full of white chocolate mocha syrup in it.
      Best Homemade White Chocolate Mocha Syrup Recipe
    • Close up view of the side of a mason jar filled with caramel sauce.
      Starbucks Caramel Sauce Recipe (made in the microwave)

    Filed Under: Sauces & Dressings

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there! I'm Mindy and this is my husband, and biggest fan, Lee. Most of the recipes that I make use ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. No special equipment or skills required.

    More about me →


    Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Reader Favorites

    • Homemade Tuna Helper Creamy Pasta
    • Featured image of the finished sliced potatoes in the air fryer.
      Sliced Potatoes in the Air Fryer
    • Close up view of a serving of green beans on a whit plate.
      Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe
    • Kodiak Cakes Muffin Recipe (without banana)
    • Overhead close up shot of a bronze colored pot full of alfredo chicken broccoli pasta.
      Easy Alfredo Chicken Pasta & Broccoli (with jar sauce)
    • one piece of cake on a white plate.
      Tornado Cake Recipe (Do Nothing)

    Popular Pasta Dishes

    • close up view of one pot meaty marinara pasta on a white plate.
      One Pot Meaty Marinara Pasta
    • Tortellini alla Panna Recipe
    • Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti - tender chicken and spaghetti in a cream cheese sauce is baked in the oven and topped with cheddar cheese.
      Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti
    • Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo - a quick and easy one pot meal with only 7 ingredients; chicken, broth, broccoli, orzo, cheese, salt, pepper.
      Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
    • Chicken Spinach Tortellini Alfredo is chicken, jar sauce, milk, cheese tortellini, spinach and Parmesan cheese and is on the table in about 30 minutes!
      Chicken Spinach Tortellini Alfredo
    • Orzo Salad with Feta and Dried Cranberries
    • A white plate with one serving of hamburger helper on it.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheesy Italian Shells
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac
    • Overhead close up of one serving of lemon pasta with peas and ricotta on a white plate.
      Easy Lemon Pasta with Peas and Ricotta Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES

    CONNECT WITH US!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    FIND IT HERE

    Privacy Policy | Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Mindy's Cooking Obsession

     

    Loading Comments...