Name: Southern White Country Gravy(Milk Gravy)
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 1/4 cup flour; 2 cups whole milk (warmed); 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

One of the cornerstones of Southern dishes, this savory gravy is the perfect addition to fried chicken, chicken fried steak, or even on hot biscuits if you don’t have sausage gravy. This homemade gravy is mild and buttery and comes together in less than five minutes—which means you can whip it up quickly whenever your main dish needs a little something extra.

A Southern Classic: White Pepper Gravy

Also known as milk gravy, this rich white sauce is a great recipe to have in your back pocket for homestyle dinners and Sunday morning breakfast. Cooked over medium heat just long enough to reach your desired consistency and get rid of any raw flour taste, this Southern gravy can be easily dressed up for any kind of dish.

Serve it over homemade biscuits and mashed potatoes or as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders and breakfast pizzas.

This simple recipe has long-contested origins! Some say it comes from the American Revolution when ingredients and rations were low while others say that sawmill gravy (which is made with sausage pan drippings) was invented by Appalachian workers in the 1800s. Either way, I’m thankful for this simple white gravy that’s become such a staple of Southern food. Simple and quick to make, you’ll know it’s done when it clings to the back of a wooden spoon, then just season to taste!

You can use this easy recipe as a head start for mushroom gravy, sausage gravy, or chicken gravy. Throw in some leftover bacon grease or sausage grease to make sawmill gravy! This white gravy is basically a roux so you can also turn it into a delicious cheese sauce for pasta and casseroles too.

White gravy poured over chicken fried steak.

How Is This Different From Béchamel Sauce?

To be honest, they’re basically the same! We just call it something a little different down here in the South. White gravy is typically a little thicker than béchamel . A béchamel sauce is made of cooked flour, milk, and butter and is used as the base for lots of sauces like macaroni and cheese and lasagna. That’s what makes this milk gravy so versatile and tasty!

Ingredients For Southern White Gravy

The ingredients to make a milk gravy. — Pantry ingredients.

Since we’re using so few ingredients, we want to make sure they’re of the best quality. Make sure to use your favorite brands here!

Dairy – butter and two cups of whole milk. You can get by with 2% milk but it won’t be as creamy.

Spices – Salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Pantry – All-purpose flour!

How To Make This Easy White Gravy Recipe in 10 Minutes

Step One: Warm and whisk

Warm the milk in the microwave. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium meat. Add flour and whisk until combined and cook for about 1 minute.

A saucepan with butter and flour. — Whisk the flour and butter.

A whisk in a saucepan with gravy. — Add flour and pepper and whisk.

Step Two: Make a gravy

Slowly add warmed milk whisking constantly until it has thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne.

A saucepan and whisk with milk gravy. — Whisk until thickened.

A Few Recipe Notes

To ensure that the flour is cooked thoroughly, let the butter and flour turn a slight golden brown before adding the milk. It’ll lead to a richer flavor profile.
If the gravy is too thick, gradually add more milk. If it is too thin, let it continue to cook until it thickens.
When making a sauce, it helps to warm the liquid before adding it to the hot butter. That will allow it to thicken quicker.

Is It Still Gravy If There’s No Meat Drippings?

Sure is! Or at least I think so! Here in the American South, if it’s poured over comfort food, it’s gravy.

How To Store Milk Gravy

In The Fridge: Let the gravy come to room temperature and store in an airtight container for up to three days. Slowly reheat on the stove or in 30 second intervals in the microwave, you will probably need to add more milk when you reheat it to thin it out.

Recipes Made Even Better with Gravy

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.