Serve this creamy white Sawmill Gravy over biscuits for a hearty, filling, comfort food breakfast. It's a simple and easy recipe featuring bacon or sausage drippings, flour, cornmeal, and milk.
Sawmill Gravy
Sawmill gravy is extremely cheap and easy to make. It's a creamy, white gravy that is delicious served over biscuits or southern fried steak.
Serve it for breakfast or brunch, or if you're like my family for brinner (breakfast for dinner!)!
What is Sawmill Gravy
Sawmill Gravy is a southern variation of a traditional béchamel sauce. This country version is a white gravy that features bacon or sausage drippings and uses cornmeal and flour, as opposed to the only-flour in béchamel.
The name "sawmill gravy" comes from its early logging-camp-food and old-time sawmill roots. It was originally made with only cornmeal instead of flour, which resulted in a somewhat gritty gravy (Don't worry we've fixed that in this recipe!). It's said that the loggers would even accuse the cooks of putting sawdust in their gravy!
What's the Difference Between Sawmill and Sausage Gravy
The main difference is that sawmill gravy is made with sausage or bacon drippings only, none of the actual sausage. It also has some cornmeal in it.
Sausage gravy is made with sausage and the drippings, and only has flour, no cornmeal.
How to Serve Sawmill Gravy
Classically, sawmill gravy is served over biscuits, like these sky-high, fluffy southern buttermilk biscuits.
It's also famously served over chicken fried steak.
Since it's basically just a white gravy, it can also be served over meat such as chicken, pork chops, or roasts, or even on mashed potatoes or stuffing.
More Breakfast Recipes You'll Love
- Biscuits and Gravy Casserole - if you love breakfast gravy, this is the breakfast casserole for you.
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole - a delicious hearty breakfast casserole made right in the slow cooker.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake - strawberries, cream, and French toast bites make a perfectly sweet way to start the day.
- Funfetti Pancake Poppers - cute little pancake bites with rainbow sprinkles for a fun breakfast.
- Perfect Blueberry Muffins - the BEST EVER blueberry muffins. My recipe comes straight from my grandma.
Sawmill Gravy Video
Sawmill Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons bacon or sausage drippings
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- Salt, black pepper, and white pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat bacon or sausage drippings over medium heat.
- Add cornmeal and flour and stir to combine. Allow to heat through for about 2 minutes.
- Add milk slowly to prevent lumps, whisking the entire time.
- Continue cooking and stirring until gravy comes to a light simmer and thickens.
- Add white pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Serve over warm biscuits.
Notes
- For a little extra flavor, add cooked and crumbled sausage, bacon, or ham.
- Serve with my favorite warm, fluffy Southern buttermilk biscuits.
- What's the secret to perfectly smooth gravy? Add milk very slowly while whisking. I only add about ¼ cup at a time and whisk until it's completely combined before adding.
- Gravy continues to thicken as it cools, so stop simmering when it's just a tiny bit on the runny side.
- Add a little more milk if gravy is too thick (add ¼ cup at a time until it reaches desired consistency.
- I like to cook gravy in a cast iron skillet, like this one.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer Directions: Freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat in a medium saucepan.
Nutrition
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Dannii says
I have never heard of this gravy before, but it sounds incredible with the bacon.
Stephanie says
I grew up in Florida, and I remember loving gravy and biscuits! I haven't had them since I was a kid. I can't wait to try them again!
Kim says
Biscuits and gravy is the perfect hearty meal on a chilly day. I've never heard of adding cornmeal to the gravy though. It sounds like it makes it even better!
Dana Sandonato says
Love knowing the history behind the name of a recipe! This gravy is super tasty. Total stick-to-your-ribs goodness. We will definitely use this recipe next time we have sausage and biscuits!
Leo Hoxworth says
See how much cornmeal you added maybe I was reading too fast I'm trying recipe I'll I'm looking to see if I can find out how much cornmeal to put in it but if it improve it anymore I could eat it three times a day thanks for sharing.
Michelle says
2 tablespoons cornmeal
Gina Abernathy says
Bacon drippings are like gold to us southern folks. Love this gravy and it was delicious on a hot biscuit.
Anjali says
This gravy looks so rich, thick and delicious! Can't wait to try it soon! It would be perfect for our holiday menu!
Mahy says
I've never made this gravy before. So excited to give it a try now!
Ned says
This is the best comfort food around! I love this recipe so much! Thank you for sharing it.
Dannii says
The flavours in this look incredible. I can't wait to try it.
Alison Saalbach Corey says
This recipe is super quick and easy and the whole family loved it! Wonderful and delicious!!
Nathan says
I don't often make my own gravy, but now I'm craving a fluffy biscuit smothered in this. Can't wait to try it out, thanks so much for sharing!
Jess says
Just made biscuits and gravy for dinner last night. Total hit with the family!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this with dinner last night and it was a savory success! Easy, creamy and delicious; definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Chenee says
I love biscuits and gravy, and this sawmill gravy did not disappoint! I made it with sausage drippings and really enjoyed it.
casey says
I've never heard of sawmill gravy before but it looks so good. I'll definitely be trying it soon!
Jill says
It's been a long time since I've made any sort of sausage gravy. I've got to try your recipe with bacon fat! Never thought of using it before. Yum!
Rob says
Made this for breakfast today and it was wonderful as written but I added about a half teaspoon of liquid smoke to mine to make it more like Cracker Barrel sawmill gravy and I have to say that it did indeed taste just like CB.
Michelle says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Teresa Wilson says
Try. it over fried potatoes and cornbread !!’ it’s great
Hands-down the BEST sawmill gravy I’ve ever made! says
This recipe took me straight back to my grandma’s kitchen—rich, creamy, and full of that classic down-home flavor. The texture was perfectly smooth with just the right amount of sausage crumbles for a hearty bite. It came together quickly with simple ingredients I already had on hand, but tasted like it simmered all morning. I poured it over fresh biscuits and my whole family went back for seconds (and thirds!). If you’re looking for authentic, Southern-style sawmill gravy, this is the one. A total keeper!