This easy vegan sausage gravy is pure nostalgia in a skillet! Hearty and peppery, it's a must for Southern-style vegan biscuits and gravy. It's also delicious with potatoes, rice, veggies, tofu, and all things vegan "country fried!" Only 6 ingredients and 20 minutes prep time!
Whether you call it white gravy, sausage gravy, country gravy, or pepper gravy, this Southern favorite seems like a dish that would be difficult to make vegan. But it's actually so easy!
And talk about delicious. If you ask me, there's nothing like a warm plate of fluffy biscuits smothered in white gravy. As a kid, it was the dish I never passed up!
Anytime we went out for breakfast on Sundays, biscuits and gravy was the first thing on my plate. Well, that and cheesy scrambled eggs.
Fast-forward a few decades, and I still love those same flavors, just not the animal ingredients. So I decided to perfect my own homemade vegan biscuits and gravy!
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Ingredient Notes and Subs
Yes, making gravy is easy, but there are a few things to know about choosing the right ingredients, especially when there are so few of them!
- vegan sausage: you can make gravy with pretty much any kind of plant-based sausage, but I prefer breakfast sausage for the most classic flavor. A few store-bought options are: Lightlife's Gimme Lean, Impossible (in a tube), Beyond patties, or Field Roast breakfast links. For homemade, try my seitan breakfast sausage or tofu sausage crumbles (in that one, omit the spicy Italian seasonings and add sage and thyme).
- non-dairy milk: this is where things can get tricky. Some commercial milks have added flavors that come across as sweet, even when labeled as unsweetened. My favorite is homemade cashew milk, using ⅓ cup cashews to 3 cups water. Soy milk and oat milk are also good options.
- flour: all-purpose flour thickens the gravy. White whole wheat and oat flour also work. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 blend or rice flour.
- onion and garlic: a little bit of sauteed onion and garlic amps up the flavor of the gravy without altering the color, like herbs will do (although, if you don't mind, feel free to toss in some thyme and sage). Sub onion and garlic powder if needed.
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See the recipe card below for amounts and step-by-step instructions.
How to Make Vegan Sausage Gravy
If using fresh onion, saute it first for 2–3 minutes until softened. Then add the crumbled sausage, and cook until lightly browned. Add the garlic and salt, and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Sprinkle the flour into the pan, and stir well to incorporate with the sausage.
While stirring, slowly add the non-dairy milk. Keep the heat around medium-low and allow the milk to heat slowly. Season with black pepper and a pinch of crushed red pepper.
Continue stirring and cook until the gravy is thick and creamy. If it becomes thicker than you'd like, simply add a splash of milk.
What to Serve With White Gravy
This vegan sausage gravy isn’t just for biscuits! For dinner, try it ladled over tofu chicken patties or crispy breaded seitan nuggets.
Build a Southern-inspired grain bowl with grits, pinto beans, collard greens, and a slice of vegan cornbread, all smothered in gravy!
Back to breakfast and brunch...
Alongside vegan biscuits and gravy, serve up my favorite vegan breakfast casserole, a high-protein tofu frittata, or veggie-loaded JUST Egg scramble.
Recipe FAQs
I recommend homemade cashew milk because it has a rich, neutral flavor and white color similar to dairy milk. Plus, the starch in the cashews adds even more creaminess to the gravy. For this recipe I use ⅓ cup raw cashews to 3 cups water.
Soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk are also good options for gravy. Note that the proteins in soy milk will cause a skin (yuba) to form on top of the gravy as it cools. Simply whisk to break it up when reheating.
Absolutely! Use a gluten-free flour blend, rice flour, or oat flour.
Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave. I haven't tried freezing it yet, but it should be fine.
Top Tips
- Flavor or looks? Herbs and black pepper make it taste amazing but will darken the gravy. So if you want that classic "white" gravy look, don't add any herbs (beyond what's in the sausage), and add the pepper at the end.
- Choose your milk wisely! Watch out for store-bought non-dairy milks that claim to be plain but actually have added flavors. Taste it first and make sure there's no sweetness. Or take my recommendation, and use homemade cashew milk.
More Vegan Southern Recipes
I hope you enjoy this vegan sausage gravy as much as we do. If you try the recipe, be sure to comment below and let everyone know!
Recipe
Vegan Sausage Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil, optional
- ⅓ cup diced onion - or ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 8 ounces vegan breakfast sausage, crumbled - see Notes
- 1 clove garlic, minced - or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour - or white whole wheat, oat, or a 1:1 gluten-free flour
- 3 cups homemade cashew milk - see Notes for details and subs
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil, if using, and cook the onion for 2–3 minutes or until softened. Add the vegan sausage crumbles to the pan, and use a spoon or spatular to break up any larger pieces. Cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and salt and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Sprinkle the flour into the pan, and stir well to incorporate.
- While stirring, slowly add most of the milk, reserving about ½ cup. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the gravy thickens. Note that adding the pepper early in the cooking process may darken the color of the gravy. If you don't mind, go for it! Otherwise, wait until the last minute or so to season with black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- If the gravy becomes too thick, thin it with the reserved milk. Taste for seasoning and adjust as desired.
Notes
- Store-bought - I used Lightlife Gimme Lean in the photos. Also try Impossible, Beyond, or Field Roast's breakfast sausages.
- Homemade - My tofu sausage crumbles also work really well in the gravy. To give it more of a breakfast sausage flavor, skip the spicy Italian seasonings in the recipe, and add thyme and sage to taste. I've also made it with tempeh with good results.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
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