Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage with Gravy
on Nov 22, 2014, Updated Jul 05, 2020
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Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage with Gravy is a classic rib-sticking southern recipe that you can make no matter where we live! Our family is living proof that you don’t need a southern drawl to make this hearty and flavorful breakfast. Read on and I’ll tell you all about it!
Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage with Gravy
Cold weather often brings with it hearty appetites and this was clearly the case this past Sunday morning at our cozy little lake cottage in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin. The waking temps were in the low teens and the season’s first layers of ice made their appearance on our small lake’s surface, outside. I was flying solo with three boys while Scott was holding down the fort in town with the other three. I’m not certain what the town part of the tribe had for breakfast on that weekend morning but I can’t believe it that it topped these buttermilk biscuits and sausage with gravy that I served to the cottage crew.
I spent many years of my life in the south. I’m not talking Florida, one of my “home” states; everyone who knows anything about the US realizes that Florida is not truly a part of the south. No, I’m speaking of the Carolinas where I spent six years of my life split between the grandeur of Charleston’s majestic oaks wrapped in their Spanish moss and the flat tobacco fields that rub up against the shores of eastern North Carolina, among the tar heels.
In those parts, there are a few standards among regional fare. Principle among them: Barbecue, sweet tea, and something that seems as common on the breakfast tables as the “y’alls” and “m’ams” are to the local vernacular, Sausage and Biscuits.
For the majority of my tenure in the south, I shied away from this breakfast standard. My good friend Barry, a native of Marietta, Georgia ordered it almost routinely. I think I stuck to eggs and grits in part because I had an instinctual fear of this dish. When I made it for the first time last weekend for my boys, my suspicions were quickly confirmed. It would be appropriate for this breakfast item to come with a warning of sorts. Something along the lines of “Warning: This Breakfast May be the Best Thing You’ve Ever Eaten in Your Life.” Or, “Proceed with Caution, Highly Addictive Food Before You.”
Be clear, I didn’t serve this with any warnings but rather some silent anticipation on my part, wondering about the boys’ opinions – the ultimate litmus tests in my kitchen. I wasn’t disappointed by their reactions, in fact I broke my futile vow to not partake of this breakfast because of their full-fledged endorsements. My first bite confirmed I would have been foolish to pass this one up, it was plate licking good (don’t judge me.) I hope you will give this one a try, it will give you a good idea of just what I was missing all those years of living in Dixie. Happy fall to all of you and stay warm; this breakfast will be a good starter for both of those wishes. -Dan
Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage with Gravy
Ingredients
for the biscuits
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, 1 stick, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup cold buttermilk
for the gravy
- 3-4 tablespoons butter
- 12 ounces uncooked breakfast sausage, casings removed
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground peppercorn, or to taste
- 1 pinch paprika
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 1/2 cups milk
Instructions
for the biscuits
- Heat the oven to 425°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
- Whisk together the measured flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl to aerate and combine.
- Add the butter pieces and toss to just coat them in the flour mixture. Place the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, and working quickly so as not to soften the butter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it’s in pea-size pieces.
- Drizzle in the buttermilk and stir just until a moist, shaggy dough comes together.
- Generously dust a work surface with flour. Scrape the dough out onto the surface and dust the top with more flour. Using floured hands, gently pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick circle.
- Using a 2-1/2-inch round cutter (a drinking glass works well) dipped in flour, cut out as many biscuits as possible.
- Transfer the biscuits to a baking sheet prepared with non-stick coating. Space them at least 1 inch apart.
- Gather the scraps into a ball, pat it into a 1-inch-thick circle, and cut out more biscuits.
- Repeat as needed until you have 8 total.
- Bake until the biscuits have risen and are golden brown on top, about 15 to 16 minutes. Transfer them to a wire rack. Meanwhile, make the gravy.
for the gravy
- Heat the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until foaming.
- Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink and is starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Sprinkle the sausage with the flour, salt and pepper, and.
- Cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute.
- Gradually stir in both milks, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Continue simmering, stirring often, until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 1 minute more (the gravy will continue to thicken as it sits). Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Keep warm.
- To serve, split the biscuits in half horizontally and top with the sausage gravy.
- Garnish with paprika.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Amazingly good recipe. Everyone had 2nd helpings!
This buttermilk gravy looks to-die-for! I have a huge weakness for biscuits and gravy, I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for the recipe!
The image you create of North Carolina, beautiful!! I’ve only visiting for a hot minute, but I remember everyone there being a warm, welcoming, and comforting as these biscuits and gravy look!!
I never make this at home because I WILL EAT IT ALL! I only get it on very special occasions and now I’m going to have to think one up!
It definitely is the season for comfort food! We have been down in the teens and tens, and the rest of the week will dip below zero. Time to carb up 🙂
How perfect for a cozy morning in the middle of nowhere. Though I’d eat them anywhere! YUM!
This is an amazing dish , looks delicious and creamy. This is awesome , must try on.
So easy, you’re going to love this!
Oooh, that looks so good. How did you resist it all those years? I’ve never spent any time in the south (except Florida, which I agree is not really the south), but I love sausage and milk gravy over biscuits!
Thanks, Annemarie. We love this for almost any meal, especially during the cold months ahead!
This definitely looks like comfort food! I can imagine this on a Sunday brunch table.
It’s pretty PHAT, that is, pretty hot and tasty!
I’m a New England girl at heart, but there’s nothing wrong with eating dishes inspired by southern living. At least, there better not be, because this looks amazing!!
Thanks, Sarah!