This classic White Gravy is ultra creamy, and speckled with plenty of black pepper. Perfect on chicken fried steak, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and more! Easy to make with only 7 ingredients (including salt and pepper!).
This is part of a series of recipes here on the site that I’m calling “Back to Basics“. In this series you’ll find recipes that are common building blocks for beginner cooks, as well as homemade versions of pantry/store-bought staples, such as cream of mushroom soup, pie crust, garlic bread, etc. With easy to follow instructions, detailed notes, and step by step photos, you’ll be on your way to being a master in your kitchen in no time!
If you’ve only ever had white gravy or pepper gravy from a packet, then you’re in for a treat! It’s so easy to make at home, you get to control the salt content and quality of ingredients, and I know you’ll love the down-home flavor!
This recipe has been on the site for quite a long time… since January of 2015 to be exact. It was a part of a double recipe post, but you all love it so much I thought it deserved it’s very own post.
I’ve added a few tweaks to the recipe after years of tinkering, but don’t worry, the original recipe will be right below in the “Chef’s tips” section.
We love to have a little dish of this white gravy on the side to dip our fried chicken or chicken tenders in, but it’s also great with a classic comfort food recipe that’s coming up soon here on the site… country fried steak!
How to make peppered white gravy?
This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.
These photos were taken after making country fried steak, and I opted to leave the browned bits/drippings in the pan for extra flavor. You do not have to do this; it can be made with just a clean pan and still taste amazing!
- Add butter. Heat the pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Add flour and seasonings. Whisk the flour and spices into the melted butter, until no flour streaks remain.
- Cook. It’s important to cook the flour/butter for 1-2 minutes, otherwise your gravy could taste like uncooked flour. Whisk occasionally as it cooks.
- Add milk. I like to add my milk about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking really well during and after each addition. This helps give you a lump-free gravy.
- Bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the gravy is smooth and thickened to your liking.
Helpful Tip!
I definitely recommend using whole milk for this gravy recipe. During testing, I found milks with less fat content just didn’t turn out as creamy and have that beautiful velvety mouthfeel.
Variations of this recipe
- Pan drippings – I wrote this recipe for when you DON’T have any pan drippings, but by all means, if you have some, use them!
- Garlic – sometimes I like to add a little bit of garlic powder (1/4 to 1/2 tsp) to this recipe.
- Simple – for a simple, pared down version of this recipe, omit the thyme and cayenne pepper.
- Evaporated milk – You can use an equal amount of evaporated milk for this recipe if you don’t have whole milk. You’ll want approximately 16 oz.
- Non dairy milks – I haven’t specifically tested this gravy with alternative milks like almond, soy, oat, etc, so I can’t say exactly how they’ll turn out. I would think they’d work just fine though.
FAQ’s
I’ve seen white gravy called pepper gravy, white pepper gravy, country gravy, sawmill gravy, etc.
There are two main ways to thicken a gravy: a slurry and a roux. For more information about those methods, be sure to check out my Cooking Terms page! This recipe uses a roux.
I’ve found that most lumps happen when the milk is added all at once. I highly recommend adding the milk about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking well after each addition. This will give you a perfectly creamy and smooth gravy, every time!
Making peppered white gravy ahead of time
This gravy recipe can be made completely ahead of time if you’d like!
When gravy is refrigerated, it tends to be super thick. I suggest reheating it in a saucepan with an extra splash of milk to loosen it back up.
Freezing
You can technically freeze white gravy, however since it contains dairy, the freezing/thawing process can change the consistency and texture.
I recommend using evaporated milk if you plan to freeze this gravy, since it tends to hold up to the freezing process a bit better.
Make sure the gravy has cooled completely, then transfer to freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop, adding a bit more milk or water as needed.
Storage
White gravy should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 3-4 days.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme optional but recommended
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Add butter, and melt over MED heat. Once melted, add flour, salt, pepper, thyme, and cayenne and whisk to combine.
- Cook flour/butter mixture for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking after each addition, until all milk has been added and no lumps remain.
- Bring to a vigorous simmer, whisking frequently. Allow to simmer for about 3 – 5 minutes, or until gravy is smooth, creamy and thickened to your liking.
- If gravy gets too thick, add a splash of milk or water to thin it out.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp flour
- 1 cup milk, plus an optional additional 1-2 Tbsp (depending on your preference for a thinner or thicker gravy)
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- In a saucepan, melt butter.
- Once butter is melted, add the flour and whisk. It will look like the consistency of wet sand.
- Slowly add the milk, and whisk to incorporate. Whisk until smooth.
- Gravy will thicken, add in the additional milk if you want a thinner gravy.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
WIll M says
This is my favorite recipe for peppered gravy. If you want to kick it up a notch add some white pepper too.
Doug says
Really like the basics of this recipe. Here are my two, preferred modifications:
#1. Originally too thick. Changed to 3 cups milk.
#2. Instead of salt and pepper, used 3 TBSP of Montreal Seasoning.
Doug says
My medication had a mistake. 1 TBSP Montreal Seasoning. Sorry.
Carey says
Mmm! This was so good. My new go to for white gravy. The cayenne gave it the perfect amount of heat 🌶️ Thanks for sharing!!
JANINE KURKOWSKI says
This was so easy and the best-tasting white gravy I have ever made. Thanks for sharing
Janet Simpson says
I love it I cooked it in bacon fat like I do calf liver. Also use the combination of panko bread Crumbs Italian bread crumbs, A touch of garlic Powder, a touch of onion Powder, and some Hungarian paprika which is my favorite. If you like the smokey flavor you can use the smoked paprika but the bacon fat is amazing for cooking it in. With fried green beans and garlic mashed potatoes it’s a real quick fast dinner that’s wonderful.
Bek says
I kept reading this recipe thinking “where is the white pepper?” Ha! and then I read the list of names of this recipe and realized you mean white gravy with black pepper, right? 😉 Good! My husband hates white pepper anyway! Hoping to try this out with chicken fried steak this week and use up the cube steaks in my freezer! Btw, your site is beautiful. It is well photographed and well set up so that it is easy to follow even quickly. Thanks for all the recipes!
Haley says
Tastes so good! Finally found a recipe a love. I added 1 whole stick of butter though because more butter is always better 😄 and I also used Italian seasoning instead of thyme and that turned out really delish!
Vicky says
I have made this using Oatley Barista milk and it turned out just as creamy and velvety.
J Pena says
Very good and easy recipe. The addition of thyme makes a pleasant difference. Next time will add the cayenne pepper.
Camielle Parent says
I prepared this as part of a special in my restaurant and everyone loved it! I tripled the recipe and it was a hit! Thank You! I gave credit to the site when asked about a recipe or where I got it!
Amy says
This is the perfect, classic gravy. Made it and loved it. I even made my first batch of biscuits the other day and they go great together. Thank you for sharing!
Jon says
It was very easy to make and turned out great. Very easy recipe to follow just wish there wasn’t so many ads on this site. Makes it hard to follow instructions when a ad pops up every few seconds.
Amber Brink says
I make this all the time. I grew up in Texas and gravy was a staple. It reminds me so much of Home. Can’t beat biscuits and gravy. This is the gravy you crave!
Alesha says
Making the chicken fried steak first…would you drain the oil from that and save the bits in the pan to add the butter to? Also, could I use the seasoned flour I coated the meat with in this gravy recipe? Or would that be too many seasonings going on? Lol. Thanks for the feedback!
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Alesha 🙂 Yes, I would drain the oil and save the bits (if you can). I’ve never made the gravy with the chicken fried steak seasoned flour, so I can’t say for certain if it would be too many seasonings or not. If you do some experimenting, I’d love to know how it turns out!
Sandy addison says
Do you ever use bacon grease or sausage grease
instead of butter?
The Chunky Chef says
I use bacon grease often, it’s delicious 🙂
Paulette says
Our family loves pepper gravy, and usually make it from the package. We tried your recipe this morning and will never use package again! Great on biscuits and grits!
Will says
LOVE LOVE LOVE 🥰 I just made this with dinner and oh my gosh so very very good highly recommend it
Lindsey says
I tried this after my husband had disappointing experience with packaged pepper gravy. This was easy and delicious and needed no drippings to make.
Cynthia says
I just made this to go on my chicken fried chicken and it was delicious!