Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole is the ultimate comfort food casserole, perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekend brunches, offering a delicious and satisfying meal that’s surprisingly simple to prepare. This recipe transforms classic sausage gravy into a baked dish, making it even more convenient and incredibly flavorful.
Key Ingredients for Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole
- 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (pork or a pork/turkey blend)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme (optional, but recommended)
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese blend)
- 8 ounces refrigerated biscuits (such as Grands!)
- 2 tablespoons butter (for greasing the pan)
How to Make Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole
This Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole is a triumph of simplicity and rich flavor, delivering a decadent yet easy-to-make meal perfect for any occasion. Its creamy, savory sausage gravy is studded with tender sausage, all baked beneath a golden crust of fluffy biscuits. With a hands-on prep time of just 20 minutes and a total cook time under an hour, this satisfying dish is ideal for busy families or anyone craving a truly comforting plate of food.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons of butter. This ensures your delicious creation won’t stick.
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks, until it’s browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet for flavor and to help with the roux.
- Make the Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the browned sausage and stir well to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to cook out the raw flour taste. This forms the base of your creamy gravy.
- Whisk in Milk: Gradually whisk in the warmed milk, a little at a time, ensuring no lumps form. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken. This is where your velvety gravy base starts to take shape.
- Season and Simmer: Stir in the salt, black pepper, and dried thyme (if using). Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for about 5 minutes, or until it has reached your desired thickened consistency. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add Remaining Gravy Elements: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup and the shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the soup is fully incorporated into the gravy. This adds another layer of creamy richness and savory depth.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the sausage gravy mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with Biscuits: Arrange the refrigerated biscuit dough pieces evenly over the top of the sausage gravy. You can place them close together for a more integrated biscuit topping, or space them slightly apart to allow some gravy to peek through.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and puffed up, and the gravy is bubbly around the edges.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the gravy to set slightly, making it easier to serve.
Why You’ll Love This Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole
You will absolutely fall in love with this Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole because it’s the epitome of comforting, home-cooked goodness, delivering a deeply satisfying flavor profile with every bite. The star of the show is the rich, creamy sausage gravy, generously studded with savory breakfast sausage and topped with fluffy, golden biscuits – a truly soul-warming combination that’s incredibly budget-friendly to recreate at home compared to dining out. Unlike a simple bowl of sausage gravy, this casserole transforms it into a complete meal, baked to perfection with wonderful textural contrast.
Imagine the aroma filling your kitchen as this masterpiece bakes, promising an indulgent yet easy weeknight dinner or a delightful brunch option. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s far more accessible than many elaborate dishes, offering pure comfort without the fuss. So, gather your ingredients and give this incredible Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole a try – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Leftovers of your delicious Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole can be stored in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap and then foil in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the casserole. Allow the baked casserole to cool completely, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil, or transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat individual portions from the refrigerator, spoon a portion into a microwave-safe dish and heat on medium power until warmed through, about 1-2 minutes. For a larger portion or to achieve a crispier biscuit topping, reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and the biscuits are warmed. If reheating from frozen, it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator first. Alternatively, you can reheat directly from frozen in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 30-45 minutes, or until heated through, covering loosely with foil to prevent the biscuits from over-browning.
Final Thoughts
This Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole is the ultimate in comforting, easy-to-make meals, bringing together classic flavors in a convenient baked dish. Give this incredibly satisfying recipe a try for your next family meal – you won’t be disappointed!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Hearty Sausage Gravy Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons of butter.2 tablespoons butter
- In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks, until it’s browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet.1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
- Sprinkle the flour over the browned sausage and stir well to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to cook out the raw flour taste.1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
- Gradually whisk in the warmed milk, a little at a time, ensuring no lumps form. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken.4 cups whole milk
- Stir in the salt, black pepper, and dried thyme (if using). Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for about 5 minutes, or until it has reached your desired thickened consistency.1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup and the shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the soup is fully incorporated into the gravy.1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour the sausage gravy mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange the refrigerated biscuit dough pieces evenly over the top of the sausage gravy.8 ounces refrigerated biscuits
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and puffed up, and the gravy is bubbly around the edges.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.