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    Home » Breakfast » Keto Sausage Gravy

    Keto Sausage Gravy

    Published: Nov 13, 2019 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Jul 22, 2024 · 879 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

    • 248
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Photo of a cast iron skillet with sausage grave and the text Keto Sausage Gravy below it.

    My favorite weekend breakfast is without question this Keto Sausage Gravy served with biscuits. It is the kind of comfort food that never gets old. This company-worthy dish is one that everyone—even those not on a low-carb diet—will crave again and again.

    Overhead photo of Keto Sausage Gravy on a Biscuit garnished with parsley and crushed red pepper flakes.

    To me, a decadent breakfast will always involve biscuits and gravy. For years it is what I have served on holiday mornings.

    I was skeptical that I could make a keto-friendly version that the whole family loved, but after many tries, I have. This Keto Sausage Gravy is nothing short of spectacular.

    I've made this recipe no less than ten times, and every time I get a round of thanks from every family member. I love knowing that they are eating a healthier version of a favorite, and I love that I can stick to my health goals and feel my best.

    This Southern classic tastes just as good as the original!

    Ingredients

    • Butter: I typically use unsalted butter, but you could use salted if you like.
    • Breakfast Sausage: Turkey, beef, or pork breakfast sausage all work in this recipe.
    • Chopped Onion: I recommend yellow or white onion.
    • Broth: Helps create a flavorful base; use chicken, beef or vegetable broth as preferred.
    • Heavy Cream: If you are not keto, half and half works as weel.
    • Cream Cheese:  Use full-fat cream cheese.
    • Xanthan Gum: This works as a keto-friendly thickening agent to achieve the desired consistency. Not keto? You could use a cornstarch slurry to thicken the gravy.
    • Garlic Powder: Infuses the dish with a subtle garlic flavor.
    • Salt: Kosher salt or table salt will also work.
    • Black Pepper: Freshly ground is best.  White pepper may also be used.

    Step-by-Step

    Photo of breakfast sausage that has been browned in a saucepan.

    First, heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 6 minutes, breaking it up with the back of a spoon.

    Photo of onion that has been added to a pot of browned breakfast sausage.

    Next, add the onion and cook for 2 minutes.

    Photo of breakfast sausage, onion, cream, broth, and cream cheese in a pot.

    After that, stir in broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, and xanthan gum.

    Photo of seasonings that have been added to Keto sausage gravy.

    Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Reduce to medium-low. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic powder, salt, and fresh ground black pepper.

    Photo of finished low carb sausage gravy in a saucepan.

    Enjoy!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is gravy bad for keto?

    While it is possible to make keto-friendly gravy, most traditional recipes are going to use flour to thicken, which makes them non-keto friendly.

    Is milk keto?

    No. Milk has a lot of sugar. One cup has a whopping 12 grams of carbohydrates! Unsweetened non-dairy milk is an option, but they will not make a thick and creamy gravy.

    I have successfully used half cream, and half unsweetened macadamia nut milk in this recipe when I was trying to watch my overall calorie intake. If you do this, you may want to increase the xanthan gum by ⅛ of a teaspoon. Because the texture of nut milk can vary, I recommend making it and adding in more xanthan gum at the end only if you need it.

    Serving Suggestions

    • My favorite way to serve this is over my Keto Biscuits.
    • For hearty appetites, they are fabulous on a Sausage, Gravy, and Egg Breakfast Sandwich. You can use any keto-friendly bread or bagel, or even chaffles.
    • Serve over sausage patties.
    • Drizzle over scrambled eggs.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Use Quality Sausage: Opt for a high-quality breakfast sausage that's free from added sugars and fillers. This ensures the gravy remains keto-friendly and flavorful.
    • Brown the Sausage Well: Browning the sausage properly enhances its flavor and adds depth to your gravy. Make sure to break the sausage into smaller pieces as it cooks.
    • Don't Skip the Butter: Adding butter not only enriches the taste but also contributes to the creamy texture of the gravy. Choose unsalted butter to control the sodium levels better.
    • Thicken with Xanthan Gum: A pinch of xanthan gum works wonders as a thickening agent in keto recipes. Sprinkle it in slowly while whisking to avoid clumps and achieve the perfect gravy thickness.
    Overhead photo of a cast iron skillet of keto sausage gravy garnished with parsley and crushed red pepper flakes.

    You May Also Like

    • You owe it to yourself to try these Keto Biscuits. Even my picky kids beg for them again and again.
    • Keto Trail Mix makes the perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack. Loaded with ingredients that will leave you feeling your best, this is one recipe you want to keep in your back pocket.
    • With just three net carbs, these Low Carb Granola Bars make the perfect on-the-go breakfast.
    • When you haven't got a moment to spare, this Keto Chocolate Smoothie satisfies. Plus - chocolate for breakfast is always a win.
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    Small ovehead square image of keto sausage gravy on a biscuit garnished with parsley.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Keto Sausage Gravy

    Without question, Keto Sausage Gravy and Biscuits is the ultimate weekend breakfast. It is the kind of comfort food that never gets old.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Holidays, Weekend
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 232kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 12 ounces breakfast sausage
    • ⅓ cup chopped onion
    • 1 cup broth
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 8 ounces cream cheese cubes
    • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
    • Add the sausage and cook, using a spoon to break up the meat, for about 6 minutes, or until the sausage is no longer pink.
    • Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Stir in broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, and xanthan gum.
    • Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly.
    • Reduce to medium-low. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
    • Add in garlic powder, salt, and fresh ground black pepper.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 434mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 638IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
    « Keto Strawberry Shortcake Chaffles
    Keto Sausage Balls »
    • 248

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tina

      September 14, 2020 at 4:07 am

      5 stars
      Love this! My family does as well! It’s delicious! Just not sure how much constitutes a serving. Please advise! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        September 14, 2020 at 10:51 am

        I am so glad that you enjoy it as much as we do! It makes 12 servings.

        Reply
        • Cory B.

          October 11, 2020 at 3:52 pm

          This recipe is the bomb.com thank you for sharing.

          Reply
    2. Cory B.

      October 11, 2020 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today and words cannot describe the way my mouth feels right now. I added a little bacon to mines but wow!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        October 12, 2020 at 11:01 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed it as much as we do!

        Reply
        • Crystal

          February 24, 2021 at 3:09 pm

          What kind of broth?

          Reply
          • Wendy Polisi

            March 03, 2021 at 11:10 am

            You can use any kind you like. I use chicken broth.

            Reply
    3. Chrissy

      December 01, 2020 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      This is incredibly delicious!!! Thank you! What is the serving size? Trying to figure out when to STOP eating this delicious gravy!!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        December 02, 2020 at 12:50 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it. I have never actually measured the serving size other than just dividing the recipe into 12 portions. I will measure it next time I make it.

        Reply
    4. CJ

      March 20, 2021 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      The recipe was delicious as is. I couldn't imagine splitting it into 12 servings though. I split it into 8 as that made it filling enough for me. I think next time I will make half as much and consider it 4 servings because eating the same thing everyday for 8 days was yummy but ...

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        March 22, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        Haha - yes, I image eight days in a row was a bit much. We are a family of five and I have two teen boys, so it rarely lasts more than two or three days at our house. I make this with my biscuits, so with that it is super-filling for twelve servings, but if you aren't making it with that I can definitely see cutting it down to eight.

        Reply
    5. Sarah

      September 11, 2021 at 12:32 pm

      In your sausage gravy recipe what kind of broth are you using?

      Reply
    6. Diane Keeler

      September 22, 2021 at 11:51 pm

      Absolutely delish. I made this for dinner for my family of 6 with the biscuits. Everyone enjoyed. Next time I will make it for breakfast with eggs.

      Reply
    7. Claire

      March 08, 2022 at 2:22 am

      Do you think it would work with ground chicken? or with vegetarian ground sausage?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        March 10, 2022 at 3:01 pm

        Yes, I use chicken sausage frequently, so I am sure ground chicken would work. But keep in mind that sausage adds extra seasonings so you may want to make some additions.

        Reply
    8. Irene

      May 15, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      I look forward to trying this recipe. I am not full keto and don’t indent to be but I’m trying to keep my carb intake down. Biscuits and gravy is a family fave and I’m hoping this recipe will be a winner in our house! Some quick questions:
      1) Can I substitute bacon fat for the butter? We’ve always made our breakfast gravy with bacon fat and want to try and keep the flavor profile at least a little similar.
      2) Also, onions and garlic powder in breakfast gravy? Is this just to add flavor that is lost to switching away from regular gravy?
      3) Also, we usually brown our roux (more than most). Is that something I can do in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        May 19, 2022 at 7:52 pm

        Hi - You can use bacon fat. The onions and garlic add a lot of flavor, but you could try it without them if you want. I would imagine that bacon fat would help make up for some of the flavor.

        You don't really have a roux since you aren't using flour here.

        Reply
    9. Jean Painter

      July 10, 2022 at 2:45 pm

      Would substituting low carb milk (3G per cup) for cream work? It would sure lower the calorie count.

      Reply
    10. Jessica

      January 06, 2023 at 2:48 pm

      Am I missing the instructions or info on what type of biscuits you serve with this? I would imagine that the store bought flaky biscuits wouldn’t comply with a keto themed meal.

      Reply
    5 from 4 votes

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    Welcome

    I'm Wendy and I'm here to show you just how delicious a low carb, gluten free and keto diet can be! You are just as likely to find me obsessing over all things cheesy as you are getting excited by a full produce drawer. I'm a mom to three, obsessive planner and roller coasters are my happy place. Let's dig deeper →

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