Creamy Vegan Sausage Gravy

Vegan sausage gravy is my favorite way to turn a few pantry staples into a hearty Southern-style breakfast. It's made with broth instead of milk, so it's naturally dairy-free, and it's ready in 15 minutes to spoon over biscuits, grits, or air fryer hash brown patties.

What Makes This Vegan Sausage Gravy So Good

Traditionally, sausage gravy is a Southern comfort food classic made with breakfast sausage, butter, flour, and milk. For this version, we're skipping the meat and dairy, and no one will miss either one! On days when a light breakfast like a blueberry banana smoothie or fresh juice won't cut it, this is what I make.

• No milk needed: The creamy texture comes from a simple roux and vegetable broth, so you don't need dairy or plant milk at all.
• Ready in 15 minutes: Sauté, stir in the flour, whisk in the broth, and breakfast is ready.
• Pantry staples: Just 5 ingredients plus water, salt, and pepper, as long as you have vegan sausage on hand.
• Flexible: It's easy to make gluten-free, and soy-free too depending on the sausage you choose.
• Classic flavor: Savory, peppery, and hearty, with all the flavor of a classic white sausage gravy.

Looking for a gravy for your holiday table instead? My easy vegan gravy is a classic brown gravy, and my vegan mushroom gravy is perfect for mashed potatoes and stuffing.

Vegan Sausage Gravy Ingredients

This veggie sausage gravy needs just a handful of ingredients, mostly kitchen staples, so you can make it at a moment's notice.

• Vegetarian bouillon cube and water: Together they make the broth that gives this gravy its savory flavor. Use a reduced-sodium cube or vegetable stock if you prefer, or follow the jar directions if you keep Better Than Bouillon on hand.
• Vegetable oil: Any neutral cooking oil works, like vegetable or canola oil.
• Yellow onion: Adds a little sweetness. White onion or shallots also work.
• Vegan sausage crumbles: I used Lightlife Gimme Lean sausage cut into tiny pieces, but other brands like Impossible (available in a tube) or Gardein work too. If your sausage is mild, a pinch of dried sage or thyme brings that classic breakfast sausage flavor.
• All-purpose flour: Thickens the gravy. Use a gluten-free blend like Bob's Red Mill for gluten-free vegan sausage gravy.
• Salt and black pepper: The classic seasoning for sausage gravy. Add to taste, and don't be shy with the pepper.

PRO TIP: With the right vegan sausage, you'd never even guess this white sausage gravy is vegan. So feel free to experiment with different brands!

Easy Ways to Customize This Gravy

• Vegan butter: Stir in a tablespoon of melted vegan butter for a richer gravy.
• Dairy-free milk: For a creamier, paler gravy, swap some of the water for unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream.
• Herbs: Dried thyme, rosemary, or sage add more flavor. Start with a tiny pinch and increase to taste. Fresh parsley works well too.
• Smoked paprika: For a subtle color and smoky flavor. Add to taste.
• Nutritional yeast: For a savory, nutty, "cheesy" flavor. Add a generous pinch and increase to taste.
• Garlic powder: For a subtle garlic flavor. Add to taste.
• Spice: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, or drizzle with hot sauce when serving.

How to Make Vegan Sausage Gravy Step-by-Step

This vegan sausage gravy takes 15 minutes from start to finish. Before you start, boil the water in a kettle or the microwave and stir in the bouillon cube until it fully dissolves, then set the broth aside. Dice the onion and measure out the sausage and flour, because this gravy comes together fast once the pan is hot.

Step 1: Sauté the onion. Heat the oil in a small pot over medium heat, then add the diced onion.

Step 2: Add the sausage. Add the vegan sausage crumbles to the pot with the onion.

Step 3: Brown the sausage. Sauté until the onion is tender and translucent and the sausage is lightly browned.

Step 4: Make the roux. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer, sprinkle in the flour, and stir until it forms a smooth paste around the sausage.

Step 5: Whisk in the broth. Slowly pour in the broth while whisking, add salt and pepper, and keep whisking over low heat until the gravy thickens.

Step 6: Serve. Spoon the hot gravy over biscuits, grits, or breakfast potatoes and enjoy!

Sausage Gravy Without Milk

Yes, you can make creamy sausage gravy without any milk, and this recipe is proof! Instead of milk, the gravy gets its body from a roux (oil and flour cooked together) and vegetable broth. That makes it naturally dairy-free and a handy recipe for mornings when you're out of milk. If you love a paler, extra-creamy country gravy, you can still swap part of the water for unsweetened plant milk.

How to Make Vegan Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and gravy is the classic way to enjoy this! Split warm biscuits in half, place them on a plate cut side up, and spoon the hot gravy over the top. My fluffy vegan buttermilk biscuits are perfect for soaking up gravy. If you're buying biscuits, check the label, since many store-bought biscuits contain butter or buttermilk.

Common Gravy Problems (and How to Fix Them)

• Too thick: Add the dairy-free milk of your choice, just a splash at a time, until it reaches the consistency you like.
• Too thin: Keep it on low heat and whisk for another minute or two. It also thickens as it cools.
• Lumpy: Pour the broth in slowly while whisking constantly so the flour doesn't clump.
• Too dark: For a lighter-colored gravy, use less water and add non-dairy milk (cashew, oat, soy, etc.) instead.

How to Store Vegan Sausage Gravy

Because it's so quick to make, I love this vegan sausage gravy fresh and warm from the stovetop. If you have leftovers:

Store: Let the gravy cool, then keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat: Warm it on the stovetop or in the microwave. It thickens when chilled, so add a splash or two of dairy-free milk or vegetable broth to bring it back to the right consistency.

Freeze: Freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight container, or portion it into Souper Cubes or Stasher bags so you can thaw just what you need. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

What to Serve With Vegan Sausage Gravy

This gravy is perfect for a hearty breakfast or brunch, and it's great on so much more than biscuits. Here are my favorites:

• Over vegan biscuits or English muffins, with a side of crispy hash browns
• Over easy vegan banana waffles or vegan pumpkin pancakes
• Poured over vegan corn grits
• With the best tofu scramble for a big vegan breakfast plate
• With breakfast potatoes, air fryer potato wedges, or air fryer tater tots
• Spooned over Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes

Vegan Sausage Gravy FAQs

If you tried this vegan sausage gravy recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!