Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

Many readers have been asking how to make a delicious sausage gravy in Instant Pot.

After different experiments & testings, we’ve decided to develop this easy Instant Pot Sausage Gravy using Instant Pot’s “Saute” mode over the “Pressure Cook” mode because using the “Saute” mode makes a tastier Sausage Gravy!

One of many reasons why we love our Instant Pot is the awesome “Saute” feature that allows us to saute straight in the pot! This Saute function is great especially for users living in dorm rooms, RV, boats, on the road, traveling, or camping. Or those who simply don’t want to dirty many pots and pans.

*Note: You can easily make this sausage gravy recipe on the stovetop as well. 🙂

What is Sausage Gravy?

Sausage Gravy (or Biscuits and Gravy) is a traditional classic country-style breakfast dish from Southern United States.

It’s a meaty hearty creamy gravy that’s essentially whole milk thickened with roux (consists of fat drippings from the yummy sausages).

Sausage gravy is often served over warm buttery homemade biscuits. But you can also serve this delicious gravy over toast, eggs, grits, fried potatoes, hashbrowns, or breakfast comfort food you love! 🙂

What we Look for in Best Sausage Gravy?

• Gravy: perfect consistency – creamy smooth, hearty rich, not too thin or too thick, not watery or starchy
• Gravy: packed with flavors – balanced savory, umami, hint of sweetness, not flat or bland tasting
• Sausage: juicy, bursting with savory caramelized flavors, satisfying bouncy bite & multiple textures, not dry, rubbery or tasteless
• Sausage: has just the right amount of sausage to make a meaty gravy (not overloaded with meat yet not just a thin sauce with meat bits)
• Homemade Biscuit: aromatic, buttery, fresh from the oven warm, crisp on the outside, soft & fluffy on the inside

Ingredients for Cooking Sausage Gravy

*Soy Sauce: Definitely not a traditional ingredient in a classic sausage gravy, but it’s our little magical ingredient that will boost the savoriness (umami) and flavor complexity of the sausage gravy.

*Milk: We like to use Whole Milk for a richer flavor and more wholesome consistency.

*Unsalted Butter: Different brands or even different blocks of the same brand of salted butter can differ in levels of sodium, so we prefer to develop recipes using unsalted butter for more control & consistency on the dish’s overall flavor profile.

Time to make Classic Homemade Sausage Gravy in Instant Pot!

Step-by-Step Guide: Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

Tools for Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Wooden Spoon
• Pyrex Measuring Cups
• Mixing Bowl
• Silicone Basting Brush

Brown Sausage

Heat up Instant Pot using “Sauté More” function. Wait until Instant Pot says “HOT”.

*Pro Tip: Make sure the Instant Pot is as hot as it can be to induce a maillard reaction.

Add 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter in Instant Pot’s inner pot. Ensure the whole bottom is coated with butter.

Cut or tear up the sausages into pieces, then add them in Instant Pot. Brown sausages for 7 – 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

*Pro Tip: We like to break up some of the sausages into crumbles while keeping the rest in larger pieces for better contrasting textures.

Make Roux

There should be a lot of dripping fats in the Instant Pot – we need them to make the flavorful roux.

Now sprinkle in ¼ cup (30g) all-purpose flour on the sausages, then stir to mix. 

Adjust your Instant Pot to “Saute Normal” mode.

With your wooden spoon, scrub the bottom of the pot and make sure no flour is sticking to the bottom.

We want to make a brown roux for maximum flavors. Making the roux will take some time and patience. Keep stirring occasionally for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Again, make sure no flour is sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot and burn.

Once the roux has reached a dark brown color, add 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce (15ml) to the Instant Pot, then stir to mix.

Make Sausage Gravy

Pour 2 cups (500ml) whole milk in Instant Pot, then mix well. Scrub the bottom of the pot one more time to make sure nothing is sticking to the pot.

Once the milk starts bubbling, the mixture will start to thicken, so stir occasionally.

Let the mixture simmer for roughly 4 minutes.

*Pro Tip: It should look as thick as the photo below.

Season & Serve Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

Taste the sausage gravy in Instant Pot, then adjust the seasoning with freshly ground black pepper and salt if necessary.

Ladle your deliciously creamy Instant Pot Sausage Gravy over fresh-out-of-the-oven warm buttery biscuits, then serve immediately!

If you want a super simple yummy homemade biscuit recipe, proceed to Step 5! 😀

Make 2-Ingredient Homemade Biscuits

*Note: This genius recipe, created by J. Kenji López-Alt, has been our go-to homemade biscuit recipe. He’s the author of The Food Lab cookbook.

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Combine the same volume of self-rising flour and heavy cream together in a mixing bowl. 

For Example: If you are using 300g self-rising flour, use 300ml heavy cream.

*Pro Tip: Make sure to use a kitchen scale and be careful NOT to over-mix the dough. 

*For Reference: 1 cup (128g) self-rising flour + 128ml heavy cream will make roughly 4 – 5 homemade biscuits.

Place biscuits on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Brush biscuits with more cream.

Then, bake biscuits in oven until golden brown (roughly 14 – 17 minutes).

Time to serve your sausage gravy with fresh out of the oven homemade biscuits!

Enjoy your delicious Instant Pot Biscuits and Gravy!~

More Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

Instant Pot Egg Bites

Instant Pot Banana Bread

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats