In Appalachian and Southern cooking, "white gravy" is a simple flour-and-milk gravy made from pan drippin’s or grease. Served over biscuits, it’s a breakfast staple - sometimes called "sawmill gravy" on menus, but usually just "gravy" at home.
★ White gravy is often the "default" gravy with biscuits. At home it’s just called "gravy." Menus may list it as "sawmill gravy," but that name is mostly restaurant talk. ★
Origin and Etymology
Derived from European milk-based gravies, it became a staple in the South and Appalachia where flour, lard, and milk were everyday ingredients. Lumber camps popularized the name "sawmill gravy," but families mostly just called it "gravy."
Usage Notes
Still common in Appalachian and Southern kitchens. Served over biscuits, fried chicken, or potatoes. Outsiders often meet it first as "biscuits and gravy" in diners.
Yes - sawmill is just the diner name. Most families call it plain "gravy."
What’s the difference between white gravy and sausage gravy?
Sausage gravy is white gravy with crumbled sausage added.
Do people outside the South eat it?
Yes, but it’s most tied to Appalachian and Southern breakfasts.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 2). White Gravy. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-gravy
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "White Gravy." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-gravy.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "White Gravy." HillbillySlang.com. September 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-gravy.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
We never called it 'white gravy' unless there was a question as to what kind we's gonna eat. Biscuits always just got 'gravy' in our house. Still do. 
