Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and gravy are the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a cozy night in. (That’s right! It’s not just for brunch!) This recipe turns traditional biscuits and gravy into a speedy and tasty vegetarian meal.

By
Wanda Abraham
Wanda Abraham
Wanda Abraham
Wanda received her cooking certificate from Leith’s School of Food and Wine. She has been writing, developing and photographing recipes since 2017.
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Updated March 30, 2022
Wanda Abraham
Vegetarian biscuits and gravy on a white plate.

Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham

When I want something warm and comforting, I make biscuits and gravy. It feels like a hug or a fluffy blanket. 

These are quick and easy cream biscuits. There is no need to carefully cut butter or shortening into the flour. You don’t even have to chill the biscuits before baking them. 

The biscuits are topped with a vegetarian mushroom gravy that is luscious, creamy, and delicious without being too rich and heavy. Traditionally, the gravy is made with crumbled sausage; this recipe imitates that flavor by calling for seasonings typically found in sausage: crushed red pepper flakes, fennel, and fresh thyme.

Vegetarian biscuits and gravy are the ultimate indulgence and are only made better by sharing them with family or friends. If you start the gravy while the biscuits bake, you can have an easy meal on the table in about 30 minutes! 

The Biscuits

I love a good, buttery, flaky biscuit. However, I also like that this easy cream biscuit comes together so quickly. The inside is wonderfully moist, and the outside is just a bit crisp. 

These biscuits are made with plenty of fresh thyme. You want to see little bits of thyme in the biscuit so don’t mince the herb into teeny tiny pieces. The herbs make the biscuits extra special, but they'll be wonderful without. The choice is yours.

The most important thing to remember is not to overwork the dough. Rather than kneading the dough, use your hands to gather the dough together and shape it into a flat circle—the dry bits will automatically come together.

The dough will be very sticky so make sure your kitchen counter and your cutter are generously floured. Once you cut out 3 biscuits, gently gather the scraps to cut out a few more biscuits. You’ll get 6 in total. The second set may not rise as high as the first set, but that’s okay.

Vegetarian biscuits and gravy on a white plate.

Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham

A Few Words About Mushrooms

This recipe calls for a mix of cremini and white button mushrooms. Feel free to use whatever mushrooms you’d like. Shiitake and oyster mushrooms would work well. 

When buying mushrooms, look for ones that are firm to the touch. Avoid mushrooms that are mushy, damp, or dried out. 

There are a couple of ways to clean the mushrooms:

  1. The fastest way is to submerge them in water for a minute or two and then pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. 
  2. The second way, my preferred method, is to peel the mushrooms. Admittedly, it’s not the fastest and it's a little fussy. After trimming the stem off, use a paring knife to grab the top layer from underneath the cap (where the top meets the part under the cap that looks like a skirt). Peel it towards the center and remove it. Repeat this process around the entire mushroom cap until the whole outer layer has been removed. 

Make sure the mushrooms are dried well after cleaning and be sure the skillet is nice and hot. Cook the mushrooms before adding the rest of the ingredients to get good browning and to really bring out the flavor. Stir them frequently so they brown evenly.

Tips for Making Gravy 

Making the gravy may be the trickiest part of this recipe, but if something goes wrong, there are ways to save it.

  • When making the roux (flour plus butter), remember to stir, stir, stir! You don’t want the flour to burn. Once the milk is added to the roux, stir, stir, stir once again! Use a whisk to get all the lumps out and evenly incorporated into the gravy.
  • Should the gravy get too thick, add a bit of milk to thin it out.
  • Thin gravy can be thickened with a slurry made of 1 tablespoon each of water and cornstarch or flour. Slowly whisk it into the gravy over medium-low heat until it thickens.
Vegetarian biscuits and gravy on a white plate.

Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham

Variations (Some Vegan!)

Baby spinach is added to the gravy for a bit of color. Plus, I think it makes it a complete meal—no need to make a veggie side (although this would be delicious.) 

You can add other vegetables you like to the gravy. Vegetables that take longer to cook like carrots and broccoli should be cooked until tender-crisp before adding to the gravy.

Looking for a vegan version? Here is a recipe for wonderful vegan biscuits. To make the gravy, use equal amounts of vegan butter instead of butter, and use your favorite plant-based milk instead of whole milk. 

Storing and Reheating Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy

The biscuits taste best on the first day, soon after they come out of the oven. That said, they are still delicious the next day when reheated in a 350°F oven for about 7 minutes. 

For storing, wrap the biscuits in foil. The gravy should be stored in a lidded container. Refrigerate the gravy for up to 4 days and the biscuits for up to a week. The gravy reheats well in the microwave. 

More Vegetarian Classics We Love

Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

For the biscuits

  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 4 teaspoons sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

For the gravy

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 12 ounces mushrooms (a mix of cremini and white button), thinly sliced

  • 2 small shallots, finely chopped

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed

  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach, tightly packed

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to serve (optional)

Special Equipment

  • 2-inch round cutter

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Combine the dry ingredients: 

    Use a sifter or fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl to sift the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. 

  3. Add the thyme and heavy cream: 

    Sprinkle the thyme over the flour mixture. Drizzle in the heavy cream. Use a wooden spoon or your hands to combine the ingredients until the flour is moistened and the dough looks shaggy. It’s okay to have some loose flour. Do not overwork the dough because it will lead to dense biscuits.

    Biscuit down in a white bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  4. Roll out the dough: 

    Lightly flour a work surface and turn the dough onto it. Use your hands to gather the dough so that it comes together and form it into a circle that’s about 1 inch thick. 

  5. Form the biscuits: 

    Dip a 2-inch round cutter in a small bowl of flour. Cut the dough into rounds, pushing straight down and lifting straight up. Cut out 3 biscuits and place them on a large ungreased baking sheet. Gather the dough and gently form it into a 1-inch thick circle again. Try not to knead or overwork the dough. Cut out 3 more biscuits and place them on the baking sheet. Leave 2 inches between each biscuit.

    Cutting out biscuit dough.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  6. Bake the biscuits:  

    Bake the biscuits for 10 to 12 minutes, until they just start to show a bit of golden color on top. Remove the biscuits from the oven and set them aside. It’s okay to leave the biscuits on the baking sheet.

    Six biscuits on a black sheet pan.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
    Six baked biscuits on a black sheet pan.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  7. Meanwhile, cook the mushrooms: 

    Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil, stirring to help the butter melt. Once the butter is fully melted, add the mushrooms and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and just begging to turn brown, stirring often. If the butter starts to brown too quickly, reduce the heat to medium heat. 

    Cook mushrooms in a black skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  8. Add the seasonings: 

    Add the shallots, garlic, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the shallots and garlic are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.

    Add shallots to the black skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  9. Add the butter, flour, and milk:

    Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir until the butter is melted. Sprinkle in the flour and use a wooden spoon to stir until fully combined, for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the milk in a steady stream while stirring continuously. The gravy should begin to thicken.

    Add flour and milk to black skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  10. Add the thyme and spinach: 

    Immediately stir in the thyme. Bring the mixture up to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then reduce the heat to medium-low heat. Stir in the spinach and cook until the gravy reaches your desired thickness, about 4 minutes. If it thickens too much, stir in a bit of milk. 

    Add spinach and thicken sauce.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
  11. Serve: 

    Place a biscuit on a plate and spoon the gravy over it. Sprinkle a bit of freshly ground black pepper on top, if desired.

    Plate of biscuit and gravy on top.

    Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
607 Calories
41g Fat
51g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 607
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 22g 111%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 841mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 51g 18%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 7mg 34%
Calcium 255mg 20%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 532mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.