Biscuits and sausage gravy is a classic Southern breakfast dish that many people enjoy. However, those watching their carbohydrate intake may wonder just how many carbs are contained in this hearty meal. In this article, we will break down the typical carb count of biscuits and sausage gravy to provide a detailed nutritional analysis.
Overview of Biscuits
Biscuits are a baked quick bread that are simple to make and often contain ingredients like all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and butter or shortening. They have a light, fluffy texture and are often served as a side dish or breakfast bread.
The main source of carbohydrates in biscuits comes from the flour. All-purpose flour contains about 75 grams of carbs per cup, most of which comes from starch. This starch is broken down into sugar during the baking process.
Other carb-containing ingredients in biscuits include milk and baking powder. Milk has about 12 grams of carbs per cup coming from the natural milk sugar lactose. Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and an acid which interact to help biscuits rise, adding negligible carbs.
Overview of Sausage Gravy
Sausage gravy is a traditional Southern sauce made with sausage, milk or cream, and flour. It has a creamy texture from the dairy and gets both flavor and fat from the sausage.
The main sources of carbs in sausage gravy are the milk/cream and flour. Milk contains about 12 grams of carbs per cup, while heavy cream has about 6-7 grams per cup. An equal amount of all-purpose flour also contains about 75 grams of carbs per cup.
Other lower-carb ingredients like sausage, spices, salt, and pepper balance out the carb count but still add significantly to the overall amount.
Nutrition Details of Biscuits
Now that we understand the main carb-containing ingredients in biscuits, let’s analyze the nutrition facts of a typical homemade biscuit recipe.
Typical Homemade Biscuit Recipe
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
| Baking powder | 1 Tbsp |
| Salt | 1 tsp |
| Cold butter | 4 Tbsp |
| Milk | 2/3 cup |
This basic homemade biscuit recipe makes about 8-10 biscuits. Let’s analyze the carb content of each ingredient:
- All-purpose flour: 2 cups contains about 150g total carbs
- Baking powder: Negligible carbs, estimate 1g per Tbsp
- Salt: No carbs
- Butter: Trace carbs, estimate 0g
- Milk: 2/3 cup contains about 8g carbs
Total estimated carbs: around 159 grams
For 8 biscuits, that’s about 20 grams of carbs per biscuit. For 10 biscuits, around 16 grams of carbs each.
This will vary slightly depending on biscuit size, but provides a reasonable estimate.
Nutrition Facts for Refrigerated Biscuits
Many people opt for quick and convenient refrigerated biscuits over homemade. Here’s a look at the nutrition facts for a common brand of 8 refrigerated buttermilk biscuits:
| Serving Size: 1 biscuit (2.5oz/71g) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 170 |
| Total Fat | 7g |
| Sodium | 430mg |
| Total Carbs | 23g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 4g |
| Added Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 4g |
So refrigerated biscuits contain about 23g of carbs each. This is slightly higher than homemade, likely due to added sugar.
Nutrition Details of Sausage Gravy
Now let’s analyze the carb count of a typical sausage gravy recipe.
Typical Sausage Gravy Recipe
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Raw breakfast sausage | 1 lb |
| All-purpose flour | 1/4 cup |
| Milk | 2 cups |
| Black pepper | To taste |
This makes around 3 cups of gravy. Here is the carb count for each ingredient:
- Sausage: Estimate around 1g carbs per 2 links or 0.5oz
- Flour: 1/4 cup contains about 19g carbs
- Milk: 2 cups contains around 24g carbs
- Pepper: Negligible carbs
Total estimated carbs: Around 44g of carbs per 3 cups gravy
For a 1/2 cup serving size, that comes out to around 7g of carbs from the gravy.
Nutrition Facts for Canned Sausage Gravy
For another point of comparison, here are the nutrition facts per 1/2 cup serving of a popular canned sausage gravy:
| Serving Size: 1/2 cup | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 16g |
| Sodium | 730mg |
| Total Carbs | 6g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 4g |
The canned variety contains around 6g carbs per half cup serving. This is quite similar to homemade.
Total Carb Count of Biscuits with Sausage Gravy
Now let’s put this all together to determine the total carb count of 2 biscuits covered in sausage gravy.
If we assume:
- 2 homemade biscuits each with ~20g carbs
- 1/2 cup of homemade sausage gravy with ~7g carbs
Then the total carb count is:
| Item | Carbs |
|---|---|
| Biscuit 1 | 20g |
| Biscuit 2 | 20g |
| 1/2 cup sausage gravy | 7g |
| Total Carbs | 47g |
So for 2 homemade biscuits covered in 1/2 cup of gravy, the total carb count is around **47 grams**.
This will vary depending on the exact recipe, but provides a reasonable estimate given typical ingredients and portion sizes. The biscuits contribute the bulk of the carbs, while the gravy adds a smaller amount.
Ways to Reduce Carbs in Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
If you’re looking to lower the carb count for this breakfast dish, here are some modifications you can make:
Substitute Lower-Carb Flours
- Try using almond flour or coconut flour in place of all-purpose flour in the biscuits. These contain fewer net carbs per cup.
- Use whey protein powder or carbquik in the biscuit recipe.
- Replace all-purpose flour in the gravy with almond flour or xanthan gum as a thickener.
Reduce Starchy Thickeners
- Use less flour in the gravy by whisking vigorously or lengthening cooking time for thickening.
- Try arrowroot starch or cornstarch instead of flour to reduce carbs.
Use Lower Carb Dairy
- Substitute milk with heavy cream or half-and-half in gravy.
- Use plain Greek yogurt instead of milk in biscuit recipe.
Adjust Portions
- Stick to 1 biscuit instead of 2 to cut carbs in half.
- Use just 1/4 cup gravy instead of 1/2 cup.
With some minor adjustments, you can enjoy biscuits and gravy on a lower carb diet. Just focus on reducing starchy thickeners, switching flours, and watching portions.
Sample Lower Carb Recipe
Here is an example recipe to make biscuits and sausage gravy with around half the carbs:
Lower Carb Biscuits
Makes 6 biscuits
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Almond flour | 2 cups |
| Baking powder | 1 Tbsp |
| Salt | 1/2 tsp |
| Cold butter | 3 Tbsp |
| Greek yogurt | 1/4 cup |
| Large egg | 1 |
| Water | 1-2 Tbsp |
- Combine dry ingredients, cut in cold butter
- Whisk together yogurt, egg, and water
- Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until combined
- Scoop batter onto baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes at 400F
Nutrition per biscuit: Calories: 180, Fat: 16g, Carbs: 6g fiber, Net carbs: 3g, Protein: 6g
Lower Carb Sausage Gravy
Makes 2 cups
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pork sausage | 4 oz |
| Heavy cream | 1 cup |
| Almond flour | 2 Tbsp |
| Black pepper | To taste |
- Brown sausage, drain excess fat
- Whisk in heavy cream and almond flour
- Simmer until thickened, stirring frequently
- Season with black pepper
Nutrition per 1/4 cup: Calories: 180, Fat: 18g, Carbs: 2g fiber, Net carbs: 1g, Protein: 6g
For 1 biscuit with 1/4 cup gravy, you’ll get around **25 grams net carbs total**. Nearly half the carbs compared to a traditional recipe!
Conclusion
Biscuits and sausage gravy can certainly fit into a low carb lifestyle with some simple ingredient swaps. A standard serving of 2 biscuits and 1/2 cup gravy will have around 47 grams of carbs total. But by using lower carb flours, reducing thickeners, choosing fattier dairy, and watching portions, you can easily cut the carbs in half or more. Enjoy this classic comfort food on occasion while still sticking to your diet goals!
Summary
- A typical biscuit contains about 20g net carbs
- Homemade sausage gravy has around 7g net carbs per 1/2 cup
- Together, a standard serving of 2 biscuits and 1/2 cup gravy totals around 47g carbs
- You can reduce carbs by altering the flour, dairy, and thickeners used
- Portion control of 1 biscuit and 1/4 cup gravy slashes carbs
- Sample lower carb recipe cuts the carbs in half for a reasonable treat
