Description
These English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas are a quick, easy, and customizable breakfast or brunch option. Toasted English muffins are topped with a creamy sausage gravy, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheese, and cooked sausage for a satisfying and savory meal.
Ingredients
- 1 (6-count) package English muffins, split
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild, hot, or sage)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk (plus more for gravy)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces mild cheddar cheese, thinly sliced (or your favorite cheese)
For the Sawmill Gravy:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk (whole, 2%, or skim)
- 1/4 cup sausage drippings (reserved from cooking the sausage) plus unsalted butter, if needed to reach 1/4 cup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
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Cook Sausage: In a large skillet (cast iron recommended) over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until it’s fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and set it aside.
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Reserve Drippings: Do not discard the sausage drippings. Carefully pour off the excess grease, leaving about 1/4 cup of the drippings in the skillet. If there isn’t enough fat, add unsalted butter to make up the difference (to reach 1/4 cup total).
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Make Sawmill Gravy:
- Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium.
- Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour over the reserved sausage drippings in the skillet.
- Cook, stirring constantly, for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture (roux) is smooth and starts to turn a light golden brown color. This cooks out the raw flour taste.
- Gradually whisk in the 2 cups of milk, pouring it in slowly and whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
- Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the gravy comes to a boil and thickens.
- Season the gravy with 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste) and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste).
- Remove from heat.
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Toast English Muffins: While the gravy is simmering, lightly toast the split English muffins. You can use a toaster, toaster oven, or the broiler setting in your oven.
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Scramble Eggs: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 8 eggs, 2 tablespoons of milk, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Pour in the egg mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggs are scrambled to your desired consistency.
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Preheat Broiler: Turn your oven’s broiler to high.
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Assemble Pizzas: Arrange the toasted English muffin halves, cut-side up, on a baking sheet.
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Layer Ingredients:
- Spread a generous layer of the sawmill gravy over each English muffin half.
- Top the gravy with the scrambled eggs, dividing them evenly.
- Place a slice of cheddar cheese (or your chosen cheese) over the eggs.
- Sprinkle the cooked sausage evenly over the cheese.
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Broil: Place the baking sheet under the broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
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Serve Immediately
Notes
- Breakfast Sausage: You can use any type of breakfast sausage you like – mild, hot, sage, or even maple-flavored.
- Sawmill Gravy: Sawmill gravy is a classic Southern gravy made with meat drippings, flour, and milk. The reserved sausage drippings are essential for the flavor of this gravy.
- Cheese: Mild cheddar cheese is used in this recipe, but you can substitute other cheeses, such as Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or provolone.
- Toppings: Feel free to add other toppings to your breakfast pizzas, such as diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these breakfast pizzas immediately.