Sausage with Onion Gravy and Mashed Potato – affectionately known as “Bangers and Mash” – is one of the greatest of all comfort foods. A sausage recipe for a quick easy dinner with a side of peas or steamed vegetables to douse in the homemade gravy.
The onion gravy is to-die for but only requires 4 things: onion, garlic, beef broth/stock and flour. That’s it!
Bangers and Mash
I have to hand it to the Brits, they come up with great names for food. Bubble and Squeak – roast leftovers fried up. Spotted Dick (get your mind out of the gutter! It’s a pudding shaped like a log studded with raisins!).
Toad In the Hole – Sausage in a Yorkshire Pudding batter. (PS Don’t Google for photos because you’ll probably get…well, you know. TOADS in a hole. Ick!)
And Bangers and Mash – sausage with gravy!
Why is it called Bangers and Mash?
“Bangers and Mash” is the affectionate British slang for sausages and creamy mashed potato, served with gravy. “Bangers” refers to the sausages – named as such because back then, sausages would burst open “with a bang!” when cooked unless you pricked with a fork. Sometimes, they still do!
This is the first sausage recipe that comes to mind whenever I’m planning sausages for dinner! So obvious, I know…
Onion Gravy
The onion gravy is what really makes this sausage recipe. Onions not only add flavour, they also bulk up the gravy so you can really pile that gravy on and smother the sausages.
It’s very simple to make and no different to making gravy for things like roasts – Roast Lamb, Roast Chicken and Turkey.
What you need to make Bangers and Mash
Here’s all you need to make Bangers and Mash:
Best Sausages for Bangers and Mash
For a really classic Bangers and Mash experience, you can’t go past some big, fat pork sausages. Look for good quality ones that are all meat, no fillers – check the ingredients or ask your butcher.
The only sausages I do not recommend using are lean sausages because they won’t drop enough juices and fat to make a truly tasty gravy.
If you use low fat sausages, I cannot be held accountable for lack of flavour in the gravy!!
What you need to make Bangers and Mash Gravy
Sausages drippings – This refers to the brown bits stuck on the base of the pan and the oil / sausage juices that are left in the skillet after browning them. Sausage drippings are the key to wickedly delicious Onion Gravy!
Garlic and onion – Essential base flavouring ingredients for many, many savoury dishes!
Flour – This is what thickens the gravy.
Beef broth/ stock – The liquid for the gravy that gives it flavour. You’ll be disappointed if you use water, so don’t do it!
How to make Bangers and Mash
Brown sausages in a skillet then remove when cooked. If there’s an excessive amount of oil in the skillet, feel free to discard some. But you’ll want to keep at least 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons of fat to cook the onions and form the flavour base for the gravy.
Saute onion and garlic in the sausage drippings until the onions are translucent.
Cook off flour – Add the flour into the onion mixture and cook it for a couple of minutes. This will cook out the rawness of the flour.
Add beef broth/liquid stock. The flour mixed into the onion mixture will dissolve into the liquid. At first it will be watery abut as it heats up, it will thicken into a gravy consistency.
How to avoid lumpy gravy?
The trick to avoid lumpy gravy is to start by adding just some of the broth into the flour/onion mixture and stir to form a sludgy paste before mixing in the rest. This sludge will dissolve more easily into the remaining broth, making a lovely lump-free gravy without the need of a whisk!
Tip! For a BAKED version of Bangers and Mash, see this Sausage Bake. It comes with a gravy that’s made in the oven at the same time the sausages are cooking!
What to serve with Bangers and Mash
In the UK, I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to serve Bangers and Mash with anything other than creamy mashed potato.😂 Though any rice would also work great (white, brown, jasmine, basmati), as would pasta, polenta, quinoa, barley, even couscous.
In the event of a low-carb emergency, Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is a great alternative and unexpectedly delicious! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Bangers & Mash (Sausage with Onion Gravy)
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp oil
- 8 sausages of choice (Note 1)
- 1 large onion , halved and finely sliced (yellow, white or brown) (Note 2)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3 tbsp flour (plain)
- 2 cups beef stock/broth , low sodium, store bought or homemade (Note 3)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
To Serve
- Mashed potato
- Peas
Instructions
- Cook sausages: Heat oil in a large skillet / fry pan over medium high heat. Add sausages and cook, turning, until browned as much as possible all over and cooked through. Cook time will differ depending on sausage size – mine take around 8 minutes.
- Remove sausages onto a plate. Turn heat down to medium.
- 2 tbsp oil remaining: You need around 2 tbsp oil left in the skillet. If you have much less, add a bit of butter or oil.
- Saute onion and garlic: Add onion and garlic, cook until golden brown – around 4 minutes.
- Cook off flour 2 minutes: Add flour and mix through. Then cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Gradually add beef stock: Add about 3/4 cup of beef broth and mix into the onion so it becomes a sludge. Then add remaining beef broth and mix until combined. If it's lumpy, use a whisk to help make it smooth.
- Thicken gravy: Simmer, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes until the gravy thickens but is slightly thinner than you want – it will thicken more as you serve it.
- Season: Add salt and pepper. Stir, taste, then add more salt if you want.
- Serve sausages with plenty of gravy, with mashed potato and peas on the side. (Low carb option – Creamy Cauliflower Mash)
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published October 2016. Updated in October 2021 with new photos and a new video.
I love a good sausage recipe!
Sausages are a great shortcut way to a quick tasty meal because they’re loaded with extra flavour. Think beyond just cooking them whole – squeeze the meat out and cook it like mince meat!
Life of Dozer
Look who’s in his usual position….and don’t miss Dozer and his cheeky eye balling of the sausages in the cooking video! 😉
Poached chicken breast, bangers and mash?
Poached chicken breast, bangers and mash ?
Nagi, what are doing to me ?
Sorry sorry…. 🙂 Now you should just be glad I didn’t post the blueberry cheesecake bars that I was planning to do today! 🙂
I’m over hear raising my hand over here as a vegetarian who reads and loves your site! I trust your tastebuds to help me prepare delicious meals for my family. I’m the only vegetarian and the main cook in my house. Could be fairly difficult when I can’t taste test along the way…but I have 4 blogs that I rely on to guide me in savory meaty territory
You exist!!! 🙂 Gosh your family is SO LUCKY to have you! N x
In the UK bangers and mash isn’t sausages and gravy, it’s sausages and mashed potato. The clue’s in the name. It’s usually served with gravy, but the gravy isn’t an integral part of the dish. Sausages and gravy is just called sausages and/in gravy (depending if the sausages are cooked in the gravy or not).
And you do have at least one vegetarian who reads your blog! Vegetarian bangers and mash is almost as delicious as the real thing. 🙂
Ooh yes, thanks Rebecca! Duh to me! 🙂 Actually, I’ve made this with vegetarian bangers – my friend loved it!!! Have a great weekend Rebecca! N xx
That looks good enough to eat, it is the ultimate comfort food. Dozer obviously agrees, I do hope you shared.
You KNOW he did… 🙂 What are you up to this weekend Ann?? N xx
Oh, is it the weekend already? When you are old and decrepit every day is the same. There will be a lot of housework (ho hum) and a tidy up of my freezer and maybe some batch cooking. Hope you and Dozer have a fantabulous weekend.
I’ve got this all figured out. That homeless man is really not homeless. Nope! He’s some lonely widower who misses his wife’s cooking then who comes along but Nagi of the big heart. Of course he’s in the doggie park, pet owners are notoriously kind and generous. Anyway, you first found him on a down and out day. He didn’t feel like dressing up, he’s depressed. Then comes Nagi with FOOD. Now, it’s not just ordinary food but a scrumptious mouth-drooling food. In order to keep getting all the goodies he keeps up with the pretense. I bet he’s even gained weight since you found him. 🙂
Marisa, you have no idea. Honestly, every time I go away for a few weeks, he gives a sigh of relief, claiming that he needs to go down a few belt notches! Hope you have a fab weekend Marisa, what are you up to??
Personally I don’t know why he doesn’t move in with Nagi. It would save wear and tear on the car and he could doggysit when Nagi is travelling. He could possibly be trained to do the housework too. Win win.
It would save me doing a daily run down to the dog park to drop off food!!!
Oh yum, yum, yum! This is my idea of what the perfect dinner looks like on a cold winter evening. I absolutely love bangers and mash. Add onion gravy and you’re my friend for life!
Mel! The Brits are rubbing off on you – ba ha ha!!! Stick with homemade croissants… 🙂 I still remember your epic effort!!
He he! Oh gosh, I haven’t even shared the recipe… naughty me! It’s such a faff, not even sure I’ll even have the willpower to make them again and translate the recipe!
Hi Nagi! Now I am really hungry! It doesn’t get any better than this in my opinion! We had sausages (brats) with sauerkraut on buns last night for supper! Guess I need to buy some more sausages. I love the shot of Dozer eyeballing the sausages in your video! I think it probably would not be wise to turn your back…that plate might just “jump” off the table! 🙂
Oooh! I can’t remember the last time I had brats and sauerkraut!!! PS If you had a MOBILE, you could take videos of you, Gary and YOUR pups so I could see them!!! 😉 Just sayin’….