Chocolate gravy and biscuits for 12: big buttermilk drop biscuits baked at home with no rolling or cutting, then warmed in a foil packet on the grill, with a smooth cocoa gravy spooned over the top. Chocolate gravy is an old Southern breakfast that runs deep in Arkansas. The gravy travels in a jar and warms in a saucepan in about 5 minutes.
Feeds: 12 (1 biscuit and ¼ cup gravy each) · Hands-on: about 30 min · Total: about 1 hour
Home gear: a baking sheet lined with parchment and a medium saucepan
Pack for the lot
- Foil packets of biscuits
- Jar of chocolate gravy, in the cooler
- Splash of milk, in the cooler
- Small saucepan and a whisk
- Ladle or big spoon
- Plates, forks and napkins
- Charcoal and a chimney starter, or a full propane tank
Lot notes
- Fuel: about 15 minutes on any covered grill.
- The Arkansas rule: the Razorback Stadium guide allows "Propane and charcoal grills with covers. Coals never on the ground, ashes in the charcoal bins. No grilling in garages."
- Holding: the gravy is milk-based, so the jar stays at 40°F or below until it's warmed. Once it's warm, serve it within 2 hours, or 1 hour over 90°F, and toss the rest.
- Cleanup: the saucepan is the only dish. Wipe it out while it's warm.
- A covered propane option: the Monument G22 is a two-burner tabletop propane grill with a lid, so you can leave one burner off for the packets, per Monument.
Can you make chocolate gravy ahead?
Yes. Make it up to 3 days ahead and keep it in a jar in the fridge. It sets up cold, so whisk it as it warms and loosen it with a little milk.
How do you keep biscuits warm at a tailgate?
Wrap them in foil packets and set them on the cool side of the grill for about 10 minutes before serving. Leave the packets closed until people are ready.
How much chocolate gravy and biscuits for 20 people?
Make 2 batches of each for 24 servings: 6 cups of flour, 3 sticks of butter and 2½ cups of buttermilk for the biscuits, and 2 cups of sugar, ⅔ cup of cocoa and 5 cups of milk for the gravy. Warm the gravy in 2 rounds or in a bigger pot.
Can you cook at Razorback Stadium?
Yes, on a covered grill. The Arkansas guide allows "Propane and charcoal grills with covers. Coals never on the ground, ashes in the charcoal bins. No grilling in garages."