English Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy Recipe (2024)

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This classic British pub dish is rich and comforting, perfect for soaking up a belly full of brown ale.

Sydney Oland

Sydney Oland lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, where she develops recipes and owns and operates three businesses: a bean-to-bar chocolate company, an ice cream company, and a collective food production space. Previously, she wrote brunch and British food recipe columns for Serious Eats.

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Updated March 17, 2022

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Why It Works

Mild pork sausage doesn’t overpower the flavors of the gravy and potatoes.
An onion-infused gravy adds texture and flavor to the dish.

Bangers and mash are a public house classic, some fatty sausages with buttery potatoes perfect for soaking up an afternoon's worth of ale. An inexpensive way to fill up your stomach, the classic cheap banger has given way to today's gastropubs replacing the fatty pork sausage with anything from spiced lamb to chicken-and-apple adaptations of the classic—although you can still find classic versions of this popular dish throughout Britain as a mainstay of pub menus.

Onion gravy is the simple sauce that normally tops the pile of sausage and mash. There are many versions of this gravy but the most important part of this simple sauce is making sure your onions are a deep even brown with no scorching. There is no real secret on how to properly cook up your onions; just keep an eye on them and toss them often to make sure they cook evenly.

English Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy Recipe (3)

Once you've figured out your onions it's a matter of stock. I've called for beef stock in this recipe, but if you have some good chicken or even vegetable stock, use that instead. Just keep in mind that using a vegetable stock will result in a thinner final gravy.

Finding some proper bangers can be challenging depending on where you are living. If your area has a good butcher, that's always a good place to start when searching out sausages. If, after much searching, you find yourself without bangers (and without the proper equipment to make a batch yourself), then in a pinch substitute any sort of plain, fatty pork sausage. Bratwurst always seems closer to a proper banger than a mild Italian sausage in my mind. But use your own judgment.

October 17, 2012

Recipe Details

English Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy Recipe

Active35 mins

Total35 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
Kosher salt
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
Freshly ground black pepper
3 medium onions, thinly sliced (about 3 cups sliced onions)
1 bay leaf
2 1/2 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups store-bought or homemade low-sodium beef or chicken broth
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 bangers (about 2 pounds, see notes)

Directions

Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Season well with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and place back in saucepan, add 3 tablespoons butter and ⅔ cup milk, and mash with a potato masher, adding more milk if a looser consistency is desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
Heat remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add onions and bay leaf and cook, stirring often, until onions are brown, about 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with flour and mix until flour is evenly incorporated with onions. Stirring constantly, slowly pour stock over onion mixture. Bring to a simmer over high heat, stirring often, then lower heat to medium and cook until thickened, about 6 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm.
Heat vegetable oil in a large stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Reduce heat to medium-low. Place bangers in the skillet and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes; flip bangers and cover. Cook until bangers are fully cooked, about 6 minutes longer.
Divide mash between 4 plates, place 2 bangers on each pile of mash, and top with onion gravy. Serve with brown ale and extra gravy and strong mustard passed alongside.

Special Equipment

Nonstick skillet, stainless steel skillet.

Notes

Bangers are a British pork sausage. If they are unavailable, any mild pork sausage can be used in their place.

British
Stovetop Sausages
Sausages
Mashed Potatoes
Pork Mains

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
524	Calories
27g	Fat
61g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	524
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	35%
Saturated Fat 13g	64%
Cholesterol 53mg	18%
Sodium 1022mg	44%
Total Carbohydrate 61g	22%
Dietary Fiber 6g	22%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 24mg	119%
Calcium 141mg	11%
Iron 3mg	17%
Potassium 1440mg	31%
*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.)