Creamed chipped beef, sometimes called SOS (an abbreviation for “same old stuff”), is a classic comfort food that packs a punch of protein and flavor. This creamy, salty dish has a long history in American cuisine, especially as a military and diner staple.
What is Chipped Beef?
Chipped beef starts out as salted, pressed and dried beef. This beef is sliced paper-thin to create small, flexible pieces that are often sold compressed together in jars or plastic pouches. The drying and pressing process concentrates the beef flavor. Chipped beef can be eaten as is for snacking, but it’s most often used as an ingredient in other dishes.
What is Creamed Chipped Beef?
Creamed chipped beef transforms these little slivers of dried beef into a rich savory sauce. The chipped beef is simmered in a creamy white sauce or thick gravy. The sauce helps rehydrate the beef allowing it to regain moisture and plump up. The beef infuses the sauce with a salty, smoky meatiness.
Some versions of creamed chipped beef are quite thick, while others have a thinner, looser gravy. Spices like black pepper and cayenne add a touch of heat. Worcestershire sauce is a common addition for extra depth.
A Brief History of Creamed Chipped Beef
While dried and salted meats have been around for millennia, creamed chipped beef as we know it today traces back to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As early as the 1890s, chipped beef was being promoted as an inexpensive and shelf-stable breakfast meat. Soupy creamed chipped beef recipes appeared in cookbooks as a quick, comforting breakfast dish.
The dish really took off in the early 1900s when it became a staple meal in the U.S. military. It was added to military cookbooks because it was tasty, filling, and could be easily mass-produced to feed large groups of soldiers. “SOS” was used as military slang for creamed chipped beef, giving rise to its nickname.
After World War II, creamed chipped beef remained popular with veterans and made its way onto diner menus across the country in the 1940s and 1950s. It was a standard blue-plate breakfast offering, prepared quickly on the griddle.
While less common today than in its mid-century heyday, creamed chipped beef maintains a core following of lovers of classic American comfort food. It’s still served in some diners and included in a few brands of frozen supermarket meals.
How to Make Creamed Chipped Beef
Creamed chipped beef starts with a simple white sauce. Butter and flour are cooked into a roux, then milk is whisked in to create a creamy béchamel sauce.
Once the sauce has thickened, dried chipped beef is added and simmered until heated through and rehydrated. The sauce clings to each morsel of beef, plumping it up. Flavors like black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne enhance the beefy flavor.
The creamed chipped beef mixture is served spooned over slices of toast. Sturdy white bread works best as it can stand up to the hearty sauce without getting soggy. The toast soaks up the extra sauce, making every bite rich and beefy.
What Does Creamed Chipped Beef Taste Like?
The dominant flavor of creamed chipped beef is the concentrated dried beef, boosted by salt during processing. It has an intensely beefy, savory taste heightened by umami.
The creamy white sauce tempers and mellows the very bold beefiness. It adds a richness and body while allowing the beef’s flavor to shine. Pepper, Worcestershire, and other seasonings provide seasoning and piquancy.
The overall effect is a satisfying meatiness rounded out by the creaminess of the sauce. Every spoonful packs a punch of rich, salty flavor. The toast provides texture and soaks up the hearty gravy.
Nutrition Profile of Creamed Chipped Beef
A 3.5 ounce serving of prepared creamed chipped beef contains:
- Calories: 162
- Fat: 11g
- Carbs: 2g
- Protein: 12g
The high protein comes from the dried beef, while the fat mostly comes from the butter and milk used to make the creamy sauce.
Because the beef is heavily salted during processing, a serving of creamed chipped beef also contains a whopping 1,468mg of sodium – over half an entire day’s recommended intake.
Going easy on additional salt and enjoying sensible portions is important for keeping this treat meal balanced. Drink plenty of water and eat potassium-rich fruits and veggies to help offset the effects of the sodium.
Where to Enjoy Creamed Chipped Beef Today
While creamed chipped beef may sound old-fashioned, it’s still possible to enjoy this retro favorite today. Here are some places to get your SOS fix:
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Diners: Many classic diners, especially in the Midwest and parts of the East Coast, still list creamed chipped beef on toast on their breakfast menus.
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Frozen meals: Brands like Stouffer’s and Banquet offer frozen creamed chipped beef meals that can be heated up at home.
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Make it yourself: Get the authentic creamed chipped beef experience by cooking up your own using dried chipped beef, flour, butter, milk, and seasonings. Serve on thick slices of toasted bread for the perfect bite.
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Restaurants: A small number of restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Golden Corral periodically offer creamed chipped beef as a breakfast special.
Though not as common today as it once was, creamed chipped beef remains a classic comfort food worth savoring. This salty, beefy treat conjures up memories of diners, mess halls, and simpler times. Give creamed chipped beef a try for a savory blast from the past!
How to Make Shit on a Shingle (Creamed Chipped Beef)
- First, cut the beef into strips, and then into short segments.
- Melt some butter in a skillet and add to that the flour. Make sure you quickly whisk that into the butter in order to create a roux, and continue to mix until it’s light-gold in color.
- Add in the milk, and while continuing to whisk pour in the onion powder, thyme and cayenne. Cook that until the gravy thickens and then add in the beef.
- While you’re making the cream chipped beef, toast the white bread slices. Once your gravy is ready, cover your toasted bread with the chipped beef mixture! Enjoy immediately.
This dish is rich enough on it’s own, but you can totally serve it with scrambled or fried eggs, which I personally love.
Another great comforting twist is to serve Shit on a Shingle over my baked hash browns or sweet potato cakes.
You can also include a side of fresh fruit to lighten up and add a bit of sweetness to the meal!
- Chicken – Swap the dried beef with shredded chicken for a lighter version of this dish.
- Gluten-free – Use your favorite gluten-free flour to thicken the gravy, and substitute regular toast for gluten-free brioche, toast or even potatoes for a twist.
- Low-carb – Replace the toast with roasted cauliflower steaks or portobello mushrooms for a low-carb alternative!
- Sausage – Add some crumbled breakfast sausage to the gravy-beef combo for a meatier and smokier vibe.
The dish creamed chipped beef on toast got the nickname “Shit on a Shingle” (SOS) in the military during World War I and World War II. “Shit” refers to the creamed beef mixture because some soldiers found the sight of it unappetizing, and “shingle” refers to the toast because it serves as the base of this dish. Later on, it became a classic comfort-food for breakfast!
Creamed chipped beef is generally made with chopped dried beef that is cooked in a creamy, lightly seasoned sauce. My version adds some extra herbs and spices for added flavor!
Chipped beef is salted, dried beef that has been pressed and sliced into thin pieces. This salty form of beef makes creamed chipped beef have loads of flavor! And since it is so salty, there is no need to add salt to this recipe. If you add salt, it will probably end up being too salty!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days! You can reheat and serve over more toast or even biscuits.
Try our classic Chipped Beef Dip Recipe, for a bold zesty appetizer or party snack!
Thick-cut white bread, Texas toast, brioche, or even biscuits work best for soaking up the delicious gravy!
Nope! Dried beef (like Buddig Beef) is thinly sliced, salted, and cured, and it’s softer than jerky. You can find it in small packets near the deli section or in the canned goods section of your supermarket.
Why We Love This Shit On A Shingle Recipe
There’s no better way to start the day than with a good breakfast.
Some mornings you want something light and healthy, like a smoothie, to get going. On other days you need a rich breakfast meal that really “sticks to your ribs,” as my mom would say. Something served hot that’s heavy, meaty, salty, and truly scrumptious.
We are big fans of biscuits and gravy, but it’s a yummy combination that can take quite a bit of time and effort to make. This Shit On A Shingle (Creamed Chipped Beef On Toast) recipe has a similar rich and satisfying taste, but takes only a few minutes to whip up for a quick breakfast.
You’ve probably had (and likely loved) this dish before, sometimes called “Shit on a Shingle” or simply SOS. It has been a staple for generations as a cheap, simple, and hearty go-to breakfast… And, despite the nickname, should definitely be in your regular rotation of breakfast and brunch recipes!
Creamed chipped beef, also known as “Shit on a Shingle” is a retro war-time recipe created in the early 1900s and made with white bread, dried Buddig Beef slices, and white gravy… Which were all easy ingredients to find when rations were low. These are items still readily available at nearly any grocery store, and are usually pretty inexpensive.
Although this humble Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast recipe goes by a name that doesn’t sound very appetizing, it is in truth ultra-rich and utterly comforting. Creamy white gravy with wonderfully salty beef smothers the toast, creating a great mix of textures and flavors. It is simply everything you want for breakfast… Or a snack, or lunch, and yes also for dinner.
Try making it for yourself at home, and you’ll see why this classic cream chipped beef recipe has stayed popular for so long!
- Dried beef slices – like Buddig Beef
- Unsalted butter – the beef slices have plenty of salt!
- All-purpose flour – you can also use GF flour mix
- Milk – go for whole milk
- Spices – onion powder, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper (salt and black pepper for taste.)
- Texas toast – use brioche, or thick-cut white bread
Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast | Southern Living
FAQ
What is creamed chipped beef made of?
Chipped beef is pressed, salted, and dried beef. The thin, flexible slices are usually sold in glass jars. Creamed chipped beef (often called SOS) is chipped beef cooked in a cream sauce. A popular meal in the military, the comforting dish is traditionally served over toast.
What part of the cow is chipped beef?
Also called dried beef, chipped beef is typically made from a leaner cut of meat, such as beef round. The meat is brined and left to cure for several days before being drained and air-dried. You can now also find chipped beef that’s been smoked while it dries, adding additional flavor to the meat.
Is chipped beef the same as beef jerky?
What Kind of Beef is Used for Chipped Beef Creamed chipped beef is made with chipped beef, which is very thin slices of salted, smoked beef. It is not as dry as beef jerky and doesn’t have as much fat.
What does chipped beef taste like?
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Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.orgChipped beef – WikipediaSome makers smoke the dried beef for more flavor. … The processed meat producer Hormel once described it as “an air-dried product that is similar to bresaola,
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Homeschool in the Woodshttps://store.homeschoolinthewoods.comHow to Make Chipped Beef on Toast – Homeschool in the WoodsOct 22, 2020 — Are you wondering, “where can I buy chipped beef”? Chipped beef comes in jars and can be found in the canned meat section in your grocery store. Not…