Creamy gravy made with a flour roux mixed with salty dried beef makes this delicious Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy. Simple, inexpensive, and makes the perfect dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
It reminds me of breakfast at my grandparent's growing up! My mom continued this tradition and I now make it for my kids! It is a family favorite and I love family "food" traditions!
I recently found out it is called SOS - Just cannot say out loud what that means (insert embarrassed emoji). Have I lived in a bubble?? How did I not know that this is what "they" call it?? No idea why anyone would call it that!!!. In my house, it tastes heavenly! And this nice southern girl here would never say that!
I made this today at my son's request! He had some testing at school and you know he needed a good hot breakfast! He usually "doesn't have time for all that." I love to feed my people and when the kiddo requests something he usually gets it!
Speaking of feeding people, my daughter and her gaggle of friends are coming home from college for Spring Break and I have been notified that I am to be their personal chef while they are "home". You know that I will be the happiest momma alive, because I love to "feed my people” and plan any type of gathering! YAY - not to mention my baby girl will be home. The nest will be full again (insert a Praise You Jesus)!
Ingredients for Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy - S.O.S Gravy
- All Purpose Flour
- Butter
- Dried Beef
- Milk
- Water
- Pepper
How to Make Chipped Beef Gravy
To start you need a stick of glorious butter! Melt it in a skillet
Then add your flour and cook about 1 to 2 minutes! Don't stop stirring or you will burn this deliciousness!
Slowly add milk and blend. Then add water and blend. Next in goes the chipped dried beef - I put mine in my Ninja Blender and give it a whirl a few times, this gives you the "chipped" beef! Throw in your pepper. You can salt to taste if you like, but the beef is pretty salty so I usually do not need any.
Tip: If you need to thin it anymore just add some more water or milk. Another tip - the glass jar it comes in makes a great juice glass!
Please Pin - Chipped Beef Gravy - for later!
Other Recipes you may enjoy
- Best Sausage Gravy Recipe
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Creamed Hamburger Gravy
- Southern Fried Pork Chops
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Chipped Beef Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4.5 ounces dried beef, I buy it in a jar
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Chop Dried Beef in a blender, food processor or with a knife.
- In a medium high heat skillet, melt butter.
- Slowly add in flour and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes to cook flour.
- Gradually add in milk and whisk to incorporate.
- Add in water.
- Blend in Chipped Beef.
- Season with Pepper
✱ Nikki's Tips
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Angie says
Great recipe!!! FYI…The name SOS comes from what they call it in the armed forces.
Carol says
My mother made this a lot and us kids loved it but my Dad did not care for it because during his time aboard ship in the Navy it was a staple and reminded him of that horrible time during WWII. So how it got the name SOS...well you can imagine... a ship full of navy men eating the few things they had to serve over and over for months upon months aboard ship during that time...
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Carol. And for sharing your story. My grandfather shared so many stories of WWII with us, so I understand that. I appreciate you stopping by to let us know you enjoyed it.
Nancy says
Never heard of adding water
Nikki Lee says
You certainly do not have to. You can use additional milk if desired.
Stanley Magness says
We loved it. I had SOS in the service, it was my favorite breakfast. I’m glad I found this recipe.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Stanley! I am so glad you enjoyed it and found us! We love sharing recipes and this one is dear to my heart!
Lyle says
Great recipe! Used it with sliced all beef franks , one my favorites from childhood. Delicious over mashed potatoes. Can’t wait to try it as sausage gravy over biscuits. It’s now my base gravy recipe!
Thanks
Lyle
Nikki Lee says
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing your memories! I love that about food!
Jodi says
Very good and very simple, filling. Just like I remembered my step mom making when we were kids! We never had this for breakfast, it was always a dinner treat for us and I made it tonight for dinner with 2 over easy eggs. My hubs loved it!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Jodi! We have this for dinner as well. It's delicious any time of the day!
Amber McMillion says
I know I already posted earlier, but I found a new way to enjoy this. On roasted sweet potatoes! Cut them in half, drizzle with olive oil and salt, place facedown in a 400° ovenfor about 30 minutes. The saltiness of the gravy goes soo well with the sweetness of the sweet potatoes!
Nikki Lee says
Yum! I will have to try it with sweet potatoes. I love it over french fries or hash browns. I does really go nicely with potatoes. Thanks for sharing!
Shelby says
I made this for my hubby, he loved it and was surprised I made it myself. Thanks for the recipe, it was yummy and we have leftovers for another day.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you so much, Shelby! I am so glad you guys loved it! It really is a favorite for my family too!
Ralph says
have you ever tried canning it ?
Nikki Lee says
No I haven't tried canning! Let me know if you try it!
Carol Nye says
My sister sent me a dry mix for Country Pepper Gravy, bless her heart. I don't think she know how easy it is to make Sausage Gravy. It takes more time to make the "mix", and it is not nearly as tasty. P.S. I add sage/poultry seasoning to my Sausage Gravy!!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you Carol! - Bless her ;)! It is really so simple! I bet those additions add great flavor!
STONE FISHER says
I use bacon grease as my gravy base instead
Of butter .
Nikki Lee says
Bacon grease is always a great option!
Lynn Spencer says
I grew up loving chipped beef on toast and haven't thought of it for years! Thanks for reminding me of this deliciousness!
Rachel Carre says
I am still over here in West Central Texas trying to figure out what dried beef is and where to get it - we had a small discussion about this on the Instant Pot page yesterday. When we were growing up my mother made a variation - either hamburger meat or ham bits for the meat. I am not joking when I say I've never heard of dried beef. I can almost guarantee I'm not going to find it at our local grocery store, they don't even carry asiago cheese! I plan to go to San Angelo this weekend. It has 2 HEB's (large grocery chain if you've never heard of it). I am thinking if I am going to find it around here, HEB will be the place to have it. Can someone please tell me where I would find it...? Lunch meat section, SPAM section, etc and maybe describe the container? I read up above that it's a jar, but maybe the label color so I don't search for hours. 🙂 TIA
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I am so sorry that was confusing! I see you figured it out! It is in the canned meat section. I get mine ina jar! I will cook this again soon as my daughter will be home and she loves it. I will shoot a picture and insert it in the post!
Ashley says
I use can corn beef without potatoes and it's on the aisle right where spam, potted meat, tuna, and Vienna sausages are. The can corn beef without potatoes is definitely in all large chain grocery stores. I hope that helps someone.
Christen Deane says
Oh,I saw this dried beef in the meat case and did it ever bring back the memories. I used your recipe it was very easy ,added my own twist with sliced hard boiled eggs on top. Yummy and thanks!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
It does take you back to your childhood. I make it for my adult kids when they request it and we always have it on Christmas morning. It's become a tradition. Thank you so much and I am so glad you enjoyed it! I love you added your own spin on it too! Yum!
Robin says
Just like my dad used to make on weekends. He was a cook in the army in WWII and also referred to this as SOS!
Moniker says
Another Lancaster countian here, looking for a recipe. ?
Lauren Smith says
This recipe is delicious! I love the family tradition behind it! Yummy!
Valerie Vanderlip says
I always rinse the beef in water when I take it out of the jar. (Armour recommends this on the jar.) It is extremely salty. One serving provides 57% of your daily requirement for sodium! So I've never needed to add salt at all. A couple grinds of black pepper is all it needs to taste great.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I never have rinsed it for this recipe. It is plenty salty and I don't add any either. This is a splurge meal and we don't have it a lot so I don't worry too much about the extra salt.
Sandi says
You can also find it by the cold meat section. By the salami and hot dogs. They sell it in Budding brand hanging bags. Usually about 3 oz bags.
Nikki Lee says
Yes, absolutely. My favorite is the jarred one if you can find it, but I have used both and each is good. Another great option.
Valerie Vanderlip says
It got the "SOS" name in the US Army. Dried beef is shelf stable and was often served in mess halls to troops going back generations and over many wars. Soldiers aren't known for using dainty language! LOL! At my house growing up, ground beef in a cream gravy was called "hamburger gravy" and that same gravy made with dried beef was called "Creamed Chipped Beef". Both were delicious over potatoes, noodles or buttered toast.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Yes those soldiers lol! My grandfather was a WWII vet from the Army and was there on DDAY. He experienced a lot in that war and did tell me plenty of stories. Just as a child he never told me what this meant lol 😉 So we always laugh about when I found out what it meant. Hamburger gravy is delicious and that is what we call it at our house too! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the recipe and come back to see us!
Amber says
I live in Lancaster County, PA and this is a pretty popular dish here. Except, what is a jar of dried beef? It either comes in a bag or packaged like lunch meat. Anyway, I made dried beef casserole lasy week and have some meat leftover. So since this is one of my husband's favorites, I'm making this for supper. Terribly unhealthy, but hopefully it will be delicious!
[email protected] says
Amber, It does come in a bag too. I used to find it in my market like that. But now I see it in a jar (4.5 ounces). It's made by Armour and in the isle where tuna & canned meats are. I love the jars it comes in too. I wash them and remove the label! They are the cutest juice jars. I know it's not healthy but oh so good!
Rachel Carre says
I should have read all of the comments before posting my question - it won't hurt my feelings if you don't approve the comment. Sorry about that.
Michelle Rogers says
I am in Maryland about 2 hours from you, I see the jars in the stores but I prefer to use the bag as it has less salt content and we are a family with BP concerns, so I just fry it up after I chop it like you would sausage for sausage gravy, same result same great flavor...