Creamed Chipped Beef Recipe: A Classic Comfort Food
What is Creamed Chipped Beef
Creamed Chipped Beef is a cherished comfort food, evoking warm memories of childhood and maternal love. I personally have fond recollections of my mother preparing this dish for me, serving tender beef in a smooth, lightly seasoned cream sauce over toasted sourdough or wholesome European whole grain bread.
Personal Connection to Creamed Chipped Beef
This recipe holds a special place in my heart and is among my all-time favorites. Did you have similar experiences with this dish as a child? My mother would often make it for me and eventually taught me how to prepare it. It was not until later in life that I learned that this delectable dish is often referred to as “SOS gravy”. The acronym “SOS” stands for “shit on a shingle”, with the “shingle” being the toast. My Catholic mother, who would never use such language, likely chose to omit this information from our culinary lessons.
While Creamed Chipped Beef may not be the most health-conscious option, it can be enjoyed in moderation as a special treat. The comfort and joy it brings is well worth indulging in occasionally.
The dish is comprised of chopped dried beef in a creamy, lightly seasoned white sauce, often made using a béchamel sauce of flour, butter, and milk. It is typically served over toast, but is equally delicious over eggs and potatoes.
Preparation
To prepare Creamed Chipped Beef, simply chop the beef into bite-sized pieces, melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat, and whisk in the flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes, continuously whisking, then add black pepper, cayenne pepper, and slowly pour in the milk until smooth and creamy. Add the chopped beef and simmer for 3-5 minutes, seasoning to taste with salt, pepper, and other seasonings of your choice. Serve over toast, eggs, hash browns, or biscuits.
Tips for Best Results
For best results, use Buddig beef, which is widely available in grocery stores and less salty and dry compared to other brands of dried beef. Cook the butter-flour mixture (roux) for 2-3 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste, slowly add the milk while whisking continuously, and season to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a small amount of milk at a time until desired consistency is achieved. This dish is best served promptly, but reheats well if necessary.
Relive cherished memories or create new ones with this classic comfort food. With the weekend approaching, take some extra time to whip up something special for breakfast or lunch!
CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF
Creamed Chipped Beef is the ultimate comfort meal combining dried beef in a smooth cream sauce served over light toasted sourdough or European whole grain.
- Prep Time: 2
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces Buddig original beef (see notes)
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 pinches ground cayenne pepper
- 2 cups milk (see notes)
- salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Slice the beef in bite size pieces.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes; whisking constantly. Sprinkle in black pepper and cayenne pepper. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth and creamy.
- Add the chopped beef and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over toasted bread, eggs, hash browns, or biscuits.
NOTES
- You can use any dried beef however Buddig beef works perfect for this recipe. It is available in most grocery stores and is not quite as salty or dry as some of the other brands of dried beef. You will find it with the other prepackaged luncheon meats
- Cook the butter flour mixture (roux) for 2-3 minutes as it helps to cook off the raw flour taste.
- Slowly add your milk and whisk continuously until you have a nice smooth sauce.
- If the sauce gets too thick add less than a quarter of a cup of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season to taste with salt, seasoned salt, fresh ground black pepper, cayenne pepper and even a splash of Worcestershire Sauce.
- Creamed Chipped Beef is best served promptly nonetheless it reheats fairly well.
