The most iconic of all military meals – Creamed Chipped Beef is a delicious mixture of dried, chipped beef in a creamy sauce served over toasted bread.
Are you looking forward to next weekend? Well, of course you are! It’s Memorial Day weekend! For most of us, this will be a nice long weekend with a break from work and a chance to get together with friends and family to celebrate the start of summer. School’s already out in some places and the weather is warm. Perfect time to celebrate, right?
While we’re celebrating the change of season, let’s all remember what Memorial Day is really about. It’s not a holiday to mark the start of summer. It’s a time to remember service men and women who gave everything for our country. Memorial Day started out after the Civil War as “Decoration Day” and was designated as a time for citizens to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers and to honor the sacrifice they gave for their country. The first observance was held in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery. It became an official holiday much later.
Our Family’s Military Members
Bill Stuart, USN
Military service wasn’t something I was very familiar with until I met BeeBop. When we met, he was an active duty member of the U. S. Navy. He served for 10 years as a nuclear reactor operator on a submarine and later as a Navy recruiter. His service took him from Idaho to Charleston, South Carolina, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, plus deployments throughout the Mediterranean and even to the North Pole. Not only did he serve, but so did his father and brother.
Charles Stuart, USAF
BeeBop’s dad, Charles, was a 24-year U. S. Air Force veteran who served in both Korea and Vietnam and his brother, Jim, did a 4-year stint in the U. S. Army. BeeBop’s uncles also served. His Uncle Bill was in the Army for 4 years serving in Vietnam and his Uncle Larry was a full colonel Army helicopter pilot who retired as base commander at Ft. Rucker.
Military service wasn’t really a tradition in my family. However, both my grandmother’s brothers, Bud and Toby, served in World War II. I’m not sure what role Uncle Toby played, but I do know that Uncle Bud was a tail gunner.
To each and every one of them and to all the men and women who have served in the past and continue to serve today, I say a humble thank you for your service. This country would not enjoy the freedoms that we daily take for granted without your sacrifices.
An Iconic Military Meal
In honor of those who did and do serve, I wanted to do something a bit different for a Memorial Day recipe. Instead of grilling and barbecuing, I thought I’d share a recipe that is one of the most iconic of all military meals – Creamed Chipped Beef. Those of you who have served, will know this by its more colorful title of SOS. If you don’t know what “SOS” means, well just ask anyone you know who has served in the military!
The most iconic of all military meals - Creamed Chipped Beef is a delicious mixture of dried, chipped beef in a creamy sauce served over toasted bread. Click To Tweet
How to Make Creamed Chipped Beef
Chipped, dried beef is not something I purchase very often, so it took me a minute to actually find it in my grocery store. I did remember from way back when that it comes in jars but I was looking for it with the sandwich meats. You’ll find it where the canned meats are located. It’ll be alongside the tuna, potted meat, and Vienna sausages :-)
This is my personal recipe and I’ve added a few things that Creamed Chipped Beef normally doesn’t contain. If you want it strictly traditional, omit the onions, pimiento, and peas. However, I think they add a lot in terms of flavor and especially in appearance.
Briefly rinse the beef under warm water. For a traditional preparation, tear it into strips and let it drain on paper towels.
Chop the green onions.
In a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the green onions and chipped beef. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and beef and continue cooking and stirring for an additional 2 or 3 minutes.
Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly.
Stir in the pepper. Bring the mixture to a strong bubble, then reduce the heat and cook until thickened. Taste the mixture and see if you think it needs any salt. It probably won’t because the beef is quite salty.
Stir in the pimiento and peas and cook for a few minutes until the peas are heated through.
Serve over toasted bread. I prefer a good sourdough bread for this.
Enjoy!
More Beef Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
Chipped Beef Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast from For the Love of Cooking
- Dried Beef Dip from My Baking Addiction
- SOS Creamed Beef from Nutmeg Nanny
- Easy Chipped Beef Cheese Ball from The Recipe Critic
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Creamed Chipped Beef
The most iconic of all military meals - Creamed Chipped Beef is a delicious mixture of dried, chipped beef in a creamy sauce served over toasted bread.
Ingredients
- 4 tblsp. butter
- 2-3 green onions, sliced
- 2.5 ounces chipped beef, torn into strips
- 4 tblsp. flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tblsp. pimiento
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas
- 8 slices bread, toasted
Instructions
- Rinse the beef under warm water. Tear into shreds and drain on paper towels.
- In a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- Add the green onions and chipped beef. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onions and beef and continue cooking and stirring for an additional 2 or 3 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly. Bring the mixture to a strong bubble, then reduce the heat and cook until thickened.
- Stir in the pimiento and peas and cook for a few minutes until the peas are heated through.
- Serve over toasted bread.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 797 Total Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 55mg Sodium: 891mg Carbohydrates: 130g Fiber: 6g Sugar: 5g Protein: 28g
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My mom used to make it when we were kids. She didn’t put in onions or pimento but diced up a hard boiled egg into the mix. I’d forgotten about the stuff but will definitely have to try my hand at it now. THANK YOU!!!
I sprnt many years in the Army having creamed beef for breakfast. Loved it and still make it today. I also loved the Stouffers? chipped beef boil in bags. As the cost of chipped beef is rather high, I was wondering how this recipe would be if made with ground beef?
Very good with ground beef! Just brown your beef and drain away the fat then proceed with the recipe.
We have this quite often at this military home. Havfe switched to the smoked beef slices , purchased in the sandwich meat section name brand we use Buddig
I used to eat as a child, found your recipe, made it tonight except didn’t have pimento. It was wonderful, And I did notice the beef has changed.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Joanne. Yes, the beef has changed, hasn’t it? Still pretty good, though.
All I can say is WOW. I love creamed chipped beef, but I’ve never seen it prepared this beautifully. Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks! We love it, too, but it’s usually not the prettiest thing on the plate :-) The peas and pimineto really help give it some color and nice flavor.
This is my husband’s favorite, I never thought to add peas…he would flip over that!
What a fun retro recipe. I remember my mom used to make this on occasion when I was growing up. I always enjoyed it and my dad always referred to it as SOS. LOL. Hope you and your family had a nice Memorial Day!
My hubby was in the Navy too! <3 Love your additions to this Creamed Chipped Beef!
Thank you to your husband and father-in-law for their service!
This looks like the ultimate comfort food!
That looks like a good choice for fall or winter, but right now, it is hotter than blazes here. As Mama would say, “all I was is popsicles and watermelon.”
Miss P
My grandfather served in WWII and my dad was in the reserves, serving before the Korean War. He never spoke much of his time in the Army but I do remember him talking about SOS. Not exactly fondly! I’m sure if the army served up your homemade version there might be better memories. Thanks for taking the time to share your family history.
I’ve never had chipped beef but I bet my military hubby has or remembers it! Beautiful post for Memorial Day!
Both my grammas made versions of this. Both of my grandfathers served. So it’s a dish I recognize well. We’re a military family through & through. We’re also a beef family through & through. Great recipe Lana, thanks for the memories. xx
You’re welcome, Kim! I just love keeping these old recipes going.
Honestly I didn’t know what SOS stood for until my mid twenties, even though we ate it several times a month. Such comfort food. My husband doesn’t love it though, so I can’t wait to dress it up like you did with peas onions and pimentos. Thanks for the idea!!!
Such a rude name for such a comforting recipe :-) Really, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but something we do enjoy for an occasional trip down memory lane.
I’m a newbie to chipped beef too! But, it looks so comforting!
Yes, very comforting, Marjory!
I remember this from my childhood
I think it was part of lots of childhood dinners!
I have never heard of chipped beef – I need to try this out! Thanks for the nice post and tribute to Memorial Day! We can all use that reminder of what this weekend is really all about :)
Absolutely. It’s great to have picnics and cookouts and we should! But I try to keep the reason for the holiday always in mind :-)
Don’t laugh at me, but I have no idea (whatsoever) what ‘chipped beef’ is. Please clue me in, as my family never prepared this kind of a dish. I know that my mom would turn grey if she knew that I thought this dish sounded even remotely tasty, but I’d like to try it.
It’s also known as “dried beef” Angela. Here’s a description from Hormel’s web site: https://www.hormelfoods.com/Brands/BrandWall/Hormel-additional-beef-products.aspx
One of my favorite foods! I loved it as a kid, and I still love it! Gonna have to make it!
Hope you enjoy it, Lin!
I have never heard of chipped beef but it sounds delicious!
It’s also known as dried beef, Lauren. It’s somewhat similar to jerky but sliced paper thin.
Every Memorial Day weekend there’s a large field down the road from our house that displays hundreds of flags in memory of all the soldiers who gave their lives. It’s quite a sight and makes me cry every time. Maybe I need to make this creamed beef to comfort me when I return home!
I love seeing rows and rows of our beautiful flag flying. It give me goosebumps.
My husband and I actually used to LOVE creamed chipped beef. And he is an ex-Marine ! It was one of my favorite meals growing up. My mother’s recipe was pretty simple, basically a white sauce and the meat. YUMMY. In more recent years, not only did the packaging change ( I used to save those old jars for drinking glasses for the kids) but the meat is NOT the same. It’s more like unseasoned salami (pressed meat particle board) than the previous paper thin slices of slightly salty beautiful meat. I used to have to exercise ultimate self control to not just to eat the meat straight from the jar. Now days, I tend to pass and just not make it anymore. It’s just not as good.
You’re right, the beef is a bit different now, but we still enjoy it, Judy.