Creamed Chipped Beef (Shit on a Shingle Recipe)

Creamed Chipped Beef is an easy comfort-food recipe we all know and love! Nostalgic for Army cooks, this is how my mom made it for us growing up! Nothing fancy, just a white sauce with Buddig beef on toast.

Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast is an old-fashioned comfort food recipe made with thinly sliced beef, a creamy homemade white gravy, and perfectly toasted bread. This easy 10-minute dinner uses just a handful of pantry and refrigerator staples, making it perfect for busy weeknights, a hearty breakfast, or whenever you’re craving something nostalgic.

Around my house, we always called this Chipped Beef on Toast. But if you grew up in a military family, you might know it by another name: Shit on a Shingle, or SOS!

Whatever you call it, this simple, creamy, peppery gravy served over crispy toast is comfort food at its finest.

What Is Creamed Chipped Beef?

Creamed Chipped Beef is a classic American dish made by combining thinly sliced beef with a simple white gravy and serving it over toasted bread.

It’s particularly well-known for its military roots, where versions of the dish were served as an inexpensive, filling meal.

The nickname “Shit on a Shingle” comes from the military: the toast is the shingle, and the creamy beef gravy is, well… you get the picture!

Traditional recipes often use dried beef, but my family’s version uses thinly sliced Buddig beef.

It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and comes together in about 10 minutes.

This is the kind of recipe you make when you want something warm, filling, and comforting without spending all evening in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Creamed Chipped Beef Recipe

Easy to customize. Swap the bread, adjust the seasonings, or try a different beef.

Ready in 10 minutes. One of the quickest homemade comfort-food dinners you’ll ever make.

Simple ingredients. You only need butter, flour, milk, beef, pepper, and bread.

Budget-friendly. A little beef goes a long way when mixed into a creamy gravy.

Perfect for breakfast or dinner. Serve it over toast for a quick meal anytime.

A Little Family History

Growing up, my mom didn’t love cooking.

She made dinner every night, but spending hours in the kitchen wasn’t exactly her favorite pastime.

We ate plenty of casseroles, including one of my childhood favorites: tuna noodle casserole.

But one meal I remember getting particularly excited about was Chipped Beef on Toast.

Every time Mom made it, my dad would tell us his father called it “Shit on a Shingle” in the Army.

Every. Single. Time.

We knew the story was coming, and we’d hear it anyway!

That’s one of the funny things about family recipes. Sometimes the stories surrounding the food become just as memorable as the meal itself.

And now, whenever I make this creamy chipped beef gravy, I think about those family dinners.

Nothing fancy. Just good food and a familiar story.

Ingredients for Creamed Chipped Beef

You only need a few ingredients to make this easy chipped beef gravy.

Buddig Beef: This is the thinly sliced, packaged beef my mom always used. It’s softer than traditional dried beef and works beautifully in this creamy gravy.

Butter: The base of our homemade white sauce. I use one tablespoon.

All-Purpose Flour: Combined with the butter, flour thickens the milk into a smooth, creamy gravy.

Whole Milk: Whole milk creates a rich, creamy sauce without needing heavy cream. You can use another milk percentage if that’s what you have.

Black Pepper: I love plenty of freshly ground black pepper in my chipped beef gravy!

Kosher Salt: Add this carefully. The beef is already salty, so taste your gravy before adding more.

Bread: Good, sturdy toast is essential! I love oat-wheat bread, but traditional white bread or thick Texas toast works wonderfully.

Buddig Beef vs. Dried Beef

One question people often have is whether Buddig beef is the same as dried beef.

Not exactly!

Traditional dried beef is cured and dried, giving it a firmer texture and a more concentrated, salty flavor. You’ll often find it packaged in small glass jars.

Buddig beef is a thinly sliced, packaged lunch meat that’s softer and more tender.

For this recipe, I use Buddig beef because that’s how my mom made it.

If you’re using traditional dried beef instead, you may want to rinse it briefly to remove some of the excess salt.

Taste your gravy before adding any additional seasoning.

How to Make Creamed Chipped Beef

The secret to this easy recipe is making a smooth, creamy white gravy.

Don’t let gravy intimidate you! Once you learn this simple technique, you’ll use it for all kinds of recipes.

Step 1: Make the Butter and Flour Roux

Melt one tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.

Once the butter is melted and foamy, sprinkle in one tablespoon of all-purpose flour.

Whisk the flour into the butter until everything is combined.

Continue cooking for about one to two minutes, stirring constantly.

This removes the raw flour taste without browning the mixture.

We’re making a white gravy, so we don’t want a dark roux.

Step 2: Whisk in the Milk

Slowly pour in one cup of whole milk while whisking constantly.

Continue stirring over medium-low heat until the mixture begins to thicken.

The gravy should be smooth, creamy, and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

If you notice a few lumps, don’t panic! Keep whisking as the sauce cooks.

Step 3: Add the Chipped Beef

Chop your package of Buddig beef into small, bite-sized pieces.

Stir the beef into the warm gravy, separating the slices as you go.

Distribute the beef throughout the sauce so every bite has plenty of creamy gravy and tender beef.

Add freshly ground black pepper.

Taste before adding salt, since the beef already adds plenty of saltiness.

Step 4: Toast the Bread

While the gravy finishes cooking, toast the bread until golden brown and crisp.

I recommend toasting it a little darker than you normally would.

Why?

Because that creamy gravy will soften the bread almost immediately.

Starting with extra-crispy toast helps it hold up underneath all that delicious sauce.

Step 5: Serve Immediately

Place your toasted bread on a plate and spoon generous portions of warm creamed chipped beef over the top.

Add another grind of black pepper if you like.

Serve immediately while the gravy is hot and the toast is still crisp.

That’s it, y’all!

A warm, comforting homemade meal in about 10 minutes.

Tips for the Best Creamed Chipped Beef

Keep the heat low. A white gravy doesn’t need high heat. Medium-low heat helps prevent scorching and keeps the sauce smooth.

Whisk constantly when adding milk. This helps incorporate the liquid into the roux and prevents lumps.

Don’t add too much salt. Buddig beef and traditional dried beef are both seasoned products. Taste before adding additional salt.

Adjust the thickness. If your gravy becomes too thick, whisk in a splash of milk until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Toast your bread well. A sturdy, crispy slice of bread makes all the difference.

Serve right away. Creamed chipped beef is best when the gravy is hot and freshly spooned over toast.

What to Serve with Creamed Chipped Beef

Traditionally, people serve creamed chipped beef over toasted white bread. I actually prefer Oatnut bread!

But you certainly don’t have to stop there!

Try serving your creamy chipped beef gravy over:

• Buttermilk biscuits
• Thick slices of Texas toast
• English muffins
• Crispy breakfast potatoes, or these Air Fryer Firecracker Potatoes!
• Toasted sourdough bread
• Baked potatoes

For a hearty breakfast, serve it alongside scrambled eggs and fresh fruit.

If you’re making it for dinner, a simple green salad or steamed vegetables can round out the meal. The Dippy Salad is my favorite for a dinner party!

If you want to make a little appetizer, spoon small portions over toasted baguette slices!

How to Store and Reheat Creamed Chipped Beef

If you have leftovers, store the gravy separately from the toasted bread.

Allow the gravy to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly.

It will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Reheating

Warm the leftover gravy in a small saucepan over low heat.

Add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce as it heats, stirring until smooth and heated throughout.

Toast fresh bread just before serving.

I wouldn’t recommend storing leftover gravy on the toast because the bread will become soggy.

Can You Freeze Creamed Chipped Beef?

You can freeze the prepared gravy, although milk-based sauces sometimes separate or become grainy after thawing.

For the best texture, I recommend enjoying this recipe fresh.

Since it takes only 10 minutes to make, it’s one of those recipes that’s almost as easy to prepare from scratch as it is to reheat!

Creamed Chipped Beef FAQs

What is another name for creamed chipped beef?

Creamed chipped beef is commonly called Chipped Beef on Toast or Shit on a Shingle (SOS). The nickname is particularly associated with American military cooking.

Is creamed chipped beef the same as sausage gravy?

They’re similar because both use a creamy, flour-thickened gravy.

However, sausage gravy uses browned breakfast sausage, while creamed chipped beef uses thinly sliced beef.

The flavors are different, but the basic gravy-making technique is similar.

Can I make creamed chipped beef without dried beef?

Yes! My family recipe uses thinly sliced Buddig beef rather than traditional dried beef.

Other variations of SOS gravy use ground beef, sausage, or ham, although those substitutions create a different flavor.

Why is my chipped beef gravy too thick?

The gravy will continue to thicken as it cooks and cools.

Simply whisk in a little additional milk until you reach your preferred consistency.

Why is my creamed chipped beef too salty?

Both packaged beef and traditional dried beef contain salt.

To prevent an overly salty gravy, wait until the beef has been stirred into the sauce before adding extra salt.

If you’re using traditional dried beef, rinsing it before cooking may help reduce some of the saltiness.

What kind of bread is best for creamed chipped beef?

Traditional white sandwich bread is the classic choice.

I prefer a heartier oat-wheat bread because it holds up well underneath the gravy.

Texas toast, sourdough, and English muffins are also delicious options.

An Old-Fashioned Comfort Food Worth Keeping

Some recipes don’t need fancy ingredients, complicated techniques, or hours of preparation.

Creamed Chipped Beef is one of them.

It’s the kind of meal that reminds me of growing up, sitting around the family dinner table, and listening to the same stories we’d heard a hundred times before.

And isn’t that what comfort food is all about?

A simple meal that brings back good memories.

Whether you call it Creamed Chipped Beef, Chipped Beef on Toast, or good old-fashioned Shit on a Shingle, I hope this easy recipe finds its way onto your dinner table.

Because sometimes the simplest meals make the sweetest memories.

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